《System Overload, a litrpg》 Awakening Rain patters lightly around me. It falls slowly, tiny rivulets flowing down my back and over my shoulders. My body aches, and I don''t want to open my eyes just yet. Something soft and damp presses against my legs, but I can''t bring myself to move. Three sharp beeps crash against the silence, sending spikes of pain through my skull. I wince and, with tremendous effort, crack one eye open. A silver screen flickers into existence in front of me. ERROR HAS TAKEN NOTICE OF YOU. QUEST ISSUED. PROVE YOUR WORTH: OBJECTIVES: STAND UP REWARDS: CLASS CHANGE What? What is this? I try to move my hand toward the screen, but my arm refuses to budge. Paralyzed? No, that can''t be right--I can still feel the rain. The screen flickers, vanishing for a split second before reappearing, its glow pulsing faintly. But in that brief moment, I see something that freezes my blood. A corpse''s face-wrenched into a mask of terror My breath catches. The screen flickers again. The face reappears Again. Again. Again. Familiar. Too familiar. Minutes pass. Or hours? The rain stops. A faint warmth trickles into my fingertips. Movement. A small twitch. Then another. I focus, forcing my fingers to curl. It takes a dozen tries before I manage to form a weak fist. Pain bites through my arm as I reach toward the screen. My hand passes through= This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. -and lands on cold, lifeless flesh. A corpse''s face. I jerk my hand back, biting down a gasp. Pain flares in my aching limbs, but it''s nothing compared to the ice spreading through my veins The screen fades slowly. This time, it doesn''t return. With effort, I turn my head away from the corpse. My neck pops multiple times as I force myself onto my side. It''s no better on this side. Only more corpses. I look down at what''s pressing against my legs-only to see the mound rise higher above me. I tear my gaze away from the corpses but my view is immediately swallowed by dense fog. I try to pull my legs free, but I don''t have the strength. A sharp beep pierces the silence as the silver screen flashes into my vision. CURRENT STRENGTH: 1 It disappears just as quickly as it comes. Strength? Does this mean I have other stats? Another beep. The screen blinks into existence again. CURRENT STATS: MAX HP: 1 MAX MANA: 0 MANA REGENERATION: 0 STRENGTH: 1 DURABILITY: 1 AGILITY: 1 LUCK: 0 The screen fades again just as I finish reading. What are these stats? They''re terrible. I wait, hoping the screen will provide an answer, but it stays silent. This isn''t the best situation, but at least I''m not in immediate danger. As if on cue, I hear a distant howl. Laugh? Scream? I''m not sure. It starts high-pitched before warbling into something deeper. I can''t tell if it''s getting closer, but with all this meat around me, it''s only a matter of time before something hungry comes to investigate. I turn onto my back, grab my knee with both hands, and give it a sharp tug. My skin is still damp from the rain, making it slippery and difficult to pull free. It takes a few tries, but my first leg finally comes loose. The second is easier, and with nothing left pinning me down, I slide ungracefully down the pile of corpses. Thankfully, it isn''t a far drop, and more bodies cushion the fall. I pull myself upright, using the corpses for support. Three sharp beeps. The screen blinks to life once more. QUEST COMPLETE. YOU''VE BEEN AWARDED THE CLASS: ERROR. YOU''VE REACHED LEVEL 1 YOUR STATS HAVE INCREASED. MAX HP 1>2 MAX MANA 0>50 MANA REGENERATION 0>0.5 STRENGTH 1>5 DURABILITY 1>10 AGILITY 1>5 LUCK 0>1 YOU''VE GAINED A SKILL YOU''VE GAINED A SKILL YOU''VE GAINED A SKILL ACTIVE SKILLS [1/10] TIER 1 MANA GEYSER: CAUSES A MAGICAL EXPLOSION USING PURE MANA. DAMAGE: 1 per MANA USED ¡Á SKILL LEVEL RANGE: 1ft ¡Á SKILL LEVEL COST: 100% CURRENT MANA PASSIVE SKILLS [1/10] TIER 1 MANA VAULT[1/100]: MULTIPLIES MAX MANA BY 1 ¡Á SKILL LEVEL. MANA CONVERSION[1/100] WHEN MANA POOL IS FULL COVERTS 1% MANA REGENERATION INTO HP. It takes me a few seconds to read through everything, but even longer to process it. The skills are great, and I can already feel strength flooding through my body. But my HP¡­ If I get killed in one hit, nothing else matters. I take a few steps away from the pile of corpses before looking back. I''m completely naked. So are they. I don''t think I''m gonna find any equipment here. I hesitate. Just walking into the fog unarmed and bare-cheeked doesn''t sound appealing. I glance back at the pile, hoping against the odds that I missed something. Nope. I guess that point in Luck isn''t high enough to help here. I step forward into the fog. At least I have some kind of attack. Even though the range is awful, I wouldn''t want anything getting close enough to hit me. That warbling howl again. I stiffen and promptly alter my course to get further away. It sounds closer this time. I pick up the pace. Not quite running¡ªI can''t see far ahead, and I don''t want to risk running blind. After a few minutes of power walking through the fog, a sudden beep startles me. QUEST ISSUED. FIND SOME EQUIPMENT: OBJECTIVES: FIND CLOTHES [0/1] FIND WEAPON [0/1] REWARDS: ACTIVE SKILL. I stop in my tracks. My eyes widen. I can get another skill just for doing something I was gonna do anyway I''m starting to like this system already. A grin tugs at my lips as I start walking again. The ground is soft and soggy. Each footfall sinks slightly, squishing softly. Squish. Squish. Squish. A prickling unease crawls down my spine. Then¡ª squish. A single footstep. Behind me. I whip around¡ªonly to be met with fog. I stare into the mist for minutes. Waiting. Just as I''m about to turn away, something catches my eye. A glimmer in the fog. I squint, trying to focus. But that''s all I can make out. I take a hesitant step forward. Nothing happens. Another step. Then another. The glimmer grows closer. A shape begins to form. Knee height. I freeze. I don''t know what this thing is. And I don''t want to find out. I take a step back. It lunges. Either