.After confirming the goblin was dead, Mark finally exhaled. His legs gave out, and he slumped to the ground. He had just killed a living creature and, in doing so, saved his own life. But there was no time to dwell on the morality of it. Once his racing heart steadied, he turned his full attention to his left arm.
Based on his experience as a manual laborer, Mark could tell he'd been lucky. The range of motion in his arm wasn't restricted, and the bleeding was relatively light. The cut was superficial—it had only sliced through the skin and hadn't reached the muscle. The System's appraisal confirmed his diagnosis. He tore a strip from a clean part of his clothes and used it as a makeshift bandage. The pain was sharp and stinging, but manageable. His starter kit's medical supplies were back in the Safe Zone, so he needed to head back immediately.
First, Mark spent some time locating the last tree he had marked. Using it as a reference point, he began navigating back toward the Gate. It was then that he realized a crucial tactical error: he had been so focused on Mana Sense to detect goblins that he'd forgotten it couldn't perceive mana-less objects like ordinary plants. However, he discovered a stroke of luck—whatever his Blind Staff touched, he could appraise instantly. It was as if the staff had become an extension of his own body.
The System's assistance made navigating much faster. Whenever he tapped a marked tree, it would display: [Marked Oak Tree]. He continued retracing his steps until he reached another uniquely marked tree: [Marked Apple Tree].
An apple? For real? Ignoring the throb in his arm, Mark began inspecting the tree.
[Appraisal: Marked Apple Tree]
Quality: Average wood.
Usefulness: Edible fruit.
A real apple. Even if most were gone, he hoped at least one remained. He fumbled through the lower branches, but they were picked clean. He raised his staff higher, tapping through the canopy: [Apple Tree Leaf]... [Apple Tree Branch]... And then, finally:
[Appraisal: Apple Tree Fruit]
Quality: Fresh.
Usefulness: Edible.
Mark struck the branch with his staff, and a satisfying thud echoed from the forest floor. He scrambled toward the sound, searching the dirt until his fingers brushed against it.
[Appraisal: Apple Tree Fruit]
Quality: Slightly bruised.
Usefulness: Edible.
Unable to restrain himself, Mark wiped the apple on his shirt and took a large, desperate bite. The sharp acidity and bruised texture weren't exactly to his liking, but as of today, it had become his favorite taste in the world. After finishing it, only the core remained. He didn't have the heart to throw it away, so he tucked it safely into his Inventory.
Mark mentally noted the location of the tree and headed back toward the Gate. Fortunately, the Gate itself pulsed with mana. Using Mana Sense, he tracked it down and stepped through. Once more, he felt the sensation of being swallowed by a vacuum before emerging on the other side.
Back in the Safe Zone, Mark slumped onto the cold floor. The forest smells and biting wind vanished. He grabbed the medical box from his starter kit, washed the wound in the bathroom, and applied antiseptic. After wrapping it in clean bandages, he lay down to sleep, hoping to recover his strength.