The last thing Kai remembered was the blinding flash of light and the deafening roar of thunder.

One moment, he was standing in his apartment in the city, typing away at his computer, the low hum of traffic outside his window blending with the monotony of his life. The next, a surge of energy erupted from the screen, engulfing him in a sea of white light. His body felt weightless, as if suspended in time, and then—nothing.

Now, as his consciousness slowly returned to him, the first thing he noticed was the ground beneath him. The dirt was damp, cool to the touch, and smelled faintly of moss. The air was thick with the scent of trees and earth, far different from the sterile, concrete smell of his city. His head spun, and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze clouding his thoughts.

"Where am I?" Kai muttered, pushing himself up from the ground. His limbs were stiff, his body heavy with fatigue. He had no memory of how he got here—no recollection of the instant he'd been ripped from his world.

The world around him was nothing like the familiar streets of his city. Towering trees with thick, green foliage stretched into the sky, their branches twisted in unnatural shapes. The air shimmered with the subtle heat of an unfamiliar energy. There was a faint hum in the atmosphere, a vibration that resonated deep within his chest.

As he stood, attempting to orient himself, a screen flickered to life in front of him.

[System Activated. Welcome to Aetherion.]

Kai froze. The words on the screen hung in the air as if suspended by invisible threads, their presence both surreal and undeniable. His heart raced as he scanned the message.

[System: Initiating User Interface.]

With a soft ping, the screen expanded, revealing a series of icons and options that seemed to float in mid-air, much like the text. His gaze narrowed as he took in the strange interface.

[User: Kai]

[Location: Unknown]

[Mission: Survive. Uncover the Truth.]

Kai rubbed his eyes, certain he was hallucinating. "What the hell...?" he muttered.

The screen flickered again, and a new message appeared.

[You have been selected as the new Guardian of Aetherion. You will receive attributes that will shape your destiny. Use them wisely.]

"Guardian?" Kai whispered under his breath, his mind racing. What did this mean? Why was he chosen? And why was he here?

Before he could gather his thoughts, a sudden jolt of pain shot through his head, like a lightning strike directly into his skull. He staggered back, groaning in agony. His vision blurred, the screen before him distorting.

[Attribute Acquisition: Strength +1]

[Attribute Acquisition: Agility +1]

[Attribute Acquisition: Vitality +1]

The pain subsided as quickly as it came, leaving Kai panting, his body shaking. He looked at the screen, confused.

[Strength +1: Physical power and endurance increased.]

[Agility +1: Improved reflexes and speed.]

[Vitality +1: Increased health and resistance to damage.]

The words on the screen were clear, but they didn't make any sense. He wasn't sure what just happened, but he could feel it—his body felt slightly stronger, his senses sharper. It was subtle, but undeniable.

"This... this isn't a dream," he whispered to himself, his breath coming faster now. The reality of the situation was settling in, and the weight of his new reality hit him like a freight train. He wasn't in his world anymore. This... this was something else.

A sudden rustling in the bushes behind him snapped Kai out of his thoughts. He spun around, every muscle in his body tensing. His hand instinctively went to the side, where his phone usually sat—but of course, it wasn't there. All he had were his bare hands.

A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the underbrush, followed by the unmistakable shape of a large creature. It was feline, with sleek, silver fur that shimmered under the dim light filtering through the trees. Its claws clicked against the ground as it approached, its predatory gaze locked onto Kai.

Kai's heart raced as the creature stalked forward. Its movements were calculated, like it had been hunting for hours.

Instinct took over. He didn't think—he just acted.

Kai dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's swipe as it lashed out with its claws. The air hummed with the energy of the attack, and the force of it sent Kai crashing into a tree. Pain shot through his back as his body collided with the trunk, but he gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet.

The creature growled, circling him, its glowing eyes narrowing as it sized him up. Kai's mind raced. He didn't have any weapons—nothing to defend himself with—but he couldn't just let this thing kill him.

Then, the system flickered again.

[Skill Unlocked: Basic Combat – Level 1]

A series of instructions appeared in his mind, detailing basic combat techniques: how to strike, dodge, and parry. The moment the knowledge entered his brain, it felt natural, like it had always been there. His body responded immediately, his muscles remembering the motions as if they had been practiced for years.

The creature lunged again, but this time Kai was ready. He sidestepped, his body moving with an agility he didn't know he had. The creature's claws missed him by inches.

Kai's fist clenched, and without thinking, he jabbed forward, striking the creature in the side with a force that sent it stumbling back. The impact was stronger than it should have been, as if the punch had been guided by some unseen force.

The creature hissed, clearly surprised by the strength of his attack, and it took a step back, its stance shifting to one of hesitation. But it wasn't done.

With a snarl, the creature sprang at him again, but Kai was faster this time. He ducked, his body moving almost of its own accord, and as the beast sailed over him, Kai grabbed its tail, using the creature's momentum to slam it into the ground with a loud thud.

The beast howled in pain, its legs kicking as it struggled to free itself. Kai stood over it, his chest heaving, sweat dripping down his face. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had taken down a wild creature... with his bare hands.

[Combat Success: Attribute +1 Strength, +1 Agility]

[Skill Upgrade: Basic Combat – Level 2]

The system's voice rang in his head again, but this time it felt less alien and more like an expected presence. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized that every action, every challenge, seemed to unlock more power for him—attributes that made him stronger, faster, more dangerous.

"What the hell is this place?" he muttered, his eyes scanning the jungle that stretched endlessly around him. "And what do I have to do to survive here?"

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. Whatever was going on, whatever this system was, it wasn't just some weird glitch. This was real. And if he was going to make it, he would have to learn to navigate this world—one attribute, one fight, at a time.

The only question now was: What was the ultimate goal of the system, and why had it chosen him?

But there were no answers. Not yet.

Kai turned, ready to face whatever came next. This was just the beginning.