Chapter One: The Beginning of the End

In a small town, Axel lived a perfectly ordinary life. He was born into a financially and emotionally stable family, surrounded by friends who loved him and a family that took pride in him. His mother worked as a doctor, and his father was a successful businessman, while his sister, Ming, attended a prestigious school in the city. Axel's life lacked for nothing, yet he always felt an odd sense of yearning, as though his ambitions were larger than he could achieve.

At sixteen, Axel decided to volunteer for the army. He didn't need the money, as his father gave him a generous allowance that allowed him to design his room as he pleased. The real reason was his desire to build himself both mentally and physically. The war between his country and neighboring states was on the brink of starting, and joining the army would allow him to carry a weapon. After two years in the military, his abilities in mental endurance, physical fitness, and combat skills were greatly developed. He learned the arts of sword fighting, dagger handling, and firearms. The cultural events in his country, especially the swordsmanship and traditional duels, were also part of his experience, as they were integral to his family's heritage.

Upon turning eighteen, he completed his military service and returned to finish his university studies, where his balanced lifestyle made him admired by his peers. He had a loyal group of friends, a proud family, and a world that seemed free of any major threats.

One day, while Axel was in his university room reviewing his papers and browsing his phone, the world he knew began to turn upside down.

Outside his dorm room, in the sky, enormous cracks began to appear, widening over time. It was strange, and the sky started to change colors in unnatural hues—a mix of red and orange, an event the world had never seen before. Axel's heart raced when he noticed this, and he tried to ignore the strange sense of unease, but things quickly spiraled out of control.

The cracks in the sky weren't just a natural phenomenon. Monsters began to emerge through them—massive creatures with glowing eyes and sharp fangs. This wasn't a dream; it was a real, life-threatening danger. One of the monsters, a giant with massive claws, attacked a nearby area, forcing the people in the commercial building to flee and hide.

At that moment, Axel rushed into the streets to help those in chaos. He knew he couldn't stop the monster alone, but he believed he could help by organizing people to prevent the panic from spreading, lest the city become a battlefield of death.

Despite feeling a strange mix of fear, courage, and anger in his heart, Axel knew this wasn't just a random event—it was the beginning of a larger catastrophe. After a few moments of thought, he decided to run to the nearest safe point, focusing on staying alive for his family, who loved him. Despite his military training, the monsters were far larger than any threat he had faced before. He had a sword in his bag, but what could a sword do against flying monsters? It seemed like the blade would break against them.

As he ran to a shelter, one of the monsters appeared in front of him, but before he could feel fear, something else strange started happening around him. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the sky and city around him shifted unexpectedly. Everything was collapsing, and light shattered, engulfing him in darkness.

"What the hell is happening here? Am I living in a cheap apocalypse movie or what?" Axel sarcastically commented to try and reduce the rising tension inside him.

Before he could fully grasp what was happening, it felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath him. His heart raced faster than ever before, and his mind struggled to process it. For a moment, he thought he had died, or that he was in a painful dream.

Suddenly, everything stopped. He opened his eyes to find himself in a strange place, nothing like the Earth he knew. He was surrounded by towering trees that reached toward the sky, their branches glowing with a faint orange light. In the distance, one of the mountains was so tall it seemed to reach the clouds. Axel noticed a strange creature that resembled a squirrel but was blue with crystalline eyes, flying around the unusual trees. The atmosphere was misty, adding an artistic touch to the beautiful place, which felt like a painting. But the beauty of this strange world didn't mean it was safe, as Axel began to hear terrifying sounds from afar and sensed something moving between the bushes.

Before he could prepare for what was coming, a blue screen appeared before his eyes, displaying the following:

[Welcome to the Infinite Worlds System.]

[You are now in the world of Gronax. The rules are simple: You must not die within the next thirty years to be transported to a new world. In each world, you can do whatever you wish, but you must live for thirty years and complete the three main tasks, which may increase depending on the world's difficulty. Now that you know the world you are in, I will explain the power system in detail. Primordial energy is an ancient power that emanates from the depths of the world of Gronax. It is believed to be linked to the world's forces and can be acquired by confronting and defeating monsters. Each monster carries a special essence known as "Primordial Energy Stones," which hold power based on the strength of the monster.]

