"Joel!"
Is someone calling my name...? Just five more minutes...
"JOEL!"
An angry yell abruptly jolted me from my peaceful nap, and I blinked groggily, struggling to regain my bearings. As my bleary vision cleared, the first thing that came into focus was a young woman peering intently at me.
Her almond hair was neatly fashioned into a ponytail, perfectly framing her face, and her toned physique exuded a level of fitness that would make most gymnasts envious. She wore snug, high-waisted leggings and a pristine snow-white sweater that emphasized her collarbone, giving her a sense of style that seemed effortless. Uncharacteristically, she had left her pink glasses at home, allowing her kind amber eyes to shine through with no hindrance.
"Sophie..." I mumbled as I rubbed my eyes.
Craving some well-deserved rest after a demanding day of work, I sought peace in a tranquil park. A wealth of verdant greenery surrounded me, and it provided me with a calming and peaceful atmosphere. The towering pin oaks formed a canopy of shade, their leaves moving quietly in the breeze, and the freshly cut grass created a pleasant mattress for rest. Delicate fountains gushed forth crystal-clear water, adding a touch of serenity to the ambiance, while nearby, the laughter of joyful children echoed from a lively playground.
The irresistible aroma of barbecue drifted through the crisp air, originating from a nearby pavilion, teasing my senses and adding to the pleasant atmosphere. The singing of birds blended with the cheerful discussions of park-goers strolling from one area to another. Surrounded by this picturesque scenery, I found peace as memories of contentment provided me with the comfort and invigoration I desperately needed.
Sophie knitted her eyebrows at my relaxed posture. "Where have you been this entire time? Mr. Reed has summoned us for a new mission."
I let out a small grumble when hearing the word mission. It was something I did not enjoy going through, but I had no other choice.
Two months had passed since the harrowing event known as The Culling, a tragic occurrence that claimed countless lives. I found myself among other bewildered individuals, transported to a colosseum-like setting reminiscent of those found in Italy. A network of doorways stood before us, mysterious portals leading to unknown destinations. The prevailing emotions among us were confusion, anger, and above all, fear.
Perched atop a spiral pillar, an imposing throne commanded attention, and upon it sat an entity that initially appeared human. Yet, a deep intuition within me whispered that this being was far from human, concealing its true nature beneath a deceptive guise. Decorated in a dark fur coat, half of its face concealed by a pointed, white mask reminiscent of a bird-like visage, it emanated an aura of otherworldliness. The mysterious figure was enhanced by its cascading golden locks draped over its shoulders.
The impersonator's eyes met ours, in the same way a rancher studies their livestock. Unpleasant sensations coursed through me, my skin tingling, as though the sight of it was forbidden. It then spoke up, but it was a garbled mess, like static.
"#######!"
Everyone stared at it, baffled. It noticed what had happened and snapped its fingers.
"Ahem! Can you understand me now?"
Its voice had an echo in it, but it had a slight European accent. Its lips weren't moving, but we could clearly hear words coming out of it.
The mysterious figure nodded as he scanned the crowd. "Welcome! My name is... ah, scratch that. You don't need to know it. Just call me Enforcer. I know you all are confused, but do not worry. Rejoice! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given to you by the esteemed pillars!"
It stood up eagerly, with outstretched arms as it smiled at the crowd. We all stayed silent until one of us spoke up.
"Screw you!" a man with gelled growled. A briefcase was grasped in one of his hands and he was wearing a black suit, suggesting that he had just completed getting ready for his office job.
"You think you can pry me away from my family and say all that mumbo jumbo about Enforcers and crap?! Those so-called Pillars can kiss my-"
In a swift motion, the figure on the throne extended a single finger, directing its lethal intent towards the crass individual. In an instant, a horrific explosion erupted, obliterating the man's head with unimaginable force. The gruesome aftermath splattered blood and torn flesh across the nearby onlookers, who stared in horrified disbelief at the lifeless body before them. The atmosphere was charged with terror as the shock hit, and one by one, the collective gasps turned into loud shrieks, a song of agony and panic reverberating through the area.
It wrinkled its nose in disgust. "Now, who does this lowly human think he is? More like was since I had to shut that disgusting mouth of his. Before I continue..."
