《Nightmare’s End, Godhood’s Dawn》 Chapter 1. Nightmares Beginning John drew his knife and slashed at the granite cliff in one smooth movement. He sheathed his knife, paused, and then he did it again. He had made a habit of doing this, his only source of enjoyment on this damned island. He stepped back to view his handiwork. Before him was a woman¡¯s face in granite, somewhat rough but features clearly discernible. To his left along the cliff wall were similar carvings, each progressively less detailed until the furthest ones resembled nothing more than a crude, bulging mass of stone. He was getting good at this. He stood there staring at the woman¡¯s face. Vaguely in the back of his mind, he registered that it had begun raining. Yet he stood still, not moving a muscle. Eventually he spoke out loud amidst the pouring rain, ¡°I¡¯m never going to see you again.¡±. There was no response. Four years he had been trapped on this island, ever since his plane went down. He had been lucky to survive. Yet sometimes he wished that he hadn¡¯t. The first days were the hardest, as the reality of his situation had dawned on him. The fight to survive. To learn how to feed and provide for himself in an unforgiving environment that did not care for him. He had struggled greatly. Yet now he has settled into a routine. His greatest enemies today? Loneliness. Boredom. He had begun stone carving, desperate not to forget the faces of those he had loved. To make it harder on himself, he carved the stone one slice at a time, sheathing his knife between each strike. He liked to think the carving in front of him was a close representation of the real thing, but he couldn¡¯t be sure. It had been so long that his memory had grown blurry.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Eliza. He wondered what she was doing now. Did she still think about him? Had she moved on to someone else? That would be for the best. He was never getting off this island. He tilted his head up, rain pouring down his face, deep in thought. System initialized. Tutorial protocol engaged. Planetary merging will now begin. John flinched, looking around anxiously. What was that? ¡°Wh-who¡¯s there?¡± he stammered. His voice had grown weak from disuse. Was he hallucinating? He knew he was alone on this island. He had checked thoroughly. Automated difficulty selection has begun. Player is being assessed... Nightmare difficulty selected. Good luck, player. Suddenly his vision blurred and he felt a sense of vertigo. John was thrown to the ground... Chapter 2 John picked himself up off the floor, fighting a wave of dizziness. His vision soon returned to him, and he stared around in bewilderment. It had stopped raining. He was in a forest unlike any he had seen before. He knew it was a forest because it had trees, but that¡¯s where the similarities ended. The trees were bizarrely shaped, and some of them even glowed strange shades of neon green, purple and orange. Plants littered the floor sporting huge, elaborate flowers and all around him the vegetation was so thick that he had difficulty seeing very far. Survive for 24 hours. Rewards will be calculated according to the player¡¯s performance. ¡°Hey! Where are you?! Show yourself!¡± John yelled out hoarsely. There was no response. Not knowing what else to do, he began walking through the forest - trying to step carefully to avoid disturbing the dense foliage. It didn¡¯t take long for John to confirm that he was not on the island any longer. He crouched before a depression in the dirt. The trees did not let much light through, but he squinted at the ground. It looked like the footprint of a large hooved creature. There were definitely no deer, pigs or goats on the island. He had spent the last four years surviving on nothing but coconuts, fish and the occasional wild bird. John looked up, suddenly feeling a strange prickling sensation. He felt like he was being watched. Perception +1 There was that voice again. It sounded like a robot. John ignored it, feeling an imminent sense of danger as he peered around at the trees surrounding him. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but his eyes suddenly focused on a dark patch of foliage. He squinted at it, his heart suddenly thudding, and he took a cautious step back.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Perception +1 Instinct +1 Suddenly with a blur of motion, something burst out of the foliage faster than his eyes could see. A monstrous roar rang through the air just as he felt a tearing sensation across his chest. Something bowled into him, knocking him over. Adrenaline rushing through his veins, John scrambled back to his feet. It only took him a moment to spot his attacker. Its fur was a shade of black so dark that it absorbed almost all of the light around it, and it seemed to blend into its surroundings, parts of its body appearing and disappearing as it stalked around him. Its eyes however glowed a neon green as it stared at him hungrily. John realised that it resembled a huge panther, but meaner. He felt a throbbing pain on his chest and he looked down to examine the wound, seeing a deep claw mark. Fortunately the panther hadn¡¯t penetrated deep enough enough to hit any organs, but each breath he took was painful. Might be a broken rib, he guessed. He turned his attention back to the creature, and he could see that it was assessing him. It took its time, not truly considering him a threat. Something told John that it was correct. As John focused on the creature, he noticed some text appear above it. Void Panther - Level 9 Level 9? What did that mean? Suddenly John was distracted from his thoughts. The panther was gone. Literally. One moment it was there. The next it wasn¡¯t. Feeling a prickling sensation along his neck, John threw himself down to the ground, a razor sharp claw piercing the air where his throat had just been. Instinct +1 Oh shut up! John thought in his mind, but he didn¡¯t have time to fuss over the robot voice. He scrambled to his feet and started running before he even straightened up. He ran madly through the strange forest, jumping over logs and shoulder-barging through vegetation. All the while he could still sense that he was in a deadly crisis, the panther hot on his trail. He didn¡¯t dare turn to look back, not willing to slow down in the slightest. Chapter 3 John kept running until he reached a clearing. The far side of the area was blocked by a dense group of trees. He spent a frantic moment looking for another exit before he froze, his hand going to the knife at his waist. He was out of time. It was here. Rather than seeing the panther, he sensed that it had arrived. He felt a stirring in the wind, and in his peripheral vision he glimpsed a shifting, blurry mass that disappeared when his eyes tried to focus on it. His heart beat rapidly, and he tightened his grip on his knife hilt, looking around with wide eyes. He forced himself to calm down, breathing deeply as he attempted to center himself. He knew he would likely only get one chance. Sweat dripped down his brow. A few long moments later he felt a stirring in the air around him. There! Instinct +1 John turned and drew his knife, slicing upwards in one movement. At the same moment, the panther became visible as its claw slashed across his chest while it leaped past him. He stumbled, clenching his teeth before stubbornly digging his toes into the dirt to keep from falling. With his left hand he clutched his torn chest, blood running down his abdomen as he sheathed his knife. He kept his right hand on the hilt. He would stick with the move he had practised thousands of times. John stared at the panther circling him. He realised that it seemed completely unharmed. But how? Judging by the timing and positioning of their exchange, he was certain that his knife should have bitten into its chest. Yet he had not felt the slightest bit of resistance on his blade. Something was wrong. What made things worse was that the panther was too fast. John could not trust his vision to react in time. As John examined the panther, its body faded from view like it had before. He stared in bewilderment. He had made sure to keep his eyes locked onto it, yet he still lost sight of it. Did it have some kind of magic ability to go invisible? Or worse - John suddenly felt a sense of dread. He remembered how his knife had sailed uselessly right through the creature without doing any damage. Was the panther invincible? Or was that only the case when it was sneaking around. He really hoped it was the latter - or else he had no chance against this thing. Breathing deeply, John calmed himself and focused. He instinctively took a stance, placing his right leg out and behind him as he held his hand lightly on the sheath of his knife. If anyone back home knew he was trying to fight a giant, invisible - and possibly invulnerable - panther with nothing but a homemade knife, they would call him crazy. Four years in isolation would do that to you. He grinned. This was a nice change of pace from that miserable island. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. He knew what he had to do, but the timing had to be perfect. Too early, and he would miss again. Too late, and he would be dead. As he stood waiting for the next attack, his nervousness faded away and he found himself feeling happy for the first time in years. Whether he lived or died did not matter, he was just glad to be off that island. He found himself sinking completely into the present moment, reaching a level of focus beyond anything he had ever experienced until that point. John breathed slowly and deeply through his nostrils, and he noticed small details in his environment that had previously escaped him. He began to feel an energy pooling within him, and without realising what he was doing he directed it towards where it needed to go. He crouched lower, his body taut like a coiled spring, every ounce of energy primed for his next attack. He sensed a disturbance to his right, but he did not rush to meet it immediately. He knew the timing had to be perfect. The wind suddenly rushed towards him. He breathed in. Now! John exhaled as he drew his knife and sliced up and to the right in one smooth arc. His attack was so swift and efficient that it made a sharp whistling noise as it tore through the air. The panther clawed his shoulder and collarbone a fraction of a second before John¡¯s knife tore into its chest. It yowled in pain before leaping away, the knife remaining behind in his hand, drenched in panther blood. Ding! The strange sound cut through the chaos, sharp and brief¡ªlike the chime of a notification bell from a smartphone. He froze for a moment, eyes darting around, searching for the source. Did it come from that robot voice he had heard earlier? At least it was only a brief noise. Perhaps that meant the robot was polite enough not to spout rubbish while he was fighting for his life. John turned his attention back to the panther. It had gone invisible again - but it was bleeding heavily. He could see the trail of blood leading away from the clearing. He realised it was trying to escape. He must have injured it badly. However John had survived four years on a deserted island only for a panther to try to eat him. He wasn¡¯t going to let it off that lightly. John ran after it, ignoring the pain from his shredded chest. He barely took a few steps before the ground beneath him collapsed, and he found himself falling through a chasm in the floor. He reached out to grab at the earthen walls, trying to stop his fall - but his momentum was too great and he fell deeper and deeper. Finally with a great thud that took the breath from his lungs, John landed on his ass. Chapter 4 John groaned, the impact of his fall winding him. Dazed, he lay back on the dirt. He was almost about to pass out when he was woken by that chiming notification sound. Ding! Groaning again, John forced himself to sit up and look around. He was in a pitch black tunnel. Or he would have been, if not for the thin ray of light shooting down from the hole he had fallen through. Looking up at the ceiling of the tunnel, he tried to judge how far he had fallen. He guessed it was at least 30 yards. From the little light that was cast on his surroundings, he could tell that the hole was way too high for him to reach. He would have to find another way out of here. More importantly, what were those sounds he kept hearing? Bells and robot voices. Was someone watching him? John decided that he had to get to the bottom of this. ¡°Hello? Robot?¡± he called tentatively. There was no response. ¡°I heard your voice earlier, I know you¡¯re watching. Who are you?¡± Again, there was no response. Annoyed and embarrassed at himself, John mumbled, ¡°Who is he, who am I? Who are -¡± At that, a translucent window appeared in front of him. Status Name: John Silver Race: Human Class: N/A Level: 4 Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 4 Will: 3 Focus: 6 Instinct: 8 Perception: 7 Unused stat points: 9 You have unread notifications. What the hell is this? Was he in a science fiction movie? John stared bewildered at the screen, waving his hand through it. ¡°Is this information about¡­ me?¡± He asked, not sure what to make of it. After a few more moments spent examining the screen, he said experimentally, ¡°Show me my notifications¡±.