"Her first challenge came".

  Emerging from the shadows, a monstrous figure lurched toward Olivia. Its grotesque body was hunched, its skin a sickly gray, stretched over unnaturally long limbs. It had four arms, each tipped with jagged claws, and two legs that bent at unnatural angles. Its eyes gleamed like burning embers, fixed on Olivia with an eerie hunger.

  Without hesitation, she leapt to her feet, gripping her wooden sword tightly. The creature lunged at her, its elongated arms swiping with terrifying speed. She barely dodged, feeling the rush of air as its claws sliced through the empty space where she had just stood. Pivoting swiftly, she countered with a powerful strike to its side. The impact sent the creature stumbling back, but to her horror, the wound sealed itself almost instantly.

  It was regenerating.

  No matter how many times she slashed, the wounds disappeared within seconds. A flicker of panic threatened to take hold, but Olivia forced herself to stay focused. There had to be a weakness. She studied the creature’s movements carefully, searching for an opening. And then, she saw it.

  Each time the monster took damage, a faint red glow flickered across its chest—a weak spot. Summoning all her strength, she feinted to the left, making the monster swing wildly in that direction. That creature arm scratched Olivia’s arm. In that brief moment of vulnerability, she pivoted and lunged forward, driving her sword straight into the glowing red mark.

  The creature let out a bloodcurdling screech, its body convulsing violently as the red light pulsed wildly. Then, with a final cry, it disintegrated into nothingness, leaving behind only the cold night air.

  Olivia stood still, breathing heavily, her hands trembling around the hilt of her sword. She had won. But this battle had proven one thing—this world was far more dangerous than it appeared. If one monster lurked in the darkness, there were bound to be more. Perhaps even stronger ones.

  She clenched her fist. If she wanted to escape, she had to prepare.

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  As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of orange and pink, Olivia made her decision—she needed shelter.

  With sore arms and determination burning within her, she ventured toward a denser part of the grassland, where tall trees stood in clusters. The first thing she needed was wood—a lot of it. She approached a sturdy oak tree, pressing her palm against its rough bark. Taking a deep breath, she struck it hard. The wood cracked, splintering into large chunks. She continued until she had enough logs for her shelter’s foundation.

  Next, she needed stone. Spotting a rocky hill nearby, she used her pickaxe to chip away at the stone, collecting large slabs for flooring and a fireplace. Vines and thick grass served as insulation, which she gathered in bundles.

  She found an open clearing near a freshwater stream—an ideal spot. She began by laying down the stone slabs, carefully fitting them together to form a sturdy base. The cool gray surface felt solid beneath her fingers.

  Next, she stacked oak logs vertically, constructing the walls. The wood’s rich, earthy scent filled the air as she left space for windows, ensuring light would enter. Once the walls were complete, she shaped the roof. Rather than a flat surface, she angled the beams into a triangular peak, allowing rain to slide off easily. She secured the structure with woven vines and grass, layering them over the wooden beams for added support.

  For the entrance, she split a thick log, shaping it into wooden planks. Using small pegs, she fastened them together, crafting a sturdy door that swung open and closed smoothly.

  Inside, she spread bundles of soft grass on the floor, forming a makeshift carpet. Against one wall, she stacked wooden crates and stone slabs to serve as storage shelves.

  In the corner, she built a small fireplace, arranging stones in a neat semicircle. With a few sparks from striking flint against metal, a warm fire crackled to life, casting flickering shadows across the wooden walls.

  For sleeping, she layered fresh grass into a thick bed. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for now.

  Finally, she used her workbench to craft better tools—an improved pickaxe, a stronger axe, and a reinforced wooden sword. She knew she would need stronger weapons in the future.

  As the sun began to set, Olivia stepped back, admiring her work. The house stood strong, blending naturally with the landscape. A safe place, her first true refuge in this world.

  She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh wood and burning embers. This was just the beginning. She wasn’t just surviving anymore—she was building, preparing, and getting stronger.

  Tomorrow, she would venture further. She needed more resources, more knowledge, and most importantly, a way out of this world. But for now, she allowed herself to rest, knowing she had taken the first step toward something greater.