Kai's heart raced in his chest as he stood over the fallen goblin, his breath ragged, sweat stinging his eyes. The forest was eerily silent now, the only sound being the pounding of his pulse in his ears. He couldn't let his guard down, not yet. Two goblins remained, and though they had faltered after witnessing his unexpected strength, they weren't done with him. He could feel their hunger, the ferocity in their eyes, and the only thing keeping him alive was his sheer will to survive.
The goblins circled him, their movements slower now, more cautious, as if they'd realized that Kai wasn't the easy prey they had assumed. His body was aching from the fight, the wound in his side burning with every breath, but he couldn't afford to think about the pain. The memory of the first goblin's attack still lingered, and the fear of death crept back into his mind, even as the strange surge of energy pulsed through him.
He tightened his grip on the stick, the simple weapon feeling more like a lifeline than anything else. His hands were trembling, but he wasn't about to give up. Not now. Not after everything.
The goblins shifted, their eyes never leaving him. He could see the conflict in their expressions, the hesitation before they lunged again. They were predators, but they weren't sure how to deal with him now. He wasn't the weakling they thought he was.
Kai took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaking hands. His mind raced as he analyzed the situation. He wasn't trained for combat. He didn't even know how to fight properly. What the hell was he supposed to do?
Then the System's voice echoed in his mind, breaking his focus.
---
System Alert:
Quest Progress:
Objective: Survive the Forest Encounter. Defeat 5 Goblins.
Goblin Kills: 2/5
---
It was a simple notification, but it served as a reminder of the reality he was trapped in. The goblins hadn't finished their assault, and he still had three more to take down. The weight of it all pressed down on him like a heavy stone, but Kai wasn't going to back down. He couldn't.
Without warning, the first goblin lunged, its dagger gleaming in the dim light. Kai swung his stick with all the force he could muster, connecting with the goblin's arm. The creature screeched in pain, stumbling back, its dagger slipping from its grasp. Kai's heart hammered in his chest as he took the opportunity to follow up with a swift strike to its chest.
The goblin let out a gurgling scream and crumpled to the ground, its body twitching in the final moments of life.
---
Quest Progress:
Objective: Survive the Forest Encounter. Defeat 5 Goblins.
Goblin Kills: 3/5
---
Kai stood there, panting, staring at the goblin's lifeless form. He had done it. He had actually taken one down. The fear that had threatened to overwhelm him moments ago began to subside, replaced by a surge of adrenaline. He wasn't just a bystander in his own life anymore. He was fighting—he was winning.
But as he wiped the sweat from his brow and turned his attention to the final goblin, something strange happened. A faint glow flickered in the corner of his vision, followed by a sudden burst of cold air. His thoughts froze as a new window appeared in front of him, one that was impossible to ignore.
---
System Alert:
Welcome, Kai.
The System has recognized your participation in the world of Arktara. To better assist you, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the basic functions of the System.
---
A soft, almost mechanical voice echoed in Kai's mind. He blinked, confused, as the notification continued.
---
System Basic Tutorial:
1. Stats: Your stats represent your physical and mental capabilities. The following stats are available to you:
HP: Your health. Once this reaches 0, you will be incapacitated or die.
Strength: Your physical power. Determines how much damage you can deal in combat.
Dexterity: Your agility and speed. Influences your ability to dodge attacks and react swiftly.
Endurance: How much damage you can take before being overwhelmed.
Mana: Your energy pool for skills and abilities.
2. Skills: As you level up, you will unlock new skills based on your actions and experiences. These skills can be active or passive and will be critical to your survival and growth.
3. Protagonist Rank: Achieve this rank to return to your original world. Completing quests, training, and surviving will earn you Protagonist Points. These points will contribute to your rank and unlock new abilities.
4. Training: To level up, you must train in various fields—combat, survival, gathering, and more. You can unlock new abilities and increase your stats by completing these tasks.
5. Quests: Your quests are your path to growth. Some are mandatory, while others will help you explore the world. Completing them will reward you with experience, items, and more.
---
Kai's head spun as the information flooded his mind. Protagonist Rank? What the hell was that? He didn't want to be part of some stupid game. He didn't even know how to use this "System," let alone care about leveling up or completing quests.
He tried to ignore the message, focusing instead on the final goblin that remained. But the System wasn't done with him. Another notification popped up, this time with a mandatory task attached.
---
System Alert:
First Mandatory Task:
Objective: Gather 10 Healing Herbs from the nearby forest.
Reward: 50 XP, +1 Endurance, +1 Dexterity.
---
Kai groaned inwardly, his frustration mounting. Was this what he had to deal with now? A bunch of tasks and stats that didn't mean anything to him? He had never been interested in fighting or leveling up. He was just a lazy Otaku, stuck in a world he didn't understand, forced to do things that didn't matter. He just wanted to go home.
