Oh, fuuuuuuck.

Alex's stomach lurched, and he tasted bile.

What have I done?

He blinked several times, but the scene refused to change.

Okay, so- not a hallucination.

His eyes traced the slopes of the landscape stretching out around him. The rolling green hills were broken up by sporadic patches of wildflowers. The air smelled clean compared to the city he had been standing in mere seconds ago.

Looking up, the sky seemed impossibly large and Alex couldn’t tell if it was a trick of the eye. The trees were enormous, yet even compared to them, the clouds seemed extremely high in the air. As he took in the surroundings, one thing was hammered home: he was not in Hoboken anymore.

There were two suns hanging in the sky. One was just past its peak, while the other was beginning to set behind the trees. The second sun set the field awash in pink and orange hues. Despite this, Alex's surroundings didn't dim as they normally would during a sunset... as there was another sun. Two suns.

Fuck.

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air. Within moments of opening his eyes again, his gaze was drawn back to the sky and the floating crystals. They floated lazily across the open air, refracting the light from the setting sun and sending gorgeous beams of yellow-orange light in different directions.

Alex tried to gauge their size, but it was hard. None of them were close enough to something he could compare them to. They reminded him of the time he had spent an entire weekend designing a logo for some new-age crystal healing shop. His parents had been thrilled when he told them about that project.

Yeah, well, it’s not always about what you want, Mom.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memory.

How the hell am I thinking about that here? I’m here. In this- this impossible place. A place where magic is real and there are TWO suns! A place where I can maybe just take a second to breathe and distance myself from all of that nonsense out there.

A laugh escaped his lips from sheer disbelief. This had to be a dream. Perhaps it was a hallucination from the stress of work or from staring at his computer screens too long?

Any minute now, I’ll wake up back in my apartment.

He knew it wasn’t true, even as it crossed his mind.

Alex mentally shook himself and thought back. The articles had mentioned something about needing to kill a monster to awaken. That’s what they called those who had skills or powers. The reports varied wildly on what kinds of creatures were actually inside the Rifts. Some people claimed to have seen giant spiders. Others talked about fire-breathing lizards, and a few even swore up and down that they’d encountered talking mushrooms.

Talking mushrooms. Riiight.

It reminded him of the game he and Mark had played the night before. He shook his head, pushing the ridiculous image away.

Then again, what else would I expect to see in this place?

His eyes flicked toward the sky once again.

Alright, Alex. You wanted this. Get your shit together and figure out what comes next.

The trees loomed ahead of him. They looked like the huge pines of the Pacific Northwest that he had only ever seen in pictures. There seemed to be very little underbrush, and even from this distance, he could clearly see a good ways into the forest.

He continued walking toward the edge of the forest.

Two suns. Fuck.

At the thought, he peeled off his winter coat, beginning to sweat from the heat of the suns.

He closed the distance to the tree line and he couldn’t help but think of what came next. One of the consistencies throughout all the articles he read was the need to kill a monster in a Rift in order to awaken.

Can I actually kill something? If it comes down to it, I have to be prepared to face whatever this is.

He began walking the line between the edge of the forest and the field. He could convince himself that it was to get a better view of both areas, but he knew he was really just scared to walk into the shaded area beyond.

Can I? Can I kill something?

The thought sent a shiver down his back. He had never even killed a bug before. Well, at least not intentionally. He would always try to catch them and release them outside. Jake used to tease him when they were little, calling him a Saint. Jake was the type of kid to pretend he was King Kong while kicking over ant hills and sandcastles.

But these things—these monsters. They’re different, right?

Some of the comments on those articles he had read last night argued that they couldn’t be real. Not really. They were just projections or simulations created by the Rifts, almost like an advanced video game.

But what if they’re not? What if the monsters are real creatures?

He scratched the back of his head, and he thought of Jake. His older brother was always so confident and ready to take on a new challenge, especially if there was something to be gained. Alex knew that his brother would likely go charging in head first and more than likely come out on top.

I’m not like Jake though… I need a plan. A worst-case scenario or a line that I won’t cross.

If it’s a real, honest-to-god monster, then I’ll try to fight it. But I'm running away if it’s anything remotely human or sentient.

Alex looked over at the portal across the field. It hung in the air like a giant egg. Many of its patterns and other-worldly qualities seemed to be lost to his eyes at this distance; it just looked flat and smooth, like a weird banner at a fair. It was less than 100 meters away. He should stay close enough to it that he could make a run for it if needed. There was no telling what was lurking in the woods.

But what if it closes before I get back?

A thought struck him and he pulled out his cell phone. The screen was blank, and he was unable to power it on despite trying more than once.

Fuck.

His stomach tightened as he put his phone back in his pocket. If something went wrong he would be trapped here, alone, with no way to contact anyone. No way to even know if he could get back.

Stop it.

He took a deep breath.

One step at a time. First things first: Find a monster. Then, kill it. See what happens.

