As Sora turned away from the status panel, the room around him slowly came into focus. He was in a small, dimly lit stone chamber with no windows, the air thick with the smell of damp earth. The only exit was a doorway, flanked by two unlit torches. It was as if he had been dropped into the world with the bare minimum—a fresh start, stripped of everything but simple clothes.

No more regrets. No more dwelling on what had been lost.

Only what lay ahead.

The world outside the chamber was just as quiet as inside. A narrow stone corridor stretched out before him, dimly illuminated by flickering candles set into sconces along the walls. The air was still, and Sora could hear the faint echo of his own footsteps as he walked, each sound amplified by the silence around him.

Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a vast underground cavern. Massive stalactites hung from the ceiling, dripping water that pooled into shallow streams running along the floor. The cavern was bathed in an eerie, bluish light, casting long shadows that danced across the stone.

And at the center of it all stood a single, solitary figure.

Sora froze. He hadn't expected to encounter anyone so soon after his reset. His mind raced as he assessed the situation. The figure was small and heavily cloaked, the hood pulled low over their face, hiding their features in shadow. They stood completely still, as if waiting for something—or someone.

Sora's instincts kicked in, and he immediately dropped into a low, cautious stance. He had no weapon, no armor to protect him. He only had his improved level 1 body and the knowledge gained from his previous life. Hopefully, that would be enough.

The figure spoke, their voice low and gravelly, echoing through the cavern.

"You're my new host, aren't you?"

Sora didn't reply immediately, choosing instead to measure the person before him. He couldn't tell if they were friend or foe, and in this new world, trust was a rare commodity. However, from this person's words, it seemed that he knew him.

"Who are you?" Sora asked, his voice steady, though his muscles tensed as this was all unexpected. Wasn't the whole world supposed to not know his new identity?

The figure chuckled softly, the sound tired. "I am ... a part of you. As long as you don't die."

Sora's eyes narrowed. "And what does that mean?"

The figure stepped forward, their movements slow and deliberate. As they approached, the shadows peeled away from their face, revealing tender features of someone who still did not go through puberty. They were younger than Sora had expected, with their dark hair and a smile that didn't seem like one.

'He looks like a young boy but doesn't act like one' Sora thought to himself

"You've reset," the figure said, their eyes scanning Sora. "I know because I have been watching you since the day you hit level 10. I saw everything you did. You're weaker than most of the others"

Sora's fists clenched at his sides. He hated how exposed he felt, how this stranger seemed to know more about him than he was comfortable with.

"That is impossible... She said no one would recognize me. How can you follow me through death ?" Sora was holding his anger back.

The figure smiled, with no hostility in his voice. "That witch is right. No outsider knows about your power. But I am no outsider. You have potential. Most other Innates can not harm their hosts... But I can. If you are not worthy of my power, don't even dream of using it. I can not kill you myself since I am bound by rules, but I can give you a trial. If you succeed, you'll gain my full support. Since you can die from my test... you have the right to not go through with it, and nothing bad will happen to you. However, I'll look down on you."

Sora's pulse quickened. 'A test? And if I pass, he'll support me ? What does it mean ? From what he says, he seems to be closely related to my prestige ability.'

"Tell me first," Sora said, his voice firm. "What's the test?"

The figure stepped back, raising a hand. A low rumble echoed through the cavern as the ground trembled beneath Sora's feet. From the shadows, three figures emerged—hulking, monstrous creatures that looked like shadows with glowing red eyes and twisted limbs. Their movements were slow and lumbering, but there was no mistaking the raw power in their bodies.

Sora's heart raced. He had no weapon, no skills, no armor. These three beasts were level 3 and 4.

"This is your test," the figure said. "Are you willing to take it ?"

Sora took a look at the quest notification that appeared in front of him, before looking at his body, and stats and thought 'They're not that strong, i should be able to pass. Furthermore, I will not be a coward in this life' before saying "I accept the trial"

The figure seemed surprised at his decision, used to seeing him cautious every day of his last years.

You have accepted the quest : "Survive the Shadows" (E)

Without another word, the monsters charged.

Sora leapt into action, his new body responding instantly to the danger. His feet barely touched the ground as he darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the swipe of a massive claw. His mind raced as he calculated his next move. He couldn't overpower them, not in this state. But he could outmaneuver them.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The first creature lunged at him, and Sora twisted, dodging its attack with ease. His reflexes were sharper now, faster. He felt the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins, the thrill of the fight igniting a spark within him.

This was it. His first real battle since the reset.

And he would not fail. 'That'd be ridiculous for sure' he smiled at the thought.

The creatures circled him, their red eyes glowing with hunger. Sora took a deep breath, centering himself. He couldn't rely on brute force. He needed to outthink them, outlast them. He needed to survive.

With a sharp, determined cry, Sora launched himself at the nearest creature, ready to begin his climb back to power.

The test had begun.

Sora's bare feet sprinted on the uneven ground as he moved toward the nearest creature. His mind worked rapidly to assess the situation. He was unarmed, outnumbered, and weaker than he had ever been. But he wasn't helpless. Experience had taught him to survive many fights, and now was no different.

The first monster, a grotesque figure with elongated limbs and twisted horns, swung a massive, clawed arm toward him. Sora ducked low, feeling the wind rush past as the claws narrowly missed his head. Without wasting a moment, he launched himself into a roll, coming up behind the creature.

In one fluid motion, he leapt onto its back, locking his legs around its neck. The beast thrashed wildly, trying to throw him off, but Sora clung on, using his agility to stay in control. His eyes scanned its body, searching for a weak point.