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The information on the screen morphed and shifted. Welcome to the System! Focus +1 Player has learned an ability! Basic Energy Circulation - The player has learned to channel mana through their body. With skilled use, mana may be used to produce miraculous effects. Player has developed a new ability! Quick Draw (Rare) - The player channels their energy into a single decisive strike, unsheathing their blade with blinding speed. The greater the player¡¯s focus, the greater the speed and force of the attack. Player has defeated Void Panther - Level 9. Player has leveled up! Player has leveled up! Player has leveled up! Player is the first on his planet to defeat an elite monster above his level. Additional rewards will be given at the end of this tutorial stage. Player is the first on his planet to develop a Rare ability. Additional rewards will be given at the end of this tutorial stage. So that damned panther had died after all? It must have bled out after he fell through the floor. Or perhaps something else finished it off. John focused on the other notifications. Abilities? Leveling up? Wait, this is kind of like Dungeons and Dragons. So did that mean he had 9 stat points to spend? A lightbulb went off in John¡¯s head. If I put all those points in Strength, would I actually get stronger? He found it hard to believe, it was too outrageous to be true. But then nothing about the last couple of hours had made sense. John decided to test it out. However, he had always been more of a ¡°speed over strength¡± guy. He decided to put three points into Agility. As soon as he thought of it, he saw his stats shift automatically on the Status screen. Strength: 4 Agility: 8 Constitution: 4 Will: 3 Focus: 6 Instinct: 8 Perception: 7 Unused stat points: 6 Neat! He was worried it would be difficult to spend his points, but it seemed like whatever this robot-system-thing was could read his mind. John stood up, imagining that he was about to make a fool of himself, and jumped lightly. He rose through the air smoothly almost a yard high, and landed back on his toes. His eyebrows rising, he bounced on the balls of his feet, feeling the way his weight shifted. It was not a world of difference, but the improvement was clear. He felt lighter and quicker. So it was safe to say that investing these points had a tangible effect, but how should he spend the rest? John was aware that his life was in grave danger, the burning throb of his injuries a constant reminder of that. If he made the right choice here, it would help him survive. He pondered his options. His eyes wandered over to the notifications about his abilities. Quick Draw? That¡¯s what the system called his move? He had never thought of giving it a name, but he liked it. He read the ability description a few times, muttering to himself. The greater the focus, the greater the speed and force¡­ He thought back to the feeling before he had killed the panther, the sheer focus he had felt as he had guided¡­ something¡­ to strengthen and sharpen his attack. The system called it mana, it seemed. Suddenly, he made his decision. John put all 6 remaining points into Focus. Chapter 5 Eliza Automated difficulty selection has begun. Player is being assessed.. Hard difficulty selected. Good luck, player. Dozens of people had suddenly appeared in a sprawling valley covered in trees, with cliffs on the east and west side. The first ten minutes were filled with confusion as people tried to figure out what was going on. Then these strange little men with spears, clubs and hatchets showed up. Soon after, the first person had died. It was a teenage boy, Eliza thought his name was Justin. After that it was pure chaos. A second person died, then a third. That¡¯s when Theo showed up with his gun. ¡°If y¡¯all want to survive, y''all should listen close!¡± Eliza snapped back to reality. The speaker was a well-groomed man in a police uniform. That was Theo. With the help of several others, he had chased off the band of ¡°goblins¡±. That¡¯s what others had begun calling them, but Eliza refused. Goblins were not real. This was not Lord of the Rings. They were surely in some isolated corner of the world, and the ¡°goblins¡± were simply a tribe of savage people. As for how they all got here, she had no explanation for that. ¡°We need to work together if we wanna stay alive. If anyone¡¯s got any food or water on them, hand it over. We need to pool together and ration our resources.¡± Between Theo taking the lead when fighting off the attackers, and the gun on his hip - many people had already begun looking at him as their leader. And he seemed quite pleased to take on the role. A lot of people were relieved to have someone else call the shots, desperate for someone to make sense of what was happening. However, not everybody was happy about it. A young British man with a thick accent spoke up. ¡°Fuck off mate. Why should we listen to you? Just cause you got a gun?¡± the tattooed man said. Eliza thought his name was Richard. He spat on the floor in front of Theo, grabbing a chocolate bar that someone was about to hand over. He unwrapped it and began eating it in front of him, a smug expression on his face. A deafening crack split the air, and Richard staggered, a gaping hole blown through his chest. His eyes widened in shock as he swayed before crumpling to the ground. For a moment, silence reigned. Everyone stood motionless, caught like deer in headlights. Then our eyes turned to Theo¡ªhis arm still outstretched, smoke curling from the end of his revolver. As people recovered from their shock, many looked disturbed. A girl with dyed pink hair and a septum piercing rushed over to Richard, bending down to check his pulse. After a moment she looked up at Theo with disgust.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°What the fuck? You just murdered the guy!¡± she screamed. The group was stunned. Theo simply clenched his jaw in response. ¡°Th-this.. Th-that was wrong!¡± stammered a fat middle-aged man with glasses. ¡°Y¡¯all got a problem with it?¡± snapped Theo, turning his gun towards them. Nobody spoke up. After a moment, he took a deep breath before continuing. ¡°Look around. If y''all hadn¡¯t noticed, we ain¡¯t in America anymore. If you ask me, we ain¡¯t even on Earth! Yes, I said it. You see those ¡°goblins¡± that killed those boys earlier? They mean business. And who knows what else we might see around the corner. If we don¡¯t get busy and start working together, we all die. You understand me?!¡± As he spoke, a man had pushed through the crowd to stand protectively between Theo and the protestors. He wore a reverend¡¯s collar, identifying him as a priest. He had a grim expression on his face as he lifted his arms in a calming manner. ¡°Let¡¯s take it easy here... Theo, was it? I¡¯m Steve. You didn¡¯t have to kill that man. And you know it.¡± ¡°A ship can only have one Captain. And that fella meant trouble.¡± Theo responded stubbornly. ¡°What if I think you mean trouble?¡± countered the priest evenly, looking Theo dead in the eye. In response, Theo lifted his gun and pointed it squarely at the priest¡¯s chest. His jaw clenched as he hesitated, wondering if he could get away with eliminating the pastor. He looked around at the crowd, many holding their breath with dread on their faces. He slowly lowered his gun. He looked around at the crowd until he spotted Eliza, a glint gradually appearing in his eye. ¡°You. What¡¯s your name?¡± Theo demanded, waving his gun in her general direction but keeping it pointed halfway towards the ground. Eliza was shocked to be addressed directly. She had been doing her best not to draw attention to herself. She took a deep breath. ¡°I- I¡¯m Eliza.¡± she said, stepping forward. Theo examined her, nodding. ¡°Good. Eliza, collect the food and water from all the good folk here. If any of them give you trouble, you let me know. The rest of you, make yourselves useful. You, you and you. You¡¯re our scouts, go explore the area and look for food and water. Don¡¯t go too far, report back what you find¡­¡± Theo began barking out commands, and after a glance down at Richard¡¯s body, everyone obeyed. Only the priest bent down to pray over the corpse, saying he planned to bury it like he had the others. Theo sneered but only grunted in response, ignoring him. Eliza¡¯s hands quivered as she went around the crowd and accepted offerings from everyone. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how Theo had killed Richard. As she moved, she could feel Theo¡¯s eyes on her back, and it sent chills down her spine. Chapter 6 John As he invested his remaining points into Focus, John observed his body for any changes. Almost immediately, he felt a cold energy climb up his spine and gather around his head. It only lasted for a brief moment before it was gone. Afterwards, John took some more time to examine himself. He soon came to the conclusion that his body didn¡¯t feel very different. He shifted his attention and began observing his state of mind. He played a mental game that he remembered from when he was a kid, where he would visualize a dice with an ever increasing amount of sides. In that regard, John found something interesting. It was difficult to describe exactly how but his thoughts seemed clearer, and it was easier to make mental connections and avoid getting side-tracked. Wait a minute. Didn¡¯t this mean that he was now smarter? He found that fascinating. What were the limits of that? Moving on, John then sat down to experiment with his new ability, Basic Energy Circulation. He tried to recall how it had felt earlier. He had sensed an energy moving through his body, but where had it come from? He searched his body internally. He soon realised that he could feel some very thin, almost imperceptible streams of mana circulating in various parts of his body. Maybe it was due to the fact that he had invested six whole points into Focus, but it didn¡¯t take long for him to trace one of those streams of energy to its source. It was an area about an inch below his belly button that seemed to function as some kind of reservoir, with mana streaming in and out. However ¡°reservoir¡± was a strong word, as the amount of mana in there was kind of paltry. To put it in physical terms, it was barely enough to fill a small cup of water. However, John could feel the potential of that energy. He read the ability description again, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. Deciding to take his experimentation to the next level, he tried to will the energy in his reservoir to move. To his amazement, it seemed to be working. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Growing excited, John got an idea. He willed the energy to move towards the injuries on his upper body, and circulated it around his wounds. He kept that up for about ten minutes before he found that he was beginning to feel tired. It was like the energy pathways in his body were bruised from overuse. Yet after examining those same pathways, he could almost swear that they were slightly wider than before. Then John shifted his attention, moving to examine his injuries under the thin ray of sunlight streaming in from the cave ceiling. He was astonished to find that his wounds had stopped bleeding and even seemed to be partly scabbed over. John stared in disbelief. That was unbelievable. If this was just Basic Energy Circulation, what was Advanced Energy Circulation like? Something took John out of his introspection. He heard a noise. It was so faint that most would dismiss it as nothing, but he had spent years alone on a deserted island. He had learned to trust his instincts. He was not alone down here. He slowly stood up, not making any sudden movements so he wouldn¡¯t alert whatever was hidden in the darkness. He moved his hand to the hilt of his knife again, and gently started circulating his mana. John peered into the darkness, but the tiny shaft of light from the ceiling did nothing to illuminate his surroundings. He could tell that the cave he was in was quite large, and it was even likely that there were many other rooms connected to this one. He had a bad feeling that he had stumbled upon someone''s home. Suddenly something in the air shifted, and John reacted almost instantly, drawing his knife. Quick Draw Yet his attack hit nothing but air as he felt teeth latch onto his left calf. John sliced downwards into the darkness, but again his attack missed. His attacker had already retreated. Whatever it was, it was incredibly quick. To make matters worse, he felt a warmth spreading through his lower left leg. The creature must be venomous. A grim expression appeared on John¡¯s face as he realised the predicament he was in. He circulated his mana, commanding a portion of it to move towards his leg. To his relief, that seemed to slow the spread of the poison. He then shifted his posture, entering a meditative state as he waited for the hidden creature¡¯s next attack. Chapter 7 John marshaled every ounce of his focus, breathing deeply as he attuned himself to the moment. He waited, knowing that whatever was hidden in the dark was not done with him. This creature might be fast, but so was the panther he had fought earlier. He would deal with it in the same way. He crouched low, circulating his energy and prepared his next attack. His moment came sooner than he thought, and he gripped his knife hilt as he sensed another oncoming attack. He had memorized the rhythm of the last attack¡ªthis time, he wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard. He was ready. John shifted his body to dodge an attack that sliced past his torso harmlessly. He drew his knife at the same time. Quick Draw A notification bell sounded as he felt his knife cut through something meaty. A gut-curdling squeal rang out, echoing against the walls of the cavern. Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 5 Shade Stalker? What was that? It was too dark for him to see what he had been fighting. Since it was venomous and sneaky, he imagined some kind of spider-like creature. John whipped his knife to one side to get rid of the blood, then sheathed it again. Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger surged through his veins. He acted without thinking. Quick Draw Instinct +1 John¡¯s strike found its mark, killing the creature just as he felt its sharp fangs sink into his left side. Another notification bell sounded. Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 4 Well shit. It seemed like there was more than one of these things down here. Almost as if to confirm his suspicion, a chorus of hissing erupted around him - an eerie, unified protest against him killing two of their kin. Sweat dripped down his brow as he took another stance, waiting for the next attack. But none came. Instead, a slow, burning sensation crept through his left side - the venom was spreading. John forced his mana into motion, moving it to slow the advance of the poison. Why weren¡¯t they attacking? It sounded like there were dozens of them. John racked his brain. They had sounded mournful earlier, perhaps they valued the lives of their brethren. It suddenly occurred to him that the best move for them would be to wait until the venom had weakened him before finishing him off. Shit. He needed to get out of here. But how was he going to find his way out without any light? The only light he had came from that tiny hole in the ceiling. John tilted his head as an idea took shape. Without fully understanding why, he sat down and began to meditate, focusing his mind entirely on that thin ray of light. His gaze locked onto it as it pierced through the crack in the ceiling, standing in defiance of the surrounding darkness. He focused on it, drowning out everything else - the damp chill of the air, the distant echoes, and even the dull ache of his wounds.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The light was steady, unwavering, yet it shifted subtly with the dust swirling through it, bending and refracting with each passing speck. He narrowed his eyes, tracing its edges. He tracked its path through the darkness, and observed how it interacted with the matter around it. It was warmth, clarity and motion. Not just something to be seen, but something that was - an energy that illuminated, revealed, and even burned. The longer he stared at it, the more he felt it, not just with his eyes but something deeper. Light was not passive, it could be shaped and controlled. Wielded. And in that moment of quiet realisation, something stirred within him. Ding! A notification bell sounded, but John ignored it. He continued to meditate. To an outside observer, faint flashes of light were flickering around him, pulsing in time with his breath. ¡ª----- In another plane of existence. ¡°Your Excellency, I have a report to make.¡± said a deferential voice. ¡°What is it, Squire?¡± replied a commanding voice. ¡°Planet EA748C7926E8DF, known by the locals as ¡°Earth¡±, has begun their planetary merging process. The tutorial process has begun¡­¡± ¡°So? Why do you come to me with such a trivial matter?¡± snapped the second voice, sounding irritated. ¡°My Lord, I thought you¡¯d like to know that one of their inhabitants has already comprehended an Aspect.¡± There was a pause. ¡°How long ago did the merging begin?¡± ¡°My Lord, it was a mere 3 hours ago.¡± ¡°Hmmmm¡­.¡± The voice sounded intrigued. ¡°And what Aspect was it?¡± ¡°My Lord¡­ It was the Aspect of Light. At the moment it is merely a Lesser tier, but even so¡­ It has only been 3 hours.¡± The voice sounded astonished by its own report. There was a long pause. ¡°Hmmm. It is good you have come to me with this, Squire. Find out as much as you can about this creature, and report back.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± ¡ª----- John slowly stood up, circulating his mana - now suffused with a faint white glow. He compressed this new form of mana, condensing it as he placed his hand on his knife hilt. He shifted his stance in preparation for his next attack. He bent his knees, power accumulating in his body as he continued to concentrate his mana, making it more potent and lethal. He did not fully understand what he was doing, but he just knew that it felt right. Eventually, he judged that the time had come. He drew his blade. A notification bell sounded. Quick Draw - Glimmer As his knife arced upwards, a brilliant flash of light cleaved through the darkness. It blazed across the cave, momentarily banishing the shadows and revealing the previously hidden contours of the space around him. It also revealed the spindly, four legged forms of the creatures that had been assailing him. The Shade Stalkers shuddered and screamed in pain as the light spread through the cave, blinding them. Knowing this was his chance, John memorized their locations as the light faded away. He rushed forward, his knife barred. Notification bells sounded soon after. Chapter 8 Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 6 Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 4 Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 5 ¡­ Player has leveled up! Notification bells rang as John sprinted through the room, his path illuminated by sporadic bursts of light each time he swung his knife. He maneuvered between the stunned creatures, taking them down one by one. His knife, worn and dulled from constant use, occasionally caught on the bones of the Shade Stalkers, slowing his progress and making each strike messier. For the first time, he realized his once-reliable tool would soon need to be replaced. John cleaved his way through the room, following the path where the creatures were thickest. Although they were blinded by his light, they still lashed out wildly, forcing him to remain vigilant. He ducked beneath a toothed maw that snapped at him, then sidestepped to avoid a swinging claw. He thrust his knife into the side of a beast¡¯s head - a bright burst of light erupting from its orifices as it perished. Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 5 Player has defeated Shade Stalker - Level 6 He pushed forward, entering a tunnel that led to another broad cavern, guided by the burst of light emitted each time he swung his knife. As he entered this room, he heard an ear-piercing screech filled with rage. John¡¯s instincts flared, warning him of imminent danger. A Shade Stalker, larger than all the rest, suddenly thrust itself at him from among the bodies of its kin. Its claw extended towards him, and he parried it with his knife - his hand going numb from the impact. Shade Stalker Elite - Level 10 It followed up with a flurry of attacks, each one more deadly than the last. John was barely able to keep up by circulating mana throughout his body, yet even still it managed to graze him a few times, its touch leaving traces of venom on him - forcing him to adjust his mana flow to stop it from spreading. Fortunately, this new glowing mana seemed to be better at countering the poison. What made things difficult is that this variant of Shade Stalker seemed to be able to ignore the bursts of light, and rather than cringing and cowering, the light only seemed to make it angrier and more determined to kill him. It was striking so fast that John didn¡¯t have time to retaliate, he had to spend every ounce of energy on keeping himself alive. The fight went on for what felt like hours, but in reality must have been minutes. Yet as they clashed, John adapted. He began to learn the rhythm and timing of the creature¡¯s attacks, and his reflexes sharpened. Agility +1 Focus +1 Instinct +1 Agility +1 Gradually, the tide of the battle began to swing in his favour. The monster¡¯s attacks grew increasingly frantic, its movements becoming erratic. John decided it was time to go on the offensive. He leaped back as he sheathed his knife, keeping his hand on the hilt as he began to gather energy. The creature took it for a sign of weakness, chasing after him with a hungry glint in its eyes. It clawed at his throat, and he shifted his body to dodge it. He then stepped around the creature to avoid a swipe towards his abdomen and ducked beneath a piercing thrust aimed at his forehead. Meanwhile, John steadily gathered mana around his sheathed knife, condensing it with razor-sharp focus. With every breath, he refined its potency. John moved carefully, steering the fight until his back was against a wall, baiting the monster into a false sense of advantage. The moment he touched the cold stone, the monster seized its chance, rearing up on its hind legs as its front claws poised for a final lethal strike - malice burning in its eyes.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Sensing the perfect moment, John suddenly dashed forward and drew his knife in a blur of motion trailed by a brilliant arc of light. Quick Draw John¡¯s blade tore through the creature¡¯s abdomen, carving a deep gash that left its organs on the verge of spilling out. Its strike faltered, the momentum lost as its claws swept harmlessly over John¡¯s shoulder. Drained, John stumbled past the creature, barely keeping his footing as it collapsed onto the rocky floor behind him. Breathing heavily, John took a moment to glance over the notifications he had missed. Player has received a glimpse of the Aspect of Light: Glimmer (Lesser)! Player has developed a new ability! Combat Sense (Rare) - The player''s battle instincts and reflexes have sharpened, allowing them to predict and react to attacks with surprising accuracy. Basic Energy Circulation has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Player has defeated Shade Stalker Elite - Level 10 Player has leveled up! Quick Draw has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. It seemed like his abilities could level up, too. John wondered what the effect of that would be. He didn¡¯t have long to ponder that question, however, as he was still far from safe. Wasting no time, John shifted his focus to his level up announcements. He had 6 unspent stat points, and the sooner he spent them the better his chances of survival were. Remembering his Quick Draw ability, John was considering spending all 6 points on Focus again. Not only did it make it easier for him to focus mana into his skill, it also seemed to make him better at controlling mana in general. He had a feeling that would pay dividends in the long run. Yet John couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how many times he had come close to death. Almost every time, he had been saved by a gut feeling at the last second. Without hesitating any further, he decided to put 2 points into Instinct, and 4 in Focus. He looked over his status page. ¡ª- Status Name: John Silver Race: Human Class: N/A Level: 6 Strength: 4 Agility: 10 Constitution: 4 Will: 3 Focus: 17 Instinct: 12 Perception: 7 Abilities: Basic Energy Circulation (Level 2) - The player has learned to channel mana through their body. With skilled use, mana may be used to produce miraculous effects. Quick Draw (Rare) (Level 2) - The player channels their energy into a single decisive strike, unsheathing their blade with blinding speed. The greater the player¡¯s focus, the greater the speed and force of the attack. Combat Sense (Rare) (Passive) - After surviving many near-death experiences in battle, the player''s instincts have sharpened, allowing them to predict and react to attacks with surprising accuracy. Aspects: Aspect of Light: Glimmer (Lesser) ¡ª- As John silently went over his status, a creeping dread began to settle in his gut, subtle but insistent. It grew until he couldn¡¯t ignore it, forcing him to dismiss his status screen. Something was wrong. He drew his knife, imbued by his mana, and sliced the air in front of him. A ray of light exploded outwards, lighting up the dim cavern. In the far corner of the vast room, a huge form was slowly emerging. It resembled the Shade Stalkers he had fought before, but it had six legs instead of four and it was almost three times their size. It fixed its gaze on John, hatred gleaming in its eyes. Morvethra - Shade Stalker Matriarch - Level 15 The moment it spotted John, it recognized him as the source of the light. It suddenly let out a deafening shriek¡ªan unholy blend of fury and grief for its fallen kin. The sheer force of the sound sent a chill down John¡¯s spine. Yeah, it was very pissed off. John¡¯s gut clenched, telling him that this was not something he could fight at his current level. He turned and ran down a side tunnel, his heart thudding as he tried to think of a way to survive this nightmare. Chapter 9 John¡¯s feet pounded on the stone floor of the tunnel as he sprinted. Occasionally he would swing his knife through the air, releasing a burst of light that would reveal the contours of his surroundings. As he ran, he spotted more Shade Stalkers but they shied away from him. They were afraid of the light, but they were even more afraid of the six-legged behemoth that was chasing him. Dazed as they were, some of them moved too slowly and he had to shoulder past their angular bodies. He could tell that the Matriarch was getting closer, but he didn¡¯t dare turn around. He kept running through tunnels, from room to room, searching desperately for an exit, a hiding spot - anything. But he found nothing. This cavern was a labyrinth, and it was far larger than he had expected. John¡¯s senses buzzed with the sharp hum of imminent danger. It was coming. A guttural shriek from behind, followed by the heavy thud of clawed limbs hitting stone. The Matriarch was fast - faster than something its size had any right to be. John pushed himself harder, forcing mana through his legs, his glowing energy leaving streaks of light in the darkness. His lungs burned but he couldn¡¯t afford to slow down. A sudden idea struck him. He veered left, diving into a narrow side tunnel. As he pushed forward, the passage grew more and more tight. Eventually he could barely squeeze through - but John prayed that the Matriarch couldn¡¯t follow him in here. The thought had barely formed when he heard a horrific screech echo through the cavern. A deafening crash followed, stone shattering as the Matriarch forced its way into the narrow passage. The cavern trembled, loose debris raining down on John. It wasn¡¯t going to give up. John cursed under his breath. If he kept running, he¡¯d be crushed by the collapsing tunnel. He had to act - now. The majority of John¡¯s mana was depleted, and his energy pathways were scorched and battered from overuse - but John grit his teeth and turned around, his remaining mana flaring to life. He rested his hand on his knife hilt, just as he had so many times before, drawing energy toward his hand. John shut out everything else - the trembling walls, the falling debris, the rage-filled screeching of the Matriarch as it caught sight of him. His entire world narrowed to the blade at his hip and the energy gathering in his grip. He focused, pulling every bit of mana he had left into his next attack, but it wasn¡¯t enough. His body was sluggish, aching from exhaustion, his pathways nearly spent. If he attacked like this, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. He needed more. Then, instinct took over. A flicker of understanding ignited within him - a glimpse of something beyond his mortal limits. Light pulsed through his pathways, weaving into his mana, flowing like lava through his veins. His exhaustion, his sluggishness, the weight of his body - they no longer mattered. His grip tightened around his hilt. The moment the Matriarch lunged into view, John drew.