The world around Elias shimmered with an impossible beauty. Twin suns bathed the landscape in an ethereal light, casting long shadows across the towering trees with their iridescent leaves. A light breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it a strange, otherworldly scent of pine and earth. For a moment, Elias could only stare, awestruck by the alien world he had been thrust into.

But the awe quickly faded. This wasn't just some dream. The weight of reality pressed in—this was real. A soft chime rang out, and the translucent screen blinked into existence before his eyes. His heart lurched as the message appeared, sharp and clear, hanging in the air.

Welcome, Elias, to Aetheron, a world of power, danger, and crossroads.

The words hovered, shimmering before him. He stared, unsure of how to respond. Then the message shifted.

This is a message I placed within the Grimoire before it became a part of you.

I will be straightforward with you: I will not hold your hand. I will give you direction, but I expect you to rise to the challenge and overcome every obstacle that comes your way. Not because I demand it, but because you are my chosen.

This world is harsh. There will be trials, and there will be suffering. I have given you power, but it is unshaped, raw. You must carve your own path and forge yourself into something worthy of it.

We may speak again when you've fully embraced your role, but until then, know this: I will keep my promise. Your mother will be healed, and you will gain the strength you need. But only if you earn it.

Elias's breath caught in his throat. Carve my own path? His mind raced, the weight of her words pressing down on him. Hecate wasn't going to guide him, and she wasn't going to offer help beyond this vague directive. His heart pounded faster as another line appeared.

Task: Kill the Goblin Chief.

The words struck him like a punch. Goblin Chief? His stomach lurched. He had never fought anyone in his life, let alone some fantasy creature like a goblin. And not just any goblin—the Goblin Chief.

He had expected something small, maybe even manageable. Find a stick, kill a rat, something easy to get him started. But this?

He shook his head, trying to make sense of it. I've never even held a weapon. His fingers twitched at his sides, clenching and unclenching. The world had seemed so beautiful just a moment ago, and now, it felt cold and uncaring.

But the HUD was relentless, indifferent to his fear. Another line appeared, demanding his attention:

Class: No Class

Level: 1

Health: 80/80

Mana: 60/60

Stamina: 40/40

Primary Attributes:

Strength: 6

Agility: 8

Endurance: 10

Resilience: 12

Intelligence: 15

Luck: 5

The numbers floated before him like some cruel joke. They didn't feel real, but he knew they reflected him exactly as he was—weak, unprepared, and without a class. His fists tightened. No class, he thought. He was a blank slate, with no defined role in this world.

Reward: Class Selection

That last line lingered. Class selection. If he could survive—if—he could choose his path. He could become something more than he was now, someone stronger, more capable. Hecate's promise echoed in his mind: Your mother will be healed, but only if you earn it.

Elias swallowed hard, a knot forming in his stomach. His mother—fragile, sick, slowly fading away. She was the reason he was here, the reason he had accepted Hecate's deal. The thought of her kept him rooted in place, even as the fear gnawed at him.

He took a shaky breath and glanced around. No weapons, no tools, no clue where to even begin. His eyes drifted to the dense forest ahead. If the Goblin Chief was out there, it was probably hidden somewhere deep in those shadows, waiting.

The HUD blinked again.

Reminder: Complete the task to unlock your class. Use the world around you. Shadows are your ally.

Shadows are your ally.

Elias squinted at the words, frustration rising. How am I supposed to use the shadows? He reached behind him, tracing the mark on his back with his fingertips, feeling the faint warmth of Hecate's magic.

He let out a shaky breath. "You couldn't show me the ropes? Not even a little bit?" he spoke to the air, half expecting a response, though he knew better by now. Of course, there was nothing. Hecate had made it clear—he was on his own.

Still, the weight of the task pressed in. Shadows... how could he even begin to use them?

Sighing, Elias instinctively reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. The familiar motion was grounding, a small, pointless ritual that usually helped him think. But then he remembered, with a flicker of irritation—the lighter was spent. Worse than that, he'd broken it in frustration back in Hecate's realm. He clenched his jaw, his mood darkening as the memory replayed.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, his voice sharp in the stillness.

