One day, my life changed forever.


    I was walking home after my university classes when I noticed something unusual on the ground. It was a stone, but not an ordinary one. It seemed to emit a faint glow, and its surface was so smooth that it reflected my face like a mirror.


    Something was drawing me toward it.


    I bent down, reached out my hand…


    And everything went dark.


    A deep void swallowed me, making me feel as if I were suspended in nothingness. No sound, no ground beneath my feet. Just absolute darkness.


    — Help me… — a voice suddenly echoed.


    I didn''t even have time to respond before another cold, emotionless voice spoke:


    — You have reached Level 1.


    Light returned.


    I found myself standing in the middle of a dense forest.


    The trees here were enormous, their tops lost somewhere high in the sky. Sunlight pierced through the leaves, creating golden patches on the ground, but… something was off.


    Silence.


    Absolute, unnatural silence. No birds singing, no rustling leaves, no chirping insects.


    I swallowed nervously and, to make sure this wasn''t an illusion, slapped myself on the cheek. The pain was real.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    — What the… Where am I? — I muttered, trying to grasp the situation.


    Remembering the voice, I instinctively shouted:


    — Show status!


    A translucent panel appeared before my eyes:


    <ul>


    <li>Attack: 1</li>


    <li>Defense: 1</li>


    <li>Speed: 1</li>


    <li>HP: 1</li>


    <li>…</li>


    </ul>


    — What?! Everything is at one?! I''m weaker than a child! — I almost cursed out loud.


    My gaze fell on the "Skills" section. There was only one entry:


    <ul>


    <li>Traveler</li>


    </ul>


    Clicking on it, I read the description:


    "You have been teleported to another world."


    — That''s it? No active or passive abilities? What kind of useless skill is this…


    — Don''t worry, you''re not alone.


    I flinched.


    Floating in front of me was a small, glowing white sphere. Its surface softly shimmered, covered in strange, shifting symbols.


    — Was that you speaking? — I asked.


    — Yes, it was me, — it responded in a calm voice.


    — Who are you?


    — I don''t know… I was just in the darkness until you touched me. But now I’m here and… it seems my energy brought us somewhere. My stats are all at zero as well, but there’s something odd… Instead of numbers, I only see question marks.


    — Hmm… But your name… "Soul of the Universe"? — I thought aloud. — Sounds like you''re really important.


    — Maybe… But what matters now is finding other people.


    — Alright, then I accept your help. If we’re in this together, we need to stick together.


    Suddenly, a new message appeared before me:


    New Skill Acquired: "Synchronization with the Soul of the Universe."


    Unique Skill Acquired: "?????"


    I froze.


    — …What? Why is the skill unknown?


    But before I could even process this, an unsettling feeling washed over me.


    — Wait… — I tensed up. — Why is it so quiet here? Where are all the birds?


    The Soul of the Universe remained silent.


    Then…


    Rustling.


    I shuddered.


    — Oh no… I jinxed it… — I whispered, turning toward the source of the sound.


    — I hear it too… — the Soul of the Universe murmured.


    Something was in this forest.