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. A blinding arc of light flashed through the tunnel, far faster than thought, faster than any attack he had ever delivered before. A notification bell rang out as his attack severed the Matriarch¡¯s extended arm, along with a sizable portion of its head. What shocked John the most was that his little blade had barely made contact with the creature, but a ray of light had extended past his knife - disintegrating anything that came into contact with it. That included the tunnel, and as the Matriarch collapsed soundlessly before him, John looked up in awe at the sky through a new, sizable hole in the tunnel ceiling. His nerves frayed, and unable to believe what he had just witnessed, John opened up his status and looked at his notifications. Player¡¯s ability Quick Draw has evolved into Flash Draw! Flash Draw (Epic) (Level 1) - The player has combined countless hours of relentless practice drawing their blade with their insight into the Aspect of Light. The blade flashes with radiant speed - the sharper the player¡¯s focus, the faster and more lethal the strike, leaving a searing trail of light in its wake. Basic Energy Circulation has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Player has defeated Morvethra - Shade Stalker Matriarch - Level 15. Player is the first on their planet to defeat a named boss monster above their level. Additional rewards will be given at the end of this tutorial stage. Player is the first on their planet to evolve an ability of Epic rarity. Additional rewards will be given at the end of this tutorial stage. Player has leveled up! Player has leveled up! John gulped. He had the feeling that he shouldn¡¯t have been able to kill the Matriarch. He looked down at what was left of his little blade. A large portion of it had fragmented, rendering it useless. Just as he was mourning the loss of his knife, which had become like an old companion, another notification bell echoed in his mind. Player has received a gift from an anonymous sponsor. Would you like to receive this gift? What¡­? A sponsor? Did that mean someone was watching him? A hint of anger coloured John¡¯s thoughts. Was this like some kind of twisted version of The Truman Show? Curiosity getting the better of him, John selected yes to accept the gift. Without any warning, a short sword appeared on the stone floor in front of him, complete with a scabbard and belt strap. Bending down to examine it, a screen appeared with some information. Roman Gladius A short, double-edged sword forged from an unfamiliar metal, sharper and stronger than any earthly steel. Designed for swift, decisive strikes, this weapon feels almost weightless in the hand. The leather-wrapped hilt and dark-iron pommel ensure a firm grip, making it an instrument of precision and lethality. Well, that was thoughtful. They gave him a new weapon just as he lost his old one. Yet John couldn¡¯t get rid of the sour taste in his mouth, finding himself reluctant to replace his trusty knife with this so-called ¡°gift¡±. Some ¡°anonymous sponsor¡± was watching him, and getting a good kick out of seeing him struggle for his life. He placed his damaged knife on the floor gently before picking up the Gladius, hefting it in his hand as he stood. He would accept this gift, and perhaps later he would find it a more fitting home - buried in the throat of his kind sponsor. After investing 2 points into Instinct and 4 into Focus, John looked up at the huge hole he had carved through the ceiling, the sun dipping below the horizon. Night was coming. Time to get out of here. Chapter 10 Earth A voice was heard all over the world, announcing the arrival of something known as the ¡°System¡±. Soon after, millions of people had disappeared. Those who remained could only speculate as to what was going on. Many thought that something supernatural was happening. Others thought it was a religious event. Americans blamed the Russians, or the Chinese. The Russians and Chinese blamed the Americans. Many tried to investigate and find a common theme among those who had disappeared, but no pattern was found. It seemed like the disappearances were completely random. Then people discovered they could interact with the System, learning how to access their Statuses. A rare few even began learning to harness mana. Amidst the frenzy and speculation, world leaders tried desperately to calm their populations, meeting in secret in an attempt to find an explanation for these strange events. John His fingertips dug into the rough stone as he climbed the fissure in the cavern wall. His Flash Draw had initially cleaved a smooth, vertical surface in the earth, disintegrating the rock in an instant. But as the walls crumbled in its wake, jagged edges and rough surfaces had formed¡ªjust enough for John to find a grip. The few extra points he had in Agility made the climb possible, but only barely. Gritting his teeth and with a final effort, John pulled himself over the edge of the pit. He rolled onto his back, breathing heavily. He was tired, hungry and his mana was depleted. He needed to rest. The cool grass beneath him was inviting, and his eyes felt heavy. It was tempting to sleep right here as the sun went down, yet John knew better. This place was anything but safe¡ªthe System had called it "Nightmare difficulty," after all. John forced himself back to his feet. He needed to find a place to rest. He walked through the forest, not letting his guard down as he did so. Soon he found the corpse of the panther. As he had suspected, it had bled out from the wound he had carved into its chest. The darkened soil beneath it indicated that a puddle of blood had formed around its torso, before being absorbed by the forest. John¡¯s stomach rumbled. He couldn¡¯t help wondering what a giant panther would taste like. He had spent the last four years on a deserted island with very limited food options, so he wouldn¡¯t balk at the idea of having to eat a big cat. Making up his mind, John pulled out his Gladius and set about using it to skin the panther. It had been at least a few hours since it died, so he would stay away from its organs. The leg or back meat would be a safer bet. As John worked, he noticed that the Panther had a peculiar mark on its side. It looked kind of like a pair of crossed arrows. Strange birthmark, he thought. However John was too hungry and tired to give it much more thought. After he was done, he leaned the skinned corpse of the panther on a nearby tree. He then set about making a fire. John had years of experience doing this, so it didn¡¯t take him very long. Once that was done, he carved pieces of meat from the panther¡¯s corpse, before using his sword as a skewer to cook them. As they cooked, John took a moment to reflect on things. How did he get here? And why? What was the System? Was this some kind of game for someone¡¯s enjoyment? And what was all that about comprehending the Aspect of Light? He thought back. A light bulb had gone off in his head, and then his energy had changed. Just like that, he had gotten stronger. Was that always possible, or was it only possible because of the System? So many questions. All that mattered was that he survived, John reminded himself. Everything else could be figured out later. What was obvious was that the System seemed to be encouraging him to get stronger, and in that regard their goals were aligned. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Judging that the meat was ready to eat, John took his first bite. It was tough and he had to use a lot of force to tear it with his teeth, but as hungry as he was, it tasted delicious. Juices ran down his chin as he ate. After he had eaten his fill, John followed the sound of water to a nearby stream. After examining the water and deciding that it was clean enough, he bent down to drink and wash his face. Feeling his eyelids growing heavier, and knowing that he needed to rest to regain his strength, John knew he had to sleep. He couldn¡¯t wander this forest forever. Finding an appropriate tree, John climbed it and got as comfortable as he could on one of its branches. It¡¯s not exactly five star accommodation, but at least he would be somewhat safe up here. He leaned back, allowing sleep to take him. ¡­ Sometime later, John woke up to the sound of voices. His eyes snapped open. The sounds were growing closer, and soon he could make out the words being spoken. It sounded like another language, but somehow he could understand them perfectly. Was this the Systems doing? Some kind of automatic translation thing? He froze, listening carefully, his hand on the scabbard of his Gladius. ¡°That fucking cat is always running off on his own. This is the third time I¡¯ve had to go looking for him. I¡¯d kill the damned creature if it hadn¡¯t cost my father so much to purchase him.¡± said an arrogant, young male voice. ¡°Be careful, Young Master. These woods are not safe, even for me. We should return home with these slaves you¡¯ve captured, and come back tomorrow with more men. For your safety. ¡± cautioned another voice carefully. ¡°Nonsense! My father pays you good money to protect me, Derrtus! Are you saying you are not adequate for the job?¡± replied the young voice. There was a hint of threat in his tone. As the voices approached, they seemed unaware of John¡¯s presence in the trees above. John soon caught sight of them, his eyes wide as he drank in the bizarre sight. He saw a group of five people. Yet he was only sure that two of them were people, the other three hard dark purpley-blue skin, and long ears that stretched behind their skulls. Some kind of elf? A dark elf, maybe. Holy shit, he really was in a Dungeons and Dragons game. One of the dark elves looked young and sauntered about carelessly, oblivious to his surroundings. He was dressed extravagantly in bright, expensive looking clothing and a jeweled scabbard rested on his hip. Beside him, a slightly older dark elf moved with practiced caution, his sharp gaze scanning the forest as he spoke to the arrogant youngster. He had a large axe on his back, and he looked like he meant business. The last dark elf was quiet. He carried a bow strapped to his back, and he also appeared to be a bodyguard. John¡¯s eyes moved on from the elves, quickly losing interest in them when he caught sight of the remaining two people. Somehow, he instantly knew they were from Earth. It wasn¡¯t just the normal human ears that gave it away. Perhaps it was their bewildered demeanor, or just simply their clothing and hairstyles - but he knew they didn¡¯t belong here. One was an asian teenage boy wearing a gray hoodie, the other was a girl in her mid twenties wearing a sundress. John¡¯s eyes widened as he caught sight of the chains around their hands and feet. They were being dragged along by the quiet elf with the bow. When the asian boy stumbled, barely catching himself before he hit the ground, the elf cruelly tugged on his chain, sending him sprawling. Before he could recover, a sharp kick to the gut drove the air from his lungs. He didn¡¯t give him a moment to breathe, forcing him up and yelling at him to walk faster. John gripped his Gladius, anger coursing through him. Just as he was considering taking action, a furious shout rang out from one of the elves. ¡°HEY! W-what is this?!¡± yelled the young elf, voice full of indignation and horror. John¡¯s eyes flicked towards the source of the outburst. The young elf stood frozen, staring at the panther¡¯s corpse, his face twisted with disbelief and fury. A moment of shocked silence followed. ¡°Young master, this was done somewhat recently. We should leave this place.