The forest was quiet that morning, save for the occasional rustle of leaves as small creatures darted through the underbrush. The air felt heavy, laden with the faint scent of damp earth and something metallic—a trace of tension that pricked at their senses. Jae-Hyun moved with purpose, his steps silent and deliberate, each motion precise as if rehearsed a thousand times. Ahri followed close behind, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her blade, her eyes scanning for the source of the unease.

“What exactly are you looking for?” she asked, scanning their surroundings.

“A challenge,” Jae-Hyun replied. “Something strong enough to push me, but not so much that it’ll kill us both.”

Ahri sighed. “You really need to work on selling these plans of yours better.”

They hadn’t gone far before Jae-Hyun stopped abruptly. Predator’s Insight flared to life, highlighting faint tracks in the dirt. The impressions were deep, suggesting something large had recently passed through.

“What is it?” Ahri whispered.

Jae-Hyun crouched, running his fingers over the tracks. They were fresh, the deep impressions suggesting a large creature with considerable weight. “A Dire Claw. It’s fast, resilient, and smart enough to make things interesting. Perfect for a warm-up.” He spoke calmly, his tone betraying no fear but rather a calculated eagerness to test himself.”

Ahri raised an eyebrow. “Warm-up?”

“I’ll handle it,” Jae-Hyun said, his voice calm. “Stay back and cover me if things go south.”

Before she could protest, he moved forward, following the trail with practiced precision. The air grew heavier as they approached a clearing, the faint metallic tang of blood drifting through the trees.

And there it was—the Dire Claw. The beast was massive, its fur a dark, matted gray streaked with scars. Its sharp claws glinted menacingly in the morning light as it feasted on the remains of a smaller creature.

Jae-Hyun’s summons materialized silently, shadowy forms flanking him as he stepped closer. The Dire Claw’s ears twitched, and its head snapped up, blood dripping from its maw. A low growl rumbled from its throat as it turned to face him.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Jae-Hyun muttered, his stance shifting. His blade glimmered faintly as mana coursed through it, the weight of the fight settling over him.

The Dire Claw charged, its movements a blur of speed and power. Jae-Hyun met it head-on, his shadow summons darting forward to intercept. The clash was explosive, the force of the impact sending dirt and leaves flying.

He moved with an almost eerie calm, his blade and summons in perfect synchronization. One shadow lunged for the beast’s hind leg while another distracted its line of sight. Jae-Hyun struck without hesitation, exploiting every opening his summons created. The Dire Claw, though ferocious, couldn’t keep up with the relentless coordination of his attacks. His summons pushed the beast into defensive postures, their movements fluid and precise, leaving no room for error.

“Not bad,” Jae-Hyun muttered, dodging a swipe that could’ve torn him in half. His blade found its mark, slicing into the beast’s shoulder. The Dire Claw howled, its movements growing erratic as it tried to retaliate.

Ahri watched from the tree line, her grip on her blade tightening as her gaze flickered between Jae-Hyun and the Dire Claw. His composure was unnerving; there was no hesitation, no wasted movement, only the calculated efficiency of someone growing too accustomed to battle. 'He’s changing,' she thought, a mix of admiration and unease settling in her chest. 'Can I keep up?''

The fight ended swiftly, Jae-Hyun’s blade finding the Dire Claw’s heart with surgical precision. The beast let out a final growl before collapsing, its massive form dissolving into shadows. Jae-Hyun stood over it, calm and unshaken, his breathing steady. The system processed the kill in silence, the faint hum of mana dissipating into the air.

Level Up: 10

Jae-Hyun exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow as the notification flashed before him. The familiar rush of power coursed through him, sharpening his senses.

Ahri stepped into the clearing, her gaze lingering on the dissipating shadows. “You call that a warm-up?”

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He smirked. “I’m just getting started.”

Jae-Hyun moved deeper into the forest, the shadows lengthening as the morning light filtered through the canopy. Each step was calculated, his senses heightened from the surge of power he felt after leveling up. Despite the energy thrumming in his veins, frustration began to creep in. Every creature he encountered since the Dire Claw had been nothing more than a nuisance—small fry unworthy of his effort.

A pack of Duskwolves, their sleek forms darting between the trees, fell within minutes. His summons corralled them effortlessly, allowing him to dispatch them one by one. The experience points trickled in, but it was hardly enough to satisfy him. His level remained at a firm 10.

Ahri trailed behind, watching his efficiency with quiet admiration, though her unease lingered. “You’re restless,” she observed, breaking the silence.

