Ren woke up to the faint morning light filtering through the mouth of the cave. His body ached, but it was a satisfying ache—the kind that told him he was getting stronger. The smell of charred wood from the dying campfire lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy scent of the cave. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and pulled up his status screen to check his progress.
Status:
Strength: 13Agility: 13Magic: 5Health: 160Defense: 7Skill: Adrenaline (Level 2)
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the numbers. Each point, each improvement, felt like a reward for every challenge he'd faced. Not only had he survived, but he was also thriving, gaining power and new skills with every encounter.
Ren closed the status screen and glanced at his hand, flexing his fingers. The pain from losing those fingers yesterday was gone, and to his amazement, they had even regrown, looking as good as new.
"Guess that's one thing I don't have to worry about," he muttered, feeling a rush of relief. Healing here was different from what he was used to—faster, almost surreal. It was yet another reminder that this world followed its own strange rules, like a game but far more intense.
Ren heard a yawn nearby and turned to see his companions waking up, stretching, and blinking in the dim light. They hadn't shared much about themselves yet, but he sensed they all felt the same hunger for survival—and maybe a bit of excitement for whatever powers they'd uncover next.
He got up, dusted himself off, and nodded to the group. "Let's check our gear and get ready. Today, we get stronger."
The others nodded, their expressions filled with determination.
Ren stepped outside the cave, stretching as the crisp morning air hit his face. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since the night before. As he walked through the nearby trees, he spotted a strange-looking apple hanging from a low branch. It seemed to shimmer in the early light, with a faint glow around it—almost magical, like the rare items from the games he used to play. Without thinking much, he picked the apple and tucked it into his pack, figuring he'd examine it later.
He continued wandering, lost in thought, when he saw a figure up ahead. At first, the man seemed ordinary, hunched and staring at the ground. But as Ren drew closer, the man's face lifted, revealing a look of pure bloodlust. A shiver ran down Ren's spine as the man locked eyes with him.
Instinctively, Ren took a step back, but it was too late—the man's expression twisted into a grin, and suddenly, a flash of light exploded around him. Ten identical figures emerged from his body, each moving in perfect sync as they began to circle Ren. Before he could react, the figures all switched places with dizzying speed, surrounding him in a blur of movement.
"Adrenaline, Level 2!" Ren shouted, feeling the surge of power fill his limbs. He lunged at one of the clones, aiming a punch right at its face, but his fist passed through the figure like smoke. Caught off-guard, Ren felt a sharp kick connect with his jaw, sending him sprawling backward. Stars burst across his vision as he hit the ground, pain radiating through his head.
Gritting his teeth, Ren looked up, scanning his attackers. Most looked identical, but his eyes locked onto one with a subtle difference—a flicker of color in his eyes, like he was the real one. Ren leaped up and swung a kick, hoping this was his target, but once again, his foot phased through the figure, throwing him off-balance.
Realizing he couldn't win this fight, Ren made a split-second decision. He turned and bolted into the trees, running away from the cave to keep the others safe. The clones gave chase, their footsteps thundering behind him, but Ren pushed himself harder, weaving through the dense forest until he spotted a glint of water ahead.
Without hesitation, Ren dove into the water, letting the icy rush engulf him as he hit the surface. The impact jolted him, and he felt a stinging pain as his head connected with something sharp beneath the water. Dazed, he watched as blood swirled from the wound, dispersing in dark red tendrils.
As he floated there, barely able to keep his eyes open, a bitter thought crossed his mind. Is this really how it's going to end.
Ren's eyes fluttered open, his mind hazy and his body heavy. He realized he was lying on a soft bed, wrapped in clean blankets—far from the cold forest floor where he'd last been. The room around him was simple but cozy, with wooden walls and a small window letting in soft morning light.
"You're awake," a gentle voice said. Ren turned his head to see a woman seated beside him, carefully applying a bandage to his arm. She looked at him with a mixture of kindness and curiosity.
"Where… where am I?" Ren mumbled, wincing as he shifted.
"You're in my home," she replied, her tone warm and steady. "You were unconscious by the river when I found you. I'm glad I got to you in time."
Ren paused, still piecing together what had happened. His mind flashed back to the clones, the attack, and the blood in the water. He took a deep breath. "Thank you. I… I don't even know how to repay you."
The woman smiled, waving off his gratitude. "I've seen many like you before. Tell me, where are you from?"
Ren hesitated. He could still feel a lingering sense of caution from his encounter with the strange man. "I… I'm from a place far from here," he said slowly. "You wouldn't understand."
To his surprise, the woman simply nodded, as if expecting this answer. "Were you recently summoned here?"
Ren blinked, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait… aren't we all?" he asked, thinking of the others he'd met.
The woman's expression softened. "Not exactly. My mother once told me that every ten years, a portal opens to worlds with the most potential. The system summons only the ones it deems worthy."
Ren frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "And this… this is the last time?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. The tenth and final wave of summons. After this, the portal will close forever."
Ren's gaze fell to his hands, and he noticed with a start that his fingers had grown back completely, strong and flexible as if they'd never been injured. But before he could even marvel at this, the woman continued, her tone turning somber.
"I'm sorry you came at such a time," she said. "This world is on the brink of war. The peace we've known for so long is slipping away."
Ren's face hardened as he absorbed her words. It seemed his challenges were far from over. In this world where strange powers and dangers lurked at every turn, he would have to grow stronger—and fast.