¡± advised the older elf, his voice laced with caution. As the young elf fumed over the corpse, the third dark elf continued to abuse the two humans. He roughly yanked on their chains, and struck them with casual cruelty. What disturbed John the most wasn¡¯t just the brutality - but how it was completely ignored by the other two elves. It was like it was beneath their notice, or perhaps they were simply too accustomed to seeing such treatment. It pissed John off. Gripping his Gladius by the hilt, John began circulating his mana. As soon as he did, the older elf¡¯s head snapped towards him. He had sensed him - no, he had sensed his mana. John didn¡¯t care. With a sudden burst of movement, he jumped down from the tree, landing in a crouch with his knees bent - hand still gripping his sword hilt as his mana surged to life. Chapter 11 A stunned silence fell over the group. The two chained humans exchanged uncertain glances. Meanwhile, the elves tensed¡ªEstand¡¯s sneer faltered, Deratus¡¯s eyes narrowed in suspicion, and the archer stiffened, his hand hovering near his bow but not yet drawing it. Deratus reached behind his back, gripping the handle of his axe as he eyed John warily. The younger elf, in stark contrast, carried himself with casual arrogance as his gaze locked onto John, a sneer of disdain twisting his features. "You! Did you do this to my property? No... That can''t be right. You look like just another fresh Tutorial monkey. You''re far too weak." With a fluid motion, he drew his sword. A faint sheen of mana emerged to coat the weapon as it slid free. A large ruby was embedded in the pommel, and smaller jewels encrusted the guard and hilt. The elf took an elaborate stance, as if preparing for a performance rather than a fight. The older elf, Deratus, studied John carefully. He took note of the unnatural calm in his posture, and the way his fingers rested lightly on his sword hilt - relaxed yet ready. His instincts screamed danger. He stepped forward, speaking with measured urgency. "Young Master Estand, leave this one to me." Estand didn''t even glance at him. "No need, Deratus. I will be the one to teach this creature a lesson. Look at the arrogance in his eyes, it makes me want to pluck them out. But alas, blind slaves are of little use to my father. " said the younger elf, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Young Master, I urge you to reconsider. He is not worth dirtying your hands." cautioned Deratus, his expression tightening. But the younger elf, oblivious to the warning in his bodyguard¡¯s tone, was already preparing to strike. Deratus drew his axe, and silently motioned to the third elf with the bow - Thalorien was his name. He nodded in response. He had already anticipated what was coming and his bow was drawn, an arrow knocked. John registered all of this¡ªthe rising tension, the shifting stances as weapons were readied ¡ªbut his gaze remained locked on the elf in front of him. He steadied his breath, drawing more mana into his grip, ready for what came next. John had never killed an elf before. Or anything that could speak, for that matter. He took one last glance at the chained humans. Perhaps he would have to start getting used to it. Estand rushed forward, his sword raised high before bringing it down in a spinning, theatrical strike. At the same moment, the archer drew back his bow and aimed, ready to loose, while Deratus sent mana to his legs, ready to dash forward to aid his master at a moment''s notice. As Estand''s blade descended, John moved. A brilliant flash of light lit up the forest as he unsheathed his sword with blinding speed, overwhelming the onlookers. Caught off guard, the archer loosed his arrow - only for it to sail harmlessly over John''s shoulder. Deratus instinctively stepped forward but was left squinting against the momentary flash of light, unable to make out what had transpired. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As the light faded, a series of dull thuds were heard, along with a heavy impact of something hitting the ground. As his vision cleared, Deratus'' breath caught in his throat. His master lay before him - cleaved diagonally in two, from one hip to the opposite shoulder. His heart sank, and his blood ran cold. His eyes moved back to John, chills running down his neck as he watched him calmly sheathe his sword again. His attack had been so fast. Was it a Rare ability? He didn¡¯t dare to think it could be Epic. And that bright flash of light that had come and gone. Was it some kind of Aspect? He had never seen anything like it. But he had more alarming concerns. The young master was dead, and the High Lord¡ªhis father¡ªwould be furious. Deratus had been entrusted with his protection, and he knew the weight of his failure. He would be executed for this. His mind raced. He could think of only one way to survive. He must bring the killer back in chains. Perhaps if the High Lord was given an opportunity to vent his anger on the culprit, he would show mercy to Deratus. Yet he knew he couldn¡¯t take this opponent lightly. He looked at Thalorien, and with a silent nod, they shared an unspoken agreement. The elf abandoned the chained humans - they wouldn¡¯t get very far - and moved swiftly, circling around to get a better angle on their target. Meanwhile, John examined his opponent, recognising him as the biggest threat. As he focused on him, some text appeared above him. Dark Elf - Level ?? He looked over at the elf he had killed, and focused on him in the same way. Dark Elf - Level 12 Then he glanced at the one with the bow who was circling around him. Dark Elf - Level 16 Why had the System hidden that elf¡¯s level? Deratus¡ªthat was his name, based on the conversation with the one John had just killed. If his gaming experience had taught him anything, that usually signified a massive level gap. Was Deratus more than ten levels above him? Or twenty? Or perhaps a hundred? John had a feeling the difference in strength wasn¡¯t that drastic. Perhaps he was getting cocky, but as he watched his opponent and felt his mana, he had the feeling that he was facing a very strong opponent - but not an impossible one. Perception +1 Perhaps that was the System telling him he was correct. His light-tinted mana surged, coursing through his body and strengthening his limbs in anticipation of the coming fight. He channeled mana into his grip, steadying his hold on the hilt of his Gladius, refining his energy for the next Flash Draw. His opponent was far stronger, and a prolonged fight was a risk he couldn¡¯t take - John knew holding back would be foolish. He observed both of his opponents, devoting half of his awareness to the archer. The elf had circled behind him, but turning to face him meant turning his back on Deratus. He had heard the archer draw his bow earlier, his only hope was that he would hear it again when the arrow was loosed. He mentally prepared himself to evade the incoming arrow. Deratus tightened the grip on his axe, and he suddenly lunged forward - almost faster than John could react - but his improved senses saved him. He mobilised his mana, drawing his blade rapidly. Flash Draw Just as John''s sword was leaving its sheath, Deratus suddenly stopped short - breaking his momentum as he leaped backwards. A bright flash of light split the night, fading away a moment later to reveal Deratus - completely unharmed, grinning. John¡¯s eyes narrowed. This was the first time his technique had failed him. As he was processing the situation, he heard the snap of a bowstring from behind him. Chapter 12 John¡¯s nerves lit up like alarm bells, and he reacted, diving to the side without hesitation. The arrow scraped his side as he fell to the ground. He wasted no time, beginning to rise immediately. Halfway up, his senses screamed at him again, and he instinctively swung his sword at a point above his head - parrying a blow from Deratus¡¯ axe. The force of the attack was so great that it shoved John back to the ground. A moment later, he was forced to roll onto his back to avoid another axe blow, and it cleaved the ground where he had just been. John rolled forward, trying to gain some distance from his opponent. He was able to get back on his feet, and he turned, shifting into a combat stance - his Gladius held aloft, pointed at his opponent. Somehow, his stance felt right. Natural. As if he had done this before. He breathed deeply as he focused on circulating his mana, reinforcing his body to deal with his opponents great strength. Deratus wasted no time. He lunged forward, his massive axe carving a brutal arc through the air. John barely managed to sidestep, the wind from the swing brushing against his skin as the axe crashed into the ground, splitting the earth. Without thinking, he struck back. His Gladius lashed out in a sharp counterattack aimed at Deratus¡¯ side. But before the blade could land, Deratus wrenched his axe free and twisted, the shaft of his weapon knocking John¡¯s sword aside with ease. John barely had time to react before Deratus lunged forward with another swing - faster this time. No time to dodge. John raised his blade just in time to block, but the force behind the strike was so enormous that it rattled his bones and sent him tumbling backwards. His feet scrambled for balance on the forest floor as he tried to control his breathing, his whole body aching from the impact. His opponent pushed his advantage, forcing John to duck, the blade of the axe passing inches over his head. His instincts screamed at him to retaliate. His feet shifted, his knees bent, and before he even understood why, his Gladius flicked upward towards Deratus¡¯ head. Yet the dark elf reacted with terrifying speed, using the haft of his axe to deflect the strike. The sudden impact sent John stumbling back, his feet skidding against the ground as he struggled to maintain control. A few exchanges later, John had a grim expression on his face as he watched his opponent. This bastard was strong. The only reason he could stand against him at all was because of that white mana that he had. It seemed to fortify his body, making him faster and stronger than he should be. Even so, John knew that he shouldn¡¯t be able to fight him. They simply weren¡¯t on the same level. Yet something was changing. This was his first time using a sword, but the more they fought, the more natural it felt in his hands. His movements were growing sharper, his reactions faster. It wasn¡¯t just luck or instinct anymore - his body was adapting, and slowly figuring out where his blade should go. Every clash of weapons, every desperate maneuver, it was like he was close to understanding something on the edge of his perception. And then it happened. A notification bell rang. Player has learned an ability! Basic Swordsmanship (Common) (Level 1) - The player has taken their first steps on the path of the sword, gaining basic control and the ability to infuse mana with limited efficiency. Deratus observed him closely, a hint of admiration flickering in his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re improving.¡± His expression darkened, doubt entering his voice. ¡°Is this really your first Tutorial stage?¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. A new Tutorial entrant shouldn¡¯t be able to wield mana like that. Even those born with talent struggled, their bodies untrained and their minds struggling to grasp the flow of energy. But this creature before him? If this was indeed his first Tutorial stage, then his planet must be recently initiated into the System. That meant he had been handling mana for a handful of hours, at most. Yet he handled it with confidence. The mana he sensed coursing through him was raw, unrefined¡ªbut beneath that, there was an instinctive control, something that couldn¡¯t be learned in mere hours. Deratus tightened his grip on his sword. If he¡¯s this capable now, what will he become in a month? A year? Ten years? A future threat. That¡¯s what this offworlder was. He had to die here. Meanwhile, John ignored his words. He didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, and he didn¡¯t care. After four years in isolation, he had no interest in speaking with elves who treated people like slaves. ¡ª During that brief pause in the fighting, Thalorien saw his chance. John¡¯s back was exposed¡ªa perfect shot. He drew his bow, steady and precise, aiming for the kill. Just as he was about to release the arrow, something struck his arm. A stone. His shot went wide, the arrow vanishing into the trees. Snarling, he turned to find the culprit. His glare landed on the young female slave¡ªone of the recent acquisitions¡ªstanding defiant, hands clenched. Seeing him turn towards her, she turned and began hobbling away - her escape hindered by the chains around her feet. Gritting his teeth, a murderous glint in his eye, Thalorien knocked another arrow and took aim at the girl. Just as he was about to fire, a mass of limbs tumbled into him from the side - almost knocking him off his feet. He looked down to find the other male slave clutching onto his leg, desperately attempting to pull him down. Yet Thalorien¡¯s stats were too high, and the creature was too weak. Human - Level 1 Thalorien drew his knife, and with a cruel smile, he slashed across the human¡¯s hand. The slave let out a sharp cry of pain, his grip loosening as he clutched his bleeding hand. He stumbled back, and Thalorien followed, brandishing his dagger. Consumed by rage, he drove his foot into the human¡¯s ribs, sending him sprawling. As the slave gasped for breath, Thalorien debated whether he could afford to kill these slaves. He let out a sharp, frustrated sigh, realising it was not a good idea. With the young master dead, it would be foolish to risk angering the High Lord any further. So he kicked the young human one more time for good measure before he turned to watch the fight once more, knocking another arrow and looking for his opportunity. The girl had seemingly escaped, but they could retrieve her later. ¡ª John stepped forward instead of retreating, his body moving before his mind could catch up. His Gladius snapped up, the flat of the blade deflecting the axe just enough to redirect its path. Sparks flew as steel met steel, and John twisted his wrist, forcing the weapon past him. Deratus grunted in mild surprise, but he recovered instantly, bringing the axe back around with terrifying speed. John ducked, the weapon whistling past the top of his head. His feet adjusted instinctively - shifting his weight, he angled his sword into a precise thrust toward Deratus¡¯ exposed side. A notification bell rang. Basic Swordsmanship has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. The attack would have landed cleanly¡­ if not for Deratus¡¯ monstrous reflexes. The warrior twisted at the last second, the axe''s haft slamming into John''s ribs and sending him staggering back. Pain flared, but John barely noticed. His mind was consumed by something else. The elf reversed his grip, bringing the axe down in a brutal overhead strike. John stepped in instead of back, his gladius flashing upward. The clash sent another burst of sparks flying, but this time, John felt something click¡ªa deeper understanding of the weapon in his hands. His grip adjusted mid-motion, his movements smoother, sharper. Another notification