The system notification appeared abruptly, the letters cutting through the serene landscape around him.
[Level Up! You are now Level 4.]
Zach blinked at the glowing text, his heart still racing from the ordeal he had just survived.
An odd sensation began to spread through his body.
Strength.
It wasn't just an abstract concept or a fleeting thought. He could feel it, tangible and undeniable. His muscles, though worn from exertion, felt less like lead and more like steel. His breathing, once ragged and shallow, came easier now. Even his thoughts seemed sharper, clearer, as if his brain had just been fine-tuned.
"So this is what leveling up feels like," Zach muttered, running a hand through his sweat-matted hair. "No wonder people get addicted to RPGs."
He flexed his fingers, the lingering sensation of power thrumming beneath his skin. If leveling up increased his physical and mental acuity, then perhaps it had also boosted his skill. The system had previously capped his absorption at five pounds of material. Would that limit have increased?
Only one way to find out, he thought.
But for now, he needed a moment to breathe and take in his surroundings. The world beyond the cave was unlike anything he had ever imagined. Zach crouched low, running his hand over the soft grass that glowed faintly beneath his touch. It wasn't just green; it shimmered with hints of blue and gold, as if nature itself had been enhanced by some otherworldly force. He gave it a light kick, watching the blades sway gently, then let out a quiet laugh.
"This is insane," he said, his voice laced with wonder. "Completely insane."
He rose and started walking aimlessly, letting the soft crunch of grass beneath his boots ground him in this surreal reality. The air was fresher here, clean and cool, carrying the faint scent of something floral yet alien. Above him, the sky was a kaleidoscope of colors—pale blues that bled into rich purples and streaks of glowing orange. It was beautiful, mesmerizing even, but the sheer scale of it all made him feel small. Insignificant.
And vulnerable.
Zach's thoughts shifted to the creatures he had already encountered. The spider and bats were enough to convince him that this world didn't operate on the same rules as Earth. If those were merely the first challenges, what else could be lurking out here?
"Okay," he said aloud, breaking the silence. "Enough sightseeing. I need to find someplace safe."
The towering trees in the distance seemed as good a destination as any. They stood like silent sentinels, their spiraling trunks catching the ambient light and refracting it like prisms. As Zach approached, he noticed a peculiar phenomenon: the closer he got, the less translucent they appeared. From a distance, they had seemed almost glass-like, their interiors visible as if carved from crystal. But now, standing mere feet away, they looked more solid, their bark rough and opaque.
"Refraction," Zach murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Or maybe something to do with how light scatters through the atmosphere here. It's like how objects underwater look distorted until you get close enough to them.
If these trees marked the beginning of a dense forest, it was possible they also marked the territory of predators. He couldn't afford to let his guard down.
Zach glanced around, his eyes scanning for anything he could use. Rocks of varying sizes littered the ground nearby, their surfaces smooth and dark. Perfect.
He crouched and reached out with his hand. The skill flared to life, a familiar tugging sensation spreading through his fingers as the stone began to dissolve into his skin. The process was easier now, faster. He absorbed one stone, then another, and another. Each time, the system chimed softly in his mind, tracking his progress.
When he hit 12 pounds, the skill deactivated.
[You don't have enough skill energy to absorb more than 12 pounds.]
Zach stood, flexing his hands experimentally.
Satisfied with his preparations, Zach started walking again. The trees loomed larger now, their branches forming a canopy that dappled the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow.
That's when he heard the voices.
Zach froze. The sound was faint at first, carried on the breeze like a distant whisper. He strained his ears, catching fragmented snippets of speech. It was unmistakably human—or at least close enough.
His mind raced. Voices could mean safety. Answers. But they could just as easily mean danger. The image of the bats and spider flashed through his mind, but this time, it wasn't creatures he feared. It was people. Desperate people in a strange world
He debated his options. Staying here, in the open, would make him an easy target for predators. But walking into a potentially hostile group wasn't much better. Either way, the risk was high.
"Better the devil you know," he muttered under his breath, steeling himself.
Zach crept forward, his footsteps silent against the soft grass. The voices grew louder, clearer, until he could make out distinct words. Peering through the trees, he spotted the source: a small clearing where a group of individuals stood clustered around something—or someone.
Zach's stomach turned. A man and a woman lay motionless on the ground, their bodies sprawled in unnatural angles. Blood stained the grass beneath them.
Nearby, a young boy knelt, his shoulders shaking as sobs wracked his small frame.
The group surrounding him didn't look like saviors. Their clothes were tattered and mismatched, their faces obscured by makeshift masks. Bandits. Zach didn't need to hear their words to know their intent.
Every instinct told him to turn back. To walk away and leave this mess behind. He didn't owe these people anything, and getting involved would only put his own life at risk. But as he stared at the boy, trembling and helpless, something inside him twisted.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath. "Why do I have to be the hero?"
He crouched, picking up rocks.
Zach took a deep breath, steadying his aim. He had always been decent at baseball, and right now, he needed every bit of that muscle memory.
With a sharp exhale, he hurled the rock.
The first bandit went down with a grunt, the stone striking him squarely in the temple. The others turned, their eyes widening in surprise. Zach didn't wait. He grabbed another rock and threw it with all his strength, aiming for the largest of the group. It connected with a sickening thud, and the man staggered, clutching his head.
"Who's there?!" one of the bandits shouted, his voice laced with anger.
Zach responded with more stones. He didn't care about being brave. Bravery meant nothing if he would die for it.