Stepping through the swirling portal, anticipation and trepidation warred within William. The world twisted and contorted, a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors and sensations. Then, just as suddenly, the disorientation vanished.
Solid ground. The portal shimmered behind him like a mirage. William found himself in a dense, primeval forest, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and unfamiliar vegetation. Towering trees, their trunks thicker than any he had seen before, stretched towards the sky, their branches forming a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight into an emerald twilight.
The same hill overlooking the future site of Willow Creek, yet utterly different. No village, no sign of human habitation. Only the untamed wilderness stretching as far as the eye could see. This was Aethel in its raw, primordial state, a land untouched by civilization.
Wonder mixed with apprehension. A stranger in a strange land, a visitor from a future that hadn't yet been written. William quickly checked his system status, a new sense of urgency gripping him.
Name: William Velmont
Level: 3
Class: None
Attributes:
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 16
Mana: 11
Skills:
Chrono Shift (SSS-Rank): Allows the user to open a portal to a specific point in the past. (Details Unlocked)
[Time Remaining: 5 hours, 57 minutes] [You are still learning how to use your SSS skill, so you cannot remain in this realm forever. You have 6 hours before being pulled back to the initial location of the portal.]
Six hours. Not much time. He had to make the most of it.
Sword drawn, the familiar weight reassuring in his grip, William ventured into the dense undergrowth, senses on high alert. The forest was alive with the sounds of unseen creatures, their calls a strange chorus of chirps, growls, and hisses.
A low growl rumbled through the undergrowth, and a pair of glowing eyes fixed on him from the shadows. A large wolf, its fur the color of twilight, emerged from the thicket, its fangs bared in a silent snarl.
William's grip tightened on his sword, his heart pounding. He circled the wolf, trying to gauge its intentions. The wolf mirrored his movements, muscles coiled, ready to spring.
With a sudden burst of speed, the wolf lunged. William reacted instinctively, raising his sword to parry the attack. But the wolf was faster than he anticipated. Sharp fangs grazed his arm, tearing through his tunic and drawing a thin line of blood. Pain flared, but William gritted his teeth and countered with a swift thrust, his blade finding its mark, sinking deep into the wolf's flank.
The wolf yelped, its attack faltering. William pressed his advantage, his sword a whirlwind of steel. He ducked a desperate snap of the wolf's jaws, then lunged again, his blade finding its mark, piercing the creature's heart.
The wolf collapsed with a final whimper. William stood over his fallen foe, his breath coming in ragged gasps, blood dripping from his wounded arm. He had faced a predator in its own domain and emerged victorious, but not unscathed.
A surge of power coursed through him, and the familiar blue screen flashed in his vision.
[You have slain a Twilight Wolf!]
[You have gained 150 EXP!]
[Level Up!]
Adrenaline pumping, William pressed on, his confidence bolstered by his victory. He wasn't just a skinny kid anymore. He was a survivor.
A pack of wild dogs burst from the undergrowth, their snarls echoing through the trees. They were lean and hungry, their eyes burning with a feral intensity. William fought with a ferocity he hadn't known he possessed, his sword a blur of motion, his movements a dance of death. He parried snapping jaws, dodged lunging bodies, and countered with swift, precise strikes.
One of the dogs managed to sink its teeth into his leg, tearing through his trousers and drawing blood. Pain shot through him, but he refused to falter. He kicked the dog off, sending it sprawling, then finished it with a swift thrust of his sword.
[You have slain a Wild Dog!]
[You have gained 100 EXP!]
[Level Up!]
He pressed on, his movements growing more fluid, his strikes more powerful. He was adapting, learning, becoming a true warrior.
A monstrous boar, its tusks gleaming like ivory daggers, emerged from the thick undergrowth, its enraged snorts shaking the very ground. William dodged its charges, his agility proving invaluable as he weaved through the trees, narrowly avoiding the creature's deadly tusks. He drew his bow, his arrows finding their mark in the beast's thick hide.
The boar roared in pain, its attacks becoming more frenzied. William felt a searing pain as one of its tusks grazed his leg, tearing through his flesh. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain, and loosed another arrow. This one found its mark, piercing the boar's eye and sinking deep into its brain.
The boar stumbled, its massive body crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud.
[You have slain a Forest Behemoth!]
You have gained 300 EXP!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
He battled a giant spider, its venomous fangs dripping with a deadly concoction. He danced around its silken webs, his sword flashing, severing limbs and finally ending the creature's reign of terror. But not before its fangs grazed his shoulder, sending a jolt of burning poison through his veins.
He staggered, his vision blurring, but he managed to stay on his feet, finishing the spider with a desperate thrust of his sword.
[You have slain a Venomous Webspinner!]
[You have gained 200 EXP!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
William collapsed against a tree trunk, his body battered and bruised, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He had faced the dangers of this ancient world and emerged victorious, but the battles had taken their toll.
He was exhausted, wounded, and his body throbbed with pain. But he had also gained seven levels, his strength and agility soaring, his stamina and mana reserves significantly increased. But William felt a surge of power he had never experienced before, a newfound confidence in his abilities.