Kael's fists clenched as the bandits surrounded him. There were three of them: their leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek; a wiry woman twirling a pair of daggers; and a lanky youth with a crooked grin, brandishing a rusted sword.
The old man remained seated, watching with an unsettling calm.
"Don't just stand there!" Kael hissed. "We need to run!"
The old man chuckled softly. "Run if you'd like, boy. But you won't outrun them. Better to stand your ground."
Kael glared at him. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one with a rusty sword aimed at your neck."
The bandit leader barked a laugh. "He's got spirit, I'll give him that. Too bad it won't save him."
The System's notification still hovered in Kael's vision, taunting him.
Hidden Quest: Protect the Stranger!
• Rewards: Unknown.
• Failure Penalty: Death.
He swallowed hard. Failure Penalty: Death. Those words pulsed in his mind like a drumbeat.
"I don't have a weapon," Kael said under his breath, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You've got your hands, don't you?" the old man replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Kael's eyes darted to the System window. Maybe, just maybe, it had something to offer him. "Status Window," he whispered, and the translucent screen blinked into existence.
[Status Window]
• Name: Kael Ardent
• Path: Eternal Novice
• Level: 1
• Skills: None
• Karma: Neutral (0)
No skills," he muttered bitterly.
The scarred bandit grew impatient. "Enough of this. Gut the kid and take the old man's coin!"
The woman lunged first, her twin daggers gleaming in the moonlight.
Kael moved without thinking, ducking under her strike. He grabbed a nearby branch from the ground and swung it wildly, forcing her to step back.
"That's it," the old man said calmly. "Feel the weight of the fight. Let your instincts guide you."
"Not helping!" Kael shouted, narrowly dodging another slash.
The second bandit, the lanky youth, joined the fray, slashing downward with his rusted sword. Kael parried with the branch, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling.
"One novice against three," the old man mused. "A rather grim scenario, wouldn't you say?"
The bandit leader grinned, advancing slowly. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. But guts don't win fights."
Kael's grip tightened on the branch. His breathing was ragged, his arms shaking from the effort of holding off the attacks. His mind raced. There has to be something I can use. Anything!
The System window blinked, a new notification appearing.
Combat Tutorial Activated!]
• Congratulations, Eternal Novice! You've initiated your first battle. As an Eternal Novice, your survival depends on improvisation and creativity. Use your surroundings to gain the upper hand.
• Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Strike (Lv. 1).
Kael blinked. "Adaptive Strike?"
Before he could think further, the female bandit lunged at him again. This time, Kael sidestepped and swung the branch in a tight arc. The motion felt… smoother, more precise. The branch struck her wrist, forcing her to drop one of her daggers with a sharp cry.
[Adaptive Strike] successfully used!
• Damage inflicted: 3 points.
The System's notifications filled his vision, and for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope.
The lanky bandit hesitated, glancing at his companion. "What the hell? Since when does a farmer fight like that?"
Kael didn't wait for him to recover. He stepped forward, thrusting the branch into the youth's gut. The bandit doubled over, gasping for air.
[Adaptive Strike] successfully used!
• Damage inflicted: 5 points.
The scarred leader's grin faded. "You're full of surprises, kid. But you're still outmatched."
Kael braced himself as the leader raised a massive axe, the blade gleaming wickedly. He had no idea how to counter such a weapon.
"You're not ready for him," the old man said suddenly, standing up. "But I think you've earned a bit of help."
With a flick of his wrist, the old man tossed a small object to Kael. He caught it instinctively, looking down to see a bronze token etched with glowing runes.
"What's this?"
"Your first tool," the old man said. "Use it wisely."
As the bandit leader charged, Kael felt the token pulse in his hand. Instinctively, he raised it, and a burst of golden light erupted from the runes. The bandit stumbled, blinded by the sudden flash.
Kael didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, slamming the branch into the leader's knee. The man roared in pain, collapsing to the ground.
[Adaptive Strike] successfully used!
• Critical Hit! Damage inflicted: 12 points.
The other two bandits, seeing their leader incapacitated, exchanged nervous glances.
"This isn't worth it," the woman muttered, backing away. The lanky youth nodded, and the two of them bolted into the woods, leaving their leader writhing on the ground.
Kael stood over the fallen man, his chest heaving. The old man approached, his expression unreadable.
"You didn't kill them," he noted.
Kael swallowed hard, lowering the branch. "I… I didn't need to."
The old man smiled faintly. "Mercy is a rare thing in this world. It will serve you well—or it may destroy you."
System Notification
• Hidden Quest Completed: Protect the Stranger!
• Rewards: +50 Karma, +1 Adaptive Strike skill level.
Fifty Karma?" Kael muttered, watching as his Status Window updated.
The old man chuckled. "Not a bad start for a novice."
Kael turned to him, his mind swimming with questions. "Who are you? And what do you know about the System?"
The old man's smile widened. "You've earned the right to know a little. My name is Erendil, and let's just say… I've walked many Paths in my time. As for the System…" He paused, his gaze darkening. "It's not what you think. But if you're willing to learn, I might just show you the truth."
Kael stared at him, the weight of the night's events settling on his shoulders.
"Alright," he said finally. "Teach me."
Erendil nodded. "Then let's begin."