The soft light of dawn crept over the horizon, bathing the meadow in a golden glow. Kazuki awoke with a start, his body still sore from the previous day's encounter with the wolf. He sat up and stretched, wincing as he felt the stiffness in his limbs. Sleeping on the grass, it turned out, wasn't the most comfortable option.
Kazuki glanced around, confirming what he already knew. This wasn't a dream. He was still in the unfamiliar world, and the Genesis System was still active. Yesterday's events played in his mind—the sudden acquisition of combat skills, the fireball that had incinerated the wolf, and the strange feeling of power surging through his veins.
He stood, wiping the dirt and grass from his clothes, and opened his status screen.
---
**Status:**
- **Name:** Kazuki Nakamura
- **Class:** None
- **Level:** 2
- **Health:** 150/150
- **Mana:** 100/100
- **Strength:** 15
- **Agility:** 13
- **Intelligence:** 14
- **Luck:** 10
**Abilities:**
- **Passive Ability:** Genesis Adaptation
- Grants the user access to infinite skill potential. The user can learn any skill, magic, or ability in existence. Skills grow with use.
**Skills:**
- **Basic Combat Arts (Unarmed):** Lvl 1
- **Flame Strike:** Lvl 1
---
He smiled faintly. He'd levelled up after defeating the wolf, which explained the slight boost in his stats. His health and mana had also replenished during the night. It was almost like he lived inside a game, where everything followed RPG mechanics. But despite the familiar setup, this world had a profound sense of realism. The smell of the grass, the sound of the wind—it wasn't a simulation. This was real.
**"Alright,"** he muttered to himself, feeling a surge of determination. **"If I'm going to survive here, I need to get stronger. Fast."**
The Genesis System's chime echoed in his mind as if responding to his thoughts.
> **Suggestion: Seek out combat challenges to increase level and improve skills.**
Kazuki nodded. That made sense. If he wanted to grow, he'd need to fight. But he couldn't wander around aimlessly. He needed to find some form of civilization, somewhere to gather information about this world, and maybe some equipment, too. His hands alone wouldn't cut it for long, even with his newfound strength.
He scanned the horizon, trying to decide where to go. In the distance, he spotted a forest, dark and dense. Beyond that, far in the distance, a faint line of smoke rose into the sky.
**"Smoke means people,"** Kazuki reasoned. **"I'll start there."**
He began walking, his senses alert for any sign of danger. The world around him felt alive with the sounds of nature—birds chirping, insects buzzing, the occasional rustle of leaves. It was peaceful, but Kazuki knew better than to let his guard down. This wasn't the peaceful countryside of Japan. This was a world of monsters and magic.
---
As he entered the forest, the temperature dropped, and the shadows stretched long between the trees. The further he went, the more he felt the weight of the silence. It wasn't the calm, peaceful kind of quiet—this was the kind that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Something was watching him.
Kazuki's hand instinctively went to his side, but of course, he had no weapon. Just his fists and the flame spell. He kept moving, his eyes scanning the trees, his ears straining to catch any sound beyond the crunch of leaves underfoot.
And then, he heard it—a low, guttural growl, deep and resonant. It echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down his spine.
Kazuki stopped, his heart pounding. Slowly, he turned his head, and his eyes locked onto the source of the sound.
Two creatures emerged from the shadows, their black fur blending with the darkness of the forest. They were larger than the wolf from yesterday, their eyes glowing with an unnatural red hue. Their claws scraped against the earth as they stalked toward him, saliva dripping from their bared fangs.
**"Two this time, huh?"** Kazuki muttered, his pulse quickening.
The wolves circled him, their movements synchronized, as if they were hunting together. Kazuki clenched his fists, readying himself for a fight. He needed a strategy—facing two of them at once was different from yesterday. But the Genesis System would help.
> **New Skill Available: Fire Blast (Area Effect Spell).**
Kazuki grinned. The system had his back.
Without wasting time, he thrust both hands forward, calling upon the new spell.
**"Fire Blast!"**
A surge of mana flowed through him, and an explosion of fire erupted from his palms, spreading out in a wide arc. The wolves barely had time to react before they were engulfed in flames, howling in agony as the fire consumed them.
The force of the blast pushed Kazuki back a few steps, but the wolves were worse off. One lay motionless, its body charred beyond recognition. The other limped away, its fur singed, whimpering as it disappeared into the shadows.
Kazuki exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. The fire spells were powerful, but they drained his mana quickly. He opened his status screen to check his remaining resources.
---
**Mana:** 30/100
---
He'd used more than half of his mana with that single attack. That was something he'd have to manage more carefully in the future. But for now, the immediate threat was gone.
> **Enemies defeated. Gained 100 EXP.**
The chime of the Genesis System sounded again, and Kazuki felt a familiar warmth spread through his body. Another level up.
---
**Level:** 3
---
The sensation was addictive, like a rush of adrenaline that left him wanting more. But as much as he wanted to keep fighting, he knew he had to be smart about it. His mana was low, and he didn't want to face another encounter unprepared.
**"Alright, no more messing around,"** he said, taking a deep breath. **"Let's find that village."**
---
After a few more hours of walking, the forest finally gave way to an open clearing. In the distance, Kazuki saw the faint outline of a village nestled between the hills. Relief washed over him as he quickened his pace.
The village was small, no more than a cluster of wooden houses with thatched roofs. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the sound of hammers striking metal echoed through the air. Kazuki approached cautiously, not wanting to alarm anyone with his sudden appearance. He wasn't sure how the people of this world would react to a stranger with powers like his.
As he entered the village, he noticed the residents were going about their daily routines—children playing, blacksmiths working, farmers tending to their fields. It was peaceful, almost idyllic, but something about the place felt off. The villagers moved quickly, their eyes darting nervously as if they were expecting something bad to happen at any moment.
Kazuki approached a nearby man, who was busy loading sacks of grain onto a cart.
**"Excuse me,"** Kazuki called out.
The man looked up, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of Kazuki's unfamiliar attire. **"You're not from around here, are you?"**
**"No, I'm… just passing through,"** Kazuki replied. **"I was wondering if there's an inn or somewhere I can rest for a while."**
The man hesitated, glancing around nervously before speaking. **"There's an inn down the road, but…"** He trailed off, his voice lowering. **"I wouldn't stay here long if I were you. It's not safe."**
Kazuki frowned. **"What do you mean? Is something wrong?"**
The man sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. **"The monsters… They've been getting worse. Attacking the village almost every night. The guards can barely hold them off anymore."**
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. **"Monsters? Like wolves?"**
The man nodded. **"And worse. Things we've never seen before. The elders say it's a bad omen, that something evil is stirring in the forest. We're all just trying to survive."**
Kazuki's mind raced. This village was under siege, and it sounded like things were only getting worse. He wasn't a hero—not yet, anyway—but he couldn't just walk away knowing these people were in danger. Plus, it was a perfect opportunity to grow stronger.
**"I'll take care of it,"** Kazuki said, his voice firm.
The man blinked in surprise. **"You? You don't even have a weapon."**
Kazuki smiled. **"I've got something better."**
---
Later that evening, Kazuki stood at the edge of the village, staring into the darkening forest. The villagers had taken shelter, locking their doors and windows, while the few remaining guards patrolled the perimeter, their faces pale with fear.
Kazuki cracked his knuckles, feeling the familiar surge of mana flow through him.
**"Let's see what these monsters are really made of."**
With that, he stepped into the shadows, ready to face whatever came his way.