Kira spent three days recovering in the village of Willowmere, trading manual labor at the inn for food and shelter. The villagers had been kind but wary of his strange clothes and cluelessness about their world. He learned bits and pieces about the realm: a kingdom fractured by war, plagued by monsters, and haunted by whispers of a "Dark God."

Now, he was leaving the comfort of the village for the road to Abriddge, a larger town said to have more opportunities for adventurers. The System had been adamant about it.

“Abriddge is a critical waypoint for growth. You must gather resources, allies, and training to survive the dangers ahead.”

"Great," Kira muttered, gripping the rusty sword the blacksmith had given him. "Another town, more problems. Can’t wait."

The path wound through rolling hills and scattered forests, a far cry from the dense jungle that had nearly killed him. But the journey was far from safe.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kira spotted a fire flickering in the distance. Relief surged through him—he hadn’t seen another soul all day. But as he approached, the voices carried on the wind made his stomach turn.

"That merchant didn’t even see it comin’," one voice cackled.

"Yeah, and the coin he had! We’ll be livin’ good for weeks," said another.

Kira froze, peering through the underbrush. A group of bandits surrounded the fire, their weapons glinting in the firelight. At their feet lay the broken remains of a cart.

“Warning: Hostile entities detected. Engaging is not recommended without strategy.”

"I wasn’t planning on it," Kira whispered. "But what do I do? They’ll see me if I keep going."

“Option 1: Avoid confrontation by circling the camp. Risk: Low.

Option 2: Engage in combat. Potential rewards: Moderate. Risk: High.”

Kira glanced at his sword. It was heavy and unwieldy, and he was still shaky with casting spells. But if he could get the drop on them...

“Recommendation: Utilize magic to disorient the targets before advancing.”

He nodded, gripping his sword tighter. “Ignis Arcana,” he whispered, aiming a bolt of energy at the fire. The spell exploded, sending embers and smoke flying into the bandits’ faces.

"What the—?!" one of them shouted, coughing.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Kira charged, adrenaline pumping. His first swing missed, but his second caught one bandit in the leg, sending him sprawling. The others regrouped quickly, drawing their weapons.

“Cast again. Focus on control.”

"Right!" Kira cast another Arcane Bolt, knocking a dagger-wielding bandit off balance. But the largest of the group, a scarred man with an axe, barreled toward him.

"Yer dead, kid!"

Kira barely blocked the strike, the force sending him to his knees.

“Emergency Skill Unlocked: Arcane Shield.”

A shimmering barrier formed around Kira just as the axe came down. The blow rebounded, leaving the bandit stunned.

Kira seized the moment, thrusting his sword into the man’s side. The bandit crumpled, and the remaining two fled into the woods.

Panting, Kira stared at his hands. “I... I did it.”

“Combat efficiency: 64%. Significant improvement noted.”

"Yeah, but I almost died. Again."

“And yet, you did not.”

Kira reached Abriddge by mid-morning the next day, his body aching but his resolve hardened. The town was bustling compared to Willowmere, with merchants shouting their wares and adventurers striding confidently through the streets.

"Now what?" he asked the System.

“Locate the Adventurer’s Guild. Register and gather information. Abriddge has connections to higher-level training facilities and key figures in this world’s power structure.”

Kira wandered through the market, marveling at the variety of goods: gleaming weapons, potions bubbling in glass vials, and strange creatures caged for sale.

He finally found the guild—a sturdy stone building adorned with a massive sword-and-shield emblem. Inside, the air buzzed with activity. Adventurers haggled over contracts, while clerks sorted through piles of parchment.

Approaching the counter, Kira hesitated. “Uh, I’d like to register?”

The clerk, a sharp-eyed woman with a quill tucked behind her ear, raised an eyebrow. “New, huh? What rank are you?”

"Rank?"

She sighed. “Figures. You’re starting at the bottom: F-Rank. Don’t expect much work, and don’t get yourself killed.” She handed him a small badge.

“F-Rank registration complete. Objective: Begin acquiring guild reputation.”

Kira’s shoulders slumped. “F-Rank? That sounds terrible.”

“It is a starting point. Growth will follow.”

As Kira turned to leave, a grizzled adventurer approached him. “Hey, kid. You’re new, right? You look like you could use some help.”

Kira hesitated. “What’s the catch?”

The man grinned. “Smart. Come with me. I’ve got a job that’s perfect for a newbie like you.”

The man, who introduced himself as Roran, led Kira to a quieter corner of the guild. “Listen, there’s a ruined temple a few miles east of town. Easy job—just clear out some pests and bring back anything shiny.”

“Pests?” Kira asked, skeptical.

Roran shrugged. “Mostly slimes. Maybe a skeleton or two. Nothing an F-Rank can’t handle.”

Kira glanced at the System window. “Risk assessment: Moderate. Probability of valuable discovery: High.”

"Fine," Kira said. "But if you’re lying about what’s in there..."

Roran laughed. “You’ll do fine, kid. Meet me at the east gate tomorrow morning.”

That night, Kira lay in the cheap inn, staring at the wooden ceiling. The System’s window hovered nearby, its soft glow comforting in the darkness.

“Do you think I’ll ever figure out why I’m here?” he asked quietly.

“Your summoning was irregular. Determining the cause will require more data. For now, focus on surviving and growing stronger.”

"Yeah," Kira whispered. "I guess that’s all I can do."

As sleep claimed him, Kira dreamed of the ruined temple—and the dark shadows that awaited him there.