Dingo howls pierced the night as Jack stared at the glowing blue numbers floating above his head. [Level 1 - 0/100 XP]
"Bloody hell," he muttered, swiping at the ethereal display. His hand passed right through it.
It had been three days since the sky turned an eerie shade of purple and mana flooded the world. The coastal cities were gone, swallowed by tidal waves of raw magical energy. But here in the red heart of Australia, the change had been more... subtle.
Jack looked down at his hands, noting the faint blue lines tracing his veins. He could feel the mana pulsing through him, changing him. Changing everything.
A dull roar in the distance made him tense. That didn't sound like any native fauna he knew. Whatever it was, it was big, and it was coming closer.
Jack grabbed his old rifle, knowing deep down it wouldn't be enough against whatever monsters the mana had cooked up in the Outback. He needed to level up, and fast.
"Right then," he said, steeling himself. "Let's see what this new world's got."
Jack's [Observe] skill activated automatically as he scanned the horizon. Translucent blue boxes appeared in his vision, identifying the flora and fauna around him:
[Eucalyptus Tree - Level 2] [Red Kangaroo - Level 3] [Thorny Devil - Level 1]
He blinked, still not used to the new reality. Everything had levels now, even the plants. As the roar grew louder, a massive red box appeared at the edge of his vision:
[WARNING: Apex Predator Approaching] [Thunderdog - Level 15]
"Strewth," Jack whispered. He'd heard rumors about the Thunderdogs—dingoes mutated by the mana surge into monstrous proportions. This was his first time seeing one.
A notification pinged:
[New Skill Unlocked: Bushcraft - Level 1] [Bushcraft allows you to utilize the natural environment for survival and combat. Each level improves efficiency and unlocks new techniques.]
Jack's mind raced. He needed a plan. His eyes landed on the Thorny Devil, and an idea formed.
"Alright, little fella," he said, approaching the lizard. "Let's see if this works."
[Skill Check: Bushcraft - Difficulty 8] [Roll: 12 + 1 (Skill Level) = 13] [Success!]
With surprising ease, Jack scooped up the Thorny Devil. Its spikes didn't pierce his skin as they should have. Instead, he felt a warm tingle as the lizard's defensive abilities merged with his own.
[Temporary Buff Acquired: Thorny Skin] [Physical Defense +5 for 10 minutes]
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The ground trembled as the Thunderdog burst into view. It was the size of a small car, electricity crackling between its razor-sharp teeth.
Jack raised his rifle, but before he could fire, another notification appeared:
[Quest Alert: Survive the Thunderdog] [Reward: 150 XP, Skill Book: Outback Survival] [Failure: Death] [Accept? Y/N]
"Like I have a choice," Jack muttered, accepting the quest.
As the Thunderdog charged, Jack dove behind the Eucalyptus tree. The beast's jaws clamped down on the trunk, sending splinters flying.
[Eucalyptus Tree HP: 80/100]
Jack fired his rifle, the bullet striking the Thunderdog's flank.
[Damage Dealt: 25] [Thunderdog HP: 475/500]
The monster roared in pain and anger, its eyes locking onto Jack. This was going to be one hell of a fight.
The Thunderdog lunged, its electrified fangs barely missing Jack's arm. He rolled away, feeling the crackle of energy in the air.
[Agility Check: Success] [XP Gained: 5] [Current XP: 5/100]
Jack's mind raced. The rifle wasn't doing enough damage, and he was running out of options. Suddenly, a new notification popped up:
[Environmental Interaction Available] [Use Eucalyptus Oil to enhance weapon? Y/N]
Without hesitation, Jack accepted. His [Bushcraft] skill kicked in automatically, hands moving with newfound expertise to extract oil from the damaged tree.
[Skill Increase: Bushcraft - Level 2] [New Ability Unlocked: Natural Alchemy]
Jack quickly coated his rifle's remaining bullets with the oil. The ammunition glowed with a faint blue light.
[Weapon Temporarily Enhanced: Mana-Infused Bullets] [Damage +20, Chance to Inflict 'Burning' Status]
The Thunderdog circled, growling. Its fur sparked with built-up electrical charge. Jack knew he had to time this right.
[Skill Unlocked: Hunter's Intuition - Level 1] [Increased accuracy and critical hit chance against predators]
Jack took a deep breath, aimed, and fired.
[Critical Hit!] [Damage Dealt: 75] [Status Effect: Burning - 10 damage per turn for 3 turns] [Thunderdog HP: 400/500]
The beast howled in pain, the mana-infused bullet burning through its hide. But the attack only seemed to enrage it further. With a deafening roar, the Thunderdog released a blast of electrical energy.
[Incoming Area Attack: Lightning Burst] [Evasion Check: Failed] [Damage Taken: 40] [Jack's HP: 60/100]
Jack gritted his teeth against the pain. The Thorny Skin buff had absorbed some of the damage, but he was still in trouble. He needed to end this fast.
As if responding to his desperation, the mana in his veins pulsed. Time seemed to slow as a new option appeared before him:
[Awakened Ability Detected] [Unlock 'Mana Resonance'? (Requires 50 XP) Y/N]
Jack didn't hesitate. "Yes!"
A surge of energy flooded his body. The world around him sharpened into crystal clarity. He could see the ley lines of mana crisscrossing the landscape, converging on the Thunderdog.
[Ability Unlocked: Mana Resonance - Level 1] [Harmonize with surrounding mana to enhance abilities and manipulate the environment]
Instinctively, Jack reached out with his mind, grasping the threads of mana. He wove them into a shimmering net and flung it at the Thunderdog.
[Mana Resonance Activated: Nullifying Field] [Thunderdog's Electrical Abilities Suppressed for 30 seconds]
The beast's fur stopped sparking, confusion evident in its eyes. This was Jack's chance.
He raised his rifle one last time, channeling every bit of mana he could into the final shot.
[Critical Hit!] [Mana-Infused Bullet Damage: 100] [Resonance Bonus: +50] [Total Damage: 150] [Thunderdog HP: 0/500]
With a final, pitiful whine, the Thunderdog collapsed.
[Quest Completed: Survive the Thunderdog] [Reward: 150 XP, Skill Book: Outback Survival] [Level Up! You are now Level 2] [New Stat Points Available: 5]
Jack leaned against the Eucalyptus tree, exhausted but alive. As the adrenaline faded, he realized something profound had changed. He wasn't just surviving anymore; he was evolving.
The purple sky pulsed overhead, a reminder that this was only the beginning. Whatever this new world had in store, Jack would face it head-on.