Pain erupted through Renly''s side as consciousness returned, each breath sending fresh waves of agony through his body. The forest floor pressed against his back, and his blood soaked shirt was pressed tightly against him.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck." His voice cracked as he pressed his hand against the wound. Warm liquid seeped between his fingers. The dead goblin lay a few feet away, its grotesque features frozen in a permanent snarl.
Renly''s head spun as he pushed himself up, teeth clenched against the stabbing pain. He stumbled, catching himself on a nearby tree trunk. The rough bark dug into his palm as he leaned against it, fighting the urge to vomit.
"This can''t be real. This isn''t happening." But the pain felt too sharp, too present to be a dream. With trembling hands, he peeled off his blood-soaked shirt. The gash along his side wasn''t as deep as he''d feared, but it needed attention.
His medical training kicked in through the haze of panic. He folded his shirt into a makeshift bandage, wrapping it around his torso. Each movement sent fresh spikes of pain through his body. "Shit, that hurts like a MOFO!"
The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, identical trees creating a maze of shadows and filtered sunlight. No paths, no signs of civilization. Just wilderness and the corpse of something that shouldn''t exist.
"Where the hell am I?" Renly slumped against the tree, his legs weak beneath him. "Jake? HELLO?" His voice echoed through the trees, answered only by birdsong and rustling leaves.
"This is insane. I''m in a hospital somewhere, right? Bad reaction to stress or something?" But even as he said it, Renly knew it wasn''t true. The forest felt too vivid, his senses too sharp. The way he could pick out individual leaves fifty feet away, hear the scurrying of small animals in the underbrush.
His fingers traced the makeshift bandage, already soaking through with blood. "What the actual fuck is going on?" The words came out as a desperate laugh. "One minute I''m reading that stupid novel, the next I''m fighting for my life against a goddamn goblin? Can''t I catch a goddamned break?"
The pain in his side throbbed in time with his racing heart. Renly closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. "Okay, okay. Think. You''re not dead. That''s good. You''re hurt but not critically. Also good." He opened his eyes, scanning the forest again. "But you''re completely lost in the middle of nowhere, possibly hallucinating, definitely bleeding, and talking to yourself like a crazy person. Less good."
A flicker of movement caught Renly''s attention - something in the corner of his vision. He blinked, focusing on what appeared to be a floating box with [Notification: 1] written in it. The text hung in the air like a hologram, but moved with his vision as he turned his head.
"Great. Now I''m hallucinating." His fingers pressed against the bandage, the pain sharp enough to confirm he wasn''t dreaming. The notification stayed put, hovering just at the edge of his sight.
Renly reached out, trying to touch the floating text. His hand passed through it, and the box followed his eye movement perfectly. "Of course it does." He let out a bitter laugh. "Because why wouldn''t there be video game mechanics after fighting a goblin?"
"Notifications?" The word fell flat in the forest air. Nothing happened. The box continued to mock him with its presence.
"Status?" Renly tried, feeling ridiculous talking to thin air. The notification box remained unchanged. "Menu? Options? Help?" Each attempt met with silence.
Blood seeped through his makeshift bandage as he slumped against the tree. The novels he''d spent countless hours reading flashed through his mind - all those stories of people transported to other worlds, usually with some kind of system interface.
"System."
The air in front of him shimmered, and a translucent blue screen materialized:
[System configuration processing...]
Renly''s breath caught in his throat. "Holy shit." The words came out as a whisper, his heart pounding against his ribs. The forest around him suddenly felt more alien, more dangerous. This wasn''t just a strange dream or hallucination - this was real.
===Status===
Name: Renly Alfred
Rank: G-
Strength (STR): G-
Agility (AGI): G+
Stamina (STA): G+
Intelligence (INT): F-
Luck (LUC): G-
Charm (CHA): G-
Talent: ???
Summary: Weak. Below average.
============
[Notifications: You have pending notifications. Would you like to see them?]
Renly''s eye twitched at the ''below average'' classification from the system. Seriously? If he were going to be dumped into a forest with goblins to fend for his life, he''dve hoped for some sort of compensatory buff. But no, fuck that, he had nothing but his sleep-deprived self and a weird-ass system.
