The world around Kai rippled, the edges of his vision warping and distorting, as though reality itself was unraveling. A strange tingling sensation coursed through his limbs, a buzzing current of energy crawling under his skin. His muscles seized, his body vibrating with an intensity that made it feel like the very air had become charged with electricity.
Kai flinched, momentarily paralyzed by the overwhelming sensation. The girl standing before him, eyes wide with confusion and fear, took a step closer, her hand outstretched.
"Wha—?"
Her voice was laced with alarm, but Kai managed to smile, giving her a brief look of reassurance. She was just a kid, battered by the world in ways no one her age should ever be. But she had managed to survived this long.
"I'll be back," he said, his voice calm despite the growing tremor in his body. "Stay away from the village for now."
The girl opened her mouth to respond, but before any words could escape her lips, Kai's surroundings exploded into blinding light. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, suspended in a void of shimmering blue before everything went dark.
When the light faded, Kai found himself standing somewhere else entirely.
The dense forest was gone. The girl was gone. He was alone.
A vast, open expanse stretched out before him, an endless horizon of white and silver, with mist swirling at his feet like some kind of ethereal sea. The sky was an impossibly vast dome of twilight, streaked with unfamiliar constellations that glittered coldly above. The air here felt different—crisp, sharp, and humming with a quiet, unseen energy.
Kai blinked, disoriented. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process where he had landed. His mind scrambled for logic, but there was none to be found. One second, he'd been in the forest, running for his life. The next, he was... here. Wherever here was.
Before he could fully comprehend the surreal new landscape, the familiar blue glow returned, and with it, the system's voice—a calm, detached tone that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
[WELCOME TO THE TUTORIAL]
Kai swallowed hard. His eyes darted around, half expecting some kind of trap to spring from the mist. The tingling sensation hadn't left his body, but it was no longer painful. Instead, it felt as though something within him was awakening, stretching, testing its limits.
The system spoke again.
[Objective: Survive the First Trial.]
Kai frowned, his fists instinctively tightening. First trial? He didn't like the sound of that. The mist around him began to shift, parting like curtains as a path formed ahead, leading into the unknown.
[Hint: Adaptation is key. Your choices will define your strength.]
Before he could think to protest, something stirred in the distance. A shape—no, shapes—emerged from the mist. Dark, hulking forms with red glowing eyes, their outlines shifting as if they weren't quite solid. They prowled forward, their footsteps silent, but their presence heavy.
Kai's stomach twisted. Of course. A trial meant something to fight. He felt the weight of his pathetic stats settle on him like a chain, his strength barely above that of a child's. Whatever these things were, he had no chance in a straight-up fight.
But then again, surviving wasn't about brute force. Not yet. Adaptation is key, the system had said.
The creatures drew closer, their glowing eyes locking onto him. There were three of them, their bodies sleek and predatory, like wolves made of shadow and smoke. Each of them radiated a sense of cold malice.
Kai scanned his surroundings, his mind racing. No weapons. No skills. No backup.
Just him, his wits, and whatever this strange realm would allow.
He forced himself to focus, letting his instincts take over. His eyes darted to the swirling mist and the terrain beneath his feet, looking for any advantage. Shadows. Smoke. Maybe they weren't fully physical. If they weren't solid, maybe they relied on fear to corner their prey.
He backed up slowly, his mind spinning through possibilities. The path ahead twisted through the mist, offering no obvious escape, but there were jagged rocks and uneven ground beneath the fog. His only shot was to lure them into making a mistake—force them to stumble where he wouldn't.
As the shadow creatures closed in, Kai's eyesight sharpened, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He had to move smart, not fast. Surviving wasn't about overpowering them. It was about outthinking them.
The first creature lunged, its jaws snapping with silent fury. Kai sidestepped at the last moment, letting the beast sail past him. It hit the ground, its form rippling as though it had briefly lost cohesion. Not invincible, then.
Kai smirked despite the danger. He could work with that.
