Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The sound of the wind whistling through the treetops was the first thing that came to his mind. Then there was a throbbing pain, spreading from the back of the head to the neck. Akito opened his eyelids but closed them almost immediately when the harsh glare of the sun struck his vision. The pain radiated through his entire body, not allowing him to focus.

– What is going on? – thoughts flowed chaotically. He remembered the bus, the rain, and the blinding headlights of the car. Then there was only darkness.

He tried to raise his hand to cover his eyes, but something was wrong. His fingers did not respond, and instead of the familiar feeling of clothing, he felt the cool touch of his skin. Slowly, he tried to open his eyes again, this time more carefully. The harsh light gave way to the image of a dense forest. Trees with trunks as thick as towers reached high above his head, and somewhere in the distance the sound of a stream could be heard.

–Where... am I? He muttered, and the voice he heard was clearly younger and higher than it should have been.

Akito looked at his hands, slender, surprisingly bright, as if they had never seen sunlight. On the wrist of his right hand, he noticed something that resembled... holographic display?

SYSTEM ACTIVATED

User: Kael

Starting Class: None

Level: 1

Health: 100

Mana: 100

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 10

Intelligence: 10

Stamina: 10

Lines of text appeared on the screen that seemed to float in the air. Akito blinked a few times, trying to understand what he was seeing. – System? Kael? What is this? It is the nickname of my character from...

Before he could think about it any longer, he felt a shiver down his spine. He was not alone. Somewhere between the trees, he heard a rustling and then a hoarse breath. He turned his head and saw a creature that resembled a wolf, but larger, with fur so black that it absorbed light. The beast's eyes glowed red, and foam dripped from its mouth.

– It is not a dream... It is something much worse.

The wolf pounced on him. Kael instinctively stepped to the side, but the small space between the trees prevented him from escaping. As the monster swung its paw, Kael raised his arms, trying to defend himself.

– Open the menu! – The words escaped his lips, though he did not know why.

The screen appeared in front of him again, this time displaying simple options:

1. Class

2. Abilities

3. Equipment

4. Statistics

The menu looked like the ones in the game he had played recently. With his free hand in a hurry, he pressed the first option. A selection menu appeared in front of his eyes.

Available classes: Warrior, Mage, Rogue, Alchemist, Hunter, Craftsman.

The wolf jumped again. Kael struggled to dodge another deadly attack of the beast's claws. Although he did not know what was happening, he was aware that if he did not do something, he would die.

– A warrior! Choose a Warrior! – The echo of his words spread through the trees.

Heat rushed through his body. Suddenly, he felt the strength in his arms, as if someone had awakened a dormant power within him. In the hand, which had been empty a moment ago, a simple but solid sword appeared. When the wolf attacked again, Kael did not back down. Instead, he got to his feet and aimed a blow that hit the monster's side squarely. The beast howled in pain and then slumped to the ground. The body of the beast disappeared in a mist of multi-colored particles, just like it happened in "Other World MMo". A game that was recently released by a large corporation and players in millions loved it.

Kael was panting heavily, staring at the dead wolf. A new message appeared on the display.

Congratulations, you have reached the next level!

Experience gained: 50

Level: 1 → 2

Skill points: 1

Stats: 3

He felt his tiredness subside and he became full of strength again. However, he did not have time to rejoice. From the depths of the forest came another, even more terrifying roar.

– I do not know what is going on, but I am not going to die here! – Kael looked around nervously, trying to locate the source of the next roar. He did not know what else the forest was hiding, but his instincts told him not to wait until he found out.

– I must get out of here, – he muttered, feeling the heat still in the air from the fight.

On the screen, which was permanently attached to his field of vision, a compass-shaped icon appeared.

Underneath it was the inscription:

Main task: Leave the forest.

–Task? – He muttered, frowning. It all looked all too familiar. Menu, class selection, experience system like in the game. But now, with lives at stake, the whole thing seemed terrifyingly real.

The wolf he defeated vanished into thin air, leaving behind a small, shiny object. Kael looked at him warily, then crouched down and picked him up. A small red crystal materialized in his hand, which immediately triggered another message:

Item obtained: Regeneration Crystal (low level).

Description: Restores a small amount of health over 10 seconds.

