Kael leaned against a jagged rock, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The shimmering dust of the fallen creature swirled in the faint breeze, disappearing into the strange twilight. His body ached, and his thoughts raced. Each new moment in this world seemed to test his limits—and he had only just arrived.

The translucent screen hovered once more before him, its glow pulsating softly.

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[Status Update]

* Core Synchronization: 10%

* Abilities Unlocked: Energy Pulse, Energy Manipulation (Level 1)

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Kael wiped the sweat from his brow and straightened up. "Core synchronization… only ten percent? After all that?" He let out a bitter laugh. "I almost got myself killed."

The screen faded away as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts. He glanced at the glowing river in the gorge below and shook his head. Whatever that Core is, it’s tied to me now. Complaining won’t change anything. I have to figure out how to survive here.

A faint rustling sound broke his train of thought. Kael froze, his heart pounding. His eyes darted around the desolate landscape, searching for the source. The twilight made it hard to distinguish shadows from solid forms, but the sound grew louder, closer.

"Not again," he muttered, his muscles tensing.

Out of the gloom emerged a figure—not a monstrous creature, but a humanoid silhouette. Kael hesitated, unsure whether to feel relief or fear. The figure stepped closer, and the dim light revealed their features. It was a young woman, her silver hair glinting faintly like the grass that once covered the field. She wore a patchwork of leather armor, and a long, curved blade rested at her side.

Her sharp, gray eyes locked onto Kael, narrowing as she approached. "You’re not from around here, are you?" she asked, her voice low and wary.

Kael blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… no, I’m not."

The woman’s gaze swept over him, taking in his tattered clothes and the faint glow of residual energy flickering at his fingertips. She tightened her grip on her sword. "You shouldn’t be out here. The Rift Plains aren’t a place for the unprepared."

"The Rift Plains?" Kael repeated, his brow furrowing. "Look, I don’t even know where I am. I just… woke up here."

The woman raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear on her face. "You woke up here? Alone? And you’re still alive?"

Kael nodded hesitantly. "Barely. I was attacked by… something. A creature with glowing eyes and claws like knives."

Her expression hardened. "Shadow Stalkers." She glanced around, her posture tense. "If they found you, more will come. We need to move."

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Kael hesitated. He didn’t trust her—he barely knew her—but the thought of facing another wave of those creatures alone sent a chill down his spine. "Where would we go?"

"There’s a settlement not far from here," she said, already turning. "If you’re lucky, they’ll let you in."

Kael followed reluctantly, his gaze shifting between the woman and their surroundings. The jagged terrain seemed endless, and the faint hum of the glowing river below provided an ominous soundtrack to their journey.

After a few minutes of silence, Kael spoke up. "What’s your name?"

The woman glanced at him briefly. "Lyra."

"Kael," he offered in return. "Thanks for… helping me, I guess."

Lyra didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she scanned the horizon, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. Finally, she said, "Don’t thank me yet. Survival here isn’t free. If you’re weak, you’re a liability."

Kael frowned. "I can handle myself."

Lyra snorted. "Sure you can. That’s why you were bleeding out in the middle of the Rift Plains, right?"

Her words stung, but Kael bit back a retort. She’s not wrong, he admitted silently. I barely survived back there.

As they crested a hill, Kael caught sight of what Lyra had called a settlement. It wasn’t much—just a cluster of rough-hewn buildings surrounded by a crude wooden fence. Smoke rose from a few chimneys, and faint lights flickered in the windows.

"That’s it?" he asked, his disappointment clear.

"It’s better than being out here," Lyra replied curtly.

As they approached the gates, two armed guards stepped forward, their weapons gleaming faintly in the twilight. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, eyed Kael suspiciously. "Who’s this?"

"Found him wandering the Plains," Lyra said. "He’s new."

The guard’s eyes narrowed. "Another Outlander?"

Kael frowned. "Outlander?"

"People like you," Lyra explained, her tone impatient. "The ones who show up out of nowhere, clueless and half-dead."

The guard grunted. "We don’t need more mouths to feed."

"He’s not staying for free," Lyra said firmly. She glanced at Kael. "If you want shelter, you’ll work for it. Or fight for it. Those are your only options."

Kael’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t a stranger to hard work, but the idea of being treated like a burden grated on him. Still, he nodded. "Fine. I’ll do what I have to."

The guard stepped aside reluctantly, and Lyra led Kael through the gates. The settlement was even smaller up close, its buildings weathered and patched with mismatched materials. People moved about with purpose, their faces weary but focused.

Lyra stopped in front of a large structure at the center of the settlement. "Wait here," she said, disappearing inside.

Kael leaned against the wall, his mind racing. He had so many questions, but no one seemed interested in answering them. What is this place? How did I get here? And why me?

Before he could dwell further, the door opened, and Lyra emerged with an older man in tow. His gray hair was tied back, and his piercing blue eyes scrutinized Kael intently.

"This is Kael," Lyra said. "He’s… untrained, but he survived the Rift Plains on his own."

The man’s eyebrows rose slightly. "On his own?"

Kael shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "Barely," he admitted.

The man nodded slowly. "I’m Eldrin. I oversee things here. If you’re staying, you’ll need to prove your worth quickly. We don’t have room for freeloaders."

"I understand," Kael said firmly. "I’ll do whatever it takes."

Eldrin studied him for a moment before nodding. "We’ll see. Lyra, take him to the barracks. He can start tomorrow."

Kael followed Lyra silently, his mind buzzing with uncertainty. He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but one thing was clear: this world wasn’t going to give him anything for free.

As he lay on the hard cot in the dimly lit barracks, Kael stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a tangled mess. I have to survive. No matter what.