Jae-Hyun exhaled sharply. “Because this is a waste of time. I need something stronger, something worth the effort.” He glanced at the horizon, the dense forest stretching endlessly before them. “Let’s keep moving.”

The air grew colder as they pressed on, a faint chill curling through the trees. Jae-Hyun’s instincts prickled, and Predator’s Insight flared in response. He froze mid-step, holding up a hand to signal Ahri to stop.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Something… different,” he murmured. His gaze fixed ahead, where the faint outline of a distortion shimmered in the air. To anyone else, it would’ve been invisible, but to Jae-Hyun, it was like staring at a tear in the fabric of reality. The distortion pulsed faintly, its edges flickering like a mirage.

The system chimed softly in his mind:

System Fracture Detected: Rank E Challenge. Stabilize Rift? Y/N

Ahri followed his gaze, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What are you looking at?"

Jae-Hyun’s eyes narrowed as he studied the distortion. "You really don’t see it?"

Ahri’s expression shifted to concern. "See what? Jae-Hyun, are you okay? You… you’re not hallucinating, are you?"

Jae-Hyun clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed coldly on the distortion. "You wouldn’t understand," he muttered, the frost in his tone matching the air around them. "Believe what you want. I’ll be right back.""

Ignoring her growing unease, he turned his attention back to the distortion ahead. The air around the rift grew colder, almost unnaturally so, as if the tear itself fed on the surrounding warmth. A faint vibration pulsed from the distortion, resonating through the ground and into his core. As Jae-Hyun reached instinctively for the key in his pouch, its heat became a sharp contrast to the bitter chill. The moment his fingers touched it, the artifact began to hum, its resonance aligning perfectly with the flickering rift before him.

“It’s a rift,” Jae-Hyun said finally, his tone steady. “And this key seems to be reacting to it”

Ahri’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

Jae-Hyun didn’t respond immediately. He appraised the rift, his mind calculating the risks. The system had labeled it Rank E—a challenge, but theoretically within his ability. With his level now at 10 and his summons growing stronger, he felt prepared.

“It’s Rank E,” he said. “That’s about where I should be right now.”

Ahri’s expression hardened. “And if you’re wrong? What if it’s more than you can handle?”

He smirked faintly, confidence flickering in his eyes. “Then I’ll make it work. I’ve come too far to back down now.”

Without waiting for further argument, he gripped the key tightly and stepped closer to the rift. The distortion reacted immediately, expanding outward as if acknowledging his intent. Tendrils of energy lashed out, wrapping around him in a cocoon of light. Ahri’s voice called out faintly, but it was muffled as the world around him dissolved into darkness. Her words were lost, yet the concern in her tone lingered in his mind like a faint echo. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if she would wait or move on. It didn’t matter. He had chosen this path, and no amount of hesitation would turn him away from it.

When the light faded, Jae-Hyun found himself standing in a realm of freezing cold. His breath crystallized into vapor, vanishing almost as quickly as it formed. The air clawed at his skin, each gust feeling like shards of glass slicing through his armor. The ground beneath him cracked softly with every step, frost spidering outward in delicate but ominous patterns. In the distance, faint, haunting whispers rode on the wind, as if the rift itself were alive and mocking his presence. Each sound set his nerves further on edge, yet he pressed forward, his resolve unshaken. It was a world designed to break the unprepared.

Welcome to the System Fracture. Objective: Survive.

The system’s voice echoed in his mind, cold and detached. A timer appeared in the corner of his vision, counting down from 24 hours. The realization that he would be trapped here for an entire day added a new weight to the already daunting challenge.

He tightened his grip on his sword, his summons flickering to life beside him. Their shadowy forms were more defined here, as if the rift amplified their presence. Jae-Hyun’s eyes scanned the area, every nerve on edge.

The first challenge didn’t take long to announce itself. The ground trembled beneath him, fissures forming as shards of ice broke apart and reassembled with unnatural precision. A low hum echoed through the expanse, growing louder as the source revealed itself. From the shifting darkness emerged a hulking creature. Its jagged, crystalline body refracted the dim light, each movement accompanied by the sharp crackle of frozen tendrils coiling and snapping. The very air seemed to recoil around it, intensifying the cold until even breathing became a challenge. Its malevolent gaze pierced the gloom, glowing with a cold fury that felt almost sentient. Its eyes—if they could be called that—glowed with malevolent intent.

Crystal Warden – Rank D

Jae-Hyun’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”