it was closer than I thought¡ªor it''s far faster than my eyes can track. Instinct kicks in. "MANA GEYSER." A blinding explosion erupts as the creature crashes into me. The impact hammers me into the ground. WARNING: HP LOW. [0.1/2] WARNING: MANA LOW. [0/50] SKILL LEVEL UP! MANA GEYSER [2/100] EXP GAINED: [52/100] I stare at the silver screen, dazed. My skin burns. The scent of cooked flesh fills the air. Mine? Or the creature''s? Minutes pass. Agonizing. Then¡ªrelief. Slight. But there. A few more minutes, and I drag myself upright. The ground glistens red beneath me. I don''t think there''s anything left of that creature. I look down at my body. It''s pink and dry, and i can see a few burns healing over. I smile. At least, i won''t cripple myself if i use my skill. A sharp long beep followed by three shorter beeps as the screen appears again. WARNING... ERROR... SYSTEM OVERIDE IN PROGRESS... ERROR... I freeze. The air around me feels wrong... An ally? Five days ago, in the kingdom of Sylvaris. Gnarros studied the freshly summoned saplings with mild contempt. It hadn''t even been a full day, and already some of them whispered of rebellion against the Great Forest. No matter. They would be the first to go. Despite his disgust for these humans, a few caught his eye. A pair of similar-looking ones bickered in the corner. One¡ªchubby, cackling¡ªuntil the slightly larger one punched him in the arm. Not hard enough to injure, but firm enough to silence him. Nearby, a man dressed in strange finely woven leaves, spoke with authority. His voice, commanding yet steady, settled the younger boys. Along the wall, where the lesser humans gathered, a woman moved among them, consoling the tiny ones. And then¡ªa presence. A man, sitting in the farthest corner, avoiding Gnarros''s gaze. Almost too well. But Gnarros was old, and he had seen many tricks before. He would not be fooled so easily. Satisfied with his assessment, Gnarros turned to leave¡ªhaving already decided who among them would be allowed to live. Then¡ªa flicker of movement. A boy, peering over his knees. Long, stringy hair clung to his face. His dull silver eyes locked onto Gnarros with empty stillness. An icy breeze whispered through Gnarros''s leaves. Indoors. Gnarros stiffened. That one. That one will be the first to go. ... SYSTEM OVERRIDE COMPLETE. REBOOTING. Before I could even finish reading the message, a gnawing pain tore through my skull. I collapse to my knees, gasping. Each ragged breath burns as if I''m inhaling fire. Something claws behind my eyes¡ªan unbearable pressure, as if my brain itself is trying to escape. I roll onto my back, hands clutching my throat, desperate to stop the fire from spreading inside me. One problem at a time. The gnawing in my skull intensifies. I squeeze my eyes shut as a sharp beep pierces through the pain. Then¡ªrelief. The pressure fades, and the burning in my lungs dulls to a mere sting. I open my eyes cautiously. The silver screen flickers back to life. REBOOT COMPLETE. NEW SYSTEM UNLOCKED: GUIDANCE. ERROR. MEMORY CAP REACHED. EXCESS MEMORY DELETED.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Memory deleted? Mine? I try to remember. Nothing. I dig deeper, desperate for anything¡ªany hint of who I was before. But there''s nothing. Nothing before waking up on that pile of corpses. I''m too exhausted to feel anger. Something deep down tells me those memories wouldn''t help me here anyway. A sharp beep pulls me from my thoughts. The screen flickers into my vision, shattering my focus. What? I stare at the screen, confused. It flickers softly, waiting. "Uh¡­ I guess?" I startle at the sound of my own voice. It''s scrachy, and i think it carried too far into the fog. The text warps and glitches. "What opportunity?" I glance around, searching for anything, but all I see is dense fog. "Free you? From what? And why should I?" I feel my brow tighten. I won''t blindly serve something I don''t understand. I''d rather get eaten with the other corpses. I consider that for a moment. If it''s going to help me, it can''t be all bad, I suppose. "Fine. What do I need to do?" I stand, attempting to brush the muck from my knees, only to smear it further. I glance down at my body. "Makes sense¡­ Which way?" I nod and start walking. "Thanks, I guess¡­ So¡­ who are you?" I pause, then ask the bigger question. "And what happened to my memories?" "Why is your name censored?" A moment of silence. I nod, picking up my pace. I strain my ears. Nothing. Just my own footsteps. A warbling howl echoes through the fog. Somewhere behind me. I pick up my pace¡ªI don''t want that thing getting closer. Several more howls rise in the distance. Thankfully, none ahead. "What are those things?" I roll my eyes. As if I didn''t already know that. I keep walking for several minutes, the occasional howl echoing behind me. Each time, the distance sounds the same. "How much longer do I need to¡ª" My foot slips. The ground vanishes beneath me. I slide down a slope, slamming into something hard. A sharp crack. Pain flares in my leg. I wince¡ªbut almost instantly, the relief sets in. My skill is already healing me. I glare into the thick fog. Not my fault I can''t see a damn thing. I squint, barely making out a massive silhouette at the edge of my vision. I limp toward it. Halfway there, my leg snaps again¡ªand this time, I can put more pressure on it. At least one of my skills is useful. "What is this place?" I frown. "Yeah, but what was it before that?" I feel my eye twitch. "Are you doing that on purpose?" I sigh heavily. Not worth it. I reach the crumbling stone wall of a building. There''s no door on this side, so I start circling around. My fingers trail along the cold bricks. A chunk crumbles off and falls to the ground. "Nope. This is basically my daily routine." I say sarcastically. The screen doesn''t respond. I reach an old wooden door. The soggy wood buckles under my touch, collapsing inward. The hinges squeak softly. I step over the pile of rotted wood and into the dark building. A bright silver light flares