With a wave of a hand, a large screen was erected in front of our faces, showing satellite footage of the Earth.
"This right here is your planet Earth. And this next one is called Athiens."
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, a new feed materialized before our eyes, revealing a perplexing sight—a planet unfamiliar to us all. At first glance, its resemblance to Earth was striking, with vast landmasses and sprawling bodies of water. However, what captured everyone's attention was the conspicuous anomaly—a distinct region adorned in shades of crimson, a stark departure from the typical blue atmosphere and white clouds that we had come to expect.
"Athiens? Is that a newly discovered planet?"
"I- have never heard of this n-name before..."
"Is it the planet that mysteriously appeared above Earth?"
When the atmosphere was filled with anxiety, a single person in the group had the courage to express the thought that was on everybody's mind, a question that was cloaked in dread and apprehension.
"That's nice and all, but what does that have to do with us?"
The brave soul who summoned the courage to voice the perilous question was a high school student, a resilient, dark-skinned teenager. He was dressed in all gray- with basketball shorts sprouting to his knees and a hoodie.
The Enforcer turned its head slightly at the boy and its lips curled, a tad bit amused. "Thank you for asking such an important question out loud! I was just getting to the good part, so you'll get your answer!"
Another feed was shown of Earth, but what we saw next caused all of us to gasp. There were monsters tearing through screaming adults, elderly, and even children. The creatures possessed maws filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth, capable of piercing through the toughest of materials. Their formidable claws cut through human flesh with a frightening ease, making our vulnerability extremely clear. As they devoured their prey, their jaws snapped with a sickening rhythm, their insatiable hunger epitomized by the macabre feast upon entrails and shattered lives. The scene was so grotesque that I felt like throwing up on the spot, and I wasn't the only one as the sound of puking was heard to my left.
The footage suddenly stopped, and the Enforcer spoke in an excited tone. "That right there is why you humans exist! What you witnessed right now is an event that will happen in the near future. Probably now as we speak! You have been chosen by the esteemed Pillars to fight what you deem as monsters on your home planet. Give yourself a round of applause!"
Even with his happy-go-lucky attitude, not one person was smiling.
"Man, what a tough crowd," it said, sitting back down. "With the development of your civilization, we thought that you humans wouldn't last a mere five years against these terrifying foes, but someone saved you guys' last minute! A load of bullshit if you ask me..."
The disgust in its voice was very apparent.
"I can't get sidetracked now. You all must've realized your bodies are a little different from usual, like, an improved physique?"
What it says is true. After a splitting headache formed, I could feel my body was not what it used to be before, like I was faster and stronger. The ache I would have in my shoulders whenever I woke up was gone and my knees felt good as new.
"Not only are your bodies different, but if you were to say Status out loud, something veeery interesting pops up."
I looked at the figure skeptically. "Status? What does speaking that word do? I'm afraid of finding out... This whole situation is very bizarre, to begin with."
The others around were reluctant to follow the figures' instructions, but soon enough the words Status were being said one by one, and before long there were people interacting with something invisible in front of them.
It smiled insidiously and said, "Don't be shy now everyone! If you don't access the System now and familiarize yourself with it, you will not survive the Stages..."
It took all my strength to suppress the fear bubbling inside of me. Were we practically running to our deaths? Even I know no good comes from this, even if I feel like my youth had returned in all its glory.
Wanting to quell my unease and think of something else, I glanced around at the others. They were already getting familiar with this System, and nothing bad happened to them so far, so I cautiously said the words out loud.
"Status."
A holographic red screen was shown right in front of me with a list I have never seen before.
Name: Joel
Rank: Undecided
Strength:0 Agility:0
Durability:0 Mana:0
Masteries: Body Strengthening Lvl 1
"What the hell is this... What does all of this mean and why are there numbers right next to strength and agility? Also, [Body Strengthening]? Judging by the name, does that mean I can increase my body's strength?"
"You might be wondering: What the hell is this? Well, we thought it would be easier for you to understand if it was gamified. What you're looking at right now is... actually, it's more fun if you figure it out on your own! And now it's time for the last bit! Please draw your attention to the portals to your left!"
