Chapter 2: First Steps
The roar of the beast shattered what little composure Zane had left. His legs felt like jelly, but he couldn't move. The chaos unfolding in the square felt surreal—like watching a cutscene in a game he couldn't pause. Only, this wasn't a game.
The reptilian monster towered over the panicked crowd, its crimson eyes scanning for prey. With each step, its claws gouged deep grooves into the cobblestones, sending tremors through the ground.
"Fall back!" someone shouted—a grizzled man wielding a broadsword, his armor glinting despite the dust-filled air. "Mages, suppress it! We need more time to evacuate the civilians!"
A flash of blue light streaked across Zane's vision as a spellcaster stepped forward. She raised her staff, the tip glowing with an intricate sigil.
"Glacial Lance!"
The temperature plummeted as a spear of ice hurtled toward the beast, striking its flank with a sickening crunch. Shards of ice exploded on impact, and for a moment, the monster staggered.
"Keep it up!" barked the swordsman.
But the beast recovered almost instantly, letting out another guttural roar that rattled Zane's teeth. It swiped at the mage, its claws tearing through the air with terrifying speed.
"Barrier up!" another voice rang out, followed by a golden flash as a glowing shield materialized between the beast and its target. The claws collided with the barrier, sending ripples of light through the air.
Zane watched in stunned silence, his eyes darting between the adventurers coordinating their efforts like a well-oiled machine. Their shouts, the clash of steel, the crackle of magic—it was like something straight out of the games he used to play.
Except for one glaring difference: this was real.
"Get to safety!" someone yelled, shoving past him.
Safety. Right. That sounded like a good plan.
Zane turned, ready to run, but a prompt from his system appeared in his vision, halting him in his tracks.
Quest Available:
• Survive the Initial Wave.
Objective: Stay alive in the city square until further instructions are given.
"Stay alive?" he muttered under his breath. "Easier said than done."
He clenched his fists, feeling the unfamiliar weight of the plain dagger he'd picked up. It was small, almost pathetic compared to the massive weapons wielded by the adventurers.
Another adventurer—a rogue—darted past him, twin daggers gleaming with a faint, eerie light. She looked at him briefly, her sharp eyes narrowing. "What are you doing just standing there? Move or fight!"
"I—I…" His words caught in his throat. What could he possibly do against something like that?
The rogue clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Great. Another deadweight," she muttered before spinning back toward the fray. Her movements were precise, almost inhuman, as she slashed at the beast's legs.
Zane's chest tightened. He hated that word: deadweight. It reminded him too much of the player forums back home, where elitists mocked anyone who didn't meet their standards.
But this wasn't about rankings or DPS charts. This was life or death.
You're going to die if you don't move.
"Focus fire on its legs!" the swordsman shouted, slamming his blade into the monster's side. Sparks flew as steel met scale. The beast roared in pain but retaliated with a swift swipe of its tail, sending the swordsman sprawling.
"Mage, cover him!"
The glacial mage raised her staff again, her voice ringing out with determination. "Frost Nova!"
A burst of freezing energy erupted around the monster, slowing its movements. The air around it turned frigid, frost forming on its scales.
Despite the adventurers' efforts, Zane could see it—the beast was adapting. Its movements became sharper, more deliberate, as if it were learning their strategies.
A stray dagger clattered to the ground near Zane's feet, its blade gleaming in the sunlight. Another system prompt appeared.
Tutorial Quest:
• Pick up the dagger.
• Land a single hit on the enemy.
Reward: +10 EXP.
Zane's throat went dry. You've got to be kidding me. This wasn't some game where you could respawn. One wrong move, and it was over. He'd always been the player who avoided high-risk—the one who hung back and watched others take the lead.
But now?
He crouched down, his hand hovering over the dagger. His fingers trembled as he picked it up, the weight unfamiliar and heavy.
Zane turned back to the fight. The adventurers were holding their ground, but barely. The swordsman struggled to his feet, blood dripping from a cut above his eye. The mage's spells were weakening, her face pale from exertion.
He took a shaky step forward. Then another. His heart hammered against his ribs, each beat echoing like a war drum.
The beast's attention was focused on the adventurers, its back turned to him. This was his chance.
Just one hit. That's all the quest asks for. One hit.
He raised the dagger, his grip clumsy but determined. The world around him seemed to blur, the sounds of battle fading into the background.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" the rogue's voice snapped him back to reality. She was staring at him, her expression a mix of shock and anger.
Zane didn't answer. He couldn't. His legs moved on their own, carrying him closer to the beast.
The dagger felt like a toy in his hand, but he gripped it tightly, his knuckles white.
"Focus!" he muttered to himself, his voice trembling. "Aim for the weak spot. Just like in the games…"
The beast reared back, preparing to strike the swordsman again. Its massive tail swung low, the motion creating a gust of wind that nearly knocked Zane off his feet.
But he saw it—a small gap in the scales on its side. A weak spot.
With a desperate cry, he lunged forward, the dagger aimed at the exposed flesh.
The blade sank in.
The world seemed to hold its breath as the dagger pierced through the gap in the scales. For a split second, Zane thought he'd missed—then hot blood sprayed across his arm, the beast's roar shaking him to his core.
The beast roared in pain, its massive body twisting as it turned to face its new attacker. Zane stumbled back, the dagger still in his hand, slick with dark blood.
Combat Recognized. Adaptive Progression Engaged.
The monster's eyes locked onto him, and Zane realized, with chilling clarity, that he was no longer a bystander.
He was part of the fight now.
Chap 2 end