C16 Chapter 15 – The Sound in the Forest
The sound echoed once again.
Clang!
Clang!
Aiden stood motionless beside the campfire.
The noise came from the eastern forest.
It was faint, but clear.
Metal striking stone.
His first thought was simple.
"Another player?"
But he quickly shook his head.
The System had clearly said that every person started on their own island.
No one should be here.
Then...
What had made that sound?
---
The campfire crackled softly as the evening sky darkened.
Aiden looked toward the forest for several long seconds.
His curiosity urged him to investigate.
His reason told him otherwise.
"The forest is much more dangerous at night."
He remembered his first battle with the Fang Rabbits.
Night belonged to the monsters.
If something large was making that sound...
Walking into the darkness would be suicide.
"I'll wait until morning."
He added another piece of wood to the fire before entering his hut.
Even after lying down, he couldn't sleep immediately.
Every now and then...
The distant sound returned.
Clang...
Then silence.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
His eyes slowly closed.
---
The next morning...
Aiden woke before sunrise.
He packed carefully.
Inside his small leather pouch, he placed:
- Two pieces of roasted Fang Rabbit Meat.
- One bottle of fresh water.
- One Sweet Berry.
- The Small Health Potion.
He checked his Stone Axe.
The edge was still sharp.
Next, he crafted two simple wooden spears using the workbench.
They weren't perfect.
But they would give him another option during combat.
One stayed in his hand.
The other rested across his back.
"Always prepare before exploring."
That had become one of his personal rules.
---
Before leaving camp, he watered the wheat field.
The green shoots looked slightly taller than yesterday.
Nearby, the Forest Hopper appeared for a moment.
It watched him quietly before disappearing into the bushes.
Aiden smiled.
"I'll be back before sunset."
Although the little creature couldn't understand his words...
Saying them made him feel less alone.
---
The eastern forest was calm.
Morning sunlight slipped through the tall trees.
Birds flew between the branches.
A few squirrels searched for nuts.
The peaceful atmosphere almost made Aiden forget yesterday's strange sound.
Almost.
He followed the direction carefully.
Every few minutes, he stopped to listen.
Nothing.
Only the wind.
An hour passed.
Then another.
The sound never came.
"Did I imagine it?"
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
Clang!
This time it was much louder.
Aiden immediately crouched behind a fallen tree.
The sound had come from somewhere ahead.
He slowly moved forward.
One careful step after another.
His heartbeat grew faster.
Finally...
He reached the edge of a small rocky valley.
Large boulders surrounded the area.
The ground was covered with broken stones.
At the center stood a massive rock.
The metallic sound came from behind it.
Aiden tightened his grip on the spear.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
He leaned to the side.
Nothing.
The valley was empty.
The sound had stopped.
He frowned.
"That's impossible."
He had heard it clearly.
He searched the area for nearly twenty minutes.
No monsters.
No people.
No machines.
Only scattered stones.
Then he noticed something unusual.
On the large rock...
There was a fresh dent.
It looked as though something incredibly hard had struck it.
The edges were smooth.
Not broken.
Almost melted.
Aiden placed his hand against it.
The stone was cold.
Too cold.
Even though the morning sun had already warmed the surrounding rocks.
Before he could think further...
The System suddenly appeared.
Hidden Area Detected
Ancient Echo Valley
Current Exploration:
3%
Description:
A forgotten place that remembers the past.
Further information unavailable.
Aiden's eyes widened.
"So this place has a name..."
He looked around again.
The valley suddenly felt different.
Older.
As if countless years had passed through it.
He wanted to explore deeper.
But something inside him whispered...
Not yet.
He trusted his instincts.
"I'll come back when I'm stronger."
He marked the entrance by carving a small symbol into a nearby tree.
Then he quietly left.
---
On his way back, he discovered several fresh footprints near a stream.
Unlike the Fang Rabbits...
These prints were much larger.
Four toes.
Sharp claws.
The creature had crossed the stream only recently.
Aiden crouched to examine them.
The marks were deep.
Whatever had made them...
Was heavy.
He chose not to follow.
Instead, he memorized the location and walked away.
Surviving wasn't about proving courage.
It was about making the right decision.
---
By late afternoon, Aiden returned safely to his camp.
He sharpened his Stone Axe on a smooth rock.
Repaired one of his wooden spears.
Then watered his wheat field once more.
Everything looked peaceful again.
Yet...
His thoughts kept returning to the strange valley.
That sound.
That dent.
That cold stone.
None of it made sense.
As night fell, Aiden opened his Survival Journal.
Survival Journal – Day 11
- Curiosity without preparation leads to death.
- Some places should be explored later.
- The island hides ancient secrets.
- Retreating is not cowardice.
- Every mystery will have its time.
He closed the journal and looked toward the stars.
Far beneath the Ancient Echo Valley...
Hidden behind layers of stone...
A pair of glowing blue eyes slowly opened.
For the first time in hundreds of years...
Something had sensed a human presence.
And this time...
It did not fall asleep again.
