Phantom Presence

[You find a black, human-sized down feather…]

Lem's simulated self looked around, but he could not find any other signs of the bird that had left the feather behind.

The ravine was desolate. Even the surrounding forest seemed more empty than it usually did.

He turned his attention back to the feather, and tried to imagine the bird that left it behind.

It must have been at least a couple times larger than the one he had seen in the fifth simulation.

To a creature so big, he was nothing more than an ant.

Still, at the end of the day, it was still only a feather. Lem's simulated self turned away from the sight and continued traveling along the ravine.

[You eat from your rations and fall asleep…]

[Day 13: You feel slightly weaker due to the evil power consuming your vitality…

You continue traveling around the ravine…]

As Lem's simulated self was walking, his body suddenly stopped moving.

He was seized by a horror that paralyzed his limbs.

It was far more serious than anything he had felt previously, almost as though he was being affected by a malicious energy.

Lem watched with interest. 

Where was the threat coming from?

Was it the bird?

The area around the ravine was still, without even so much as a breeze passing through.

His legs went soft and he fell to the ground.

His spear fell from his hands.

Before whatever presence was affecting him, he did not even have the strength to stand.

[As you are walking, you are suddenly overcome with terror. You sense that there is a presence lurking in the ravine, and you think that it is emerging. You fall to your knees in terror…]

From the screen, Lem understood that his simulated self was not just feeling bodily terror. He was also experiencing some form of hallucination.

He watched as his simulated self languished, fearing for his life.

There was nothing in the area.

The ravine was motionless.

[After a time passes, you realize that the presence has disappeared. You get up from the ground and wonder what you just experienced. You continue walking…]

Just as Lem was starting to think about what had just happened to his simulated self, he fell in danger once again.

The sudden sound of vigorous motion emerged from above him, accompanied by a rustle of falling leaves.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lem's simulated self caught sight of the beast above him.

A tyrant sloth! 

And it appeared much larger than those he had seen before, nearly three meters long. He was sure it was an adult.

It was almost gliding through the canopy, as it shuttled, limb by limb, from one branch to the next. Its claws were frighteningly long.

[As you are walking, out of the corner of your eye, you notice something moving rapidly towards you. You turn and see there is a fully grown tyrant sloth descending a tree in your direction.

You are afraid, but you prepare to fight it.]

Lem's simulated self could see that the tyrant sloth did not view him as a threat. It looked like it wanted to ram into him directly without any attempt at ambush.

Knowing this, he was ready to surprise it with a couple strong punches while dodging the charge.

He dropped his spear, feigning terror as he bent his knees slightly in preparation.

A second later, the sloth leapt from the tree, jumping towards him.

Its right arm extended, its claws aimed for the jugular vein in his neck.

Lem's feet were planted firmly in the ground. He turned his hips, and punched out, letting his fist meet the oncoming attack. His knuckles vibrated with an intense force.