rang at the edge of his awareness. Basic Swordsmanship has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. John barely registered it. He moved not with conscious thought, but through instinct, as his body adapted to the feel of the sword in his hand - and the many possibilities before him. Deratus scowled - he could see the difference in John¡¯s stance and the way he handled his weapon. The runt was evolving mid-fight. In the beginning he had been an easy opponent, but that was changing more rapidly than he could believe. He had to end this now. Chapter 13 Combat Sense has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Strength +1 Agility +1 Instinct +1 As John fought, he grew stronger and more confident in his abilities. A prolonged battle like this was a good opportunity for him to practice circulating his mana. When he needed to dash forward rapidly, he sent mana to his legs. When he needed to quicken his sword, he sent mana down his arm and through his core. He refined the technique, growing more and more confident. By channeling mana in quick bursts, he was able to achieve greater results while expending less energy. Another notification bell rang. Player¡¯s ability Basic Energy Circulation has evolved into Focused Energy Circulation! Focused Energy Circulation (Uncommon) (Level 1) - The user has achieved finer control over their mana, allowing them to more efficiently enhance specific body parts for increased speed, strength, and recovery with minimal mana use. John channeled mana into his arms, meeting Deratus¡¯ axe with a solid parry. Not long ago, the impact would have rattled his entire body¡ªnow, his hands barely trembled. Seizing the opening, he flicked his gladius towards his opponent¡¯s neck. Deratus was fast, twisting just in time to turn a fatal strike into a shallow cut. The two warriors separated, momentarily stunned. John¡¯s gaze locked onto the thin trail of blood trickling down his opponent¡¯s throat¡ªhis first real wound on his opponent. Grinding his teeth, Deratus wiped his neck, only for fresh blood to seep through his fingers. His expression darkened. He could no longer afford to hold back. With John¡¯s rapid growth, hesitation meant defeat. Mana surged through his body in a precise pattern, and a wave of heat radiated from him. He stomped the ground, flames surging to life around his axe. John took a moment to steady himself, but he could feel the storm building¡ªhis opponent was preparing a devastating strike. The thought of retreating crossed his mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly. He couldn''t abandon the two human prisoners, chained and helpless at the mercy of these dark elves. Exhaling, he sheathed his sword, his fingers resting lightly on the hilt as he began channeling mana into it. His mind replayed his earlier failure¡ªhe had assumed his Flash Draw was as fast as it would ever need to be. He had been naive. It had been fast, but not fast enough. It needed to be swifter and sharper. Unstoppable. As he gathered mana, he visualized the attack again and again, running through each movement in his mind. Whether it was due to his recent growth in swordsmanship or something deeper clicking into place, new insights surfaced¡ªsubtle shifts in his grip, the angle of his draw, the flow of his mana. Adjustments so small they had once escaped him, yet now they felt obvious. A chime echoed in his mind. Flash Draw has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Flash Draw has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Deratus roared as he hoisted his axe overhead, stomping forward with crushing force. Mana surged around him, igniting into searing flames that wreathed his weapon. He closed the distance in an instant, his strike plummeting down like a falling star. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. John remained calm, staying perfectly still as he continued to gather and condense mana. It wasn¡¯t until his opponent was within range and almost upon him that he suddenly burst into movement, drawing his blade and slashing upwards in one smooth, fluid motion. A brilliant arc of light split the night sky. The sheer radiance silenced the forest, momentarily blinding any who dared to look. Yet, to John, it was nothing but clarity. He knew he had not missed this time. A crescent of light pierced Deratus¡¯ body, extending beyond the range of John¡¯s blade. A heavy thud followed as Deratus collapsed, his outstretched arm severed and half his torso cleaved apart. His axe lost all power, clattering to the floor. Then came a burst of pain as John suddenly felt an impact on the back of his left shoulder. He turned his head, surprised to see an arrow buried in his flesh. His gaze snapped to a distant ridge, where an elf stood hunched over, hands clutching his eyes, his bow already fallen to the ground. At his feet was one of their human prisoners - the boy. John¡¯s thoughts flickered. Where was the girl? He turned back to his fallen opponent, staring in silence as the life faded from his eyes. He glanced at his notifications. Player has defeated Deratus Vaerndal - Level 24. Player has leveled up! Player has leveled up! Player has leveled up! John turned back to the archer, who had now recovered his sight and was fumbling to retrieve his bow. Sheathing his sword, he strode toward him with measured steps. The elf, trembling with fear, struggled to nock an arrow. His fingers shook, his breath came in ragged gasps. At last, he managed to draw, forcing mana into his next attack¡ªbut his panic made the flow unstable, his energy scattered. John was now less than ten paces away from him. The elf¡¯s fear broke. Desperate, he loosed the arrow. Rather than shying away, John continued to advance. With a metallic chime that sang in the night air, John drew his sword. His blade sliced the arrow in two, sending the two sections careening in opposite directions. Combat Sense has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. John felt a flicker of surprise. He had felt he could do it, but that had been easier than expected. He had not used Flash Draw. In fact, he had used very little mana. It was pure technique. His sharpened instincts, heightened stats, and Combat Sense had all aligned in that single moment. Thalorien stared at John, wide-eyed. Human - Level 11 This human had only just begun his journey through the System¡¯s tutorial, yet he had slain Deratus¡ªa warrior trained from childhood, respected within their domain. And now, as John advanced, unshaken and with an arrow protruding from his shoulder, Thalorien felt a cold dread creep into his bones. Each step the human took felt like death itself drawing closer. Panic seized him. His gaze flicked down to the chained human boy at his feet. Desperation took hold. With a vicious kick, he sent the boy tumbling down the ridge toward John, the child groaning in pain as he rolled. Thalorien didn¡¯t wait to see what happened next. He turned and ran, flooding mana into his legs, burning through his energy in a frantic bid to escape. The forest blurred around him as he moved. He ran and ran until his mana was nearly depleted. Finally, he staggered to a stop, pressing his back against a tree as he fought to steady his breath. His ears strained for any sign that he was being followed. Silence. Maybe he had gotten away. Then - a branch snapped. His head jerked up, and he found himself looking into the eyes of the human girl. She was still chained, yet somehow, she had managed to clamber onto the tree above him. Wide-eyed with fear, she froze under his gaze. Perhaps his luck wasn¡¯t so bad after all. A slow, cruel grin spread across his face. He would take her back to the High Lord, and she would serve as proof of what had occurred this night. Chapter 14 John didn¡¯t bother chasing the elf. Instead, he turned his attention to the arrow lodged in his shoulder, tilting his head and running his fingers over the shaft. It hadn¡¯t gone all the way through, and the tip didn¡¯t seem to be barbed. ¡°H-Hey, man! A-Are you gonna kill me?¡± a hesitant voice called out. John glanced over to see the teenage boy struggling to sit up, the chains around his limbs making it difficult on the uneven ground. Seeing that John remained silent, the boy spoke up again. ¡°Please tell me you speak English.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± John replied curtly. ¡°Oh, thank God. Can you give me a hand?¡± John ignored him. Instead, he crouched beside the corpse of his fallen opponent, rifling through the elf¡¯s belongings. Most of the items were unfamiliar, but he recognized food, a water flask, and a sturdy leather bag¡ªuseful enough for him to take. Next, he moved to the younger elf, the one they had called Young Master. Searching his body, John found a badge forged from a fluorescent steel, etched with crossed arrows beneath a wreath of leaves. He pocketed it before tearing long strips from the elf¡¯s cloak. Taking a steadying breath, he reached back, gripping the arrow¡¯s shaft. Then, with a sharp yank, he pulled it free. Pain shot through his body, his vision blurring for a moment as he clenched his jaw against a grunt. Eyes watering, he immediately channeled mana into the wound, cleansing it and accelerating the healing process. ¡°Holy shit. That must¡¯ve hurt,¡± the boy said. ¡°Want help wrapping it up? I took a First Aid class once.¡± John turned to stare at him. Without a word, he stepped forward, grabbed the chains around the boy¡¯s wrists, and yanked him upright. ¡°Keep your hands and feet apart. Don¡¯t move,¡± he ordered, gripping the hilt of his sword. The boy swallowed, hesitantly holding his arms out. He must have understood John¡¯s intent, but his nervous expression betrayed his doubt. ¡°I-I don¡¯t think you can break them,¡± he stammered. ¡°I heard the dark elves talking¡­ It¡¯s some kind of special metal.¡± His voice wavered before sinking into something closer to despair. ¡°T-they said these chains are special. They keep us here. In this¡­ Tutorial stage. On their world.¡± ¡°Close your eyes,¡± John said simply. To his credit, the boy obeyed, clenching his eyes shut. John bent his knees, controlling his breathing. He focused, condensing his mana, power coiling within his stance. Then, with a sharp exhale, he drew his sword¡ªblindingly fast. Light erupted from the blade, so intense that the boy instinctively squeezed his eyes shut even tighter. When the light faded, he peeked through his lashes¡ªonly to find his chains severed. No, more than severed. They had disintegrated, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air. The magical manacles around his wrists clattered to the ground. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. "A-Awesome... Thanks!" the boy exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement as he rubbed his sore wrists. Then, his expression turned frantic. ¡°Helena! Th-the girl I was with. We have to find her and break her chains too, or she¡¯ll be stuck here! Who knows what they¡¯ll do to her?¡± A somber expression appeared on John¡¯s face as he heard that. He didn¡¯t like the sound of someone being stuck here. A human just like him, so far from home - trapped here forever at the mercy of those dark elves. The thought of it pissed him off. Instead of answering, he met the boy¡¯s gaze and handed him the strips of cloth he had salvaged. Then, with a nod, he motioned toward the still bleeding wound on his shoulder. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Oh, r-right¡­¡± The boy hesitated before taking the cloth. Stepping around John, he carefully began binding his injury. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± John asked as the boy worked. ¡°Justin,¡± he answered. ¡°You look young. How old are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sixteen.¡± John shook his head. So the System didn¡¯t care about age. Maybe it considered Justin an adult, or maybe it just didn¡¯t give a damn. He wondered how many other kids had been thrown into this nightmare. ¡°Do you know anything about this place? Or how we got here?¡± John asked. He had his own theories, but he wanted to hear what the kid had figured out. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know much. I just heard a voice, got a splitting headache, and then I was here. But I picked up a few things from listening to the elves talk.¡± John¡¯s ears perked up, and he motioned for Justin to continue. ¡°This Tutorial is supposed to prepare us for something back on Earth¡­ which means there¡¯s a chance we can go home. But only if we survive.¡± Justin swallowed before continuing. ¡°This is the first stage of the Tutorial, and it selected a world for us to spend the first twenty-four hours in. I don¡¯t know exactly how the System chose this world, but it seems like it has something to do with the difficulty it announced earlier - ¡®Nightmare¡¯.¡± He hesitated, his voice dropping to a mutter. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why we got thrown into a forest full of psychotic dark elves.¡± John listened silently. Most of it wasn¡¯t really new information - but one thing did stick out to him. There¡¯s a chance we can go home. But only if we survive. Home. The word lingered in his mind. If he did make it back, would the System return him to the island? The thought sent a shudder through him. Four years of isolation had nearly broken him once. He couldn¡¯t do it again. He¡¯d rather take his chances here, fighting dark elves and whatever else this world threw at him. As he brooded, he absentmindedly practiced circulating his mana, feeling it flow through his body. These new abilities¡­ Perhaps he could develop something that would allow him to escape the island¡ªif it ever came to that. Then, his thoughts shifted. His fianc¨¦e. It had been over four years since he¡¯d last seen her. Was she trapped in this Tutorial too? Was she fighting to survive, just like him? His chest tightened at the thought, a dull ache spreading through him. A feeling he despised¡ªhelplessness. No. He would not accept it. Suddenly, John¡¯s mana surged along with his emotions. ¡°All done! Keep it clean, and you should be good!