[How to acquire Primordial Energy Stones in Gronax:

1. Face the monsters: Individuals must confront the monsters of Gronax, ranging from giant creatures to magical beings.

2. Collect the stones: After defeating a monster, it leaves behind a stone that contains primordial energy, which can come in different colors representing the type of energy (White, Green, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Red, Black, Combined, and Crimson - the latter comes from great monsters like dragons and grants legendary skills).

3. Absorb the energy: After collecting the stones, a person can absorb the energy, which increases their strength and abilities.]

[Types of stones and their uses:

White Energy Stone: Enhances willpower and wisdom.

Green Energy Stone: Enhances endurance and mental skills.

Yellow Energy Stone: Strengthens connections with spirits.

Blue Energy Stone: Increases intelligence and psychic attacks.

Purple Energy Stone: Enhances agility and speed.

Black Energy Stone: Increases power and offensive skills.

Combined Energy Stone: Contains a mixture of various energies, granting random powerful abilities.

Crimson Energy Stone: Grants limited legendary powers.]

[Primordial Energy Arts, known as "The Absolute Path," allow the user to channel the primordial energy directly into their body. These arts are inherited from the masters of original energy. Now you know most things.]

Axel stood in place, staring at the blue screen in shock and confusion. The information presented was strange and illogical, but it left a deep impression on him.

"Primordial energy? Monsters? Infinite worlds? Am I in a game or is this a nightmare?" Axel muttered to himself, trying to make sense of it all.

The screen gradually faded, leaving Axel in the new reality. The air around him smelled of damp earth, and the fog made it harder to see his surroundings. The eerie sounds from the trees made him uneasy.

"Well... if this world works like this, I need to start gathering that energy," he said aloud, trying to sound more composed.

Before he could take a step, he heard a rustling from the bushes. He quickly turned to find a group of massive lizards with scaly bodies and glowing yellow eyes. Each one was nearly two meters long, and their sharp tails struck the ground with terrifying noise.

"Why do I feel like I'm in a survival game?" Axel tried to joke, but his fear was evident.

There were five lizards, each with long claws and sharp teeth. They stared at him as though they had found the perfect prey, but it was clear that all five were seriously injured.

"It looks like I won't be getting out of here easily." He grabbed the sword he had brought from his old world, though he wasn't sure it would do much against these creatures. But then, a voice from the system made him hopeful.

[Five enemies detected, identifying type...

Enemy type: Predator

Species: Yellow Earth Lizards

Health Points:

Lizard 1: 10%

Lizard 2: 30%

Lizard 3: 10%

Lizard 4: 20%

Lizard 5: 40%]

"Well, this gives me some motivation. I didn't know their stats, but at least they're seriously injured. Now, it's time! I've faced trained soldiers in the army—let's prove to myself I deserve to be special and stay alive!"

The battle began. The lizards moved faster than he expected, forcing him to rely on his quick reflexes, which he had honed during his military training. He managed to dodge the first attacks, but one of the lizards managed to scratch his left arm with its claws, causing a sharp burning pain.

"They're stronger than they look... but I'm not dying here!" Axel continued to fight, dodging and counterattacking, but the lizards grew more relentless, cornering him from every angle. One of them lunged at him with its claws, but Axel dodged just in time, though the claws still scraped his shoulder, leaving a deep, bleeding wound.

His breathing became ragged, and the pain intensified. The slippery ground and scattered branches slowed his movement. He muttered while pressing on his wound: "I don't have the luxury of making mistakes... if I stop, I'll be a feast for these damn lizards!"

Axel quickly turned offensive, cautiously using his sword, and managed to strike one of the lizards in its side. It screeched in pain and backed off, but the others didn't stop. The lizards began to coordinate better, as if they were reading his movements.

"They're smart too? Are you mocking me?" Axel growled, then dodged a double attack from two lizards.

His wounds worsened, and he felt exhaustion creeping in. But he remembered the words from the screen about primordial energy and trials. "This is a test... if I'm going to survive, I need to prove I'm capable."

He gathered his courage again, searching for a way out of this deadly predicament.

Suddenly, while Axel struggled to catch his breath, he noticed a slight weakness in the lizards' coordination. One of them was distracted by its own injury, and another seemed to act without consulting the group. This moment gave him an idea.

