Ethan stood in the center of the ruined temple, his body still trembling from the intensity of the battle. Dust from the shattered remains of the golem settled around him, and the once-glowing symbols on the walls had dimmed. His mind raced, trying to process everything that had just happened. He had beaten the ancient guardian, leveled up, and unlocked a new ability—Mana Infusion. But what did it mean?
The system interface popped up again, flashing new information.
[Congratulations. Major Ability Unlocked: Mana Infusion.]
[Mana Infusion: Channel your mana to temporarily enhance any ability. Current Mana: 20.]
Ethan stared at the interface, excitement bubbling in his chest. Finally, he had access to Mana—the one stat that had remained stubbornly at zero. He scrolled through his stats, noticing the changes:
[Ethan:]
Level: 5
Strength: 7
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 6
Endurance: 7
Mana: 20
The slight boost in strength and endurance was a welcome surprise, but his eyes kept returning to the 20 points in **Mana**. For the first time, he felt the energy pulsing within him, a power he had yet to fully understand. The idea of enhancing his abilities—whether it was Power Strike, Quick Dash, or something new—with mana intrigued him.
Before he could dive deeper into the system, the eerie silence of the temple was broken by a low hum. The walls trembled slightly, and the stone doors at the entrance began to shift. Ethan's heart raced as he turned toward the source of the noise. What now?
The massive doors groaned as they opened wider, revealing a hidden chamber beyond. A soft, ethereal light glowed from within, casting an inviting but mysterious glow.
The system chimed again.
[New quest unlocked: Enter the Hidden Chamber.]
Objective: Discover the secrets within.]
Reward: ???
Ethan swallowed hard. The temple had already thrown a golem at him—he wasn't sure what could be lurking in this new chamber. But if there was one thing he had learned since finding the wristband, it was that every challenge brought new power, and new power meant survival.
He stepped forward cautiously, passing through the giant stone doors. The moment he entered the chamber, the temperature changed. It was warmer, the air filled with the scent of ancient incense and magic. The light grew brighter, revealing an intricately carved stone altar in the center of the room. On top of the altar lay a large, glowing crystal.
Ethan's gaze locked onto the crystal. It pulsed with a faint blue light, its energy radiating through the room. He felt drawn to it, like it was calling out to him, inviting him closer. The system remained quiet, as if waiting for him to act.
He approached the altar, his fingers twitching with anticipation. As he reached out, his hand hovered just above the crystal, the warmth from it almost burning. The moment his fingertips made contact, a shock of energy coursed through his arm, jolting him backward. His vision blurred as the system interface exploded into view, lines of text flashing faster than he could read.
Suddenly, everything went dark.
When Ethan opened his eyes, he was no longer in the temple. He was standing in an endless void, surrounded by nothingness. Panic surged through him, but before he could react, a voice echoed from the emptiness.
"Welcome, player."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. Player?
"You have unlocked the gateway to the true system. You are no longer a mere participant in this world—you are now part of the game."
The voice was deep and resonant, filled with an unsettling authority. Ethan tried to speak, but his voice was lost in the void.
"You have proven your worth by defeating the ancient guardian. But this is only the beginning. The path ahead is filled with greater challenges and even more powerful foes. Only by mastering the system can you hope to survive."
As the voice spoke, a new interface appeared before Ethan's eyes—one far more complex than the simple stats and quests he had seen before. It was layered with icons, skill trees, and levels he hadn't even known existed.
[Game Menu Unlocked.]
[Skill Trees: Available.]
[New Abilities: Discover.]
[Player vs. Player Mode: Locked.]
[World Map: Unlocked.]
Ethan's mind spun. World map? Player versus player? What kind of system was this? He had assumed it was just some kind of leveling mechanism, a tool to help him survive. But now, it seemed like something far more complex—like he was in the middle of an actual game, with rules, objectives, and an unseen force controlling it all.
The voice continued.
"You are not alone, player. Others like you have been chosen. Some will be allies. Others will be enemies. The game has begun, and your role in it is yet to be decided."
Before Ethan could fully grasp what was happening, the void around him began to fade. He felt his body returning to the temple, the warmth of the hidden chamber surrounding him once more. The crystal's glow had dimmed, its power seemingly transferred to him.
He stood there, breathing heavily, trying to process the magnitude of what had just happened. The system wasn't just a tool—it was a game. And he was a player.
[New objective unlocked: Survive and advance through the game.]
[Current goal: Unlock the first skill tree.]
[Reward: Enhanced abilities.]
Ethan clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power from the crystal coursing through him. This changed everything. Whatever this game was, he was now a part of it. The thought was terrifying, but it also filled him with a strange excitement. If this was a game, then there were rules—and Ethan had always been good at figuring out the rules.
He took a deep breath and exited the chamber, the weight of the new quest heavy on his mind. There was no turning back now.
The game had truly begun.