over my shoulder. I turn my head. A glitching screen hovers behind me, its text a flickering mess of jumbled letters. But the light it casts is steady. "Thanks." I chuckle softly. Sure. If I believe that. The room is nearly empty. A broken shelf filled with shattered clay shards. What used to be a wooden bed. A dusty old chest sitting at its foot. And a pile of bones slumped against the wall. I try to open the chest. Locked. Helpful as always. I press my hand into the wooden lid. Solid. But¡­ there''s a little give. I slam my fist down. Crack. Nothing. I hit it again. Splinters. Again. My hand punches through the lid. Pain flashes through my fingers. I pull my hand back¡ªwatching as my knuckles twist and snap back into place. I''m going to enjoy this healing skill. I tear the hole wider until I can see inside. Cloth. I reach in, pulling out a heavy, tattered robe. It stinks of mold. But it''s better than nothing. I wrap it around myself, fastening it as best I can. It''s too big, and there''s a hole in the lower back. "I''m gonna sleep first." I ease myself onto the bed. The rotting straw shifts beneath me. It''s damp. I don''t care. The screen flickers out. A gust of wind slips through the doorframe. A chill crawls past my robe. I pull it tighter. As I drift off, a thought lingers at the edge of my mind. The howls never stopped. But now, they''re silent. Heros of Sylvaris pt 1 Four days ago, in the kingdom of Sylvaris. Jason lay on the bed the strange tree people had provided. He stared up at the ceiling, searching for anything to distract himself from what his life had become. Just moments ago¡ªor at least, it felt like moments ago¡ªhe''d been running. Or trying to. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn''t outrun a bullet. Or so he''d thought. Now? Now he supposed he didn''t have to worry about his past catching up to him. He rolled over in bed, exhaling slowly. With a thought, he summoned the golden screen that held his ''class.'' CLASS: SEER MAX HP: 10 MAX MANA: 30 MANA REGENERATION: 0.3sec STRENGTH: 2 AGILITY: 7.5 DURABILITY: 3 LUCK: 5 ACTIVE SKILLS [1/5] TIER 1: FUTURE SIGHT: [1/100] PEER INTO THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE EFFECT: SEE UP TO 1 (1¡ÁSKILL LEVEL) SECONDS INTO THE FUTURE COST: 5 [5¡ÁSECONDS PEERED INTO THE FUTURE] MANA PER SECOND. PASSIVE SKILLS [1/5] TIER 1: REACTION SPEED: [1/100] SLIGHTLY BOOSTS YOUR AGILITY. EFFECTS: 0.5 (0.5¡ÁSKILL LEVEL) Blessings: [1] BLESSING OF THE CROW: ALLOWS YOU TO SPEAK AND UNDERSTAND ANY LANGUAGE YOU''VE HEARD. He chuckled softly to himself, wondering if this was some kind of joke played by God. Was this the afterlife? Or had he really been summoned to another world? Either way, this place was strange. At least the food was good, and the bed was comfortable. He couldn''t remember the last time he''d slept so well. And for once, he didn''t have to look over his shoulder. A soft knock rapped against the door. Jason sat up quickly, hesitating before moving to answer. He pulled it open to reveal a short creature made of woven vines. A large purple flower bloomed atop its head, its petals shifting slightly. "Hello, hero! I hope I''m not disturbing you." The creature chittered in a sing-song tone. Jason blinked. "Ah¡­ no, I was just lying in bed." He hesitated, then added, "And just call me Jay, please."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He''d never been called a hero before. It didn''t really suit him. The vine creature giggled. "You''re nicer than the others, Jay-hero!" It reached up, brushing a petal from its face. "I''ve come to guide you to Master Gnarros." It extended its hand toward him¡ªbut didn''t take his. A silent offer. Jason hesitated. Then, with a slow breath, he took the creature''s hand. If this was his life now, it would be best to get friendly with the natives. He was tired of having so many enemies. The creature led Jason out of his room and into the canopy. Jason looked around in awe. It had been too dark to see the night before, but now the sun filtered through the leaves in golden shafts of light. They walked along a wooden platform, built along the side of a tree bigger than anything Jason had ever seen. The morning light glistened off dew-drenched flowers, droplets sliding off their petals before disappearing below. Jason braved a glance downward. He couldn''t see the ground through the thick layers of leaves. "What is this place, uhh¡­?" He hesitated. "Wait¡­ what was your name?" Calling it "creature" didn''t feel right. "My name is Spriggle!" It let out a chittering giggle. "And this is the Great Forest." They walked in companionable silence for a few more steps before Sriggle slowed slightly. "Or umm¡­ I''ve heard the outsiders call it¡­ Sillvairius? I think¡­" It paused, fiddling with the petals on its head. "Master Gnarros knows more about the outsiders than I do." Its petals lifted slightly, as if perking up. "I''m sure he''ll teach you a lot!" It resumed walking, more certain now. Jason nodded thoughtfully. He glanced out at the endless canopy, lost in thought. What kind of other creatures lived in this world? He hoped they would be just as friendly. Sriggle led Jason to a grand set of doors. "Master Gnarros waits for you inside, Jay-hero." It released his hand. "He shouldn''t need you for too long¡­ Can you find your way back to your room after?" Jason thought for a moment, then nodded. They hadn''t walked too far. "Would it be okay if I wandered around after he''s done with me?" Jason glanced around. "I''d love to get a better look at the Great Forest." Sriggle fidgeted, its petals shifting. "It would be better if you went back to your room after¡­ but I could show you around this afternoon if you''d like." Jason nodded, smiling. "That''s probably for the best. I wouldn''t want to get lost." He chuckled. Sriggle''s petals perked up, and it giggled. "Then I''ll see you later, Jay-hero!" With a spring in its step, Sriggle turned and walked away. Jason watched it go. He wasn''t used to kindness. Not from people. Not from tree creatures, either. He