Yu’s wild joy lasted only an instant before his calm returned.
The glaring “1” in the upper-right corner of the screen was like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head.
He had only one point.
Whenever he focused on an option, an extremely faint line of gray text appeared beneath it.
[Once selected and confirmed, this option will be permanently locked.
It cannot be undone or changed.]
He had only one chance.
At that point, Yu could no longer resist complaining.
‘You call yourself a Cheat Engine, yet some features still need points to unlock.
Isn’t that like advertising something as free, only to lock half its functions behind microtransactions?’
‘What shameless monetization…’
Yu seemed to recall something and shook his head helplessly.
Still, he kept his complaints to himself and returned his attention to the screen.
His first choice would be crucial.
His gaze returned to the top of the list and settled on [Eye of Omniscience].
Compared to the simple, direct benefits of increasing drop rates or doubling loot, this ability seemed far more…
fundamental.
‘So it lets me view detailed information?’
In a completely unfamiliar world, information itself could be one of the most powerful weapons available.
His hesitation lasted only a few seconds.
Yu focused his thoughts on [Eye of Omniscience].
[Spend 1 Cheat Point to activate the permanent passive ability Eye of Omniscience?]
[Warning: Upon confirmation, your Cheat Points will fall to zero.
This decision cannot be reversed.]
Two buttons floated beneath the notification.
[Confirm]
[Cancel]
“Confirm.”
Without any further hesitation, Yu made his choice.
The instant he selected the option, the “1” in the upper-right corner flickered before dropping to zero and disappearing.
At almost the same moment, a faint warmth spread through his eyes.
It was not uncomfortable.
Instead, it felt as though an invisible pair of contact lenses had settled over them.
Yu blinked and looked at his personal status screen again.
The three-dimensional model remained.
The energy bar and attribute list were also unchanged.
Yet something was different.
Lines of detailed, pale-gray text had appeared beneath the previously simple attribute names and values.
[Strength: 9]
[Determines physical damage output, carrying capacity, melee damage, and the results of certain physical activities.]
[Dexterity: 11]
[Determines attack speed, evasion rate, movement speed, and fine hand movements.]
[Constitution: 9]
[Determines maximum Health, maximum Stamina, Stamina recovery, and resistance to abnormal conditions.]
[Intelligence: 11]
[Determines maximum Energy, Energy recovery, skill-learning efficiency and limits, and analytical ability.]
Not only that, but an attribute that had not been displayed before appeared beneath [Intelligence].
[Luck: 5]
[Determines critical-hit rate, rare-item drop rate, and the chance for random events to produce favorable outcomes.]
‘So that’s what the Eye of Omniscience does.’
Yu immediately understood.
It did more than clarify the previously vague effects of each attribute.
It had even revealed the hidden attribute [Luck].
However, there were no plus or minus buttons beside Luck, meaning he could not directly modify its value.
“What kind of half-baked Cheat Engine are you?”
Yu complained aloud, though that was all it was—a complaint.
Simply being able to see Luck already gave him an enormous informational advantage.
Then something occurred to him, and he hurriedly looked at the neighboring tab.
Sure enough, the ability to modify his Luck value was another feature that required Cheat Points to unlock.
“You even sell the features separately?
What a swindler.”
The Beast Tide countdown still hovered at the edge of his vision.
Its crimson numbers continued their merciless descent, reminding him that time was slipping away.
Just as Yu was about to close it and plan his next move, the countdown window suddenly flickered.
New lines of text appeared beneath it.
[Beast Tide Information—Detected (Basic)]
[First Wave (Probe)]
[Shadowclaw Wolf (Lv.
2) ×9—Usually travels alone or in groups of three to five.
Agile and skilled at pouncing and claw attacks.]
[Bristlehide Boar (Lv.
2) ×6—Possesses thick hide and a powerful straight-line charge.
Weak points are the abdomen and eyes.]
[Carrion Vulture (Lv.
3) ×3—Aerial unit that attacks by diving, clawing, and pecking.
May carry a decay toxin.]
…
[Second Wave (Main Force)]
[Shadowclaw Wolf (Lv.
2) ×12]
[Bristlehide Boar (Lv.
2) ×9]
[Stoneskin Python (Lv.
3) ×3—Hides underground or within tall grass before ambushing and constricting its prey.
Possesses strong defenses.]
…
[Final Wave (Boss)]
[Earthshaker Bear (Lv.
5) ×1—Possesses tremendous strength and can create shockwaves by slamming the ground.
Maintain your distance and be prepared to evade.]
[Note: Detection results are generated from an assessment of the area’s average threat level.
The actual species, numbers, strength, and wave composition may change due to unknown factors.]
“Whoa, I can even see this?”
Yu’s pupils contracted as his gaze swept across the descriptions and numbers.
“Wolves, boars, vultures, a python…
and even a bear?”
He murmured each name, paying particular attention to the final entry.
The name [Earthshaker Bear] and its ability to create shockwaves were enough to make him feel the crushing pressure it represented.
‘Isn’t that far too many?
The probing wave alone has eighteen monsters?’
‘No, seriously—is this right?’
Based on the countless stories Yu had read, a novice Beast Tide should have consisted of three or five lone wolves, or perhaps one or two stupid boars volunteering to become experience points.
This lineup seemed designed to intimidate newcomers.
No, it looked more like it was meant to crush them at the starting line.
Sure enough, protagonists were simply built differently.
“Looks like there isn’t anything safe about this seven-day ‘grace period’…”
Yu’s lips twitched as the pressure on his shoulders grew even heavier.
He needed to gather wood, repair the cabin, locate food and water, and possibly craft weapons and armor.
Now, improving his personal combat strength had also become an urgent priority.
Seven days was far too short.
Yu surveyed his Starter Cabin again.
With the Eye of Omniscience active, detailed information appeared as his gaze passed over the holes in the walls, the drafty gaps, the moldy straw bed in the corner, and the glass sphere floating at the center of the cabin.
[Damaged Pine Walls (Multiple Areas)—Structurally fragile, with almost no defensive ability.
Cold wind and small creatures can pass through freely.
Repair as soon as possible.]
[Drafty Fir Roof (Severely Damaged)—Cannot keep out rain and provides extremely poor insulation.
Repair should be prioritized.]
[Moldy Hay Pile—A crude resting place that slowly restores a small amount of Stamina.
Its poor sanitation may cause health problems with prolonged use.]
[Starter Core (Unnamed)—The shelter’s core, connected to the Survival System.
Provides access to status information, crafting, communication, and other functions.
Indestructible at the current stage.]
The information was detailed, but it only confirmed how miserable his situation was.
Four bare walls and a roof that might lose to the next gust—his circumstances could not have been more literal.
“Thinking won’t get me anywhere.
I need to look outside.”
Yu suppressed his distracting thoughts and decided to explore his surroundings first.
He walked to the crooked wooden door, which looked as though a single kick could knock it off its hinges, and pulled it open with some force.
Creeeak—Bang!
The skin-crawling scrape of the hinges rang out alongside the dull crash of the door striking the wall.
More cold air rushed into the cabin, carrying the fresh scents of soil and vegetation.