The First Task

Ryo's mind races as he considers his options. He glances around and sees a small group of Scrapers moving toward the edge of the field, where a dense, dark forest looms. He decides to follow them, keeping his distance. He's not sure whom he can trust, but he knows he can't do this alone.

As he approaches the forest, he hears hushed voices. A group of three Scrapers — a tall man with a scar across his face, a woman with long braided hair, and a younger boy — are discussing strategy. The scarred man seems to be in charge, giving orders to the others. Ryo lingers nearby, listening in.

"Stick together, stay alert. We don't know what kind of creatures are in there," the scarred man says. His voice is gruff, commanding. The woman nods, gripping a small dagger tightly. The boy looks nervous but determined.

Ryo feels a pang of envy. They already seem to have some semblance of a plan, while he's still struggling to understand what's happening. He watches them disappear into the trees, then cautiously follows at a distance, hoping to learn from them without drawing attention to himself.

The forest is darker than he expected, the thick canopy blocking out what little light there is. Shadows stretch across the ground, and strange noises echo through the trees. Ryo's heart races. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig sets his nerves on edge. He keeps his eyes peeled for any sign of these "Crap Berries," whatever they might be.

He hears a sudden shout up ahead and stops, hiding behind a thick tree trunk. The scarred man's group has encountered something — a creature. It's a grotesque, twisted thing, with multiple limbs and glowing red eyes. The woman with the dagger lunges at it, but the creature moves with lightning speed, dodging her attack and countering with a swipe of its claws. The boy screams and falls back, while the scarred man draws a sword from his side.

Ryo watches, frozen. His instincts scream at him to run, but something else — curiosity, perhaps — keeps him rooted in place. The scarred man manages to wound the creature, driving it back into the shadows, but not before it leaves a nasty gash on his arm. The group regroups, panting heavily.

"Damn it," the scarred man mutters. "We need to be more careful. These things are faster than they look."

Ryo takes a deep breath. He knows he needs to find the Crap Berries, but he also knows he's no fighter. He decides to move deeper into the forest, away from the group, hoping to avoid any more creatures. As he moves quietly through the underbrush, he spots a cluster of strange, dark red berries hanging from a low branch. His heart skips a beat.

"Could these be the Crap Berries?" he wonders, reaching out to grab one. He hesitates, remembering the Manager's words — this place is dangerous, and nothing is as it seems.

He pulls a small stick from the ground and pokes at the berries. Nothing happens. He carefully plucks one and examines it. It looks like an ordinary berry, but the moment he touches it, a sharp pain shoots through his hand. He drops it immediately, clutching his palm. Blood trickles from a small puncture wound.

"Damn it!" he hisses, wiping his hand on his pants. He looks around, paranoid that the noise might attract something. His heart pounds in his chest. He doesn't have time to waste. He takes a deep breath, grits his teeth, and carefully picks the berries, ignoring the pain as each one pricks his fingers.

With ten berries in hand, he turns to head back to the field, but he suddenly hears a rustling behind him. He freezes, fear creeping up his spine. Slowly, he turns around, expecting to see another creature — but it's the woman from the scarred man's group.

She's alone, her face pale and her breathing heavy. She eyes the berries in Ryo's hands.

"Give me those," she demands, her voice trembling. "I need them. Please."

Ryo hesitates. He doesn't know what to do. She looks desperate, and he's not sure if she's a threat or just scared. Before he can respond, she lunges at him, trying to grab the berries. Instinctively, he steps back, but she's quicker than he anticipated. They struggle for a moment, and Ryo's anger flares. He shouts, "Back off!" and pushes her away with more force than he intended.

She stumbles and falls, hitting her head on a rock with a sickening thud. Ryo's eyes widen in horror. She's lying motionless on the ground, blood pooling around her head.

"What have I done?" he whispers, panic surging through him. He looks around, realizing he needs to get out of the forest before anyone finds him. He grabs the berries and runs, his heart pounding, his mind racing with guilt and fear.