Watch the "Get the First Body-Armor" tutorial in the Video section to see how to fight the lake dwelling beast and acquire the first body-armor in the game. It also shows the next path in the map of where the ramps to the upper levels are from "Ground Zero".

NOTE: You will need ALL the body-armors in order to properly use the more powerful weapons in the upper levels & increase your health. Without armor, the blast from these weapons can kill you.

This video starts off from where "First 5 Minutes" left off.

(Click on image to view a larger picture)

You will need the HOLO-MAP mostly to navigate the forest ground only. The Ramp-Ways are a one-way direction.

Your current location is designated by a blinking yellow arrow. Your goal is designated by a green non-blinking arrow.

You are stuck in basically what is a forest valley filled with swaps.

There are 5 giant trees that stand out in the forest.
Use the N, S, E, W compass signs in the HOLO-MAP to find them:
1 in North-East corner (N E).
1 in North-West corner (N W).
1 in South-East corner (S E).
1 in South-West corner (S W).
1 in the center.

You start at the giant tree in (S W) corner of the forest.

The LABs are habitable modules where you can replenish your health and ammo, get info about your next objectives / story plot, and save your game. There is a LAB on each level on one of those giant trees. You need to reach the LAB on the giant tree in the center of the forest.

The Ramp-Ways are a path-way to navigate around the giant trees. The giant tree at the North-East corner of the forest is the only tree that has access to get UP to the Ramp-Ways.