The curse echoed longer than it should have, bouncing back at him. He froze, eyes widening, ears straining for any sound. The forest suddenly seemed too quiet. And then he heard it—movement. A low, rustling sound. Too loud to be the wind.

Elias cursed again under his breath and crouched low, his heart pounding. The shadows around him shifted, his pulse racing with them.

Then he saw it.

A hunched figure moved between the trees—small, with leathery green skin, long arms, and sharp claws. It sniffed the air, its beady eyes scanning the forest floor.

Elias's eyes widened. His pulse spiked as panic set in.

"What the fuck are you?" he whispered, more to himself than anything else.

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Before he could even think to move, his HUD blinked to life again, flashing new information:

Goblin Scout

Level: 3

?????

That was all the information it gave him—nothing about its strength or weaknesses. Just a vague readout. He could feel his heart racing faster, unsure of what to do.

Another soft chime. This time, the HUD flashed a new message:

New Skill Unlocked: Identify (Level 1)

Because guessing what's going to kill you isn't fun for anyone.

Elias stared at the description, incredulous. "Seriously?" he muttered, half-laughing despite himself. Of all the skills I could unlock, I get this? He wanted to scream, or maybe just walk away from whatever crazy place this was. But that wasn't an option.

He glanced at the goblin again, trying to suppress the rising panic. It was still sniffing around, its back to him for now, but he knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. Alright, I get it. Thanks for the heads-up, I guess.

The Identify skill seemed like it could be useful—eventually. Right now, it had only given him a sliver of information about the goblin. Level 3 didn't mean much to him, but he assumed it was stronger than he was, based on how his own level was listed at a pitiful 1.

He clenched his fists, trying to think. Shadows are your ally, Hecate's words echoed in his mind again. But he still had no idea how to use them. His frustration flared as he watched the goblin sniff closer.

The humor of the situation faded as reality snapped back. I need to move. His heart raced, the HUD blinking faintly in his peripheral vision, as if daring him to figure it out.

Identify: (Level 1)

You can now see the level of creatures and limited information about them. Upgrade the skill to reveal more details.

Current Limitations: Basic species recognition, level, and general hostility.

He sighed internally. Great. It's a goblin, it's level 3, and it's definitely going to try to kill me. Thanks for that, HUD.

The goblin turned slightly, its nose twitching. Elias felt his breath catch. Shit.

His mind scrambled for a plan. The goblin was too close. Any moment now, it would spot him, and then... well, then he'd find out exactly how dangerous a Level 3 goblin scout could be.

Heart pounding, Elias scanned the area, looking for something—anything—that might give him an advantage. His eyes locked onto a nearby tree, its thick trunk partially obscured by a cluster of bushes. He didn't have much time. The goblin's twitching nose inched closer, sniffing the air, its beady eyes narrowing.

Move, Elias!

Without thinking, he dropped to a crouch and made a quick, silent dash behind the tree. The bushes rustled slightly as he slipped into them, pressing his back against the rough bark. He was trying to keep calm, but his breathing came in shallow, frantic bursts.

Please don't see me. Please don't see me.

The goblin stopped moving. Elias froze, barely daring to breathe. From his hiding spot, he could hear the soft grunts and shuffling of the creature as it searched the area. His pulse raced. His muscles tensed, ready to run if he had to.

The HUD blinked in his peripheral vision.

New Skill Unlocked: Sneaking (Level 1)

Congrats, you've unlocked the ancient art of trying not to be noticed. A classic survival skill—unless you're bad at it.

Elias stared at the screen, blinking. Sneaking? Sure, that's helpful, but right now? The attempt at humor did little to calm him, but he had no time to dwell on it. The goblin was getting closer, and he needed to stay hidden.

Okay, sneak. Just... stay quiet. You got this. He pressed himself harder against the tree, praying it would be enough to keep him out of sight. But before he could even fully process his new skill, another chime sounded, this time accompanied by a far less encouraging message.

Sneaking failed: Goblin Scout's detection skill is higher than user's sneak skill.

Stealth: A great skill... when your opponent doesn't have better senses than you.

"Seriously?" Elias whispered, more out of disbelief than actual anger.

The goblin's head snapped in his direction, its beady eyes narrowing as it caught sight of him. Shit.

