Finding Supplies

Ethan wiped the sweat from his forehead, the sun still high in the sky as he surveyed his progress. His small makeshift home was coming together nicely—crafted from simple wooden planks, it was a standard Minecraft shelter. The walls were blocky and rough, but it provided some safety. He had already set up a furnace in one corner and a small chest filled with the few materials he'd gathered: wood, sticks, stone, and a few iron ingots he'd found during a brief mining expedition earlier.

"Iron tools are next," he muttered to himself. He placed the iron ingots into the crafting menu, combining them with sticks to create his first iron pickaxe. He admired it for a moment before placing it in his inventory. "This'll make things easier."

With renewed energy, Ethan grabbed his axe—still wooden, but it would do for now—and headed outside. His shelter was situated on the edge of a dense forest, trees stretching out in all directions. He set to work, chopping down a few more trees to stock up on wood. The axe wasn't as efficient as his iron pickaxe, but after a few swings, he had enough materials to reinforce his shelter and craft more essentials.

Inside his house, it felt oddly empty. There was no bed—he hadn't seen any sheep yet—and the lack of life made the world feel eerily lonely. He added a couple of windows and double-checked his furnace, making sure everything was in order. His house might have been basic, but it was home.

Despite the progress, something was missing. Ethan paused, leaning on the wall of his house. "There's no one here," he muttered to himself. No villagers, no animals—just silence. The realization sank in as he scanned the horizon. "Am I alone here?"

Then, his stomach grumbled loudly. He hadn't eaten since arriving, and it hit him all at once. The hunger gnawed at him, a sharp reminder that, just like in Minecraft, he'd need to find food to survive. He grabbed his newly made iron sword, feeling its weight in his hand. "Time to hunt."

Stepping outside, he ventured beyond the trees, deeper into the open plains. His eyes scanned the surroundings for any sign of life, but the world felt oddly barren. Just as he was starting to worry, movement caught his eye—a cow, grazing peacefully near the edge of the forest.

"Finally," Ethan said with relief. He gripped his sword tighter and approached cautiously. In the game, cows were easy to kill, but here—everything seemed so much more real. The thought of actually having to kill something made him hesitate for a moment, but the hunger gnawing at his stomach pushed him forward.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan charged at the cow, sword raised. "I need this," he muttered, swinging hard. The blade hit the cow's flank with a dull thud. It didn't die immediately like in the game. Instead, the cow let out a loud, pained *moo* and turned toward him with an angry glare in its dark eyes.

Before Ethan could react, the cow charged, ramming into him with surprising force. He was knocked off his feet, landing hard on the ground. Pain shot through his back, and his sword slipped from his hand, clattering to the dirt. "What the—" he groaned, clutching his side as the cow bolted into the distance.

Disoriented and embarrassed, Ethan lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky. "Did I just get knocked down by a cow?" He groaned and sat up, watching the animal disappear into the forest. He thought about chasing after it but quickly decided against it. "Maybe I'll stick to something easier."

He picked himself up, dusting off his clothes, and sighed. His pride stung more than his body. As he turned back toward his house, movement caught his eye again—a chicken, pecking around in the grass just a few meters away.

Ethan's stomach growled again. This time, he didn't hesitate. Grabbing his sword, he carefully stalked the chicken, trying not to scare it off. The sun was already beginning to set, the sky turning shades of orange and pink. The shadows grew longer, and Ethan's anxiety started to rise. He remembered what happened at night in Minecraft. Hostile mobs—zombies, skeletons, spiders—they came out when the sun disappeared.

"Not much time," he muttered, eyes fixed on the chicken. He lunged forward, sword in hand, and struck the chicken with one swift swing. The small creature fell instantly, and Ethan let out a sigh of relief as he picked it up. "Got it."

But as he looked up, the world around him had already grown darker. The sun was barely a sliver on the horizon, and the night was fast approaching. His heart began to race. "I've got to get back," he said aloud, glancing nervously at the darkening forest.

The wind had picked up, carrying with it the eerie stillness of night. Ethan hurried toward his shelter, chicken in hand, eyes scanning the shadows. He could feel the world changing around him—the same way it always did when night fell in Minecraft. But here, it was different. Here, the fear was real.

Just before he reached his door, he heard something behind him—a low groaning sound, like the shuffle of feet through tall grass. Ethan froze, his blood running cold. He didn't need to turn around to know what it was.

"Zombies."

He sprinted inside, slamming the door shut behind him. Darkness had fully settled over the land, and as he peered through the window, he could see them. Shadows moving in the distance, eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

For now, he was safe. But the real challenge had just begun.