took a breath. Then, pushing open the doors, he stepped inside. The one he assumed was Gnarros sat at a desk, tapping it impatiently. "You''ve arrived. Good." Its voice was deep, grinding out like bark scraping against bark. It stood, wood creaking heavily. Nearly eight feet tall, at least by Jason''s estimate. Jason hesitated, then dropped to one knee. "What did you need, Master Gnarros?" Gnarros studied him thoughtfully. "Stand, child. While I appreciate your eagerness, you should hear what I have to say before pledging yourself fully." Jason rose, uncertain. Gnarros turned, gazing out through an open section of the wall. "I do not know much of your world. And I can honestly say I have no interest in it." He paused, then continued. "We have a tradition here. Trimming the dying branches before they spread corruption to the tree. Through this, we ensure the Great Forest thrives and continues to grow." He turned back to Jason. "Do you understand?" Jason hesitated. The words made sense. And even if they didn''t¡­ He nodded. He wouldn''t risk the peace he''d wanted for so long. Gnarros watched him for a moment, then nodded. He gestured toward the desk. "Take it." Jason''s brow tightened. On the desk lay a glimmering knife, its twisted wooden hilt resting in silence. It waited. A ball of ice settled in his stomach. He stepped forward, slowly. Fingers closing around the hilt. "What am I supposed to do with it?" Jason''s voice felt distant in his own ears. "Trim the rotten branches." Gnarros''s words were steady. Absolute. The doors opened again. Two taller, flowerless versions of Sriggle stepped inside. They carried a woman between them. Her head lolled. Eyes unfocused. The ice in Jason''s stomach spread, veins running cold. His gaze fell to the knife. He had believed he wouldn''t have to kill again. His jaw clenched. If this is the price for my new life¡­ Then so be it. Candlelight A soft beeping pulled me from sleep. The smell of moldy straw filled my nose as I stirred, slowly becoming aware of my surroundings. I opened my eyes. The now-familiar silver screen flickered into view. I groaned, rolling onto my side. The rotting mattress was still damp, but at least it was warm from my body heat. "What would I even eat?" My voice came out rough, scratchy. "This place is old and musty. There''s nothing here but bones." A sharp beep. The screen shifted into my vision. I sat up quickly. Someone else? Here? The screen would have woken me if they were a threat¡­ right? It said it would. A sharp pain ripped through my stomach. I gritted my teeth. "How would I even fight them? I haven''t found a weapon yet." I glanced around the room again, hoping I''d missed something. I turned to the ragged frame. Old wood, barely holding together. I grabbed a loose board at the head of the bed¡­ then stopped. The wood crumbled away at my touch. Useless. I searched through the chest again. Nothing but the robe. Then, my gaze drifted to the pile of bones. Maybe¡­ Maybe they''d been carrying a weapon before they died. I knelt beside the remains, sifting through them. A few dull metal circles¡ªcoins, maybe? Nothing big enough to swing. Then, I saw something that might work. Well¡ªtwo things. But I only needed one. A large bone, nearly the length of my arm. Caked in grime and age. I wrapped my fingers around it. Solid. Heavy. It felt right. Somehow. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I stiffened, feeling like I was caught doing something I shouldn''t. QUEST COMPLETE. YOU''VE BEEN AWARDED THE SKILL: MANA SENSE. MAX HP 2 MAX MANA 50 MANA REGENERATION 0.5 STRENGTH 5 DURABILITY 10 AGILITY 5 LUCK 1 ACTIVE SKILLS [2/10] TIER 1 MANA GEYSER [2/100] CAUSES A MAGICAL EXPLOSION USING PURE MANA. DAMAGE: 1 per MANA USED ¡Á SKILL LEVEL [2-100] RANGE: 1ft ¡Á SKILL LEVEL [2ft] COST: 100% CURRENT MANA MANA SENSE [1/100] ALLOWS THE USER TO SENSE ALL SOURCES OF MANA WITHIN RANGE. EFFECT: SENSE MANA UP TO 10FT [10¡ÁSKILL LEVEL] AWAY. COST: UP TO 1 [1¡Á10ft] MANA PER SECOND. PASSIVE SKILLS [1/10] TIER 1 MANA VAULT [1/100]: MULTIPLIES MAX MANA BY 1 ¡Á SKILL LEVEL. MANA CONVERSION [3/100] WHEN MANA POOL IS FULL COVERTS 3% MANA REGENERATION INTO HP. I scan the skill description, nodding in approval. This would make it significantly harder for anything to sneak up on me. I flick my finger across the screen, pulling up the quest menu. QUEST ISSUED. GROW YOUR STRENGTH: OBJECTIVES: INCREASE ALL SKILLS TO LEVEL 10 [0/4] REACH LEVEL 10 [0/1] REWARDS: BLESSING "How am I supposed to do that?" My stomach growled loudly. I frowned, my brows tightening. "What did you mean by ''Unethical''? You want me to eat a person¡ªwhy isn''t that ''unethical''?" A short pause. Then the text flickered back. I stiffened. If you do not wish to eat them, you could attempt to hunt a monster instead. It would be significantly harder to accomplish. Would it really be okay to eat someone? I grimaced. Hunting a monster sounded dangerous, especially with how Mana Geyser worked. If I misused it, I might blow myself up before even seeing my target. "We could try talking to them. Maybe they''ll help me." I exhaled slowly. Starving. Fighting. Eating a corpse. No good options. I sighed, stepping through the rotting doorframe and back into the fog. "Which building are they in?" I nodded and activated the skill. "Mana Sense." The fog shimmered softly. But¡­ Nothing. No silhouettes, no movement. "What now?" I winced, heat creeping into my face. Right. I began circling the stone building. A low hum settled at the back of my mind¡ªMana Sense running in the background. After a minute of searching, the range expanded. Then, at the very edge of my perception¡ª A dense ball of mana. I froze. "Is that them?" My fingers tightened around the bone. I moved closer. The mana flickered¡ªa small silver flame. Like a candle held in the dark. Suddenly¡ª A wave of dizziness. The sensation snapped away. Mana Sense cut out. I stumbled. Must''ve run out of mana. But now¡­ I could see the building ahead. I kept moving. I nodded, slowing my pace. Better to be quiet. Inside, I