It pointed at an array of glowing portals colored differently. They went from red, orange, and yellow, with red being the smallest and yellow the biggest one.
"Each portal you see is classified into a different color and size, signifying its difficulty. Red being the smallest and easiest one and yellow as the most difficult. Every single human here will pick which one they will go through. Once inside, you'll be instructed how to complete The Tutorial. After you are done, I will return you to Earth! Isn't that generous?"
Loud whispers arose from the crowd when hearing those last few sentences.
"We can go home? Just like that?"
"Yea, but we have to complete this tutorial..."
"Obviously, I'm picking the red portal. No one's crazy enough to enter the orange or yellow one."
"Only those who have a few screws loose would go for the yellow portal. The only sane answer would be to join the red portal."
"Oh, there's one more thing I forgot to mention!" said the Enforcer. "When you complete The Tutorial, you earn a reward based on your contribution. The higher the difficulty, the greater the rewards!"
The glint in some people's eyes changed when hearing the word rewards. Moments ago, conversations revolved around taking a cautious approach, but now a transformation took hold. Controversy arose among the group, debating the appeal of the orange and yellow portals. A human's greed is nothing to scoff at if they are promised rewards.
"I'll give you one minute to enter the portals. If I catch any stragglers... well..." He made a cutting motion across the neck, smiling cruelly. "Now then... any questions?"
No one dared to speak, not wanting to anger it.
"No questions? Then, the timer starts now!"
Everyone hastened to the portals, fearful of the consequences should they not comply with the directions. I followed the trail of people going after the red portal. While on my journey to the destination, I observed some individuals heading toward the bright orange light. Just out of curiosity, I turned my head more to see if anyone went inside the yellow one. I thought no one was dumb enough to go through there. Immediately was I was proven wrong. The boy from earlier was standing right in front of the glowing yellow portal. He wore a look of assurance, seemingly oblivious to any kind of fear. Before I realized it, I was pushing through the wave of people, yelling at the boy.
"Hey, you! Are you crazy? Why would you want to go in there?"
Upon my yelling, the boy directed his gaze towards me, his face expressionless. He then returned his focus back to the portal and had one leg inside. I ran up to him and grabbed his arm before he could fully immerse himself.
"I was talking to you, kiddo. I'm trying to sav-"
Before I could finish, an overwhelming force from behind forcefully propelled me forward, abruptly cutting off my words. The world around me blurred in a whirlwind of motion, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself in an entirely unfamiliar realm. Standing in a dense forest, verdant trees stretched as far as the eye could see, creating a canopy of lush greenery that enveloped the surroundings. The soil beneath my feet felt soft and yielded a satisfying crunch with each step while the invigorating scent of flora permeated the air, filling my nostrils with its refreshing essence.
Above me, the sun blazed down with an intense, almost threatening glare, casting a harsh light that seemed to amplify the sweltering heat. A slight wind whispered through the foliage, making the leaves rustle in a peaceful harmony, providing a momentary relief from the oppressive atmosphere. In the distance, a shadow danced across the ground, a silhouette of a creature soaring through the air. Its size surpassed that of any ordinary bird, yet fell short of the grandeur of an airplane, leaving me in awe of the mysterious inhabitants that populated this unfamiliar wilderness.
I took one step forward. "A forest? Where exactly are we?"
"Does it matter?" a sharp voice replied.
Hearing the sudden voice, I turned my head and saw the boy from earlier speaking to me with arms crossed. He had the look of a child who just consumed a sour lemon.
"Why did you follow me inside, old man?"
I knitted my eyebrows at his insult. "Old man? I'm 45, kiddo. Why the hell did you choose the yellow portal? You should've picked the safer options, like the red portal."
The boy clicked his tongue as if I was a bother to him. "Listen here, old man. I don't know if you know what's going on here. All of us getting transported here against our will… that creepy thing which I'm pretty sure wasn't human, and all this magical shit going on? The times have changed, and we must adapt to survive."
"You still didn't answer my question. Why did you choose this portal?"