"Yes," he sighed.
[Notification [1]: Welcome User Renly to the world of Kabsoth. You have accepted your summons and have slain your first monster, activating this system. As repentence for these sudden summons, you may select (1) Skill and (1) Manual. Choose wisely, as your manual will determine your battle style in this new world.
Please see below:
[Manual]: Would you like to select a learning manual? (Y/N)
[Skills]: Would you like to select a skill? (Y/N)]
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Selecting Yes to both, he looked down upon his options.
[Manual:
Mage Manuals (Expand) Requires F-tier INT
Swordsman Manuals (Expand) Requires F-tier STA
Assassin Manuals (Expand) Requires F-tier AGI
Martial Manuals (Expand) Requires F-tier STR
Tamer Manuals (Expand) Requires F-tier CHA
…]
Renly stared at the floating requirements, a bitter laugh escaping his throat. His side throbbed with each heartbeat, blood seeping through his makeshift bandage. Some otherworldly summoning system had dragged him here, and it couldn''t even give him decent stats?
"F-tier intelligence? Really?" His medical degree apparently meant nothing in this world. The rest of his stats were even worse - mostly G-tier. What kind of shit build was this?
A rustling in the distance made him flinch. The dead goblin''s blank eyes stared at him from the forest floor, a stark reminder that he didn''t have time to whine about his stats. Whatever had brought him here hadn''t bothered with his safety - he needed power, and fast.
"Expand Mage Manuals," Renly muttered, his fingers pressing harder against his wound. At least he qualified for something.
The screen shimmered, revealing a list that made his eyes widen:
[Mage Manuals:
<ul>
<li>
Codex of the Void Walker (S): Space itself is a weapon in the hands of those who follow this path. Master the spaces between reality. Harness the power of dimensional magic to bend space to your will. Mastering it means existing where others can’t reach.
</li>
<li>
Arsenal of the Magus-Knight (S): For mages who refuse to stay at a distance, this manual teaches the fusion of magic and martial combat. Arcane-forged weapons, enchanted armor, and spell-infused strikes allow the user to dominate in both ranged and melee battles. Every spell is a blade, every swing a storm of magical destruction.
</li>
<li>
Manuscript of Blood and Bone (S): Magic and vitality are one and the same, and this manual teaches how to harness the power within the body itself. Transform blood into power, bones into weapons. The price is steep, but those who master it control their own life force—and the life force of others.
</li>
<li>
The Arcane Vanguard (S): A battle mage’s path, blending raw elemental magic with speed, agility, and precision. Fire, water, wind, and earth become extensions of the body, enhancing movement, strikes, and defense in close-quarters combat. Those who follow this manual don’t just wield the elements—they embody them.
</li>
<li>
Chronicles of the Mind Weaver (S): Dominate the realm of thought. Bend minds and reshape memories to your will. Control, deception, and sheer force of will define this path. Victory isn’t just about power—it’s about making sure the opponent never had a chance to fight back.
</li>
<li>
The Abyssal Chronicle (S): Some magics were never meant to be touched, but this manual offers power to those willing to take the risk. Shadow, void, and eldritch energy become tools of destruction and survival, unraveling reality itself.
</li>
<li>
(Expand for A-tier manuals)]
</li>
</ul>
"Holy shit." Renly''s breath caught in his throat. These weren''t just spell books - they were paths to godlike power. Each description promised abilities beyond his wildest dreams.
But something felt off. Why would a system that labeled him as "weak" offer such powerful manuals? There had to be a catch. His years of reading web novels had taught him that much - nothing this good came without strings attached.
His wound pulsed, reminding him of his precarious situation. Blood loss was making his head spin, and who knew what other dangers lurked in these woods? He couldn''t afford to waste time overthinking this.
"I need something practical," he muttered, scanning the list again. "Something that can keep me alive right now."
Renly''s fingers traced the edge of his blood-soaked bandage. The Manuscript of Blood and Bone''s description called to him - the power to manipulate his own life force, to potentially heal himself. Plus, he wondered if his medical knowledge could give him an edge in understanding it. Still, he had some issues with the option.