– Even objects, – he sighed, shaking his head. – It cannot be real...

But he had no time to think any further. The next roar was louder and much closer. The forest seemed to come to life, the leaves rustled, the branches crackled, and the shadows moved between the trees.

Kael walked forward, guided by the compass. "Leave the forest" a simple goal that could mean his only chance of survival. With every step, he could feel the adrenaline pulsing through his veins and his heart pounding like a hammer.

A thought flashed through his head, he opened the menu with the class selection again. By selecting the Hunter option. If it works similarly to the game, then he should be given a bow and arrow. Additionally, hunters also had passive bonuses for moving through forested areas.

Just as he thought, the sword that had saved his life a few moments ago had dematerialized, and in its place appeared a simple bow and a quiver of arrows. He also noticed that it was much easier for him to traverse the uneven forest road.

Opened another Skills option.

Basic Skills Menu: Hunter

Level: 2

Available Skill Points: 3

Direct Hit Level 0 (Active)

Description: You fire an arrow with greater precision, increasing the chance of hitting an enemy's weak spot.

Hunter's Senses – Level 0 (Passive)

Description: You sharpen your senses to detect traps and hidden creatures within a radius of 20 meters.

Beast Trap Level 0 (Active)

Description: Set up a simple trap that injures and immobilizes your opponent for a short time.

Natural Camouflage Level 0 (Active)

Description: You mask your presence by blending in with your surroundings for 10 seconds. The attack interrupts the operation.

Summoning Animal – Level 0 (Active)

Description: You summon a little helper to support you in battle or scouting.

Knowledge of Beasts – Level 0 (Passive)

Description: You learn to analyze your opponents by learning about their weak points.

Hail of Arrows – Level 0 (active)Description: Fire a series of arrows into the sky, which fall into a small area after a short delay, dealing damage to enemies.

System hint:

 Choosing the right skills early on can significantly increase your chances of survival!

– Chances of survival... – He said under his breath. From behind him, he heard a terrifying yelp again. Which reminded him of the situation he was in.

He quickly chose the options that seemed most useful to him now.

Knowledge of Beasts – Level 0 → 1

Hit Level 0 → 1

Hail of Arrows – Level 0 → 1

When he closed the menu, he saw a glimpse of light in the distance, which promised freedom. He sped up, ignoring the sounds behind him, until he finally ran out into a small clearing. He stopped abruptly; his eyes immediately drawn to the huge silhouette in front of him.

What stood in the middle of the clearing looked like something pulled out of a nightmare. A giant wolf, twice the size of the previous one, with dark, smoking fur and red eyes that seemed to sparkle with anger. The ground was scorched beneath his paws, as if his every step were destructive.

Elite Enemy: Devil Wolf

Level: 15

Kael felt his stomach tighten into a knot. He had barely reached the second level, and now he was facing something that clearly surpassed him.

– You're kidding, – he whispered.

Kael stepped back instinctively, his hands shaking as they clenched against the new bow. The enemy exuded an aura of pure terror. The Devil Wolf looked at him and growled so deeply that the sound almost vibrated in the air.

System Hint:

Elite opponents are extremely dangerous. It is recommended to avoid a clash or use a strategy.

– Strategy? – Kael looked at his loadout. – It is easy to say...

The Devil Wolf went on the attack. Kael barely had time to pull away when the beast tore through the air with a powerful wave of its paw. In the place where he had just stood, a deep depression had formed in the ground.

– I must keep my distance! – He thought, jumping back.

Picking up the bow, he drew the string and released the arrow. The Direct Hit activated automatically, and the arrow flashed with a soft light before it hit the wolf in the side. The monster howled in pain, but the wound looked shallow, as if the beast's skin were almost impenetrable.

– Is that all? – Kael felt a cold sweat on the back of his neck as he saw the wolf turn to face him, even more enraged.

The Devil Wolf roared and rushed again. This time, Kael activated a hail of arrows, sending six arrows high into the air, falling on the creature without causing it significant harm.

Kael smiled nervously. – Of course, it's an AoE ability, so it deals smaller damage to single targets.