The boy sighed, clearly annoyed by my line of questioning. "I thought it was obvious. Think about it- if you survive The Tutorial, you earn the rewards. The bigger the challenge, the better the rewards. And judging by that video we saw earlier, it's not a bad idea to aim for a higher benefit."
"But that's IF you survive. You don't know how difficult the challenge is. And how do you know that thing wasn't lying to us?"
The boy opened his mouth. Instead of hearing his voice, an unfamiliar female voice emanated from behind.
"U-Um..."
I turned my head and saw a young brunette with her hair done in a ponytail. The lady seemed like she had just gone out of the gym, wearing a black sport-bra and yoga pants. She looked very nervous and fidgety, scanning her surroundings with crazy eyes. Was she the one who bumped into us?
"I-I don't mean to interrupt, but we should get moving soon. If you look through the S-System... we were given instructions."
"Ah, that's right. I almost forgot what kind of place we were in. This is no time to be arguing."
I brought up the System and saw a message that was not there before.
[Defeat the oncoming wave of enemies. If you were to fail, you die. Please pick your weapon of choice. You have three minutes to choose.]
"A wave of enemies? This doesn't sound good at all. If it's a wave, then we do not know how many there are. Not to mention there are only three of us here..."
Under the message, there was an array of weapons ranging from swords, spears, shields, and even bows. Each weapon had a little picture icon next to the name, probably to make it easier to identify what weapon you'll be choosing. It'd be best If I pick something that's easy to use, regardless of training.
"Hm? Would you look at that!"
In the last slot, there was a weapon that I know I would be most compatible with. In a heartbeat, I raised my hand and tapped on the icon. Seconds later, it appeared in my hand, a double-bladed axe. The weapon felt light in my hand, which is unusual since the axes I used for lumber were heavy. When I turned my attention to the others, they were holding the weapons they chose. The boy held a six-foot spear in his hands while the girl chose what seemed to be gloves with small spikes protruding out of them. I couldn't help but voice some concerns, so I walked up to her.
"Are you sure you want to use that? I think it's better to use a weapon with a longer reach."
I nodded over at the boy who was inspecting the spear silently.
The woman looked away from her gloves. "The other weapons weren't for me. I'm more comfortable with these things since I do a little Kick Boxing on the side."
Taken aback, I stared at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. It was remarkable how quickly her demeanor had shifted from timidity to unwavering confidence. Her unwavering gaze met mine, devoid of any signs of retreat or hesitation. If she was more comfortable with her fists, then I cannot force her to change.
"Okay, I won't try to change your mind. While we're talking, what are your names? Mines Joel."
I stuck my hand out in greeting. She saw what I was going for and grabbed my hand to shake it.
"I'm S-Sophie McKennel. Nice to meet you."
Releasing my grip, I proceeded towards the teenager who was observing us intently.
"And you?"
The boy stabbed his spear into the dirt. Although he was hesitant, he held out his fist, and I returned the favor.
"...Darion Williams."
At least he had enough sense to say his name. I'll have to monitor these two youngsters. Darion seems to be about 15 while the girl is maybe in her early 20s. As an adult, it'll be my responsibility to watch over them and bring them to safety.
As I watched the two, a piercing howl from beyond the thick trees alerted our little group. The trees and the ground shook, and the birds left their nests in a hurry. We covered our ears to block out the noise.
"Christ, that is loud!"
The noise died down, but the ground was still shaking. That could only mean one thing. Something was coming.
"Darion, Sophie! Stick close to me!"
They nodded in agreement, and we all had our backs to each other. We were silent, scanning our surroundings, waiting. The dirt beneath our feet rumbled, increasing in intensity with every second. Not soon after, we heard tree bark splitting in the distance. We all turned our attention toward the sound, and what I saw was distressing. There were many wolves bounding toward us. The thing is, they weren't small; they were actually large, comparable to a brown bear. Short humanoid monsters with green skin and small pointed ears were riding on top of them, weapons in hand.
"There's no way we can fight that... We are at a disadvantage! If we were to stay here, we will surely die."
"Hey, old man, look over there."
Darion was pointing at a small crag at the edge of the forest. Small boulders littered the path.
"We can fight them at that cliff over there with the terrain advantage."