The goblin before him snarled, snapping Kai out of his reverie. It was still circling, waiting for an opening. But Kai didn't feel like fighting anymore. He didn't want to train, level up, or do whatever the System wanted him to do. He just wanted to survive.
Before he could act on that thought, the System's voice returned, more insistent now.
---
System Alert:
Warning: Failing to comply with mandatory training tasks will result in severe penalties. Your survival depends on it.
---
Kai froze. Penalties? What kind of penalties? He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. But the ominous tone in the System's voice made him hesitate. He couldn't afford to fail, not with the goblins still around, and not with the weight of the System looming over him.
The goblin charged at him, and Kai instinctively raised the stick to block. The blow landed, but this time, it didn't feel as if his body was reacting on its own. The fear and hesitation that had once paralyzed him were gone, replaced with a cold resolve. The strange energy coursing through him was real—whether he liked it or not.
He swung the stick again, this time with more focus, more precision. The goblin staggered, and he followed through with a quick jab, knocking the creature to the ground.
---
Quest Progress:
Objective: Survive the Forest Encounter. Defeat 5 Goblins.
Goblin Kills: 5/5
---
Kai stood over the final goblin, panting heavily, his chest heaving. He felt… different. Stronger. Not just physically, but mentally. The fight had unlocked something in him, something he hadn't expected. He didn't want to care about this world, about the System or the quests, but something had shifted.
The System's voice echoed in his mind again, this time congratulating him.
---
System Alert:
Quest Complete. Reward: 50 XP, +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity.
---
Kai barely registered the words. His body was covered in sweat, blood, and dirt, but he had done it. He had survived. He had defeated the goblins, and now, something had changed. He didn't feel as helpless as he had when he first woke up here. Maybe there was something more to this world, something that he didn't fully understand yet.
But one thing was clear: He was in this whether he liked it or not. And if he wanted to survive, he would have to face the System's demands.
---
Kai barely registered the words. His body was covered in sweat, blood, and dirt, but he had done it. He had survived. He had defeated the goblins, and now, something had changed. He didn't feel as helpless as he had when he first woke up here. Maybe there was something more to this world, something that he didn't fully understand yet.
But one thing was clear: He was in this whether he liked it or not. And if he wanted to survive, he would have to face the System's demands.
Kai wiped his brow, his muscles sore from the fight, but the sense of accomplishment that followed the defeat of the last goblin felt strange—alien, even. He stared down at the creature's lifeless body, its eyes still wide with shock, its mouth agape. The blood stained the earth around him, but it felt surreal, as if the world had taken on a dreamlike quality. His hands, still clutching the stick, were shaking—not just from exertion, but from the realization of what had just happened.
The System's voice echoed in his mind once again, more matter-of-fact this time.
---
System Alert:
Congratulations, Kai.
You have unlocked your Protagonist Rank.
Protagonist Rank: This rank is a measure of your potential. It is your gateway back to your original world. Achieving milestones will unlock additional powers, abilities, and access to new quests. However, be warned—if you fail to meet the System's demands, you risk being trapped here forever.
---
The words took a moment to sink in. Kai had unlocked a Protagonist Rank? What did that even mean? And why was there a mention of being trapped? His thoughts spun in a blur as the reality of the situation hit him again. This wasn't just some random quest. This was his new life, whether he liked it or not.
The System's voice returned, adding more pressure to his already overwhelmed mind.
---
System Alert:
First Mandatory Task:
Objective: Gather 10 Healing Herbs from the nearby forest.
Reward: 50 XP, +1 Endurance, +1 Dexterity
Penalty for Failure: The penalty for failure to complete your task is a reduction in Protagonist Rank and loss of your current rewards. Your survival will also be at risk.
---
Kai groaned inwardly, his frustration bubbling up within him. Was this what he had to deal with now? A bunch of tasks and stats that didn't mean anything to him? He had never been interested in fighting or leveling up. He was just a lazy Otaku, stuck in a world he didn't understand, forced to do things that didn't matter. He just wanted to go home.
The goblin before him snarled, snapping Kai out of his reverie. It was still circling, waiting for an opening. But Kai didn't feel like fighting anymore. He didn't want to train, level up, or do whatever the System wanted him to do. He just wanted to survive.
Before he could act on that thought, the System's voice returned, more insistent now.
---
System Alert:
Warning: Failing to comply with mandatory training tasks will result in severe penalties. Your survival depends on it.
---
Kai froze. Penalties? What kind of penalties? He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. But the ominous tone in the System's voice made him hesitate. He couldn't afford to fail, not with the goblins still around, and not with the weight of the System looming over him.