Turning back to the forest, his eyes scanned the shadows for any sign of movement. It smelled so nice—the pine needles and scent of earth gradually overpowering the scent of the grass and field.

Maybe I’m supposed to go in there to find a monster?

He took a hesitant step into the forest. Then another. Alex could feel his body waffle between wanting to relax or panic. He had never been one for the great outdoors.

He’d take the concrete jungle any day of the week. At least there, he knew what to expect. Rats, pigeons, and the occasional crazy homeless person yelling at you while they were living out their own fantasy.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Here? Here, anything could be lurking behind those trees.

Come on, Alex.

For now, he decided to just keep walking along the edge of the forest. There was still plenty of the field that he hadn’t checked out yet, right?

Yep, that’s all.

That’s when he saw it.

Movement to his right in the tall grass, just a bit further ahead in the field.

Alex froze for a moment, his breath catching in his chest. Trying to stay low, he crept forward to get another look at the thing.

It’s… a blob?

A small, green blob about the size of a basketball. It jiggled and bounced in the grass, its surface rippling like gelatin.

Holy shit. It’s a slime.

He had played enough video games and watched enough anime to recognize it on the spot. A classic low-level monster.

Perfect.

His heart was still ready to jump out of his throat at a moment’s notice, but there was a thrill of excitement mixed in with the fear now. This was his chance to see if this whole ‘awakening’ thing was real.

Not that I’m really doubting it at this point…

He pointedly didn’t look at the sky.

Watching the slime for a moment, Alex studied its movements. It was slow and predictable.

It really doesn’t seem to be that dangerous.

Glancing around, he looked for something—anything—that he could use as a weapon. His eyes landed on a fallen branch lying a few feet away. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

Keeping his eyes on the slime, he backed away slowly. Once he was a safe distance away, he turned and jogged toward the tree line to scoop up the branch. It was surprisingly heavy. The weight made it feel solid in his hand.

Alex returned to the field with his makeshift weapon held loosely in his hand. The slime hadn’t moved far. It was still bouncing around in the grass, oblivious to its surroundings.

Time to find out what you’re made of.

As he got closer, the little monster seemed to finally notice him and began to undulate faster than before. The slime jiggled, a tremor running through its form. It bounced once more with a small hop before launching itself forward.

Faster than I expected.

Alex stepped back and raised the branch. He almost slipped as he tried to backpedal faster to keep up with his moving body. The slime splattered against the ground where he had been standing.

Okay, maybe a direct hit isn’t the best strategy. If I remember, slimes are typically resistant to physical damage, right?

The slime pulled itself back together, reforming into its vaguely spherical shape. It wobbled, then hopped again. This time, he was ready for it. Bending his legs and watching his footing, he stepped back and swung the branch, catching the slime in mid-air.

The impact sent a jolt up his arm. It was like hitting a water balloon filled with jelly. The slime contorted around the branch for a moment before being sent off to the side. It didn’t break; it just dropped to the ground with a wet thud and started to ooze back toward him.

It didn’t seem hurt or even bothered, for that matter.

Stubborn little thing, aren’t ya?

The next time it lunged at him, he swung again. Each time he did, he caught the slime just before it reached him. It was exhausting work, and his arms started burning after only a few minutes of this.

Come on, slime. Give up already.

But the slime just kept coming. Its movements were slow and relentless; each time Alex hit it, it deformed, stretched, and reformed.

There has to be a way to kill this thing.

His mind tried to flip back through memories of fantasy novels and video games.

What were the weaknesses of slimes? Acid? Fire?

A scene from a comic he had read came to mind. The main character battled against a giant slime in a dungeon. He tried slashing it, but it didn’t matter how much he tried; his sword didn’t work. Then, he used a fire spell, and the slime had almost exploded.

Fire. Slimes are weak to fire. But of course, I don’t exactly have any spells handy. No lighter. I definitely don’t know how to make a fire from scratch…

Alex glanced around, hoping for a stroke of luck. Maybe there was a conveniently placed torch or magical flower.

No such luck. He was on his own.

He gritted his teeth. If brute force was the only way, then brute force it was. Alex raised the branch like a baseball bat and gripped the rough wood tightly.

This could take a while.

He swung the branch again and again. Each time, the slime went flying, landed, and reformed. It never seemed to really get hurt from his swings. Even after minutes of repeating this over and over, it just kept coming back for more.

This is ridiculous.

Alex’s arms were burning, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. He was sweating under the heat of the suns now. His coat was tied around his waist, and his work shirt was untucked. This little slime was giving him more of a workout than he’d had since high school sports. While he went to the gym a few times a week, it was normally just to lift some weights or walk on a treadmill.

But here? Here, he was practically dancing around. Dodging, weaving, and swinging this damned branch like a lumberjack.

And—he was actually enjoying it?

The thought surprised him. This whole situation was insane. He should be terrified. He was terrified. He should be running for his life.

Well, maybe not. It is just a slime, but still.

Instead of all that, Alex was laughing.

Laughing as he dodged another lunge from the little green monster.

