Unlimited Power - The Arcane Path 5 Chapter 04

Leon's awareness returned, the intense bodily pain having vanished, replaced by an equally pressing hunger and thirst. The cycle of pain and unconsciousness had finally ended, but now Leon lacked the strength to even move.

"How long was I out?"

Judging by the gnawing hunger and thirst, it seemed like three days and nights had passed in unconsciousness. Yet, the sun's position in the sky had barely shifted since he had reset his knees.

With considerable effort, Leon pushed himself up, confirming his knees had indeed healed. Touching them, he felt no lingering pain. He slowly removed the bandages, again without any discomfort. Soon, his knees were visible, bearing no trace of any injury.

"Surviving a plane crash... healing this unnaturally fast... What in the world is happening?"

While Leon craved answers, his immediate need was sustenance. His vision began to blur, but he managed to stand and stumble towards some trees. However, after just three steps, his legs gave out. It wasn't pain, but rather a complete lack of strength.

"Haha... This is ironic. I survived a plane crash only to die of hunger five meters from some bananas... Forget it!"

Congratulations! The skill Strong Arms has leveled up.

You obtained 01 status points.

If his legs wouldn't cooperate, Leon resolved to use his arms, or even his chin if necessary. Fortunately, his arms alone were sufficient to propel him forward. With the 'Strong Arms' skill active, movement became so effortless that he nearly overshot the bunch of bananas. Such was his hunger that Leon devoured the bananas, peel and all. Despite this, they tasted exquisite and revitalized his body within moments. Leon's vision sharpened, and he was struck by a stark realization: his limbs were gaunt, as if he hadn't eaten properly in weeks.

"What the... Did I really sleep that long?"

Leon couldn't fathom how he had survived being unconscious for such an extended period. However, a sweep of his surroundings led him to conclude that not even a full day had passed since the crash, as there was no sign of the airplane wreckage.

"If I wasn't unconscious for that long... it suggests my recovery isn't quite so miraculous. My own flesh was consumed to mend my wounds, which explains the drastic weight loss."

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Analysis.

You obtained 01 status points.

Now that Leon's energy reserves were somewhat replenished, he stood and verified that, despite his emaciated state, his body was otherwise intact. Thirst, however, remained. He picked up a nearby fallen coconut, intending to drink its water, but then realized he had no means to open it.

"Now what?"

Leon attempted to smash the coconut against a tree, but his efforts were fruitless. Taking a deep breath, he focused, gripped the coconut firmly with both hands, and struck it against the tree with renewed force. Soon, his hands were damp as a cracking sound echoed.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Bash.

You obtained 01 status points.

The force of Leon's strike fractured the coconut in multiple places. He tilted it overhead, drinking the slowly dripping coconut water. Once more, he felt intensely alive. Leon had never particularly enjoyed coconut water, but at that moment, it tasted like the most exquisite nectar imaginable.

Still feeling the pangs of hunger, Leon broke open the coconut completely after finishing the water. He then consumed the meat inside. It was evident that satisfying his hunger completely would take time, but it was also time to consider the long term.

"I have food and water... This area is vast, so it should last me a few months. I can go fishing; I just need to fashion a spear from wood. So, survival here is possible... but how do I leave?"

Up to this point, Leon's survival had been a result of the miraculous boons granted by the status system: the resilience to endure a plane crash and the regenerative ability to heal wounds. But could these abilities help him return home or reach civilization? The answer was yes. He felt confident that with his status, he could achieve seemingly impossible feats. The question remained: how and when?

"If I recall correctly, the plane went down around 05:00 AM. It had been flying for over three hours... at least one-third of that flight was over the ocean. This places me roughly eight hundred kilometers from Asia... Fantastic."

Seeking passage to Asia, from where he might eventually find his way back home, seemed Leon's most viable course of action. The predicament, however, was his complete lack of knowledge regarding his current location. Moreover, he possessed no expertise in sailing. The likelihood of successfully navigating the ocean to reach the continent was exceedingly slim. While the idea of constructing a vessel from available trees crossed his mind, his rudimentary skills meant he couldn't even assemble a simple doghouse. Could he possibly fashion a boat sturdy enough to survive a perilous ocean voyage? The stark reality was, no.

As Leon contemplated various unfortunate ways to meet his end at sea, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from above. He froze, his eyes widening as another colossal entity soared overhead, eerily similar to the dragon that had attacked the airplane. Once the initial shock subsided, he scrambled into the dense forest, concealing himself behind thick foliage. With every reverberation of that terrifying roar, Leon's body trembled. Eventually, the sound faded into the distance, revealing that the vast ocean was not the sole peril Leon would confront on his arduous journey home.