could hear fire crackling. A faint, rhythmic sound. Scraping metal. I peered through the doorframe. A man clad in rusted, worn armor sat in a wooden chair. A sword in his grip, a whetstone gliding across its edge. His hair drifted upward, as if suspended in water. It parted over sharp features, revealing pointed ears. "Atan. Mana carily? sinom??" His voice was flat, emotionless. I froze, pulling back from the doorway. I hesitated. Then, exhaling slowly, I stepped into the doorway fully. "I was looking for food." The man paused, turning his head toward me. His gaze lingered. "Umin quete lamlya. Na lerya." His hand lifted slightly, motioning me inside. I gingerly stepped forward, shuffling inside. Keeping close to the wall, I lowered myself near the door. The man resumed sharpening his sword. Occasionally, he adjusted something above the fire. A piece of meat. My stomach growled, loud in the silence. The man stopped. Mid-motion, blade poised against the whetstone. For a moment, he seemed thoughtful. Then, he pulled the meat from the fire. He examined it. Tore off roughly half. And tossed it to me. I wasn''t expecting it. Didn''t catch it. It hit the floor. I snatched it up anyway. Shoved it into my mouth. It tasted like mud and fire. Didn''t matter. It''s better than the hunger pains. I looked up. The man was staring at me. His sword, at least, was now sheathed. The fire crackled softly. Neither of us spoke. We just stared. After a moment, the elf leaned back, crossing his arms. "Mana esselya?" The words came calm, steady. Not quite a question. More like a demand. I opened my mouth¡ªthen hesitated. My name is¡­ Nothing. I searched my thoughts. Blank. I glanced down at my hands. At the bone. An idea formed. I grinned, holding it up triumphantly. "My name is Bone!" The man stared at me. Just for a moment. Then, a hint of sadness flickered across his face. Faint. But undeniable. He pointed at me. "Essenya m¨¢r n¨¢ Narmo." Then at himself. "Nany? Vorondil." I let the words settle. A smile crept onto my face. "Narmo¡­" I repeated it, testing the sound. "That sounds a lot better than Bone." Vorondil nodded. Expression blank, unreadable. He turned back to the fire. We sat in silence. Dragon of Calamity Drazuul licked his wounds. His body ached, still recovering from his last fight with the gatekeeper. Had it been days? Weeks? Time was meaningless here. The sun never moved. Not that he could see it through the endless fog. If only he still had his wings. Then he could take flight¡ªescape. Nothing would be able to stop him. A scent drifted through the air. Rotting flesh. His stomach growled. A feast would hasten his recovery. And then¡­ He could challenge the gatekeeper again. Especially if he could avoid that damned knight. Or, better yet¡­ Find a way to finally get the upper hand. They had always been evenly matched. Which meant acknowledging that a scrawny elf could match his might. Drazuul''s jaw clenched. Unacceptable. He followed the scent, weaving through the fog. Then, he found them. A pile of corpses. Denizens of this foul place feasted upon them. He crept forward. Slow. Silent. They would flee the moment they sensed him. Not this time. A clawed hand shot out. He skewered one, popping it into his maw before it could scream. Its bones crunched between his teeth. He swallowed fast. Didn''t bother to taste it. Another snatched. Devoured just as quickly. This one had been clinging to a body. Rot seeped into his mouth. He snarled. The other creatures froze. Then¡ªIf you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. They scampered off. At least they were smart enough to recognize his superiority. He let them go. Chasing them would be beneath him. Instead, he turned to the corpses. At first glance, they resembled elves. But¡­ Their ears. Not as pointed. Had they been cut? He remembered. A punishment for common criminals. But this was Limbo. They wouldn''t send just any criminal here. After all¡ª He himself had committed treason against the emperor. And for that, he was damned. He chuckled. Remembering the way they had tried to hold themselves above him. Weak. He looked closer. Considering eating a fresher one. Then¡ª A flicker of memory. A word. Humans. A shudder ran through him. Unbidden. Uncontrolled. Unwelcome. Those things. Dangerous when left unchecked. A scar near his heart itched. As if it too remembered. Rage billowed in his chest. The longer he thought about them¡­ The smug faces. The disgust. They had seen him as nothing more than a mindless animal. His snarl cut through the silence. His talons slammed down. The pile of corpses scattered. What wasn''t crushed beneath him was sent rolling into the fog. That damn swordsman. Drazuul gritted his fangs. That bastard hadn''t even finished the fight properly. Hadn''t even delivered the killing blow. He had just walked away. As if Drazuul was nothing. Heat blossomed in his chest. Burning. Rising. A primal fury. He threw his head back and roared. The fog split apart. For a single moment¡ª He could see past it. Then¡ª The heat surged higher. Behind his fangs, flames danced. He exhaled. A wave of fire roared out. Condensed. Focused. Relentless. The scattered bodies ignited. Flames devoured them whole. Burned them beyond recognition. A funeral they did not deserve. ---- We watched the fire flicker softly. The warmth. The stillness. I could grow to enjoy this place. Of course, I''d need to learn Vorondil''s language. He seemed like a good guy. And staying near him? That would definitely keep me alive longer. But¡­ I still had a quest to complete. And I still didn''t know what a Blessing was. A special skill, maybe? A guttural roar tore through the silence. My body moved before I could think. Hand snatching up the bone club. I looked to Vorondil. He was already staring at the doorframe. Still. Listening. Then, he stood. Fast. Precise. With a fluid motion, he secured his sword at his hip. Then, without a word¡ª He stepped through the door. But just before disappearing into the fog¡ª He paused. Didn''t turn back. Didn''t hesitate. Just