I’m actually doing this.

For the first time in a long while, he felt alive and completely invested in what he was doing.

The slime bounced again, higher this time. Alex backpedaled to put some distance between them and continued to analyze this feeling. But his foot caught on a root hidden in the tall grass.

Shit!

He stumbled and fell backward. His arms flailed, and he tried to regain his balance, but it was too late. The slime landed on his leg with a sickening splat.

“Gah!” His yelp broke the serene silence that had filled the field since his arrival.

It was cold. The wet slime seemed to soak and seep into his work slacks. It wrapped itself around his calf, its gelatinous form pulsating against his leg. Alex could feel it trying to ooze its way under his pant leg.

Panic surged through him, and he remembered that slimes were acidic.

“Get it off! Get it off!” he yelled.

He clawed at the slime, but it was no use. It was like trying to grab a handful of thick water. His fingers just sank into its form, then began to sting. Alex pulled his hands away and wiped them off in the grass as he tried to scrape his leg backward against the ground.

Think, Alex, think!

His eyes darted around, searching for anything that could help him.

“Ahh! Just get it off!” he yelled again.

A thought struck him. He began to hastily undo his belt and push his pants down. Putting his hands close to the skin of his legs, he pushed frantically, trying to push the slime off of his leg along with the entire pair of pants.

Come on, you slimy bastard!

Finally, it came loose. He pulled his pant leg down, the slime sliding off with it. He kicked off his shoe, feeling the slime had already begun to reach within.

Unintentionally, his pants flipped inside out and over the slime.

Alex scrambled backward, his heart thudding against his sternum. Breathing hard, he wiped the sweat from his brow and let out another yell. He realized this one didn’t actually contain any coherent words; it was really just meant to let out some stress.

He glanced down at himself. No pants and one shoe. He was unable to shake the feeling of that thing pulsing and wiggling on his leg.

I feel violated somehow.

Looking over at the slime, which now happened to be trapped within his work slacks, he tried to think of what to do next. It still jiggled and moved. It reminded him of a time when his ex’s cat got trapped under the blankets on their bed. It just sort of wobbled around within the constraints.

“Ok, think. Acid, it’s acid, right?”

Alex looked around for something—anything. Maybe he could pour something on it—water? Dirt? Would that even work?

Ugh, okay. Back to brute force.

He took some time to search around, looking for a big flat rock. Alex felt crazy scrambling around the field with one shoe and no pants, but at this point, that slime was going down one way or another. Eventually, he found a rock that had a satisfying weight to it, and the bottom was flat and wide.

Returning to the slime, he knelt down and brought the rock up over his head before letting it crash down onto the pant-slime.

The impact reverberated up his arm, and as he lifted the rock, the slime just reformed. It didn’t even seem to notice the attack.

Here we go again.

He swung the rock again and again.

And again.

Each time, Alex put every ounce of his strength into it. His arms and lungs burned while sweat dripped down his forehead and into his eyes. Despite this, he didn’t stop. He told himself that he couldn’t stop, not until this thing was dead.

The slime, to its credit, was so much more resilient than he thought it would be. It just kept jiggling and bouncing, no matter how many times he hit it.

Come on, you slimy bastard.

Alex swung the rock again, his vision blurring from the sweat. This time, however, something was different. The slime made a strange, gurgling sound, and it shuddered violently under the rock. When it stopped moving, his heavy arms flipped the rock to the side.

He rocked back onto his heels to take some of the weight off of his scratched and dirty knees. Staring down at the slime, his chest continued to heave. The mass of the slime was still there, trapped inside of his pants, but now it wasn’t moving. For the first time in what felt like the longest hour of his life, it wasn’t jiggling.

Wondering what to do next, Alex let his heavy arms rest in his lap. A few moments went by, and then the space within the pants seemed to fade. It was like someone was letting the air out of a pool floaty. The fabric sagged, drooping around the now non-existent form of the slime.

And then, something even weirder happened.

Tiny blue motes of light began to rise through the fabric. The motes of light swirled and danced in the air like miniature butterflies. Mesmerized, Alex watched as the lights began to float up into the air, and then, without much warning, they rushed into him.

If he wasn’t so tired, Alex was sure he would have flinched or tried to move out of the way. The feeling that came with them entering his body was strange and warm. It tingled like some sort of stimulating pre-workout, prickling at his skin.

His chest and stomach began to feel almost like they were vibrating, and then he gasped. The tingling on his skin intensified and coalesced toward his abdomen. His lower stomach burned.

He bent over and grabbed the tall grass with his hands, clenching against the brief flash of pain through his navel. Heaving once again, Alex stared at the ground beneath him when two things happened at once.

The pain disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. And a blue screen materialized in front of him. It hung in the air, defying gravity. Its surface lacked any sort of visible support or source. The thin floating window was the same color blue as the motes of light.

Across the panel, words appeared.

Congratulations and Welcome to the System, newly Awakened.

Trait Manifested: {Primordial Will}