The second one charged, and this time, Kai led it toward the uneven rocks. As it leaped, Kai threw himself sideways, letting the creature land on the jagged terrain. It stumbled, its form flickering as it struggled to regain balance.
Kai's mind whirred. Adapt. Keep moving. Force them to break their own rhythm.
The final creature snarled and lunged together with the first two, clearly frustrated by his evasion. Kai's legs burned from exhaustion, his body screaming for relief, but he refused to give in. Not now. Not this close.
He led the creatures in a wide arc, dodging and weaving through the mist the best his frail body allowed him to, until finally, their forms flickered and warped from their own momentum. The moment he saw them hesitate, he knew.
Kai dashed forward, slipping through the last gap in their defense, leaving the shadow-beasts to crash into one another in a cloud of black mist.
As the last of the shadow-beasts dissolved into nothingness, the eerie mist began to retreat, leaving Kai alone in the clearing. His chest heaved with exhaustion, and every muscle in his body screamed for relief, but there was a fire in his eyes—a flicker of triumph. He had survived the first trial, and that meant he wasn't completely helpless.
The system's voice chimed in again, its cold, detached tone somehow, this time more reassuring than unsettling.
[TRIAL COMPLETE]
For a moment, there was silence. Kai remained on the ground, catching his breath, waiting for whatever came next. The eerie twilight above him seemed to pulse, almost as if the world was alive, waiting with bated breath.
Suddenly, a soft light appeared before him, flickering like a tiny flame. It hovered in the air for a moment before solidifying into something tangible—a glowing orb, swirling with colors Kai couldn't name. It floated toward him, gently lowering itself into his open palm.
[REWARD: ATTRIBUTE POINTS +5, SKILL: Shadowstep UNLOCKED]
Kai blinked, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Attribute points? A skill? His pulse quickened. This was what he had been waiting for—the rewards.
Another window materialized in front of him, this one showing his pitiful stats:
Kai - Level 0
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Endurance: 2
Intelligence: 4
Luck: 0
Unallocated Attribute Points: 5
He smirked. It's time.
Without hesitation, he began to allocate the points:
- Strength +2 — His body needed it. He couldn't afford to be a walking skeleton anymore.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
- Dexterity +2 — If he was going to survive, speed and agility were essential.
- Endurance +1 — Because the next trial might be even worse, and his stamina had almost given out this time.
The numbers shifted, the changes locking into place as a warmth spread through his body. His limbs felt a bit more solid, the fatigue lifting slightly as his body responded to the stat boosts. It wasn't much, but it was enough to give him an edge.
Then came the skill. He focused on the new addition in his menu:
[SKILL UNLOCKED: Shadowstep]
The description flashed before him:
[Shadowstep: A brief, swift movement through the shadows, allowing the user to avoid attacks or reposition in battle. Requires a minimal of 2 mana points. Skill Level:1]
Kai grinned. This could be useful. He had just been given the means to evade danger even more effectively. With his current lack of raw power, a skill like this was exactly what he needed to survive.
The system chimed again, pulling him from his thoughts:
[PROCEED TO STAGE 2 OF THE TUTORIAL?]
[YES] [NO]
Kai didn't hesitate this time. He tapped [YES], his resolve solidifying. This was what he had to do if he wanted to rise in this world.
The ground beneath him shuddered, the mist swirling back in with renewed intensity. The world began to distort once again, but this time, Kai didn't flinch. The tingling sensation returned, though less intense than before, as his surroundings began to shift.
Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath his feet, and he was plunged into the void once more. This time, he embraced the sensation, his body rippling as he passed through the veil of light.
When the light faded, he found himself standing on a narrow ledge, high up on the edge of a massive mountain. Below him, jagged cliffs and deep chasms stretched as far as the eye could see. The wind howled, bitter and cold, biting into his skin.
In the distance, he saw the objective: a towering, ancient structure, half buried in the mountainside. Massive stone doors stood sealed at its entrance, glowing faintly with runic symbols.
