The low growl sent chills down Ian's spine. The glowing red eyes stared at him through the dense underbrush, unblinking, unrelenting. His hand instinctively gripped the rusted dagger at his waist, but he knew it wouldn't be enough.
The system screen flickered to life in front of him:
Threat Detected: Forest Predator.
Level: 3.
Recommendation: Avoid Combat.
"Yeah, no kidding," Ian muttered under his breath.
The beast emerged from the shadows, its hulking frame illuminated by the dappled sunlight piercing through the forest canopy. It was massive—easily twice the size of the first predator he'd faced. Black fur matted with dirt and blood clung to its sinewy body, and its claws looked sharp enough to tear through stone.
Ian's breath hitched as the predator let out a guttural snarl, its muscles coiling in preparation to strike.
Run, Ian.
The words weren't spoken aloud, but they echoed in his mind, as clear as if they had been shouted. Without hesitation, Ian turned and bolted.
---
The forest blurred around him as Ian sprinted, dodging trees and leaping over roots with an agility he didn't know he possessed. The predator was close behind, its heavy footsteps and guttural growls growing louder with each passing second.
"Come on, come on!" Ian gasped, his legs burning with the effort of running.
The system screen appeared again, hovering just out of his line of sight.
Hint: Use the Terrain to Your Advantage.
Ian glanced around, his eyes darting for anything he could use. The forest was dense, filled with towering trees and tangled roots, but nothing looked remotely helpful.
The beast roared, its hot breath brushing against the back of Ian's neck. Panic surged through him as he stumbled, nearly falling face-first into the dirt. He caught himself just in time, pushing forward with renewed desperation.
Up ahead, the forest floor sloped downward into a rocky ravine. Ian's heart sank at the sight, but the beast's snarls left him no choice.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way," he muttered, charging down the slope.
---
The ground was uneven, littered with loose stones and gnarled roots. Ian slipped and skidded, barely managing to stay upright as he descended. Behind him, the predator slowed, its massive claws scraping against the rocks for balance.
Ian's mind raced. He needed a plan—something, anything—to gain the upper hand. His eyes locked onto a fallen tree near the edge of the ravine, its trunk split open and its branches jutting out like jagged spears.
The system screen flashed again.
New Objective: Trap the Predator.
Reward: 25 XP, Skill Upgrade Available.
Ian veered toward the fallen tree, his heart pounding as he formulated a plan. He leaped over the trunk, positioning himself just behind it. The predator, driven by instinct, charged straight toward him.
"Come on, you bastard," Ian whispered, gripping the rusted dagger tightly.
At the last possible second, Ian ducked to the side, slashing at one of the tree's remaining branches with all his strength. The branch broke free, falling into the predator's path.
The beast roared in fury as the branch struck its face, momentarily blinding it. It stumbled, its momentum carrying it straight into the jagged remains of the fallen tree.
A sickening crack echoed through the ravine as the predator impaled itself on the splintered trunk. It let out a final, guttural growl before collapsing, its massive body going limp.
---
Ian staggered back, his chest heaving as he stared at the motionless predator. The system screen reappeared, its text glowing faintly.
Objective Complete: Trap the Predator.
Rewards Claimed: 25 XP, Skill Upgrade Unlocked.
Level Up!
> Name: Ian Carter
Level: 3
Class: None
Abilities: Basic Combat Reflexes (Upgradable)
Ian sank to the ground, his legs trembling as the adrenaline began to wear off. He swiped at the system screen, opening the new upgrade menu.
Basic Combat Reflexes Upgrade Available:
Tier 1: Enhanced Reflexes.
Improves reaction time and physical coordination.
Reduces stamina consumption during combat.
"Better reflexes? Yeah, I'll take that," Ian muttered, selecting the upgrade.
A faint warmth spread through his body, and he felt a subtle shift in his movements—like his body was finally starting to catch up to the chaos around him.
---
Ian turned his attention back to the predator. Its massive body blocked most of the ravine path, but something about it caught his eye. Around its neck, partially hidden beneath its matted fur, was a faint glimmer of light.
Cautiously, Ian approached, his dagger at the ready. He reached out, brushing aside the fur to reveal a thin, silver chain. Attached to it was a small, glowing stone, pulsing with a soft blue light.
The system screen reacted immediately.
Item Discovered: Resonance Shard.
Description: A fragment of divine energy, used to unlock advanced abilities within the system.
Status: Compatible.
Ian stared at the shard, his mind racing. "Advanced abilities? What does that even mean?"
The screen offered no further explanation, but the word "Compatible" was enough to pique his curiosity. He hesitated for a moment before taking the shard and placing it into his inventory.
---
The ravine was quiet now, the tension of the chase giving way to an uneasy calm. Ian leaned against the fallen tree, his thoughts racing.
He was stronger than he had been a day ago, but the gap between him and the threats of this world felt insurmountable. Every encounter pushed him closer to the edge, and he knew it was only a matter of time before something—someone—proved too much to handle.
But the shard in his inventory gave him a glimmer of hope. If the system could grant him power, maybe it could grant him answers, too.
"Step by step," Ian whispered to himself, standing and glancing back toward the forest. "Survive first. Figure out the rest later."
With the shard in his possession and the predator's corpse behind him, Ian took his first steps back into the unknown, the weight of the world pressing heavily on his shoulders—but for the first time, a spark of determination burned in his chest.