“A wraith? Really? Isn’t this the kind of crap people fight after weeks of training?” Axel hissed. The system didn’t respond, its blue screen hovering in the corner of his vision like a silent overseer. He glanced at the timer.
Time Remaining: 23:47:12
The wraith let out a guttural snarl, and the doorframe splintered under its assault. Axel's heart raced as he grabbed the only weapon-like object in the room: a broken mop handle, jagged at one end. It wasn’t much, but it was better than bare hands.
[Tip: Utilize the system’s abilities for an advantage.]
The message flashed across his vision, and Axel froze. “Abilities?” His gaze darted back to the screen. Two options glowed faintly:
- [Analyze]
- [Inventory]
“Inventory? I don’t even have anything to store!” he snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. But then a thought struck him. If the system gave him an inventory… did it come pre-loaded?
He focused on the option, and a new screen popped up.
[Inventory]
- Starter Weapon: Rusted Dagger (Rank F)
“Thank God,” Axel muttered. He selected the dagger, and a burst of light materialized in his hand. The weapon was unimpressive—its blade was chipped and discolored, the hilt wrapped in frayed leather—but it felt solid, real. And most importantly, sharp.
The door finally gave way with a deafening crack, and the wraith lunged inside. Its emaciated body was grotesque, its claws long and jagged, its red eyes glowing with malice. A rancid stench filled the air as the creature hissed, baring yellowed teeth.
Axel’s hands trembled as he held the dagger out in front of him. His instincts screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go. The system’s words echoed in his mind: “Failure to progress will result in system termination… and Host termination.”
It was fight or die.
The wraith lunged, its claws swiping toward Axel’s chest. He barely had time to react, stumbling to the side as the creature’s attack missed him by inches. His foot caught on a loose floorboard, and he fell backward, landing hard on the ground.
The wraith didn’t hesitate. It screeched and pounced, its claws poised to strike.
“Analyze!” Axel shouted instinctively, and the system responded.
[Lesser Wraith]
- Threat Level: F
- Weakness: Physical strikes to the core (chest).
- Strengths: High agility, sharp claws.
- Status: Enraged.
The information flashed through Axel’s mind like a lightning bolt. Weakness: the chest. He gripped the dagger tighter and rolled to the side just as the wraith’s claws gouged deep into the floor where he’d been lying.
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Before he could second-guess himself, Axel lunged forward, driving the rusted dagger toward the creature’s chest. The wraith hissed and twisted, its movements unnaturally fast, and the blade skittered across its ribcage without finding its mark.
“Damn it!” Axel growled, scrambling to his feet. The wraith turned on him, its red eyes blazing with fury. It moved like a blur, slashing at him with razor-sharp claws. Axel dodged one strike but caught the second across his shoulder.
Pain exploded through his body, and he cried out, stumbling back. Blood seeped through his hoodie, warm and sticky, but there was no time to think about the injury. The wraith was already charging again.
“Focus!” Axel barked at himself, tightening his grip on the dagger. He needed to end this quickly.
As the wraith lunged again, Axel ducked low, spinning to the side at the last second. He brought the dagger up with all his strength, plunging it into the creature’s chest. The blade sank in deep, and the wraith let out a horrible screech, its body convulsing.
For a moment, Axel thought he’d won—but then the wraith’s claws raked across his side in a desperate counterattack. He gasped in pain as the creature collapsed, its body crumbling into a pile of ash.
[Quest Complete: Prove Your Worth]
- Reward: 100 XP
- Reward: Random Item (Rank F)
Level Up!
- Level 1 → Level 2
Axel collapsed to his knees, the dagger slipping from his hand as he clutched his side. His breathing was ragged, and every muscle in his body felt like it was on fire. But he was alive.
“I… I did it,” he panted, staring at the pile of ash that had once been the wraith. The system’s notification hung in his vision, almost mocking him with its calm, emotionless tone.
[Status Updated]
Name: Axel Ravensworth
Level: 2
Class: Unassigned
Stats:
- Strength: 6 (+1)
- Agility: 5 (+1)
- Intelligence: 8 (+1)
- Endurance: 7 (+1)
- Luck: 1
Skills:
- [Analyze] (Rank F)
- [Inventory] (Rank F)
New Item Acquired: Minor Health Potion (Rank F)
The new stats flickered in front of his eyes, but Axel could barely process them through the pain. The notification about the health potion caught his attention, though.
“Inventory,” he muttered, summoning the screen again. The potion’s icon glowed faintly, and with a thought, he selected it. A small vial of red liquid materialized in his hand.
“Here goes nothing,” Axel said, uncorking the potion and downing it in one gulp. The taste was bitter, but a soothing warmth spread through his body almost immediately. The pain in his shoulder and side faded, and he could feel his strength returning.
“Okay,” he said, exhaling slowly. “That wasn’t so bad.”
Axel sat back against the wall, the events of the last few minutes finally sinking in. He’d fought a monster. An actual monster. And he’d survived.
But this wasn’t over. The system’s presence was a constant reminder that his life had changed forever. The words “Level 2” glowed faintly in his vision, a stark contrast to the mundane life he’d known just hours ago.
He looked down at the rusted dagger in his hand, the blade still smeared with black ichor from the wraith. He didn’t feel victorious. He felt… scared. If this was just the beginning, what kind of horrors was the system going to throw at him next?
The blue screen flickered again, and a new notification appeared.
[New Quest Unlocked]
- Quest: Survive the Trial
- Objective: Complete three challenges to solidify your bond with the Evolutionary System.
- Reward: Class Assignment.
- Penalty: System Termination.
Time Remaining: 72:00:00
Axel groaned, letting his head fall back against the wall. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
The system wasn’t kidding.