Limitless: New Dawn

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy as Arthur finished his modest breakfast of dried meat and fresh fruit. Sitting cross-legged near his campfire, he planned his next move.

"I should explore more areas of the forest and see what I can find," he thought, chewing thoughtfully. His gaze lingered on the forest path ahead.

With his trekking bag slung over his shoulder, Arthur moved swiftly through the forest, the cool morning air invigorating him. 

Hours passed as he explored the landscape, noting the changing terrain, denser trees, rocky outcroppings, and the occasional glimmer of unusual flora. It was nearing midday when he stumbled upon the entrance to a cave.

The cave mouth yawned open like a dark abyss, its interior pitch black to a normal eye. But Arthur's enhanced vision allowed him to discern faint outlines of the walls, enough to pique his curiosity.

"Well, let's see what's hiding in there," he muttered, setting his bag securely just inside the entrance and attaching a smaller pouch to his leather belt. He moved deeper into the cave, the air cooling rapidly and carrying a faint damp smell.

…

Arthur's footsteps echoed softly as he traversed the dark tunnel. Though dim, his enhanced sight enabled him to navigate without stumbling. As he moved further, tiny lights began to flicker around him. 

Firefly-like creatures glowed faintly, their luminescence a soft blue-green. Fascinated, Arthur reached out to one. It landed delicately on his finger, its light pulsating rhythmically.

"Beautiful," he whispered, a rare smile crossing his face.

The creatures illuminated sections of the cave, revealing intricate rock formations that looked almost sculpted. Arthur marveled at the natural beauty as he ventured deeper, wondering how far the cave extended.

After what felt like half an hour of walking, the tunnel opened into a vertical drop. Arthur peered down, estimating the depth to be at least 100 meters.

"Well, down we go," he said, gripping the rocky edge. Using his strength and agility, he climbed down effortlessly, his hands and feet finding secure holds on the jagged surface. The descent took about a minute, depositing him onto a rocky floor far below the surface.

…

Arthur continued deeper into the cave. The walls shimmered faintly, catching his attention. Embedded in the rock was an ore unlike anything he had seen before, a deep purple crystal that seemed to pulse faintly with energy. He pried a fist-sized piece loose and was startled by its weight.

"This little thing weighs at least 50-60 kilograms," he muttered, hefting it.

Curious, he decided to test its properties. Drawing the wyvern claw from his belt, he struck the ore lightly. It left no mark. Arthur frowned and increased the force, slashing at it with all his strength. The claw chipped due to the force, while the ore remained unscathed.

"Incredible," he thought, examining the claw's damaged edge. "Whatever this is, it's tougher than anything I've encountered."

Excited by the discovery, Arthur pocketed the ore and pressed onward. He encountered more deposits as he moved deeper into the cave, the glowing crystals creating an otherworldly ambiance. Finally, he reached an opening in the wall.

What lay beyond left him speechless.

…

The tunnel opened into a vast underground cavern. The space was immense, spanning the size of four football fields joined together. The walls and ceiling were studded with purple crystals, their light creating an ethereal glow. Piles of ore formed small hills scattered across the cavern floor.

Arthur stood in awe, his breath catching in his throat. "This... this could be priceless," he murmured.

He crouched near one of the piles, scooping as much of the ore as his small pouch could hold. Despite the weight, he managed to secure a decent amount. As he prepared to leave, he took one last look at the cavern.

"If anyone figures out how to utilize this stuff..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "It could become a precious resource to any intelligent race."

Arthur retraced his steps, the journey back taking nearly half an hour. By the time he emerged from the cave, it was already noon. He retrieved his bag and carefully packed the ores inside, resolving to mark this location mentally for future reference.

…

Nearby, he found a small clearing beside a creek. The spot was ideal for a base: fresh water, a flat surface, and the shelter of the forest. Arthur decided to construct a temporary cabin to store his findings and rest safely.

He began by selecting sturdy trees for the structure. Using his wyvern claw tool, he felled several trunks, stripping them of branches and bark. He cut the logs into even sections, envisioning a small but functional shelter.

"I've seen this in videos," he mused, recalling online tutorials about the Japanese jikugumi method of joinery. Though his memory was hazy, he figured he could replicate the basics.

Arthur painstakingly carved notches into the logs, ensuring they interlocked securely. His movements were clumsy at first, the process taking longer than expected. 

Sweat dripped down his brow as he worked, the repetitive motion of cutting, fitting, and adjusting testing his patience.

"This would be so much easier with proper tools," he muttered, shaking his cramped hands.

Gradually, the cabin began to take shape. He constructed a simple rectangular frame, reinforcing it with cross-beams. The logs fit snugly together thanks to the notched joints. By evening, he had completed the basic structure.