The creature bellowed, its roar echoing through the cavern, and with a surge of strength, it slammed itself against the stone wall. Pain shot through Sora's body as the impact knocked the air from his lungs, but he held firm. His fingers found a soft patch of flesh just below its skull, and without hesitation, he drove his fist into it with all the strength he could muster.

The creature howled in agony, its movements becoming erratic. Sora didn't let up. He struck again and again, each blow more precise than the last, until finally, with a sickening crack, the creature collapsed to the ground, its body twitching as life left its monstrous form.

Panting heavily, Sora scrambled to his feet. One down. Two to go.

The second creature, larger and more heavily built, didn't wait for him to recover. It charged, its massive feet shaking the ground with each thunderous step. Sora's instincts screamed at him to move, but his body was slow to respond, still affected by the last attack. He dove to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding being trampled.

He landed hard, his shoulder slamming into the stone floor. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself up. There was no time for weakness. No time for hesitation. The creature loomed over him, its red eyes burning with rage. Sora's mind raced. He couldn't outmuscle this one—it was too large, too powerful. But maybe he didn't have to.

As the creature raised its massive fist to crush him, Sora took a gamble. He waited until the last possible second, then sprang forward, rolling between its legs and darting behind it. The creature, caught off guard, swung wildly, but its bulk worked against it. Its movements were slow and clumsy, giving Sora just enough time to dart to safety.

He spotted a ledge jutting out from the wall of the cavern, and without thinking, he leapt toward it. His fingers caught the edge, and he pulled himself up in one swift motion, just as the creature's fist slammed into the ground where he had been standing moments before.

From his new vantage point, Sora scanned the cavern. The third creature, smaller and more nimble than the others, was hanging back, watching the fight unfold with unsettling intelligence in its eyes. It was moving and looking at him.

Sora narrowed his eyes. This was a problem. He could deal with brute strength and raw power, but intelligence—strategy—that was a different challenge. He would have to end this quickly, before the creatures could coordinate their attacks. 'I can't focus on both' frustrated, he could not help but look for a way out of this difficult situation.

The second creature, frustrated by its failure to crush him, roared in fury and charged again. This time, Sora was ready. He waited until the last moment, then leapt down from the ledge, landing lightly on the ground. The creature, too slow to stop its momentum, slammed headfirst into the wall. The impact sent a shower of rocks tumbling down, but the beast didn't go down easily. It shook off the hit, its blood-red eyes glowing with even more intensity.

Sora's heart pounded in his chest. He needed to think, fast.

Just as the creature prepared to charge again, he heard a sound behind him, but didn't have time to move. A sharp pain in the back of his head. He stumbled, momentarily disoriented, as a wave of dizziness overtook him.

'He got me' he thought, clutching his head. The cost of resetting was more than just losing his power—it came with the difficulty to adapt to this new body and wanting to do things his body could not perform.

The third creature, who had just sent a stone from behind him, sensing his weakness, darted forward. Sora barely had time to react. The smaller, faster monster lunged at him with a feral speed, its claws aimed straight for his throat. Desperation took over, and Sora twisted his body just enough to avoid the killing blow, but the creature's claws grazed his side, leaving a searing trail of pain.

Sora hissed in agony but forced himself to move. He couldn't afford to slow down. Not now. Blood trickled down his side, but he ignored it, focusing on survival. His mind raced. He needed to end this quickly, but without a weapon, his options were limited.

The second creature was recovering, preparing for another charge. The third was circling him, waiting for an opening. He was caught between two deadly enemies, with no time to plan and nowhere to run.

His eyes flicked toward the fallen first creature, an idea forming. Its claws, sharp and jagged, had torn through stone. If he could just reach one of them...

The creatures weren't going to wait. The second monster bellowed and charged once more, its massive frame barreling toward him like a runaway boulder. The third, quick as lightning, leapt at him from the side.

Sora sprinted toward the first creature's body, every muscle in his legs screaming with effort. Just as the second monster was about to collide with him, Sora dove forward, sliding across the slick stone floor. His hand shot out, grabbing a shard of the first creature's broken claw.

The instant his fingers closed around the makeshift weapon, he rolled to his feet, spinning just in time to meet the second creature's charge. With a swift, precise motion, he thrust the claw upward into the beast's neck.

The creature let out a roar, its momentum carrying it forward even as blood sprayed from the wound. Sora ducked to the side, avoiding the bulk of the body as it crashed to the ground with a sickening thud.

But there was no time to celebrate. The third creature was upon him in an instant, its claws slashing through the air. Sora barely managed to deflect the blow with the claw, but the force of the attack sent him stumbling back.

The smaller monster snarled, its eyes burning with intelligence. It was quicker, deadlier, and far more dangerous than its fallen companions.

Sora's grip tightened on the claw. He could feel his body weakening, his vision blurring slightly from the blood loss and exhaustion. But he wasn't done yet. This was a fight for survival, and he refused to go down.

The creature lunged again, faster this time. But Sora was ready. He sidestepped the attack, using the creature's own momentum against it. As it flew past him, he spun around, driving the claw into its back with all the strength he had left.

The creature screeched in pain, twisting violently, but Sora held on, forcing the claw deeper. With a final, desperate effort, he wrenched the claw free, and the creature collapsed, its body convulsing before falling still.

Breathing heavily, Sora staggered back, his vision swimming. The cavern was silent once more. He had survived. Barely.

The boy who had orchestrated the test stepped forward, seemingly happy about the result.

"You passed," he said simply.

The first step had been taken, but the journey was far from over.