One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

Pain.

A dull, throbbing pain spread across my body, dragging me back from the depths of unconsciousness. My limbs felt like lead, my side burned like fire, and my throat was dry as if I had swallowed sand.

I barely managed to pry my eyes open.

The first thing I saw was the dark canopy of the jungle, faint rays of sunlight piercing through the leaves above. The fire had long since died, leaving only smoldering embers.

I tried to move—pain shot through my ribs.

I sucked in a sharp breath and immediately regretted it. Damn it, that thing got me good.

Then I remembered.

The beast. The fight.

My heart lurched as I forced myself to sit up, scanning my surroundings. The ground was stained with dried blood, and only a few feet away—the body of the monster lay still.

Its massive form had stopped moving. The once-glowing red eyes were now dull and lifeless.

It's really dead.

I exhaled, tension leaving my body all at once.

A soft rustling sound made me turn my head.

The black wolf was there, sitting a few feet away, watching me with its sharp golden eyes.

It was injured too. Deep claw marks ran across its side, blood drying in its fur. But despite the wounds, it was still alive.

Just like me.

Our eyes met.

For a moment, neither of us moved. There was something in the way it looked at me—acknowledgment.

It had fought for me.

And I… had fought for it.

I let out a hoarse chuckle, shaking my head. "Looks like we both got messed up, huh?"

The wolf let out a low huff, almost like a scoff.

I winced as I touched my side. The wound wasn't deep enough to kill me, but without proper care, it could get infected. I needed to clean it.

Dragging myself toward my supplies, I pulled out my only container—half-filled with water. I hesitated. Should I drink it or use it for my wound?

Before I could decide, the wolf suddenly stood up and padded toward the trees.

I tensed slightly, but it didn't attack. Instead, it disappeared into the foliage.

Where is it going?

I forced myself to focus. Survival first.

Gritting my teeth, I poured the water over my wound. The sting was immediate, sending sharp pain through my body. I clenched my jaw to keep from yelling.

Once the worst of the pain faded, I tore a strip of cloth from my already ruined shirt and wrapped it around my torso. It wasn't much, but it would have to do for now.

Then, the wolf returned.

In its jaws, it carried… leaves?

It walked up to me and dropped them at my feet.

I blinked. "What…?"

The wolf nudged the leaves with its nose.

Was it… giving these to me?

I hesitated before picking one up. The scent was strong—herbal, almost minty. It reminded me of something… medicine.

Realization struck me like lightning.

This wolf knew what it was doing.

Slowly, I chewed on the leaf. A bitter taste filled my mouth, but almost instantly, a cooling sensation spread through my body.

It was medicine.

I looked at the wolf in shock. "You knew these were good for wounds?"

The wolf just sat there, staring at me.

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

This wasn't just some wild animal. It was intelligent.

And more than that…

It had chosen to help me.

I swallowed the last of the leaf and let out a breath.

"Alright then," I muttered, looking at the wolf. A small smile tugged at my lips. "I guess that means we're partners now."

The wolf didn't respond—just watched me with those piercing golden eyes.

But somehow, I knew.

I wasn't alone anymore.