¡± John barely registered the words. His blood was hot with rage, his mind consumed by the thought of her¡ªlost, alone, in danger. He forced a deep breath, steadying himself. Slowly, he circulated his mana, dispersing the volatile energy coursing through him. Focused Energy Circulation has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Whether she was in this Tutorial or somewhere else, he would find her. No matter what. A spark of hope flickered to life within him. He could go home. And more than that¡ªhe could escape that damned island. He could find Eliza. For the first time in a long time, John began to look forward to the future. Chapter 15 The Shadowspire loomed against the horizon, its black spires reaching into the night sky like the talons of a great beast. Carved into the base of a jagged mountain, the dark elf enclave stood silent and imposing, its silhouette a dark contrast against the moonlit landscape. Slaves moved in silence, their heads bowed and eyes fixed on the ground, as if even the act of looking up might invite punishment. They came from various races: orcs, beastkin, and even elves that bore a lighter complexion, all broken and stripped of their pride. The dark elves moved with cold authority, their steps precise and eyes calculating. Dressed in dark robes adorned with runes, they exuded an air of superiority, as if the world existed to serve them. Slaves who moved too slowly were beaten in public, and those who spoke out of turn had their tongues removed or lips sewn shut. At the heart of the city stood a towering fortress, its entrance flanked by statues of chained figures¡ªfaces twisted in anguish, a silent warning to any slave who might consider rebellion. Inside, the High Lord Seryth lounged upon his dark throne, draped in luxurious robes that shimmered with threads of silver. His pale face was sharply sculpted, framed by long silver hair that cascaded down his shoulders. His eyes, gleaming with a cold, calculating light, studied every person who dared approach, never softening, never warming. The chamber around him was opulent, adorned with intricate carvings and precious gemstones set into the walls, their light flickering in the dim glow of the room. The air itself seemed heavy, almost suffocating with the weight of his presence. Thalorien, a dark elf with a bow strapped to his back, trembled as he knelt. Behind him stood a human girl in chains, guarded by elven warriors. ¡°My third son¡­ dead?¡± The High Lord¡¯s voice was filled with disbelief and barely controlled rage. His eyes flared, flickering with a dangerous glint. ¡°Killed by a mere fresh Tutorial Initiate?¡± Thalorien took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "Y-yes, my lord! It was a race I am not familiar with¡ªperhaps new to the System. A ¡®human.¡¯¡± He pointed at the girl, his voice unsteady. The High Lord¡¯s eyes shifted toward the girl, his contempt palpable. Human - Level 1 He leaned forward, his expression unreadable¡ªuntil the air around him pulsed. A wave of mana flared from his body, distorting the very space around his throne. Thalorien flinched, his knees nearly buckling. ¡°You mean to tell me this frail creature, devoid of mana, killed my son?¡± The High Lord¡¯s voice thundered, his rage pressing down on the room like a storm. ¡°N-no¡­ My lord, we found three Tutorial Initiates in total. It was one of the males who murdered your son.¡± ¡°And Deratus?¡± the High Lord snapped, impatience lacing his words. ¡°Deratus fell in battle, my lord.¡± Silence stretched between them. The High Lord¡¯s gaze bore into Thalorien, so heavy it felt like the air itself was crushing him. A fresh Tutorial Initiate had killed both his son and his son¡¯s bodyguard? Impossible. Deratus had been on the cusp of earning his first class¡ªhe should have been more than capable of handling mere newcomers. The oppressive weight in the room lingered for a few moments longer before the High Lord finally eased his grip, though his eyes remained sharp. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Fingers drumming against the armrest of his throne, he murmured, ¡°Strange. It has been many years since the System chose our world for a Tutorial¡­ and never for a first-stage.¡± His gaze darkened. ¡°Where were they found?¡± ¡°Umbravale forest, my lord. They are likely still there.¡± A silence fell. His expression shifted¡ªjust for a moment. ¡°Umbravale?¡± His voice was quieter now, but charged with something else. ¡°For a first-stage Tutorial?¡± His fingers tightened on the throne¡¯s armrest. Mana pulsed again, and the torches in the chamber flickered wildly in response. Then, as suddenly as it had flared, his power stilled. He exhaled slowly. ¡°Ranger Captain Rendial.¡± A warrior stepped forward, kneeling without hesitation. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°I cannot enter Umbravale personally¡­ You will lead the Dusk Sentinels and capture these Initiates. Move quickly¡ªcapture them before the first stage ends and the System transfers them away, but beware¡­¡± His tone developed a sharp note of warning. ¡°There are forces in that forest even I would not wish to provoke.¡± ¡°It will be done, my lord.¡± Rendial bowed his head, his tone steady and unwavering. ¡°Take this runt with you,¡± the High Lord spat, his eyes narrowing in contempt. ¡°He will serve as your guide.¡± ¡ª-- John ¡°Breathe deeply. Feel the energy flowing into your body¡ªthat¡¯s mana. Follow it, see where it goes.¡± John¡¯s voice rasped over the campfire¡¯s crackle, rough but edged with patience. Somewhere beyond the trees, a low roar rumbled¡ªtoo far to matter yet. Smoke curled up, thick with the scent of charred roots they¡¯d scavenged from the elves. Fortunately, Justin was a quick learner. ¡°I¡ªI got a notification! Basic Energy Circulation!¡± Justin shouted, jumping to his feet, his food tumbling to the ground. John nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. The kid¡¯s excitement was almost infectious. Although they had just met, he had decided that he liked the kid. He would prefer it if he survived. ¡°Nice job,¡± he said, nodding. ¡°Keep practicing¡ªmove it around, feel what it does.¡± With that, John sat back down, already muttering to himself, eyes narrowing as he called up his own Status. Nine points to spend. Focus was changing him¡ªtwenty-one now, and he could feel it: the way his mind snapped to every rustle in the dark, the precision powering his Flash Draw. It was like sharpening a blade in his skull. But his body? Lagging, bruised, and creaking from too many close calls. As he glanced at his other stats, doubt crept in. Was he neglecting something important by prioritizing Focus? He had no mentor to guide him, no way of knowing if his choices were right. All he could do was trust his instincts. He put three points into Agility. A lightness crept into his limbs, subtle but real¡ªspeed was life out here; he was learning that the hard way. Then after some thought, he invested two points into Constitution. He wanted to see how useful it would be. Fighting for his life was taxing, and he needed to make sure his body wouldn¡¯t give up on him. The last four? Focus. Always Focus. He closed his eyes, sinking into it. The fire¡¯s crackle sharpened in his ears, John¡¯s breathing steadied into a rhythm, and a faint hum of mana thrummed in his veins, alive and electric. His mind felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap loose with power. Yeah, this was right. Status Name: John Silver Race: Human Class: N/A Level: 11 Strength: 6 Agility: 14 Constitution: 6 Focus: 25 Instinct: 15 Perception: 8 Unused stat points: 0 His Status faded as he dismissed the screen. Justin was still at it, grinning like an idiot as he played with his new skill. John almost envied that raw excitement. Then the ground trembled¡ªjust once, faint but deep, a ripple under his boots. His hand slid to the gladius at his waist, grip tightening. Something was coming. Chapter 16 John tilted his head, ear to the wind. The vibrations sharpened, pulsing through the dirt¡ªsilent for a heartbeat, then a shuddering boom. Closer now. Even Justin caught it, his grin faltering as he glanced up, curious. The rhythm turned jagged¡ªsilence, then a crash, trees snapping like brittle bones. John¡¯s eyes locked on a point in the dark canopy, mana flowing through his veins. ¡°W-what is that?¡± Justin¡¯s voice cracked as he scrambled to John¡¯s side, hands trembling. John didn¡¯t answer, focus narrowing, mana coiling tighter. Then the forest erupted¡ªtrees in his line of sight exploded inward, shards of bark and leaves slashing through the air. A draconic head lunged from the chaos, scales glinting silver under the faint moonlight, jaws twisted in a snarl as it barreled toward them. It was massive¡ªtoo big to take in at once. John dropped his attempts at manipulating mana, grabbed Justin, and flung them both to the ground, dirt grinding into his palms. He snapped his head up. The creature¡ªa giant, silvery snake with a horned, dragon-like head¡ªplowed through their campfire, snuffing it out with a thrash of its coils. Umbral Wyrm - ?? John froze, mouth dry. The thing was a wall of scales and muscle¡ªtoo huge to be real, power hitting him like a wave. His mind reeled. A monster like this had a level? Was it even possible to fight something like this? Like Deratus, its level was hidden. But where Deratus had been a gamble, this thing oozed a raw, untouchable power John couldn¡¯t even dream of facing. His gut clenched as he watched it, yet a flicker of relief crept in as he realised it wasn¡¯t after them. The wyrm slammed its coils into the campfire, scales hissing as embers flared and died. It thrashed until the fire was stamped out, plunging them into shadow. Only then did it seem to relax, a low rumble vibrating from its bulk as it settled into the dark. Unable to see much in the darkness, John and Justin stayed low and listened. They heard the great beast dragging its bulk through the dirt¡ªthe sound getting further and further away. It was leaving. Had it only wanted to put out the fire? Or perhaps it was the light that had pissed it off? Looking back, making a fire in this place had been foolish. John cursed himself under his breath. These new abilities were making him sloppy, overconfident. ¡°J-John! Is it safe?¡± came the hushed whisper from Justin. ¡°Yes. Get up. We need to leave.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. John hauled Justin to his feet and led him out of the clearing, deeper into the forest¡ªaway from the wyrm¡¯s trail. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk, eyes darting through the gloom. Justin, jittery, couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°What was that thing?¡± he asked, voice small, sensing John¡¯s edge. ¡°No clue. Big snake. Not sticking around to ask.¡± John¡¯s tone was curt, gaze sweeping the trees. ¡°Okay¡­ T-then where are we going?¡± John slowed, then stopped. ¡°The System said 24 hours for this ¡®Tutorial¡¯ stage. We survive that, it pulls us out. No idea how long we¡¯ve been here¡ªneed a way to track it.¡± Suddenly, John froze. He looked over at Justin¡ªmore specifically, Justin¡¯s wrist. He rushed over and grabbed his arm, pulling it up to see. He had a wristwatch. ¡°W-what is it?¡± Justin stammered in bewilderment. John ignored him, peering at the digital time on the watch. 23:24. John looked at Justin. ¡°What time was it when you got here?¡± ¡°Oh, I woke up in the middle of the night¡ªI think it was around 2 AM.¡± John did a quick calculation in his head. If that was accurate, then they only had a few hours left to go. They¡¯d be teleported out of here soon. His thoughts drifted toward Helena, the girl who¡¯d disappeared. If Justin was right, the chains she wore would stop the System from teleporting her out. Although he didn¡¯t know her, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a pang of pity. She was here against her will, same as them. Same age as Eliza, same slight frame. He clenched his jaw, dropped Justin¡¯s wrist, and trudged on through the undergrowth. If he found her, he¡¯d get her out. As they walked, John got a bad feeling¡ªlike someone was watching them. He trusted his gut now. His eyes narrowed as he looked around the forest, keeping his breathing steady. Perception +1 That confirmed it. He didn¡¯t change his posture, not wanting to tip off whatever was out there. He kept expecting an attack, but nothing happened. He just kept walking, giving brief answers to Justin¡¯s nervous questions. That feeling of being watched never faded. The forest got thicker, roots grasping at their feet. John¡¯s hand stayed near his gladius. Justin followed close, jumping at every noise. Then¡ªa quick blur in the dark, a branch snapping above. Instinct +1 John turned fast, pushing Justin down as something dropped from the trees. It was human-shaped. He drew his sword¡ªnot a mana-infused Flash Draw, just a basic draw. The sound of steel clashing rang through the forest, and his opponent retreated. John finally got a good look at him. ¡°You, kid,¡± the elf said, voice sharp. ¡°They said you had Nullifying Chains. How¡¯d you get free? You two couldn¡¯t break those¡ªwho¡¯s with you?¡± Justin stared at the elf, eyes wide. John stepped up, drawing the elf¡¯s gaze. The elf grinned, thin and nasty, twirling a long dagger. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. The higher-ups can figure it out. My friends are coming¡ªbut first, I¡¯m gonna play with you.¡± Chapter 17 The elf laughed, and as he did, he disappeared¡ªhis laughter echoing through the forest. Justin stared around wildly, bewildered. ¡°W-where did he go?¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± John said calmly. Remembering the panther that could go invisible, he wasn¡¯t too surprised. He stayed steady, dropping into a combat stance with his sword raised. His eyes scanned the trees, ears tuned to the forest¡¯s hums and rustles. Sensing something, John¡¯s eyes widened. He lunged toward Justin. ¡°DOWN!