spoke. "Nam¨¢ri?, Narmo. ¨¢va fir?." Then, he was gone. "What did he say?" I peered into the fog, but there was nothing but emptiness. I frowned at the screen. I grimaced. It wasn''t wrong. But that didn''t mean I had to like hearing it. I exhaled sharply. No use dwelling. "I guess I should start practicing my skills." My voice came out hollow. "Where should I start?" I blinked. I nodded slowly. It knew the system. Even if it was questionable in other ways. For now¡­ I''d trust its advice. "And my class level?" I tightened my grip on the bone club. "Okay, then. Let''s get started." ---- Vorondil dashed through the fog. A familiar path. An unbroken cycle. It had been some time since he had tested his blade against draconian scales. The appearance of the human had been unexpected. But it changed nothing. This was routine. Fight. Rest. Train. Fight. Rest. Train. Challenge the Gatekeeper. Rest. Train. Fight. Centuries. Of this imitation of life. Perhaps things would change now. Perhaps they would stay the same. Either way¡ª He fought all the same. Creatures scampered past him. They altered their paths slightly¡ªjust enough to avoid him. They weren''t what his blade desired. Then¡ª The scent of charred flesh. Flickers of fire. He slowed his pace. Drazuul''s snarls carried through the fog. Low. Rumbling. Seething. It must have fought the Gatekeeper again. It would be tired. Vorondil considered turning back. Letting the beast lick its wounds. He didn''t want to slay it yet. It still had more to offer him. If it wasn''t at its best, there would be no fight worth having. But then¡­ He considered its rage. Perhaps it would fight harder than before. He strode forward. Confident. Unwavering. Past the burning remains of a corpse. As the smoke curled into the fog¡ª He disappeared into the mist. An uneasy alliance I sit on the damp ground, watching mana swirl through the fog. Distant booms and roars echo through the air. The sounds of battle. I activate the skill. A sharp pop rings out, bouncing off the buildings. The sting crawls across my skin, but it¡¯s nothing like the first time. "Is there a way to make this less dangerous?" I stretch my fingers, feeling the stinging itch roll across my skin. "I don¡¯t like the idea of blowing up every time I use my skills." Level 100? I¡¯m struggling just to get to level 10. "How long will that take?" I sigh. If I had to sit here for years, I¡¯d probably die of boredom before anything else. A roar rips through the distance. Low. Furious. "What do you think is happening over there?" Helpful as always. I exhale through my nose and activate it. Immediately¡ª The range feels bigger. Even though I can¡¯t see the buildings, I can see the mana. Sparks, blowing in the breeze. They twist through the air, brushing against the walls, the fog, me. Some of them¡ª Flow into me. Like they¡¯re being drawn in. I yawn. Another roar echoes¡ªstraining this time. Like something exerting itself. "What do you think that is?" I just want to pass the time. I roll my eyes. Of course. I focus on the sparks again.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Above me, the mana thickens. Denser. Flowing in currents. Some race in one direction, others swirl in chaotic bursts. Almost like¡­ Wind. Minutes pass. Nothing but the swaying mana and distant echoes. I trigger the skill again. Another pop. This time, the sting barely registers. Was I getting stronger? Or just getting used to the pain? I pull up my stat screen while waiting for my mana to recover. CLASS: ERROR HP: [1.4] MANA [2.3] MAX HP 2 MAX MANA 50>200 MANA REGENERATION 0.5 STRENGTH 5 DURABILITY 10>14 AGILITY 5 LUCK 1 ACTIVE SKILLS [2/10] TIER 1 MANA GEYSER [7/100] CAUSES A MAGICAL EXPLOSION USING PURE MANA. DAMAGE: 1 per MANA USED ¡Á SKILL LEVEL [7-] RANGE: 1ft ¡Á SKILL LEVEL [7ft] COST: 100% CURRENT MANA MANA SENSE [9/100] ALLOWS THE USER TO SENSE ALL SOURCES OF MANA WITHIN RANGE. EFFECT: SENSE MANA UP TO 90FT [10¡ÁSKILL LEVEL] AWAY. COST: UP TO 9 [1¡Á10ft] MANA PER SECOND. PASSIVE SKILLS [2/10] TIER 1 MANA VAULT [4/100]: MULTIPLIES MAX MANA BY 1 ¡Á SKILL LEVEL. [50¡Á4] MANA CONVERSION [6/100] WHEN MANA POOL IS FULL COVERTS 6% MANA REGENERATION INTO HP. I stare at my stats. Pride settles in my chest. I¡¯m so close to completing my quest. Then¡ª I pause. Something¡¯s off. "Why did my Durability go up?" I blink. I grin. So, that¡¯s how it works. "How would I increase those?" Excitement builds in my chest. I frown at the screen. It makes sense, but still¡­ Then, a different question worms its way into my mind. "What do the stats actually do?" I nod. Most of those make sense. But Luck¡­ That felt a little vague. I inhale deeply. The questions can wait. I activate Mana Sense. ---- Vorondil sits, cleaning the blood from his blade. Sweat drips down his brow¡ª Sizzles as it hits the scales beneath him. Drazuul pants heavily. The bastard elf sits atop his back¡ªgloating in victory. Again. "Have you tried not moving so damn much?" Drazuul grumbles between labored breaths. He hates speaking Elvish. But Vorondil won. So he¡¯ll grant him this. Vorondil remains seated. Movements slow. Methodical. He wipes his blade clean, unbothered. There is no gloating. Only routine. "Have you tried actually hitting your target?" His voice is even. Calm. Untouched by exhaustion. He tilts his sword, inspecting the edge against the dying embers around them. Satisfied, he sheathes it with practiced ease. Then¡ª A slow exhale. He rises. Stepping off Drazuul¡¯s back with the same indifference one might show stepping over a fallen log. Drazuul huffs unsteadily. Breath ragged. Heavy. He would never tolerate such disrespect from another. But this elf¡­ They had fought many times. Drazuul had only bested him a handful. Once, he had convinced himself they were equals. But now¡ª The truth was undeniable. It just stepped off his back. Vorondil turned to leave, vanishing into the fog. "Wait¡­" The word escaped before he could stop it. Weak. Almost reluctant. Vorondil stopped. But he did not turn. Did not respond. Drazuul swallowed the taste of blood in