As Darion said, not all of them would be able to circle us, and only a few would reach us at a time. Protecting one front is better than being surrounded by a ring of enemies, especially in a forest as tightly packed as this!
"Let's not waste any time! Let's hurry!"
We all ran with all our might to the crag.
****
The relentless pursuit of the wolf riders persisted, their presence looming ominously just moments behind us. Aware of the imminent danger, we seized the fleeting time to gather ourselves and make the preparations. Directly ahead, a formidable barrier of boulders stood tall, offering a potential defense against our pursuers. It presented itself as an obstacle, yet also a strategic advantage. Behind it, a treacherously steep but wide precipice awaited, a perilous jump that none of us would likely survive if we were to attempt it. A rapid analysis of our choices revealed that the most practical route was to stay put and confront the upcoming battle directly.
"Since they will have a hard time getting over these rocks together, they will most likely come one by one. We'll use that chance to pick them off. Darion, use your long reach to your advantage and inflict damage upon the wolves once they leap over the boulders. Sophie, if those green riders decide to climb over, you pick them off. I'll be the clean-up in case anything goes bad. Got it?"
"Y-yes, sir!" Sophie squeaked.
"Understood," Darion said.
Our group huddle was broken when the first wolf rider arrived. It tried jumping over the small boulders, but Darion was ready. With a stab to the head, he caused the wolf to drop the green creature. Sophie rushed over and delivered a powerful kick to the head just before it could rise. Fragments of its head scattered along the line of rocks.
I whistled in amazement. "Damn you're strong!"
She gave me a thumbs up and retreated to her original position. It was a good choice to leave her be! This time, more wolves were hopping over. Darion was having trouble stabbing them all, so I gave him some help. I gripped the axe tightly, and with a wide swing, sliced the stomach of one of the wolves. It yelped in pain but was put out of its misery.
"Sorry, but you leave me no choice... it's either my life or yours."
We continued this pattern of stabbing and slicing the wolves and Sophie punching and kicking the green creatures until something unusual happened. More and more wolves were hopping over, but the riders were nowhere to be seen. Darion noticed it too, but was too busy stabbing away to speak. When I looked to see how Sophie was doing, the missing group encircled her.
"J-Joel! I need a little help over here!"
She was evading spears and sword strikes while retaliating.
"Don't worry, I'm on my way!"
Believing that Darion would be all right by himself, I quickly ran to Sophie. Before a goblin could stab her from behind, I swung my axe high and cleaved its small body in half. We stood with our backs together, fighting the large group off.
"Watch your left!"
On my command, she shifted her body to the right and blew another creature's head off. One of them saw that opportunity to attack, but Sophie was ready. The Kick Boxer spun her body around the small creature and counterattacked with a fierce elbow to the noggin. After killing a bit more, I finally finished dispatching the ones on my side. I was now sweating buckets and my red flannel was drenched.
"Whew, there's that. Keep doing what you're doing while I go help Darion!"
Not even waiting for a reply, I left the woman by herself. I thought Darion would need my help now, but was proven wrong. He was encountering some difficulty due to the throng of gigantic wolves, however; he seemed to do okay. A large pile of corpses lie around him- wolves and humanoids alike. From my point of view, the corpses formed a ring around like an offering, and that offering summoned the god of death… Has he had training with the spear, or does he have a knack for fighting?
He noticed I was staring and pointed behind me while fighting. I looked to see what he was pointing at. I had to do a double take when a wolf somehow broke through our defenses and was barreling my way, snarling like a ferocious beast. Cursing at my foolishness, I raised my axe to swing at it, but I was too late as the immense body of flesh toppled over me. It growled and tried to tear my head off, its drool showering my face. Its maw grew closer to where its stench stung my nose, a mix of raw meat and musk.
"Hey, old man! Hold on a little more until I finish on my end!"
"I'm almost done here, Joel!"
Different plans raced through my mind as I figure out what to do. This wolf was stronger than I was, and before long, it'll overpower me and feast on my corpse. If I want to throw it off, I'll have to either hold on until Darion and Sophie get here, or I'll have to overpower it…
"Wait, that's it..."
An idea came to mind. Back then, when I was looking through my Status, there was a masteries section, and it contained [Body Strengthening]. If it's what I think it means, then...
