Mind-Bending Wooden Stick (Rank SSS)

  The reason I was confused when I first saw the tool window was that it displayed only one tool. But after reading its name, I quickly understood why it was called the "Mind-Bending Wooden Stick." Seeing it marked as an SSS-rank tool made things even more interesting. If I needed to cultivate this land, I knew having an SSS-rank power tool would be a huge advantage.

  I focused on the Mind-Bending Wooden Stick shown in the window before me, and as soon as I called for it, the stick appeared in my right hand. I decided to call it just a stick because its full name was too long.

  It looked like a simple wooden stick, as if it had just broken off from a tree. However, its surface was smooth and rounded, making it easy to grip.

  Holding the stick in my hand, I thought about an axe. If I was going to clear trees and prepare the ground, an axe would be necessary. As soon as I imagined it, the stick transformed into an axe. It was a short axe, just the right size—because that was how I had envisioned it.

  "So, this is how it works, huh?" I muttered, feeling excited.

  With a smile on my face, I held the axe and thought about a sword. However, this time, the axe did not change shape. I had suspected that might be the case, but I figured it was worth trying. After all, if we don't try, how will we ever know?

  Suddenly, I noticed that the light around me was fading. The sun was setting, and darkness was creeping in. Even though I had SSS-rank strength, I still felt uneasy. This land was unfamiliar, and who knew if creatures stronger than me lurked in the shadows? Besides, what was the use of all my strength if I couldn't even see in the dark?

  Without wasting any time, I took a stance to jump again. This time, I bent my knees slightly—less than before. The axe was still in my hand, but when I thought about storing it, it vanished instantly.

  I was back at the spot where I had first been teleported, though I had moved a bit due to my earlier landing. The reason I was preparing to jump again was simple: when I had fallen from the sky earlier, I had scanned my surroundings, looking for a better place to settle. While the land seemed the same everywhere, I had noticed one significant difference—there was a massive tree in the distance, far larger than any other tree in sight.

  Its trunk was at least ten times wider than the other trees, and its height and number of branches surpassed them all.

  "Boom!"

  The sun was close to setting, so I jumped toward the massive tree, planning to use it as my first shelter. This time, I had a better grasp of my strength, and though I miscalculated slightly, landing farther than expected, I learned from it.

  After overshooting the tree, I walked back toward it. As I moved, I observed the ground—it was flat. When I was in the air, I hadn't seen any mountains or hills, meaning this forest stretched across a vast, level plain.

  When I finally reached the massive tree, I was surprised—it was even bigger up close than it had seemed from the sky. The best part? There was a large open space around it, making it perfect for my plan.

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  The tree's upper branches were sparse, meaning nothing was hiding in them. The setting sun's crimson rays bathed the area in a warm, golden glow. With no leaves to block the light, the forest floor was well-lit.

  I circled the tree carefully, inspecting it. Then, standing on the east side—opposite the setting sun—I called out, "Tool."

  As expected, the wooden stick appeared in my hand. I had called it "tool" on purpose, testing if a simple command would work. Then, I imagined a machete—a sturdy tool with a strong handle and a sharp, long blade. Instantly, the wooden stick shifted, transforming into a machete.

  Looking at it, I realized it resembled a small sword. "Maybe I could use it as a weapon too," I thought.

  But for now, my priority was shelter. I planned to carve out a space inside the massive tree, using it as a temporary base until I found a better place to live.

  To ensure precision, I measured half my height before pressing the machete's sharp blade into the tree. With a swift motion, I sliced through the trunk—it was even easier than cutting a cake.

  The reason these tools were so powerful was simple: they were all SSS-rank. I knew that even if I tried to cut through rock or the land itself, these tools would slice through effortlessly.

  I carved out an entrance about the size of half a door, then summoned a shovel. Without wasting time, I hollowed out the inside of the tree according to my measurements, being careful not to pierce all the way through.

  Bit by bit, I expanded the space, ensuring it was large enough for me to sit, stand, and sleep comfortably. When I finished, my new shelter had only one entrance—no windows, just a single opening.

  All the wood I had carved out, I placed inside. I planned to use it for firewood. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about starting a fire—I was confident that with my strength, I could create sparks by transforming my wooden stick into a sharp blade and then striking the blade against a rock.

  Building my shelter had taken only seven to eight minutes. After cleaning up, I gathered several stones from around the tree. Why more than one? "Well, if anything tried to attack me at night, I could use them as weapons. With my SSS-rank strength, even a simple stone could be deadly."

  I collected about ten stones and placed them inside my new tree home. Then, an idea struck me. "If I simply struck two rocks together with my strength, I could create fire." Testing this, I smashed two stones against each other—and fire appeared. But the rocks shattered.

  "Too much strength," I muttered.

  I realized it would be easier to use a knife and a rock to make fire, so I gathered more stones again.

  "....."

  My stomach growled.

  "What should I do?" I thought, rubbing my belly.

  I hadn’t seen any animals earlier—perhaps I hadn't looked carefully. As for fruits, they were out of the question. These trees didn’t even have leaves, let alone fruit.

  "Hunting can wait until morning," I decided.

  Going out in the dark would be risky. Instead, I sat inside my shelter and summoned a knife. Picking up one of my stones, I scraped the knife’s sharp edge against it, successfully igniting a small fire.

  Now, I had a tree house and a bonfire inside. The fire was small, ensuring it wouldn’t burn down my shelter. It wasn’t cold, but I needed the light. Besides, fire kept animals—and possibly monsters—at bay.

  Darkness had completely taken over the forest. The sun had vanished, leaving everything shrouded in black. Inside my shelter, the fire cast flickering reddish-yellow light against the carved walls.

  I shifted my position, sitting on the north side of my shelter. If anything entered, it would come from the east, where my entrance was.

  "I should make a door," I thought.

  But for now, I closed my eyes.

  Only to open them again immediately.

  "I can’t afford to sleep here—not yet. I know nothing about this land."

  I had to stay awake. My mind raced with plans—should I search for a better place? Should I turn this into my permanent home?

  For now, I had one certainty.

  Tomorrow, my first task will be hunting.