"Blood magic." He grimaced, letting his hand fall away from the wound. "Because that always ends well for the protagonist." The dead goblin''s blank stare seemed to mock his indecision. In every story he''d read, blood magic practitioners either went insane or became social outcasts - or both.
His intuition screamed at him about the dangers of messing with blood flow and life force. One wrong move, one miscalculation, and he could kill himself faster than any goblin. Plus, he had no idea how this world viewed such practices. For all he knew, blood magic users, like necromancers, might be hunted down and executed. It was common enough in the novels he read.
"Not worth the risk." He shifted his focus to the other manuals. As much as he thought mind magic, space magic, and void magic were cool, he knew he needed power fast, and he doubted those manuals promised immediate power. His eyes shot instantly to the Magus-Knight and Arcane Vanguard classes.
"Arcane-forged weapons, enchanted armor, and spell-infused strikes allow the user to dominate in both ranged and melee battles. Every spell is a blade, every swing a storm of magical destruction." It seemed like compared to the Arcane Vanguard, the Magus-Knight class relied on weaponry, like a magic swordsman, but one that prioritized magic over swordsmanship. He figured there would be a similar manual option under the Swordsmanship manuals tab.
Still, he dismissed those options. He had to prioritize the now, and right now, Renly was stuck in the middle of a forest with no food, no resources, and no idea of where he could find local civilization. In other words, he was fucked.
The pain in his side flared as he straightened up. "Show me the Arcane Vanguard details."
[Arcane Vanguard selected. Warning: This path requires intense physical conditioning alongside magical training. Are you sure? Y/N]
"Yes." Physical training he could handle. He was sure regardless of the manual he chose, each would have similarly difficult conditions. He wasn''t left with much of a choice.
[Manual acquired: The Arcane Vanguard (Lvl 1)
Description: An ancient battle doctrine refined by the legendary Arcane Legions, mages who stood at the frontlines thousands of years ago, wielding raw elemental force with unparalleled precision. This manual does not teach mere spells—it engraves an instinctive understanding of the fundamental forces that shape the world. Masters of the Arcane Vanguard do not simply cast fire, water, wind, or earth; they move with them, strike through them, and weave them into seamless, fluid combat.
[Acquiring knowledge…]
The knowledge flooded into his mind, not like reading a book but like remembering something he''d always known. His body tingled with newfound awareness of the elements around him - the air currents, the moisture in the soil, the heat in his own blood.
Renly stared at his palm, the knowledge of elemental manipulation humming through his mind like a half-remembered song. He focused on heat, on the essence of fire, and a small flame burst to life above his hand.
"Holy shit." The flame danced, responding to his thoughts. "I''m like a fucking firebender." He waved his hand, watching the fire follow his movements. The warmth tickled his skin without burning, completely under his control.
The novelty wore off quickly as another wave of pain shot through his side. "Right. Cool powers later, survival now." He extinguished the flame with a thought and turned his attention back to the floating interface. "Skills."
A translucent list materialized before him, dozens of options scrolling past his vision. Renly scanned them rapidly, most blurring together in a haze of pain and desperation. One skill caught his eye.
<ul>
<li>
Eternal Vigilance: The art of seeing beyond sight. Those who master this skill perceive layers of reality others can''t comprehend.
</li>
</ul>
The description was frustratingly vague, but he knew that this was what he needed. Especially now.
"If I can''t see what''s coming, none of these other abilities will matter," he muttered, pressing his hand against his wounded side. The goblin had almost killed him because he hadn''t seen it coming. In this world, the next surprise might be his last.
"Select Eternal Vigilance."
[Skill acquired: Eternal Vigilance (Lvl 1)
Processing... Integration beginning...]
The world shifted. Colors became sharper, shadows deeper. Renly blinked rapidly as his vision adjusted, details jumping out at him that he''d missed before. The pattern of bark on trees seemed to hold meaning now, the movement of leaves telling stories about wind currents and hidden paths.
He looked at the dead goblin, and information flickered at the edges of his awareness. Not words exactly, but impressions—weak points in its armor, the way its muscles had been tensed for attack, the slight favoring of its left leg that might have been exploited.
"Okay," Renly breathed, his heart racing with possibilities. "This... this I can work with."