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
[STAGE 2: THE ASCENT]
[OBJECTIVE: REACH THE RUINS]
Kai glanced down at the rocky path in front of him. The trail was narrow, treacherous, and littered with obstacles—fallen boulders, crumbling ledges, and worse yet, strange shadows moving along the cliffs.
A quick survey of his surroundings told him one thing: this trial wasn't just a test of survival. It was a test of endurance, of precision, and—based on the shadows stalking along the cliffs—combat.
His lips curled into a grin, despite the looming danger.
The system had given him just enough power to fight back, and that was all he needed.
Whatever was waiting at the top of that mountain, he would face it head-on.
No matter what.
As Kai stepped onto the rocky path, the system chimed once more, the voice echoing in his mind with its usual cold detachment.
[HINT: THE SHADOWS OF THE MOUNTAIN HIDE MORE THAN MERE BEASTS.]
The path grew steeper, the air colder as Kai ascended. The shadows of the mountain stretched like claws over the jagged terrain, shifting as if alive. His senses were on high alert, tension coiling in his muscles as he pressed forward. The distant growls and flickers of red eyes along the cliff faces warned him of what was coming next.
Suddenly, one of the shadow-beasts stepped out from the darkness, its hulking form unmistakable in the dim light. It was something between a black tiger, but with a monkey tail and a wings, like a chimera of sorts. Kai recognised the beast almost immediately, he had fought against them in the game countless times to collect Fangs for the ascension. It was easy at that time, when he had a level 200 character with countless abilities. Now, was a totally different story. He had no abilities, barely any strength, and nothing but the previous knowledge he gained from grinding hours like a madman.
This beast was smaller than the ones Kai used to battle, but its glowing red eyes betrayed a dangerous intelligence. Its matted black fur bristled as it prowled closer, low to the ground, assessing its prey.
Kai tightened his stance, eyes fixed on the creature, waiting for it to make the first move. The beast crouched lower, muscles tensing beneath its skin. Then, with a snarl, it lunged.
Kai reacted instantly, sidestepping its strike with quick reflexes, his foot slipping slightly on the loose rocks. The beast's claws raked the air where his chest had been a moment before. He countered with a swift kick to its side, sending it stumbling, but the creature quickly recovered. Before Kai could press his advantage, the beast lunged again—this time catching him off guard.
Its bulk slammed into him with enough force to send him tumbling backward. Kai crashed hard against the ground, the air driven from his lungs. He barely had time to regain his footing before the creature charged once more, jaws snapping.
Kai rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's fangs, and in one fluid motion, grabbed a jagged stone from the ground. As the creature came around for another attack, Kai spun, delivering a sharp blow to its jaw with the rock. The beast staggered back, dazed by the hit.
Seizing the opportunity, Kai lunged forward, using his body weight to drive the jagged stone deep into the creature's throat. Black blood sprayed from the wound, and the beast thrashed violently, its snarls turning into choked gurgles. Kai held on, his grip tight, until the creature's body gave one final twitch and collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Panting, Kai pushed himself to his feet. His chest rose and fell rapidly as the adrenaline surged through him, but the threat was far from over. His eyes drifted down to the fallen beast. Quickly, he knelt beside the creature, working swiftly with the jagged stone. The beast's long, curved fangs gleamed in the low light. Kai pried them loose, polishing them quickly into two deadly daggers.
[NEW ITEM: BEAST FANG DAGGERS]
Kai barely had time to admire his new weapons when a deeper growl rumbled from the shadows. His heart skipped a beat as a much larger shadow-beast emerged from the darkness. This one was massive, easily twice the size of the first, with rippling muscles beneath its thick black fur. Its eyes glowed a deeper, more malevolent red, and its claws scraped the rocks as it stalked toward him, deliberate and patient.
This one wasn't going to be as easy. And it was obviously mad at the murderer of one of his subjects.
The larger beast charged without warning, faster than something its size should have been able to move. Kai barely managed to dodge, diving to the side as its claws gouged deep furrows into the stone where he had been standing. He rolled to his feet, the Beast Fang Daggers ready in his grip. The creature turned, eyes locked onto him, teeth bared in a savage snarl.
