—— ? ——

  Snow exploded in every direction.

  Simon groaned.

  I’m alive?

  Working body? Simon wiggled his toes. Check.

  Working face?

  He felt icy water drip down his nose. His eyes opened and were greeted with darkness. Turning his head, he saw nothing.

  Simon’s face was freezing. Every exposed piece of flesh felt the tingling prickle of snow.

  When did I get gloves? He thought as he wiggled his fingers in the leather accessories.

  Bringing his hands under him, he pushed against the snow beneath him.

  The world shifted in his vision as he managed to roll onto his side. Snow clung to his coat, a recent addition, and he could make out faint moonlight filtering down from above him.

  He sat up slowly, breath misting in the cold air.

  His brain finally started catching up. Simon was on a slope, half buried in snow, surrounded by dark ridgelines.

  Sharp mountains loomed in every direction, and beneath him, faint lights blinked. The distant lanterns promised civilization.

  Taking stock of his body, he found he was soaked, cold, and sore.

  How long was I out? I could see when I was falling. I’m pretty sure it was at least early evening.

  Optimal Starting Location: Glacial Valley of Varnholt - Mountain Hillside

  The words from the system notices flashed in his memory, accompanied by Melodian’s stupid, smug face grinning at him before the world had twisted and spat him into the sky.

  Simon felt there were new notices in his mind that he hadn’t read.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE —-

  > ENTRY TO INTEGRATED UNIVERSE SUCCESSFUL

  Welcome, Simon Starfall, to the integrated universe.

  Dangerous forces detected on entry, impact reduced to minor. No critical injuries were sustained.

  > Status: System features currently suspended.

  Currently, you have appeared outside of a hub zone. As the nearest hub is already established and easily accessible, hub establishment is not required.

  > New Quest!

  

  
• Foundations of the Universe has been added


  

  Harmony is offered. Growth is earned. Limits are unknown.

  ——————————

  Simon stared at the message notice for a moment, then mentally pulled up the second one.

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE —-

  > QUEST: FOUNDATIONS OF THE UNIVERSE

  > Status: Active

  > Objective: Reach the nearest stabilized hub.

  > Recommended Target: Varnholt Artisan Enclave (2.4 kilometers)

  > Reward:

  

  
• Unlock Basic System Functions.


  
• Unlock Personal Status.


  
• Stabilization and Anchor Established.


  

  > Failure Condition: None.

  You aren’t required to do this if you so choose.

  But it is very cold out.

  Just food for thought.

  ——————————

  Simon looked at the glowing quest notice, then at the far-off lights.

  “Yeah. You know what? I’m actually kind of okay with that one.” He shivered and glanced toward the valley. “Downhill. Lights. Heated buildings. Works for me.”

  Simon pulled himself out of the crater that he had made via body impact and took a few careful steps.

  His boots crunched softly against the packed snow. Simon glanced down and was pleased with the leather boots he wore. Apparently, dressing someone before throwing them into a frozen wasteland was the polite thing to do.

  He was wearing a full set of gear that screamed expensive winter survival, likely courtesy of Melodian’s last little “boon.” The coat was thick but surprisingly light, trimmed with dark emerald embroidery that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. His gloves fit perfectly, layered for both dexterity and warmth. A thick scarf was tucked snugly beneath his collar.

  While all of this was extremely functional, he decided he was definitely going to need a wardrobe change as soon as possible. It was just far too pretentious for Simon’s tastes, and was dyed in that jerk’s branding.

  The wind nipped at his cheeks as if encouraging him to stop thinking and get moving faster.

  Simon obliged and trudged down the snow-filled hillside.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  He kept his eyes on the faint glow of what he assumed were Varnholt’s lanterns as he walked.

  “Recommended target of the quest, no kidding.” Simon muttered as he glanced around the valley. In every direction, there were towering mountains as far as he could see.

  “How on earth would I even go to a different town? This whole place looks like it’s just one massive bowl.”

  Simon shook his head and refocused on his goal.

  The world around him was quiet in a way that only snow-covered landscapes could manage.

  It wasn’t complete, mind you. Every so often, strange sounds carried on the wind. The sounds made Simon’s mind jump. While he hadn’t been the most proficient outdoorsman, there was something about them that was alien. They were faint echoes of something moving out in the dark.

  Simon hummed a bit to help calm his mind and just kept walking. Around him, the wind whipped small flurries of snow back and forth. They twisted into small vortexes that spun in violent patterns before scattering and fading.

  It was beautiful, but terrifying. Simon had never seen this place before.

  Simon couldn’t enjoy the crystalline reflections of the moon on the pristine snow.

  Another gust of wind pulled at his coat, but the heavy fabric held firm. His boots gripped with surprising ease, and Simon almost found himself grateful to whatever part of the boon had included a full weather package.

  Or, you know, he could have just dropped me in the town like a sane person. He thought to himself over the howling gusts of wind.

  If he hadn’t gotten soaked from lying unconscious in his touchdown crater, he may have enjoyed this hike.

  Time dragged on. Thirty minutes? Forty?

  It was hard for Simon to tell. Regardless of the negatives, he missed his built-in notice clock from Melodian’s realm.

  A few minutes later, something changed.

  The landscape lit up with a wash of colors, and Simon looked skyward. The sky had become awash with the vibrant colors of an aurora. Green streaks snaked across the sky. Pinkish hues pulsed in other sections like a heartbeat.

  Oh, that’s pretty. I really wish I hadn’t looked up though.

  The sky had been absolutely stunning, but the constellations behind it felt so wrong. Simon could pick out the Big Dipper, but that was the only one that looked familiar. The sky was filled with more stars than Simon believed was possible.