Just like that, my muscles filled with power and expanded almost comically, and the beast on top of me felt easier to lift. With a grunt, I rose unsteadily from my spot while holding its jaws firmly with one arm. The wolf was visibly confused about my newfound strength. I took that chance to wrap my arm around it, and with swift movements, snapped its neck. A loud crack soon followed. Its body fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Sophie and Darion lumbered over to me, all bloody and breathing heavily.
"How did you manage to lift that thing up?" Sophie asked.
Staring at my hands, I said, "Well, I just thought of using [Body Strengthening] and my strength rose substantially…"
"Was it a mastery?" Darion mumbled.
I waved them off before they could ask any more questions. "Forget about that. Was that all the monsters? I don't hear or see anymore."
A once-gray crag now bore witness to a grisly tableau, painted in rose-red and emerald. The intense battle between our gathering and the wolf riders, in conjunction with the savage humanoid beings, had left behind a shocking display of destruction. The blood of the defeated covered the rough terrain, producing gruesome designs that illustrated the intense battle that had occurred.
During the chaos, a lone wolf teetered on the precipice, its fate dangling by a precarious thread. Its desperate struggle to maintain balance epitomized the imminent downfall that awaited it, a consequence of the relentless combat that had unfolded on the edge of the cliff. Nearby, a heap of lifeless bodies formed a morbid pile, reminiscent of a pyre, as if paying a twisted homage to the fallen combatants. Among the lifeless figures, some of the humanoid creatures bore the unmistakable mark of decapitation, an act that carried a chilling signature - one that seemed to belong to Sophie, an embodiment of her fierce prowess and lethal precision.
Sophie glanced around the battlefield, her shoulders trembling. "I-I think so... ah look!"
Looking up at the sky, there was something floating in the air. It was the Enforcer. It lowered itself until we were in earshot and was clapping.
"Congratulations on completing The Tutorial! I'm amazed that you three survived! I had my bets set on you guys perishing in the first five minutes, but I was wrong."
Darion was glaring daggers at the superpowered individual. "I don't care about your betting. What about the rewards you promised earlier?"
"Yes, the reward. I haven't forgotten about it."
The Enforcer snapped its fingers, and a blue screen appeared.
[Congratulations on completing The Tutorial. Please choose your reward!]
[+5 In all stats]
[Grade Yellow Mystery Item]
[Level up mastery of your choice]
I grumbled inwardly at the rewards. Why do I feel like I'm getting scammed? Only one of these is appealing, and it's the increase in stats. Why would I gamble on a good item which probably wouldn't even be good or useful? Not to mention, I only have one mastery and it's the worst option out of the three.
I tapped on the first option, ignoring the rest. A rush of power filled my muscles and bones. The same feeling I received when I activated my mastery. I could already feel the effects of my body growing stronger.
The Enforcer bobbed its head as it peered at us one by one. "I see that you humans have chosen. I will now begin teleporting you back to your dear Earth..."
Without a chance to voice our thoughts or voice any inquiries, an unknown power drew us one by one towards the emerging portal.
****
Sophie was waving a hand in front of my face while I stared at the clouds with a dazed look. "Are you zoning out again, Joel?"
Sophie's voice had me snap back to reality. "Sorry Sophie, I was just remembering what happened in the past..."
"Are you talking about The Tutorial we experienced with Darion? We shouldn't be thinking about that now. We have to talk to Mr. Reed. The car is waiting for us."
"Right, right..."
I got up from the cold grass and walked with Sophie toward the front of the park. Many of the residents here caught a glimpse of us strolling by and waved. I gave them a small smile and waved back as we followed along the smooth concrete pathway. When we arrived at the front gate, there was someone waiting for us in front of the vehicle.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Parker, Miss. McKennel."
The person who greeted us was the assistant of Mr. Reed- Jared. He wore a gray suit with thin-rimmed glasses adjured on his pointed nose. His dirty blonde hair was noticeably gelled, and he had sky-blue eyes that radiated poise and dignity. Apparently, he and Mr. Reed go way back.
"The Head of the Department of Mythical Affairs awaits."