It lunged again, swiping with its claws. Kai deflected the blow with one of his daggers, but the force sent him reeling backward. The beast was relentless. It swiped again, this time catching Kai off guard. Its claws slashed across his chest, and pain exploded through his body as the impact threw him to the ground.
Blood spilled from the gashes across his chest, soaking into the dirt beneath him. Kai gasped for air, his vision blurring as the world tilted. He barely managed to roll out of the way as the beast's jaws snapped shut where his neck had been a moment earlier.
The pain was blinding, but Kai couldn't afford to stop now. Not with death staring him down. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet, staggering slightly as he raised the daggers in a defensive stance. The beast growled, its eyes narrowing as it prepared for another strike.
Kai braced himself, knowing he had to time this perfectly. The moment the beast lunged again, Kai twisted, throwing all his strength into a final counterstrike. With a swift motion, he drove both daggers deep into the creature's flank, right between its ribs.
The beast howled in agony, thrashing violently as it tried to shake him off. Blood sprayed from the wounds as Kai held on, refusing to let go. With one final, desperate twist of the daggers, the creature collapsed to the ground, twitching before it finally lay still.
Kai fell to his knees, gasping for breath, his chest burning from the pain of his wounds. For a moment, he was sure he was going to black out, but sheer willpower kept him conscious. He couldn't stop yet.
He forced himself to stand, stumbling toward the fallen beast. With shaking hands, Kai began to strip the thick, matted fur from its body. The pelt was heavy, its hide almost impossibly tough—perfect for protection.
[NEW ITEM: MOUNTAIN-TIGER FUR CLOAK]
Kai draped the fur cloak over his shoulders, the warmth of it immediately soothing his aching muscles. The heavy fur provided not just protection but a sense of power. Despite the pain, despite the blood soaking his clothes, Kai grinned. As he straightened, pulling the cloak tight around him, the path to the ruins stretched before him.
As he stood over the carcass of the larger beast, a new system notification appeared in his vision.
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: mountain-tiger roar]
Kai's lips curled into a grin as the description flashed before him: [mountain-tiger roar: When activated, the roar induces fear and intimidation in beasts of Level 10 or below. Skill Level 1]
A roar, capable of shaking the courage of lesser creatures—this skill would give him the upper hand against the beasts lurking in the shadows. He clenched his fists, feeling the cloak ripple behind him like the pelt of a living creature, and allowed the newfound power to settle in his bones.
The wind howled, and from the shadows, faint growls echoed. More beasts lingered in the darkness, drawn by the scent of blood. They would attack soon, but this time, Kai was ready.
He stared down the flickering eyes watching him from the darkness, their gleam reflecting hunger and malice. His muscles tensed, and with a slow, deliberate motion, he mouthed the command:
[ACTIVATE].
The change was instantaneous. Kai tilted his head back and let loose a deep, primal roar from the very pit of his being. The sound was raw, fierce, and filled with the essence of the Mountain-Tiger. The air vibrated as the roar echoed through the mountain pass.
The effect was immediate.
The beasts in the shadows faltered, their growls turning into sharp, uneasy whimpers. Kai could feel it—the hesitation, the wavering in their instincts. The red eyes that had once glowed with malice began to blink, some retreating entirely. The few that remained hovered on the edge of the cliff, trembling, as if caught between fight and flight.
Kai's grin widened. He could sense their fear, their confusion. The aura of a predator now surrounded him, palpable and undeniable.
The shadows began to move, slowly at first, then faster as the beasts slunk back, unwilling to face the dominant force standing before them. Some fled completely, their footsteps echoing in the darkness as they scrambled down the mountain.
Kai's eyes followed them briefly before he smirked, his voice a low, dangerous murmur.
"That's right. Run."
---
Name: (Kai) Mikhail (Orphaned)
Age: 15
Class: [Unassigned]
Level:0
Health: 11/50
Stamina: 5/30
Mana: 8/10
---