For the roof, Arthur used a combination of wyvern leather and branches, layering them to provide insulation and protection from the elements. The interior was spartan but functional, with a small space for storage and a bed made from wolf pelts.

For now the walls were just leaves as he didn' have time to finish them today.

…

As Arthur rested by the creek after finishing his cabin, a low rumble echoed from a distance, he figured it was near the cave cave. 

His instincts sharpened. He turned toward the sound, gripping his wyvern claw. Emerging from the shadows of the cave entrance was a massive creature, its eyes glowing the same purple as the ore.

The creature resembled a golem, its body composed of jagged stone and crystals. It moved with a deliberate, almost predatory grace, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly. Arthur's pulse quickened.

"What is that?," he whispered. "So, it's not unprotected after all."

The golem's eyes locked onto him, and it emitted a deep, resonant growl. Arthur didn't wait for an attack. He bolted into the forest, weaving through the trees as the ground shook beneath him. The creature gave chase, its heavy footsteps crashing through the underbrush.

Arthur's enhanced agility kept him ahead, but the golem was relentless. He led it away from the cabin as he did not want his hard work to go to waste, hoping to lose it in the denser parts of the forest. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the rumbling footsteps ceased. Arthur crouched behind a boulder, catching his breath.

"That was too close," he muttered, his mind racing. "If it's guarding the cave, getting more ore won't be easy and it looks way stronger than the wyvern." Although he cannot utilize them, who knows what the future holds.

After returning to his cabin, Arthur slumped onto his makeshift bed. The purple ore he had collected glowed faintly in the corner, casting a soothing light across the room. He chewed on some fruit and jerky, too lazy to prepare a proper meal.

As he lay back, staring at the wooden ceiling, his thoughts drifted.

"This forest is full of surprises," he thought.Arthur closed his eyes, the soft glow of the ore lulling him into a deep sleep.

…

The next morning Arthur set to complete his cabin.

"It's sturdy enough to last," he muttered, running his hand over the interlocked logs. "But it still needs proper walls and storage if I'm going to stay here for a while."

Arthur rose from his bed of wolf pelts, the soft fur providing much-needed warmth against the morning chill. After a quick breakfast of dried meat and fresh fruit, he grabbed the wyvern claw and stepped outside.

"I'll finish this cabin properly today," he decided, cracking his knuckles.

Arthur scouted the area for suitable trees, searching for ones with straight trunks that could be worked into planks. He chose three sturdy trees growing near the creek and began felling them. The wyvern claw, sharp and durable, made quick work of the task.

As the trees came crashing down one by one. He stripped the trunks of their branches and bark, leaving clean logs that could be cut into thinner sheets.

Using his strength and precision, Arthur began slicing the logs into planks about an inch and a half thick. The task was labor-intensive, each cut requiring deliberate effort to ensure evenness.

"Nothing worthwhile comes easy," he thought.

With a neat stack of planks ready, Arthur carried them to the cabin. He began affixing the planks to the exterior with wooden nails, covering the gaps between the logs to create solid walls. Each plank was measured and adjusted to fit snugly, leaving no room for wind or rain to seep through.

As he hammered the final plank into place. He stepped back to admire his work—a fully enclosed cabin that looked sturdy and weatherproof.

The next step was organizing the interior. Arthur wanted a place for everything: spices, tools, clothes, and a hanger for the precious purple ore to act as a source of light during night. He began crafting simple shelves and hooks from the leftover wood.

Using the wyvern claw, he shaped flat pieces of wood into rectangular shelves. He notched the edges to fit securely into grooves he carved into the cabin's walls. Each shelf was tested to ensure it could hold weight without collapsing.

For the hooks, Arthur used smaller branches with natural curves, stripping off the bark and smoothing the edges. He secured these to the walls, spacing them evenly for easy access.

"This should work," he said, hanging his clothes on one of the hooks.

With the cabin complete, Arthur turned his attention to organizing his supplies. He placed the wyvern claws and tendons on one shelf, neatly coiled and ready for future use. 

Another shelf was dedicated to his spices and food: small bundles of dried herbs, jerky, and the fruits he had gathered.

The purple ore was placed in a corner of the cabin, where its faint glow provided a soothing light. Arthur arranged his clothes and wolf pelts on another shelf, folding them neatly.

Finally, he set his trekking bag on a hook near the door, keeping it within easy reach. The cabin now felt like a proper home, functional and organized.

The sound of the creek and the cool evening breeze lulled him into a sense of peace. Arthur allowed himself to savor the moment, a small smile playing on his lips.

***