¡± Justin reacted fast, throwing himself to the ground. A moment later, a long knife cut through the air where his neck had been. The blade shifted, slashing down at Justin¡¯s crouched form. John got there just in time, deflecting it with a sharp squeal of steel as his gladius met the attack. He stepped forward, thrusting his blade while shoving Justin behind him. The long knife parried, but John pressed on, picturing the invisible elf¡¯s body in his mind. The bald creep had said more were coming¡ªJohn wasn¡¯t about to waste time. He gritted his teeth, killing intent in his eyes. Thrust, parry, pivot. Duck, step, thrust, swing. John sank into focus, fighting the hidden enemy. The elf¡¯s weapon was a faint blur, sometimes just an afterimage. John leaned on his instincts and senses¡ªhis strong suit. He swung at the elf¡¯s side, expecting the parry. It came. He yanked his gladius back, pumping mana into his arm as he stepped in and thrust hard. The elf barely blocked, sliding back with a scrape¡ªhis invisible boots gouging the dirt. John had counted on that. He didn¡¯t wait, sheathing his gladius but keeping his hands on the hilt. He bent his knees, settling into a stance, mana flowing into his grip. The elf and his knife vanished again. John had been expecting this, too. Behind him, John vaguely heard Justin inhale sharply. He was scared. ¡°Close your eyes,¡± he told him. John didn¡¯t check if he did. He deepened his focus, senses razor-sharp as he breathed slow. In. Out. In. Out. A shift to his left¡ªJohn¡¯s hands tightened on the hilt. He whipped his gladius free, slicing up as he turned. A bright beam flared from the blade, lighting the forest. Flash Draw A notification chimed, then a ragged scream ripped through the air. The light faded, showing the bald elf on the ground, clutching the stump of his severed arm. Blood poured from a deep gash in his side too¡ªhe was bleeding out fast. The elf¡¯s face twisted with pain and rage as he spat at John. ¡°You wretch! You cut off my arm! Impossible!¡± John stepped toward him, ready to finish it, but stopped at his next words. ¡°My companions will get you for this! We¡¯ve already got one of you¡ªwait till you see what we have planned for her,¡± he laughed, coughing blood, ¡°and you¡¯ll be next! You miserable wretches! The System must hate you, dumping you on Mordrith for your first Tutorial! Bahahaha¨C!¡± His laughter cut off as John swung, slicing off the elf¡¯s other arm. He had run out of pity for these things. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Agghhhh~!¡± John tuned him out. He planted his boot on the wriggling elf¡¯s chest, pinning him. He looked at Justin and held out his gladius, hilt-first. ¡°You finish him.¡± ¡°W-what? No, why?¡± ¡°If you want to survive, you need to get stronger. You level up by contributing to kills.¡± ¡°B-but¡­¡± ¡°Choose. Live or die.¡± John¡¯s eyes locked on Justin¡¯s, hard and steady. It was a rotten choice for a kid, but this wasn¡¯t a normal place. John knew that too well. You turned into a monster here, or you got eaten by them. Justin took the hilt, weak and shaky. His arm dipped under the weight before he caught it. Seeing he needed a push, John grabbed his hands and guided the blade toward the elf¡¯s throat. The elf kept talking, switching between begging and cursing. Now he zeroed in on Justin. ¡°You won¡¯t do it, runt. My friends are coming¡ªyou¡¯re both gonna die screaming!¡± He rambled on, and John felt Justin¡¯s hands tremble in his own, the grip slack. Just when he thought the kid wouldn¡¯t do it, Justin¡¯s shaky hands pressed down. It was feeble, but the blade dipped until it grazed the elf¡¯s neck. The elf¡¯s eyes bulged, panic setting in. ¡°Aghhh! No, please! I come from a noble family! We have wealth!¡± John nodded¡ªgood enough. With a grim look, he clamped his hands tighter around Justin¡¯s wrists and shoved down. The dark elf¡¯s words turned to gurgles as the blade sank into his flesh, blood flooding his throat. Moments later, the light left his eyes. Justin sank to the ground numbly. A notification bell rang out. John checked his notifications. Focused Energy Circulation has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Combat Sense has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Player has defeated Zrathis Vek - Veilblade - Level 25. Player has leveled up! Only one level for a Level 25? Maybe the reward was smaller since the System counted him as assisting Justin¡¯s kill. He dumped all three points into Focus. The third notification caught his eye¡ªsomething new. ¡°Veilblade.¡± What was that? A job? Or¡­ a class? Did you get one at Level 25, or was there some other trick to it? John didn¡¯t dwell on it long. He glanced at Justin and saw his description had changed. Human - Level 6 ¡°You should spend your points soon, kid.¡± Justin didn¡¯t answer, staring blankly at the dark elf¡¯s corpse. John stood, walked over, and grabbed his shoulder, shaking him. ¡°Snap out of it. This isn¡¯t the time.¡± Slowly, Justin¡¯s eyes focused, meeting John¡¯s gaze. He looked away, fiddling with an invisible screen. ¡°I¡­ I gained 5 levels.¡± ¡°Yeah. Spend them,¡± John said simply. He left him there, heading back to the elf¡¯s body. He searched it, grabbing some basic supplies and a whistle carved from white bone-like material. Then he picked up the long knife, testing its weight. Drow Dagger (Uncommon) A slim, single-edged blade forged from a dark, lightweight alloy, sharper and tougher than common steel. Built for quick, silent cuts, it balances perfectly in the hand. The bone-carved hilt, wrapped in thin leather, offers a steady grip, while the narrow guard keeps it practical and deadly. Light but solid¡ªa good weapon. He sheathed it, then walked back to Justin. ¡°Take this,¡± he said, handing him the knife. Still distracted by his status screen, Justin glanced up and took it hesitantly, hands trembling around the hilt. John didn¡¯t wait for a reply. He hauled Justin to his feet and pushed him forward. They couldn¡¯t stay. The elf had said his friends were coming, and John was inclined to believed him. ¡ªA few minutes later¡ª Three elf figures stood around Zrathis Vek¡¯s corpse. One, a female, kicked it. ¡°Idiot. We were told not to engage alone. Always a fool.¡± The second knelt, checking the wounds. ¡°Clean cuts,¡± he said, ¡°except this one.¡± He pointed at the sloppy stab in the throat. The third turned away, pulling out a bone whistle and blowing into it. A sharp, bird-like call cut through the forest, carrying far. A short distance away, Justin flinched at the sound, his hands still shaky around the dagger. Chapter 18 John dragged Justin through the undergrowth, boots pounding the dirt. The forest blurred past¡ªbranches snapping, roots clawing at their feet. That whistle still rang in his ears, sharp and too close. The elves were coming, and they weren¡¯t far behind. Justin stumbled, panting hard. ¡°T-they¡¯ve got Helena¡± he said, voice shaky. ¡°The elf said they have a girl.¡± John didn¡¯t answer. His jaw tightened, a faint grimness in his eyes. He felt a flicker of pity for her but kept moving, shoving Justin forward when he slowed. No time for that now. The air shifted¡ªa rustle, then a hiss. John¡¯s head snapped left. Too late. A dark shape burst from the trees, fast and low. Another dark elf, blade gleaming. ¡°Move!¡± John barked, pushing Justin aside. The weapon grazed his arm, hot pain flaring as blood soaked his sleeve. He swung his gladius, catching air¡ªthe elf was already gone, melting back into the shadows. More came. Two, three¡ªdark forms weaving through the trees, silent as ghosts. John grabbed Justin¡¯s arm, hauling him toward a ditch. ¡°Down!¡± They slid into the shallow drop, dirt crunching under them. Justin hit the ground hard, gasping. John crouched over him, gladius up, scanning the gloom. His arm throbbed, blood dripping steady, but he ignored it. Footsteps¡ªlight and quick¡ªclosed in. A shadow loomed above the ditch. John lunged, blade slashing up. Steel met steel, a shrill clang cutting through the quiet. The elf snarled, leaping back, but not before John¡¯s gladius nicked his leg. Another darted in from the side, aiming for Justin. John spun, swinging his gladius over Justin¡¯s head to meet the attack. The dagger clashed against his blade, but the elf twisted, slicing into John¡¯s shoulder before he could pull back. He grunted, shoving the elf off with a quick jab of his pommel. It stumbled back, giving them a second. ¡°Run!¡± John growled, pulling Justin up. The kid¡¯s eyes were wide, fixed on the blood staining John¡¯s shirt. ¡°B-but¡ª¡± ¡°Run!¡± John repeated, steel in his voice. Justin crawled out of the ditch and bolted, and John followed. His shoulder burned, arm hanging heavy, but he kept the gladius ready. The elves¡¯ footsteps echoed behind¡ªcloser, relentless. They weren¡¯t done. The forest thickened, trees pressing in tight. John¡¯s breath came hard, blood slicking his grip. Justin tripped ahead, scrambling back up with a yelp. No time to stop. A twang cut the air¡ªan arrow. John ducked on instinct, but it slammed into his thigh, punching through muscle. He stumbled, biting down a curse, and forced himself forward. Pain seared with every step, but he dragged Justin behind a jagged rock. They were pinned¡ªelves closing in, shadows flickering between the trunks. A steely look in his eye, John sheathed his gladius, hands steady despite the blood. He sank into focus, mana pooling hot in his core, deeper than before. He pushed the mana into his grip, condensing it hard. He kept pouring more in, focusing it tighter each time. His hand crackled with power around the gladius hilt. Some of the smarter elves noticed, holding back, wary. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. It still wasn¡¯t enough. John¡¯s mind shifted¡ªFlash Draw wasn¡¯t just the swing. It was the mana bursting out, light as a blade itself. He squeezed it sharper, forcing the energy to cut, not just flash. Something clicked¡ªFlash Draw was sharpened intent, channeled raw. Flash Draw has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Three elves stepped into view¡ªtwo with daggers, one gripping a short spear, eyes glinting. John gripped his hilt, knees bent, breath slow. In. Out. They lunged towards him, and he pulled the gladius free in one sharp arc, light exploding from the blade¡ªbrighter, wider, a searing wall of it. The forest lit up. Two elves dropped instantly, cut clean in half, blood spraying over the dirt. The third staggered back, arm gone, screaming as he clutched the stump. The rest of the elves¡ªtwo that John could see in the shadows¡ªfroze, then fled, retreating fast. One withdrew a bone whistle with shaky hands, and blew into it. John knew more were likely out there. He stood there, panting, gladius still humming faintly. The elves¡¯ shock hung thick¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected that. Neither had he. Suddenly, a robotic voice sounded in John¡¯s ears. 24 hours have passed. Congratulations on surviving the first stage of the tutorial! Do you wish to proceed to the second stage? John had not been expecting that. He looked at Justin, and could tell from his eyes that he had heard it too. ¡°Accept it.¡± John said. ¡°Okay. Are you gonna accept it too?¡± ¡°Of course, I''ll be right behind you.¡± he lied. Hesitating only for a second, Justin nodded. A moment later, he vanished. John¡¯s eyes widened slightly. He had been expecting it, but seeing it in person still shocked him. He shifted his focus back to the elves. They were creeping closer, confidence returning but wary now, giving him space. Peering into the forest, John couldn¡¯t tell how many were out there. The smart move was to accept the System¡¯s offer and leave this place. But something stopped him. His thoughts flicked to that girl¡ªtrapped here with these bastards. He didn¡¯t know her, but she was human. An elf lunged, spear jabbing low. John sidestepped, pain screaming through his thigh, and slashed back. The gladius bit into the elf¡¯s chest¡ªblood sprayed, and he dropped. A bell rang in his head. Basic Swordsmanship has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. More rushed in¡ªdaggers flashing, a spear thrusting. John ducked, swung, thrust¡ªhis shoulder bled, his leg buckled, but he kept going. Mana surged hot in his chest, crackling down his arm. He poured it into his grip, slashing wild. Another elf fell, gut split. He barely heard them. Two more charged¡ªJohn parried a spear, took a dagger slash across his ribs, and rammed his gladius through the spear elf¡¯s throat. Blood soaked his hands, his breath ragged. Basic Swordsmanship has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. The forest blurred. Pain faded. He sank into a trance¡ªswing, dodge, thrust, kill. Mana burned through him, sharp and fast. He sheathed his sword. Flash Draw flared again¡ªlight ripped out, smaller but deadly, slicing an elf¡¯s head clean off. Combat Sense has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Focused Energy Circulation has leveled up. The player has gained a new level of mastery over this ability. Bodies hit the dirt. One, two, five¡ªJohn lost count. His leg gave out, arrow still lodged deep, but he pushed himself back up, gladius swinging. An elf stabbed at his back¡ªhe spun, too slow, and took it in the side. He roared, driving his blade through the elf¡¯s skull. Silence fell. John stood, swaying, chest heaving. Dark elf corpses littered the ground¡ªblood pooling, limbs twisted. His gladius dripped red, arm trembling. The few left¡ªthree, maybe four¡ªstared from the shadows. Their eyes were wide, faces pale, like he was some demon crawled out of hell. They scattered, crashing through the trees, gone to report whatever they¡¯d seen. John sank to one knee, breath shallow. He was still alive. Barely.