The creature let out a sharp grunt, baring its jagged teeth. It sniffed the air again, clearly on edge, and began to move toward him with more determination. Its claws twitched, ready for a fight.

Elias's stomach sank. His sneak attempt had failed miserably. He needed a new plan—fast.

Come on, think! Shadows. Use the shadows!

But how? He had no clue how to control them consciously, especially not with a goblin barreling toward him. His breath quickened as the goblin drew closer, its menacing growls growing louder with each step.

Elias froze, his mind spinning, heart hammering in his chest. What do I do? The goblin let out a low snarl, its yellow eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Before Elias could even react, the creature lunged at him, a crude dagger flashing in its hand.

"Oh shit—" Elias barely had time to raise his arm in defense. Instinctively, he reached out, his hand catching the blade in mid-air. Pain shot through his palm as the jagged edge sliced into his skin. Blood welled up instantly, the blade cutting deep.

A sharp ping from his HUD nearly made him scream in frustration.

You are bleeding. Health decreasing by 1 per second.

Elias gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through him. "NO SHIT!" he shouted in disbelief, more at the absurdity of the situation than the pain. Blood dripped from his hand, and his health bar in the corner of his vision started ticking down—79... 78... 77...

The goblin growled, trying to twist the dagger in Elias's grip. Panic flooded his system, but he reacted on sheer instinct, wrestling with the creature in a desperate struggle. His strength wasn't great, but the rush of adrenaline gave him just enough force to push back. He gripped the goblin's wrist, feeling the rough, leathery skin beneath his fingers, and with a wild jerk, flung the dagger out of the goblin's hand.

The crude weapon clattered to the ground, and Elias's heart raced as he stared wide-eyed at the goblin. The creature hesitated for a split second, its jagged teeth bared in a snarl, then launched itself at Elias again—this time with its mouth open wide, sharp teeth gleaming as it tried to bite him.

Elias barely dodged to the side, but the goblin's teeth grazed his arm, its foul breath hot against his skin. He cried out, fear consuming him as he stumbled backward, his back slamming against the tree.

What the hell do I do?! His mind raced, but it was blank—pure panic took over. The goblin was on him again, snapping at his face like a wild animal. Elias shoved its head away with both hands, but the creature was relentless, clawing at him as it tried to sink its teeth into his flesh.

"Get off me!" he yelled, his voice cracking with terror. He felt the goblin's hot breath on his neck as its jaws snapped dangerously close.

He wrestled with the creature, his movements frantic and uncoordinated. The goblin clawed at his shirt, snarling, trying to gain the upper hand, but Elias fought back, pushing and kicking wildly. Every second was pure chaos, every motion filled with raw panic. His health bar continued to drop as the blood from his hand stained the forest floor.

I'm going to die. I'm going to die, the thought ran through his mind like a broken record. His vision blurred with fear, and all he could do was keep pushing the goblin away, waiting, looking for something—anything—to save him.

In the chaos of the struggle, his hand brushed against something solid. His fingers fumbled over the rough surface, gripping it instinctively. A rock. He glanced down briefly, barely comprehending it, but desperation took over.

Without thinking, he raised the rock and smashed it against the goblin's head. The creature let out a shrill screech, its sharp teeth snapping wildly as it flailed. Elias didn't stop. He couldn't stop. He swung again, harder this time, the impact jarring his arm as the rock connected with the goblin's skull.

The goblin snarled in pain, clawing at him, but its movements grew erratic, weakened. Elias felt something hot and slick on his hand—blood, his or the goblin's, he wasn't sure—but he didn't care. He brought the rock down again and again, his strikes fueled by sheer panic and survival instinct.

"Get off me!" he screamed, his voice raw and hoarse.

The goblin's resistance started to falter. Its claws loosened their grip on his shirt, its snarling growing quieter with each hit. Elias kept going, every ounce of terror and anger pouring into each swing of the rock.

Finally, with one last, desperate strike, the goblin went limp. It slumped to the side, its body collapsing in a heap on the forest floor. Elias scrambled back, gasping for breath, the rock still clutched tightly in his trembling hand. He stared at the goblin's motionless form, his chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through him.

Did I...?

He couldn't believe it. He had killed it.