Kael, seeing that his previous attacks had barely breached the monster, opened the Beast Lore menu. Details about the opponent appeared on the display:

Devil Wolf

Level: 15

Type: Elite

Weaknesses: Throat area – thin layer of skin; hind legs – limited protection.

Resistances: Physical damage, fire.

Kael looked at the terrifying beast and focused on the information provided. His gaze fell on the wolf's throat as the monster roared, he noticed a small spot under his chin where the black coat was thinner, and the skin looked exposed.

– This must be it, – he thought, drawing the bowstring. His mind was filled with determination. Direct Hit - The only ability that could give him precision in this situation.

The Devil Wolf was preparing for the next jump. Kael felt the adrenaline throbbing through his veins. He drew his bow harder, feeling the energy of the ability focus on the shot. The moment the wolf lunged towards him, Kael released an arrow.

The arrow swept through the air with a blinding glint, striking the weak spot beneath the beast's throat. The wolf howled in pain, his movements suddenly chaotic, as if a wound had thrown him off balance.

– Landed! Kael exclaimed, not hiding his relief, but quickly realized that it was not over yet.

The Devil Wolf took a few steps back, bleeding from an open wound. His gaze was now full of hatred. She lunged at the young man again, but before she could run to close range again, she felt lifeless at Kael's feet. Familiar tables flooded the boy's field of vision.

Congratulations, you have reached the next level!

Experience gained: 5000

Level: 2 → 10

Skill points: 8

Stats: 24

Kael stared in disbelief at the dead wolf lying at his feet. A powerful beast that had seemed invincible just a moment ago now lay motionless, its massive body appearing smaller when it was lifeless. Despite the relief, he still felt his heartbeat faster and his hands tremble.

Another message appeared in the field of view:

System activated

Congratulations, Kael!

You have reached level 10 and unlocked the first advanced features of the system.

Possibility to choose an additional character class.

– Interesting. Kael frowned, analyzing the new situation. – Moving up to level 10 opens more opportunities.

Kael looked carefully at the available classes, analyzing their merits. Thoughts swirled in his mind about his fighting style and how best to combine his existing skills with his new abilities.

–Perhaps... a combination of Hunter and Warrior? This is the best combination – precision from the bow and strength in hand-to-hand combat. You never know when I will have to change the way I fight during the fight. If I can combine these two classes, I will be able to adapt to any situation.

Kael felt the system process his thoughts, and immediately afterwards, a new option appeared on the screen:

Class combination: Warden

Premium:

Precision Shot – Increases the accuracy and damage of ranged weapons, especially during quick attacks.

Hunter's Armor – Increases melee stamina, offering better protection against physical attacks.

Mastery Strength – Increases melee damage and improves melee weapon efficiency.

Warrior's Dexterity – Improves reactions when dodging attacks and adds more agility to combat movements.

Hunter's Strike – A special ability that combines precision with the brute power of melee strikes that deals more damage on accurate attacks in vulnerable areas.

Kael smiled as he saw the option he had just activated. His abilities were now adapted to a more dynamic fighting style, where he could use both his bow and brute strength in melee combat. He was ready for any fight, whether it was from a distance or in close quarters.

Kael felt his body grow stronger and his abilities take on new dimensions. Now he had all the assets to fight effectively on various fronts. With every step, every action, his confidence grew.

– It will be... Interesting. – He thought, looking at the approaching danger. With a new class, new skills, he had no intention of backing down from any challenge.

However, he did not have much time to celebrate. In the thicket of the nearby forest, he heard the crack of broken branches. His instincts told him that this was not the end of the threat. He began to quickly analyze the available skills.

Kael smiled slightly, feeling more confident. He looked at his stats and quickly distributed the points, focusing on dexterity, stamina, and strength. Intelligence was meant for magic classes, so it will not be of any use to him at this point.

As soon as he finished handing out points, the crackle in the forest turned into something more disturbing, a deep, guttural growl. Kael looked in the direction of the source of the sound. Two red dots emerged from the darkness, followed by the shape of another beast. This time it was a smaller version of the Devil's Wolf, but she was not alone. She was accompanied by another, identical creature, and with them a whole pack of lesser wolves.

–Very well... The wolves have brought their family. Kael bent slightly at the knees, ready for another fight, this time more confident in his abilities.