Ethan Cross had always thought of himself as just another cog in the machine. Every day was the same: wake up to the blaring sound of his alarm, chug down a hastily made cup of coffee, and endure a long commute to an office where he spent his hours staring at spreadsheets. He lived for the weekends, but even those fleeting moments of freedom were usually wasted in front of the TV, hoping that maybe, just maybe, things could change.
But change, as it turned out, rarely came gently. It didn't knock on his door with an invitation; instead, it barreled in, crashing into his life with a force that he could never have predicted.
The day had begun like any other—overcast skies, a hint of drizzle, and Ethan struggling to keep his eyes open during the bus ride to work. He had his headphones in, drowning out the noise of the bustling city with soft, soothing music. As he stepped off the bus, he barely registered the sound of tires skidding on wet asphalt, the shriek of brakes failing.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. He turned his head just in time to see a car, its headlights glaring like the eyes of a beast. It came barreling toward him, out of control, and in that brief moment, all Ethan could think about was the absurdity of it. Is this really how it ends? A life defined by routine, extinguished by something as mundane as a car accident?
The impact was sudden, and then there was nothing but darkness. He couldn't feel pain, couldn't see, couldn't hear. Time ceased to have meaning, and he felt as though he was drifting in a void—a vast nothingness that seemed to stretch on for eternity.
Then, just as suddenly as it had gone, sensation returned. Not pain, but warmth. Ethan opened his eyes, blinking against the blinding light. He tried to move, feeling a strange sensation beneath him—grass, soft and damp, cushioning his body. The smell of earth and something unfamiliar filled his senses. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding as he looked around.
This wasn't the city. This wasn't anywhere he recognized.
Towering trees loomed above him, their branches intertwined to form a canopy that let just enough sunlight through to cast dancing patterns on the forest floor. Strange birdcalls echoed in the distance, and the rustling of leaves suggested that he wasn't alone. Panic began to build in Ethan's chest as he struggled to piece together what had happened.
Am I dead? The thought crossed his mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly. No, this felt too real. He could feel the cool breeze, the dampness of the ground, the weight of his own body. He was alive, but this was certainly not the world he knew.
Suddenly, he felt something—a presence in his mind, like a whisper that wasn't quite a voice. He instinctively reached up, touching his head as if that might explain the strange feeling. And then he heard it, clear and undeniable.
"Initializing... Welcome, user. You have been granted access to the All-Purpose Growth System. Please complete initial setup."
The words resonated inside his mind, as if someone had just spoken directly to his thoughts. Ethan's breath caught, and his confusion only grew. What the hell is going on? He looked around again, half-expecting to see some kind of prankster with a loudspeaker hiding in the bushes. But the forest remained still, and there was no one else in sight.
A flickering screen suddenly appeared in front of his eyes, almost like a hologram. It was semi-transparent, with a set of prompts glowing faintly in an otherworldly blue. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and it was still there—floating just inches away. He reached out to touch it, but his fingers passed through the light without resistance.
"Welcome to the All-Purpose Growth System. Please select your initial specialization."
Ethan stared, baffled. His mind reeled as he read the words again, trying to understand what they meant. It looked like something straight out of a video game. Specialization? Growth System? This didn't make any sense. But as he stood there, the screen stayed persistent, waiting for his response.
With his heart pounding, Ethan decided to play along. He scrolled through the options, each one more bewildering than the last.
Warrior. Mage. Scout. Artisan.
Is this some kind of joke? He thought. But as surreal as it seemed, there was an undeniable part of him that felt... intrigued. If this was a dream, it was the most vivid one he had ever experienced. And if it wasn't a dream, then what other choice did he have but to adapt? After all, he'd always felt trapped in his old life, boxed in by the mundane. Maybe this was a second chance—a chance to be something more than just an office worker.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan selected Warrior. Immediately, he felt a strange warmth spread through his body, a rush of energy that seemed to infuse his very being. The screen changed, displaying new information—stats, attributes, abilities. Strength, Agility, Vitality… All things that made him feel like he had just stepped into an RPG.
"Specialization confirmed. Initial abilities unlocked."
He felt a shift, a deep and undeniable sense of change within him, like a switch had been flipped. He clenched his fists and felt power coursing through his veins—a strength that had never been there before. He looked down at his hands, flexing them, marveling at the sensation. It was as if his body had been redefined, enhanced beyond anything he had ever known.
Suddenly, a rustling sound drew his attention. The bushes to his right shivered, and Ethan turned just in time to see a pair of glowing eyes staring back at him. His heart skipped a beat. The creature—whatever it was—stepped forward, revealing a wolf-like form, but much larger, with thick, black fur and a set of jagged teeth that glinted in the dappled sunlight.
Instinctively, Ethan took a step back, his mind racing. He could feel his pulse pounding in his ears, the sudden rush of adrenaline coursing through him. The system's screen popped up again, and this time, it displayed a new prompt:
"New Quest: Survive the Encounter. Reward: Growth Points."
Ethan's breath hitched. This was no dream. Whatever this was, it was very real. The wolf snarled, crouching as if preparing to pounce. Ethan had no weapon, no experience, and no time to think. He only had his instincts—and whatever power this strange system had given him.
The wolf lunged, and Ethan moved. He didn't know how, but his body reacted, faster than it ever should have been able to. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the creature's teeth, and felt a surge of energy as he lashed out with his fist. The blow connected, and to his astonishment, the wolf staggered back, yelping in pain.
"Skill Unlocked: Basic Strike."
The system's notification flashed before him, but Ethan barely had time to process it. The wolf recovered, its eyes filled with fury. It lunged again, and this time Ethan was ready. He ducked low, drove his shoulder into the creature's side, and with all the strength he could muster, shoved it off balance. The wolf tumbled, crashing into the underbrush with a pained howl.
Ethan stood there, panting, his heart racing. He could hardly believe what had just happened. He—a guy who had never been in a fight in his life—had just fended off a wolf. He looked down at his hands again, still trembling, but now with a sense of exhilaration. He wasn't the same person who had stepped off that bus just hours ago. Something had changed, and as terrifying as it was, it was also thrilling.
For the first time in his life, Ethan felt truly alive. And as he looked out into the vast, mysterious forest, he knew one thing for certain—there was no turning back. Whatever this world was, whatever challenges it held, he was ready to face them.
Because now, he had the power to change his fate.