As Zoruto stared at the glowing screen, his mind raced with questions. The screen listed strange details about him:
Name: Zoruto
Level: 1
Elements Unlocked: 1
Mana: 4
Dragon Redemption: 0
He blinked a few times, struggling to understand what was happening. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, leaning back in disbelief. It felt like he had suddenly been thrust into a game or something far beyond his comprehension.
"Level 1? Mana? Dragon Redemption?" He scrolled through the screen with a mix of curiosity and confusion. None of it made sense. His life had never been this complicated—until the meteor crash.
Zoruto tried to rationalize what he was seeing. "Is this... another side effect of the meteor? Is it real? Or am I imagining things?"
The idea that his life had turned into some sort of game was ridiculous. But then again, nothing had been normal since the crash. The speed of his recovery, the strange symbol on his hand, the sudden strength he had noticed earlier—all of it pointed toward something far from ordinary.
He noticed a "Skills" tab on the screen and hesitated before opening it. The list was almost empty, except for a single entry:
Elemental Control - Air: Level 1
"Air control?" Zoruto whispered to himself.
Before he could think further, the screen flickered, and a new message appeared: New Quest unlocked: Level Up your first element.
Zoruto's heartbeat quickened. "A Quest" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is this some kind of test?"
He closed the screen with a thought, surprised at how intuitive the interaction felt. Standing up, Zoruto glanced at the symbol on his hand again. He focused, trying to recall how it had triggered the screen.
"Master the element of air, huh?" He clenched his fist. "If this is real, then I need to learn how to use it. No more waiting around."
Determined, Zoruto decided to test out his newfound powers. He left the house and made his way to an isolated area in the city—a quiet park where he could train without drawing attention. As he arrived, the moon was high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the empty space.
Taking a deep breath, Zoruto stretched out his hand, focusing on the symbol. At first, nothing happened, but after a few moments, he felt a faint breeze swirl around him. It was barely noticeable, but it was there.
"Okay... that's a start," he muttered, concentrating harder.
The breeze grew stronger, whipping around him with increasing intensity. Zoruto smiled. He had control—at least, a little. The power was raw and unfamiliar, but it was his.
As he practiced, the night grew darker, and Zoruto's control over the air element began to strengthen. Each gust of wind responded to his will, flowing with his movements. He experimented, feeling the rush of excitement as he pushed his limits.
But just as he was beginning to enjoy the progress, a strange sensation washed over him. A shadow flickered at the edge of the park, catching his attention. Zoruto's instincts kicked in, and he immediately stopped his training, scanning the area.
The air around him suddenly felt heavier, colder. It was as if the atmosphere had shifted.
"Who's there?" Zoruto called out, his voice steady but laced with caution.
No response. The shadow moved again, slithering along the ground like a snake. Zoruto's eyes widened. This was no ordinary shadow—it felt... alive.
Without thinking, he raised his hand, calling upon the air once more. A powerful gust shot forward, slicing through the night and scattering the shadow into pieces. But just as quickly, it reformed, swirling back into place.
Zoruto's heart pounded in his chest. "What is that thing?"