  Not in Kansas any more Toto. Wait.. Am I in Kansas? Is this New Kansas? Man, I need some answers.

  Simon shook his head and looked down from the sky.

  Just in time to see a blur of fur flying towards him.

  Simon tried to react, but he had been thoroughly distracted.

  A sharp pain in his arm was his reward.

  “Holy! AGHHHHHH!” he yelled as he stumbled back and started hitting the white head with two long fuzzy ears that was attached to his arm.

  Simon pummeled the creature as he fell back in the snow. A sharp pressure increased as the teeth of the creature closed harder, digging into his arm.

  He felt the warm sensation of liquid pouring from the wound and into his clothing.

  Simon growled and renewed his assault on the maniacal creature that was attempting to sever his arm.

  After several seconds, the creature seemed to have had enough of his gloved fist wailing on its head. Simon felt two furry paws touch his midsection, and then it felt like he had been punched. The creature leapt backwards, flipped and landed in the snow, ripping out a chunk of Simon’s coat on the way.

  Simon grunted and held his hurt arm protectively as he stared at this terror of the snow.

  The creature was larger than a house cat, and was rabbit-like. It had too-long limbs and glowing green eyes. It was covered in white fur that was speckled with black. The creature’s face was more horse-like than a rabbit, and it lacked whiskers. What it wasn’t missing was the color red. The rabbit from hell’s mouth was covered in the viscous fluid.

  Simon’s blood.

  The creature made small hops back and forth as it watched Simon.

  I am not dying to a piece of shit bunny after everything I have been through, Simon growled and readied his stance.

  Then he remembered his skill.

  ——————————

  Skill: Theodia’s Instrumental Summon (Inferior) – Growth-Class – Ravenous

  Use: Summons a random instrument for the user. This instrument will persist for five minutes.

  Cooldown: 60 seconds.

  ——————————

  Simon grit his teeth. “Well, here goes nothing.”

  He reached into his mind and felt the skill. Thank god this was intuitive.

  It felt like the skill was just a part of him, like how someone just knows they have a limb.

  Simon mentally activated the skill.

  A pulse of energy rippled from his chest. He felt it wanted direction, so he gave it. Simon focused it on his open, uninjured hand.

  With a soft pop, the summoned instrument materialized in his hand.

  A kazoo.

  Simon’s face fell in disbelief.

  The creature had hopped back when the energy rippled out.

  After it saw the outcome, it lunged towards the shocked mortal.

  Simon was more prepared this time. His body moved on instinct, and he fell into the stance he had practiced so many times.

  He barely dodged the rabbit creature as it flew past him.

  Simon shook his head and stepped to face the creature, but he was too slow.

  Its hind legs slammed into his chest and made him stagger backwards.

  Simon recovered and took two quick steps back, barely missing the next lunge.

  He looked at the creature, rage boiling inside of him. He roared as he stepped forward.

  The creature and he collided. Simon snapped his good arm up and caught it with his fist.

  It was like a child had lightly tapped the rabbit thing. Simon was given a sharp bite through his glove as a reward.

  What the hell? I hit him! He thought in a panic.

  The creature bounced back and forth and got out of Simon’s vision.

  The thing was fast.

  A sharp pain in his side revealed where it had gone.

  Once again, the thing had attached itself to his flesh. Simon punched at it, but his blows bounced off the creature.

  He was panicking. Nothing he was doing was working. Blood was trickling out of multiple wounds and decorated the snow like a macabre Pollock painting.

  Simon got angrier and angrier.

  This whole situation was so stupid.

  Was he going to die to some rabbit creature on a frozen hillside?

  This was his fate?

  He pummeled the head of the creature, but it wouldn’t let go.

  On the ground, he spotted the shining metal of the kazoo that had slipped from his fingers when it had bitten his hand.

  Simon felt dizzy; The blood loss was causing his vision to whirl.

  He stumbled forward, still incapable of making the creature release. With every second, the thing’s teeth sunk deeper and deeper into his side.

  Simon had been yelling out in pain without realizing it.

  In an act of desperation, he leaned down and scooped up the kazoo.

  Through white-hot pain and gritted teeth, he spat out

  “I.”

  He hit the creature’s head again. It clenched its teeth further into his body.

  “AM.”

  Again. The pain grew, and he could feel the creature’s teeth on his bone.

  “NOT.”

  The pain grew worse.

  “DYING.”

  Simon shifted the instrument in his hand.

  “BECAUSE OF A SHITTY KAZOO!” He bellowed slamming the kazoo down.

  It plunged into the creature's skull.

  The kazoo warped and shattered, leaving behind shimmering wisps of energy.

  But it had done its job; Simon had hit it right between its iridescent green eyes.

  The glow, which reminded him of lights above, faded from the creature, and its jaws slackened, and it slurped out and off of Simon.

  Simon lay in the snow, panting and whimpering.

  Pain radiated from where the creature had bitten him. His vision swam.

  But then he felt the oozing blood begin to slow. His body felt like it was slowly coming back together.

  Simon’s mind was surprisingly clear, despite the pain and his injuries.

  Oh right, what was it called? Threshold something? He thought.

  He was about to pull the skill’s description when the hair on the back of his neck stood up.

  Simon carefully scanned the surrounding area lit with moonlight and the beautiful flickering colors of the aurora.

  Then he saw them.

  Two sets of glowing green eyes.

  —— ? ——

  — AUTHOR NOTICE —

  > Thanks for all of the follows, favorites and comments!

  ~TheBusyBard

  Harmony is offered, growth is earned, Limits are unknown.

  ——————————