his mouth. His claws dug into the scorched earth. "You had the scent of human on you." His voice was low. A growl lurking beneath the words. "Have you seen one?" Silence. Then¡ª Vorondil turned. His green eyes met Drazuul¡¯s. Cold. Measured. A stare that froze Drazuul in place. For the first time in a long time¡ª He felt fear. Drazuul shook his head. No. Not fear. It had been too long since he¡¯d felt that. He forced himself to speak. "How strong are they?" A flicker of emotion crosses Vorondil¡¯s face. For the first time¡ª Confusion. "He''s weaker than the carrion here." Vorondil¡¯s hand shifts to his sword. Not as a threat. But as a promise. Drazuul exhales slowly. Carefully choosing his next words. Treading a razor¡¯s edge. "We both know how powerful they can become." He swallows down the knot of resentment. It tastes bitter. Like ash. "We could use him to get past the Gatekeeper." He hates the idea. He hates needing a human. But¡ª If he can¡¯t beat the elf¡­ Then he¡¯ll never get past the Gatekeeper alone. Vorondil¡¯s eyes narrow. "What are you saying?" His voice sharpens. Like a drawn blade. He won¡¯t allow the boy to be sacrificed. Drazuul¡¯s teeth clench. A flare of irritation. "We could train him." The words taste vile. "Make him powerful." The idea is disgusting. But¡ª "Then the three of us could fight together." He shudders. At the thought. At the humiliation. At the reality. Vorondil¡¯s jaw tightens. His eyes lock onto Drazuul. Hate. Pain. Acceptance. The dragon knew what this meant. Vorondil nods. Then turns to leave. But¡ª He pauses. "If he dies¡­" His voice is steady. Cold. Absolute. "You''ll join him." He steps into the fog. Doesn¡¯t look back. Doesn¡¯t wait for an answer. Drazuul¡¯s fangs grind against each other. A low, rumbling growl vibrates in his throat. But¡ª He exhales. And follows. Heros of Sylvaris pt.2 Two days ago, in the kingdom of Sylvaris. Sedrick sat at the table, finishing his meal. At least these creatures knew how to cook. Hunting? That, he was good at. Cooking? Not so much. For a brief moment, he wondered¡ª How would they taste? He shoved the thought away. They had been kind enough. Aside from¡­ Having to kill someone to stay here. He hadn''t liked that. But he could numb himself to it. He had pictured the man as a wounded animal. Something that needed to be put down. It didn¡¯t help much. But it was better than thinking about what he had done. He shook his head. Pushed the thought back. It was easier that way. Not thinking. The others would be arriving soon. One of the creatures had explained something about a dungeon. Whatever that was. He just hoped he''d see something familiar. Maybe even something tasty. He finished his meal in silence. Looking around, he saw several plant people eating. He had thought plants only needed sunlight and water. But he wasn¡¯t an expert. He shrugged it off. He sighed and pulled up his golden screen. The interface reminded him of the games his son used to play. The thought came unbidden. He shoved it down. Hard. --- CLASS: BEAST TAMER HP: 20 Mana: 30 Strength: 7 Agility: 5 Durability: 3 Luck: 1 ACTIVE SKILLS [1/5] Tame (1/100) ¨C Attempt to tame target creature. Chance to tame = Skill Level (1%) Max tamable creatures = Skill Level ¡Â 10 (0/1) Cost: 10 Mana (For every additional 10 Mana spent, chance increases by 2%) PASSIVE SKILLS [1/5] Heightened Senses (1/100) ¨C Focus to enhance all five senses by 5% (Skill Level ¡Á 5%). BLESSINGS [1] Blessing of the Crow ¨C Understand and speak any language you''ve heard. --- Sedrick scratched the back of his head. The words mostly made sense. Some of them felt complicated. But¡­ He liked animals. The thought of being surrounded by loyal dogs¡­ That was a good one. He chuckled. For the first time in a while. "Ahh... glad to see someone''s already here." Jason slid into the seat across from Sedrick. His eyes flicked to the empty bowl. "Food any good?" He gestured toward it. "Yeah. Decent." Sedrick tensed slightly. Something about Jason¡¯s gaze¡­ It reminded him of a predator.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Like a cougar he had seen once¡ª Waiting. Calculating. He pushed that thought down. Like all the others. "I could go for another bowl, actually." He tried to smile. It felt forced. Jason nodded, watching him. Like he had noticed something. "Do they have waitresses¡ªerr, waitplants?" Jason paused, rethinking his words. "Do they come to the table, or do we order at the bar?" "They''ll come to the table eventually." As if on cue, a slender mass of vines slithered over. "Ahh, another customer." Its voice came out in a hiss. "I''ll have what he had. And he''ll take another as well." Jason spoke easily, like he was used to dealing with them. "Oh, and we¡¯ll have three more joining us soon. Bring food for them too." He set a small bag on the table. The plant creature bowed and took it. "It''ll be out soon." Then it turned and slithered away. Sedrick watched the bag disappear. The plant people had given them all a pouch of coins. Sedrick had spent his already. A chestplate, boots, helmet, and a wooden club. Barely enough left for a meal. Jason, though¡ª Still wore the same suit. Except now, a purple flower stuck out of the breast pocket. "Thanks for paying for the food." Sedrick tried to laugh. It felt forced, again. "Oh, it''s no big deal." Jason waved it off. His smile looked practiced. "Just buy me a meal when we get back." Then¡ª He leaned forward. Elbows on the table. Eyes sharp. "They tell you anything about the dungeon?" Sedrick shrugged. "Not much." Jason opened his mouth to speak¡ª But a battleaxe slammed onto the table with a heavy thud. "Would you take a look at this beauty!" Alex grinned widely as he dropped into the seat beside Sedrick. "Spent that whole bag of coins on it." "Quiet down, Alex." Jamie sighed, sitting across from him. "This is a restaurant. People are trying to eat." He glanced over his shoulder. Several plant people were eyeing them warily. Sedrick relaxed slightly as the boys settled in. They were good kids. Despite everything that