Ryan had been trekking towards the misty swamp for a few hours, and "soggy" was definitely becoming the word of the day.
The ground squelched under his boots with every step, the air was thick enough to swim in, and everything smelled like damp socks and regret.
He was starting to think that maybe the "Submerged Precursor Waystation" was just a fancy name for a very old, very leaky garden shed.
He was also getting tired. Fighting four Anomalies and a mind-controlling ghost, then hiking through a swamp, was surprisingly exhausting.
He finally found a relatively dry-ish patch of ground, a little hummock of earth rising a few feet above the murky water, sheltered by a clump of gnarled, moss-covered trees.
"This looks like a five-star resort compared to everything else around here," he muttered, shrugging off his pack [which mostly contained his ration brick and a few interesting rocks he couldn't resist picking up].
First things first: safety. He didn't want any swamp lurkers inviting themselves to dinner while he was trying to have his own. He remembered the Bioluminescent Spores he'd extracted from that glowy moss Boulder had stepped on.
He mentally sprinkled them around the edge of his little hummock.
A faint, gentle golden light shimmered into existence, pushing back the gloom and making the area feel a tiny bit less like the set of a horror movie.
It wasn't a force field, but at least he'd be able to see if anything with too many teeth tried to sneak up on him.
Next: food. He pulled out his "Pioneer's Rations." The dense brick still looked about as appetizing as a lump of dried mud.
He also remembered extracting some Regenerative Sap from a Vine Ghoul earlier. It wasn't for eating, but it had restorative properties.
He wondered…...
He looked around. He needed a fire, but making one in a damp swamp without attracting every mosquito and monster in a five-mile radius was tricky.
Then he remembered another extraction: a small, smooth Heat Stone he'd pulled from a volcanic rock fragment he'd found near a fissure.
His system had said it could generate localized, smokeless heat. Perfect!
He carefully placed the Heat Stone on a flat rock, then mentally willed it to activate. A soft, reddish glow emanated from it, along with a surprising amount of warmth.
No smoke, no crackling flames, just clean, efficient heat. SSS-Tier powers were surprisingly handy for camping.
He broke off a chunk of his ration brick, impaled it on a sharpened stick [he was getting good at basic survival stuff!], and started roasting it over the Heat Stone.
The dry, crumbly ration actually started to smell… well, not good, but definitely better. Almost like slightly burnt, very plain toast.
While his gourmet meal was cooking, he decided to experiment. He had his Cloak of Shifting Umbra [+15 Stealth] and his Environmental Camouflage talent [minor blending with natural surroundings].
How well did they work together in a swamp?
He activated both. The cloak seemed to darken further, its fabric rippling like disturbed water.
The camouflage talent made his outline fuzz against the backdrop of gnarled trees and murky water. He looked at his reflection in a nearby puddle.
He wasn't invisible, but he was definitely harder to see, like a poorly focused photograph. "Not bad," he thought. "I'm basically a walking, talking smudge. Very tactical."
He pulled out his god Interface and checked the CommNet for Outpost #7. It was mostly people complaining.
BigTony77: Ugh, I'm so hungry! This NP stuff doesn't fill your stomach! And the beige goo from the pod just makes me sad.
PrincessFluffybutt: Does anyone know if cats can eat Pioneer's Rations? Just in case I find them. They're very picky eaters.
ConfusedCarl: I tried toasting my ration brick over my 'Minor Heat Affinity' pinky finger. It just got warm and a bit smoky. And now my finger smells like despair.
SmartyPants2000: Sustained physical and mental exertion requires caloric intake beyond what the basic nutrient dispenser provides. This is a critical oversight in the Genesis Protocol! I demand better catering!
Ryan chuckled. It seemed everyone was discovering the downside of being magically transported to a new dimension: the food options were terrible.
His own roasted ration chunk was starting to look nicely browned. He pulled it off the Heat Stone, let it cool for a moment, then took a bite.
It was… surprisingly okay! The roasting had made it slightly crispy on the outside and a bit softer on the inside. It still tasted mostly like nutritious cardboard, but it was warm, and the act of preparing it somehow made it feel more like real food.
More importantly, as he ate, he felt a noticeable difference. The Interface pinged.
Properly Prepared Food [Roasted Pioneer's Rations] Consumed.
Effect: Stamina Restoration [Minor Boost].
Note: Cooking your food like a civilized being actually makes it better for you! Who knew? Well, probably everyone. But now you know in a system-verified way!
His "Stamina" bar, a secondary resource meter he hadn't paid much attention to before, which represented his ability to keep going without getting exhausted, actually went up! It wasn't just about not being hungry; it was about having more energy for sustained effort, like fighting or running away screaming.
Just then, a global announcement from the God Warden echoed through the CommNet:
"Attention Arrivals: Ryan Stone [Outpost #7] Has Discovered that 'Properly Prepared Food' Enhances Stamina Recovery. This Knowledge is now Shared. Ryan Stone is Awarded +1 Influence For this Discovery."
The CommNet absolutely exploded.
BigTony77: COOKED FOOD?! Ryan Stone, you're a genius! How do we cook it?! I don't have a Heat Stone!
PrincessFluffybutt: Oh, wonderful! Maybe my cats would eat it if it's roasted! Does he deliver?
ConfusedCarl: My pinky finger is not up to this task! Ryan Stone, you are a culinary god among men! Teach us your ways!
Ace_Striker_001: Pfft. Cooking. Big deal. I bet it still tastes like dirt.
Ryan was a bit stunned. +1 Influence just for roasting a ration brick? He was now at Influence 2! He was practically a politician!
The God Warden wasn't done. Another announcement followed:
"Due to the Demonstrated Need for Resources Exchange, The 'Outpost Barter System ' is now Active. Arrivals May List Items or Services for Trade Via the CommNET INTERFACE.
All Trades are Binding and Monitored by the God Warden. "Stick to fair play. Cheaters will face... consequences."
A new tab appeared on Ryan's CommNet: "Barter."
An idea sparked in Ryan's newly enhanced, well-fed brain. People were desperate for cooked food. He had a Heat Stone and a method.
And he needed things. Specifically, things that might help him get into that Submerged Precursor Waystation. Like Unstable Genesis Shards [always useful] or maybe Precursor Artifact Fragments.
He quickly listed a small portion of his "Roasted Rations [Stamina Boost: Minor]" on the Barter system.
For the "price," he put: "Seeking Unstable Genesis Shards or Precursor Artifact Fragments. Serious offers only. No low-ballers, I know what I have [it's slightly burnt toast, but it's Stamina-boosting slightly burnt toast]."
He hit "Post Listing."
Almost immediately, another God Warden announcement:
"Ryan Stone [Outpost #7] is the First Arrival to Utilize the Outpost Barter System. Awarded +1 Influence For Initiative."
Ryan stared. Influence 3! Just for being the first to try and sell his slightly charred survival snacks! He was on a roll! He was a discoverer, an influencer, and now, a budding entrepreneur!
He grinned.
This swamp adventure was turning out to be surprisingly profitable. Now, he just had to see if anyone would actually trade valuable Anomaly bits or ancient Precursor junk for a piece of his campfire cooking.
He had a feeling they just might. Desperate times called for desperate measures