"If these monsters rely on teamwork, I can use that against them."

Axel decided to attack the injured lizard aggressively, creating confusion among the rest. With his sword, he delivered a lethal blow to its side, causing it to collapse.

But just when he thought the situation was under control, one of the lizards lunged from behind, piercing his defense and tearing into his right side with its claws. Axel fell to the ground, screaming in pain, but he didn't drop his sword.

"I won't die here... not yet," he muttered hoarsely.

"Ththth!" One of the lizards hissed as if mocking Axel.

Axel staggered back, leaning against a tree trunk, his body aching from the pain. The remaining lizards paused for a moment, as though assessing their next move. Blood dripped from his wounds, and his limbs trembled from exhaustion, but he held onto the sword tightly, his eyes gleaming with determination.

He braced himself to face them again, knowing that this moment would determine his fate. "If I fail here, all my training will have been for nothing."

Axel fought back, despite the blood loss draining him, refusing to show weakness in front of the lurking lizards. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaking hands as he raised his sword defiantly.

"If you think I'll give up easily, you're wrong."

The lizards slowly advanced, sensing his weakness, but Axel's eyes didn't lose the fiery gleam of determination. He tightened his grip on the sword, feeling the weight of the weapon, even though he wasn't sure how much it could do against these creatures. The wound on his shoulder was bleeding heavily, but the pain seemed to fuel his resolve rather than diminish it.

The remaining lizards advanced cautiously, sensing his vulnerability, but Axel didn't flinch. Every second was a struggle, and yet his will to survive kept him standing.

"Even if this is the end, I won't go down easily," Axel muttered to himself, his voice low but resolute.

The lizards circled him, waiting for the right moment to strike. He could feel their eyes on him, watching every movement, every breath. Axel's chest heaved as he tried to regain his breath, but his mind was clear, focused on one thing only: survival.

Suddenly, one of the lizards lunged at him from the right. Axel sidestepped just in time, his sword slicing through the air, narrowly missing the creature. He countered with a swift strike, landing a blow that caused the creature to stagger back, screeching in pain.

The other lizards reacted quickly, closing in. Axel's body was exhausted, but his spirit refused to yield. He swung the sword with all his remaining strength, managing to land another hit, this time on a lizard's side. It let out a shrill cry and retreated, but Axel could feel his strength waning.

His legs were shaky, and his vision was beginning to blur from the blood loss. The world seemed to tilt, but Axel refused to give in. He couldn't afford to. He knew that if he fell now, the lizards would swarm him, and that would be the end.

As he backed away from the group of lizards, one final thought crossed his mind: I've faced death before. I can face it again.

Axel made his final stand, waiting for the creatures to make their move. But before they could strike, a sudden, intense surge of energy flooded through him. The sword in his hand seemed to hum with newfound power, as if reacting to his sheer will to survive. His body, despite its wounds, suddenly felt lighter, and his mind clearer. The world around him slowed down.

The first lizard lunged again, but this time Axel's reflexes were faster. He dodged and struck with precision, his blade cutting deep into the creature's neck. It collapsed with a horrified screech, and the other lizards hesitated for a moment.

Axel's heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't let up. He was no longer just a soldier. He was something more. The energy he had absorbed from the fight, the instinct to survive, had awakened something deep within him.

With renewed vigor, Axel charged, his movements almost a blur. One by one, the remaining lizards fell, each blow delivered with relentless determination. They didn't stand a chance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the lizards crumpled to the ground. Axel stood there, breathing heavily, his sword dripping with the creatures' blood. His body was battered, his wounds deep, but he was alive.

He collapsed to his knees, exhaustion overwhelming him. The fight had taken everything out of him, but somehow, he had won. For now.

[Congratulations, you have completed the unexpected mission. Receiving reward: 500 Experience Points + Rare Sword "Sword of Evil (Fake Version)" + All injuries healed after leveling up. Current level: 2. You can view your stats through the Stats Window. Primitive Energy Stones have been stored in the system's inventory. Host will lose consciousness in a few minutes. Activating primary protection mode.]

Axel barely registered the system's message as the world around him started to fade. He slumped forward, the pain and exhaustion finally taking their toll. As his vision dimmed, he heard one final, reassuring thought in his mind: I'm not done yet.

And then, darkness.