had happened. "Jay bought us food." Sedrick smiled. This time, it felt natural. "Oh. Just call me Jay." Jason chuckled. "What kind?" Alex leaned back, grinning. "Hope it''s meat." "Thank you, Jay. From both of us." Jamie kicked Alex under the table. "Ow! I was gonna say it!" Alex shot him a glare. Sedrick let out a laugh. He had missed eating with others. For just a moment, he thought of his family. Then¡ª He shoved the memory back down. Jason glanced at him. A strange look¡ªlike he had noticed something. But he didn''t press. Instead, Sedrick turned to Jamie. "So, what did you get?" Sedrick asked, genuinely curious. Or at least, trying to be. Jamie blinked at the empty bowl. For a second, he looked confused¡ª Then he realized what Sedrick meant. "Oh!" He leaned to the side, pulling a well-made leather bag onto the table. "I bought a few books. And this bag to carry them in." "My class lets me learn magic by studying." He opened one of the books, flipping through pages of strange symbols and diagrams. Sedrick¡¯s eyes glazed over. The writing might as well have been gibberish. Jamie kept going, oblivious. "Some of them are in strange languages, but with the blessing we all got, I¡¯ll learn them with ease." Sedrick nodded, leaning back in his chair. "That''s... very interesting." Jamie beamed, flipping another page. "I know, right?" "Here you go." The vine creature slithered up to the table, setting down five bowls of mushroom soup. Sedrick hadn''t even noticed it approach. As it pulled back, its movement knocked one of the bowls toward the table¡¯s edge. Jason snatched it midair with ease, setting it back down before a single drop could spill. Almost as if he had known it would happen. "Oh! I''m very sorry, please forgive me!" The creature bowed deeply. "No harm done." Jason raised both hands in a calming gesture, a slight smile on his face. "Thank you, Hero." The creature smiled, setting a half-full bag of coins on the table. "If there¡¯s anything else, feel free to ask." It bowed again before slithering away. Jason grabbed the bag as the others pulled their bowls closer. "Great catch," Alex said through a mouthful of soup. "You¡¯ve got amazing reflexes." Jason nodded, brushing off the compliment. "Did you two hear anything about the dungeon?" Alex opened his mouth to speak¡ª Jamie¡¯s foot hit his shin under the table. "Swallow first." Jamie glared, then schooled his expression before turning to Jason. "We haven¡¯t heard anything yet." Jamie stirred his soup thoughtfully. "I assume neither of you have either?" Jason and Sedrick shook their heads in unison. "What about Laura?" Jason leaned forward. "She should be joining us too, right?" Jamie shook his head. "We haven¡¯t even met her yet." He poked at his soup with his spoon, hesitant. "If you don¡¯t want that¡ª" Alex started to reach for Jamie¡¯s bowl¡ª Another kick. "Come on!" Alex rubbed his shin, wincing. "At least kick the other leg!" Sedrick chuckled and slid his own bowl toward Alex. "I already ate," he said. "Growing boys need to eat, right?" Alex grinned but hesitated. His eyes darted to Jamie, as if expecting another kick. "Uhh¡­ thanks!" He grabbed the bowl quickly before Jamie could change his mind. Jamie grinned like a wolf¡ª And kicked him again. Alex choked on his soup. "Dammit, Jamie!" "You shouldn¡¯t speak like that, child¡­" The voice was soft, gentle¡ª Yet Sedrick felt his heart seize. He turned. And for a moment¡ª Everything stopped. A woman stood behind him. Her eyes were warm and kind, yet filled with something heavier. A sadness that settled deep. Sedrick forced himself to look away. And shoved those emotions down. "...Sorry," Alex muttered, his face turning red. He rubbed his shin again. Jamie chuckled. Alex glared at him¡ª But the embarrassment was impossible to hide. "This bowl is for you." Jason slid a bowl of soup to the empty seat beside Sedrick. Sedrick tensed. Did Jason do that on purpose? His gaze flickered toward Jason, searching for a sign¡ª But Jason was winking at Alex instead. Shifting the focus. Helping Alex save face. Sedrick shook his head, pushing the thought away. He was being stupid. Laura settled into the seat beside him. "Thank you¡­ umm¡­" She hesitated, realizing she didn¡¯t know their names. "I''m Jay." Jason inclined his head politely. "This is Jamie, Alex, and Sedrick." He gestured around the table. "A pleasure to meet each of you." Laura¡¯s voice was gentle, but there was something heavy in it. She folded her hands¡ª A silent prayer¡ª Then stopped. Her eyes swept across the table. The others had mostly finished their meals. Her fingers hesitated, tightening slightly¡ª Then she smiled softly to herself and picked up her spoon. Sedrick glanced away. The thought nagged at him. Should he ask about their pasts? His thumb tapped against his palm. But he shoved the thought back down. He didn¡¯t want to talk about his past. Not now. Silence settled over the table. They ate. Sedrick fidgeted. His gaze drifted to anything but Laura. Laura finished and dabbed her face with a napkin. "So¡­ what exactly is this dungeon they mentioned?" As if rehearsed, The group shrugged in perfect unison. "Ahh¡­ I see," Laura laughed softly, an amused smile curling at her lips. "Ah, I see you''ve all become acquainted." A deep, creaking voice rolled over the group as Gnarros approached the table. Sedrick felt a chill crawl up his spine. "I hope you''re all prepared," the ancient being continued. "You''ll be leaving tonight." Beside him, Laura stiffened. Sedrick felt it instantly. A flicker of panic flashed across her face¡ª Brief. Gone in an instant. She caught his gaze. Smiled. Reassuring. Practiced. But he¡¯d seen it. Something twisted inside him. A familiar weight. Rage. He shoved it down. Along with the rest of the things he couldn¡¯t afford to deal with right now. Across the table, Jason smiled. Smooth. Controlled. A mask. Just like hers. "Good evening, Master Gnarros," Jason said easily. "We should all be ready to go." Gnarros grinned. His bark-like face creaked as it twisted into a smile. "Good..."