A voice echoed in his mind, cold and dispassionate, as if it were coming from somewhere far beyond his consciousness.
"Congratulations, Initiate. Power Unlocked: Slayer's Instincts. Mission: Survive."
The words sent a chill down Leonardo's spine. What was this? Who was speaking to him? He could feel his mind racing, trying to make sense of the voice that was not his own. But before he could dwell on it, the voice continued, echoing in his mind like a mechanical whisper.
"Level 1 complete. Reward: Enhanced Reflexes. Slayer Path unlocked."
"What… what is happening to me?" Leonardo murmured, his voice shaky.
He looked around at the cavern, its shadows stretching long and menacing. The silence was oppressive, but he knew he wasn't alone. There were other creatures lurking in the darkness, hidden from his sight. And now, with the strange power flowing through him, Leonardo knew that his survival depended on mastering this newfound ability.
His hands clenched around the stick, his fingers tingling with the residual energy. The power was still there, waiting to be tapped into. And despite the fear that gripped him, Leonardo knew one thing for certain—he wasn't the same boy who had fallen into this cavern. He had been chosen for something greater. The Slayer's Instincts had awakened within him, and there was no turning back.
Leonardo's breath came in shallow gasps as he stared at the space where the two-headed monster had once loomed. Just moments ago, it had snarled and lunged, threatening to tear him apart. Now, the creature's lifeless form had vanished, as if it had never existed. Only faint traces of blood smeared on the cavern floor hinted at the brutal battle.
His trembling hands clutched the wooden branch that had somehow felled the monster. It was an ordinary stick, splintered and fragile, yet it had delivered a deadly blow. Leonardo's heart pounded in his chest, not from exertion but from confusion and fear.
"What…what just happened?" he muttered, his voice echoing in the cavern.
With newfound resolve, he stepped forward into the cavern's deeper darkness, ready to face whatever came next.The world around him seemed to shift. The cavern walls wavered like ripples on water, and the dim bioluminescence brightened into blinding light
Suddenly, the strange mechanical voice returned, reverberating in his mind like a drumbeat:
"Level 1 complete. Reward: Enhanced Reflexes. Slayer Path unlocked. Click here to get rewards."
Leonardo flinched, clutching his head as if the voice might be silenced by sheer willpower. But it persisted, repeating its strange message. He glanced around the cavern, his eyes darting to the bioluminescent moss lining the walls. He saw no one, no source for the voice that echoed in his skull.
"Is this a dream?" he whispered. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his legs unable to support him any longer.
The glowing text hovered in his vision, floating in the air like a phantom. "Click here to get rewards," it insisted, the words flashing with an otherworldly glow. Leonardo blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the hallucination, but the text remained, stubborn and persistent.
"I don't understand!" he shouted, his voice cracking. His body felt heavy, and his mind swirled with exhaustion. The adrenaline that had kept him alive moments ago was now ebbing away, leaving him weak and disoriented.
He reached out a trembling hand, instinctively trying to swipe the text away, but his fingers passed through empty air. The hovering prompt flickered, then pulsed brightly, as though reacting to his touch. A faint chime rang in his ears, soft and melodic, contrasting with the eerie silence of the cavern.
"Click here to get rewards," the voice repeated, more insistent this time.
Leonardo groaned, his eyelids drooping. He couldn't fight the overwhelming fatigue any longer. His hand fell limply to his side, but as it did, his fingers brushed the glowing text.
Click.
Above him, the hole he had fallen through seemed impossibly far away. The forest that had once been his sanctuary now felt like a distant memory. He could feel the weight of his newfound responsibility pressing on his shoulders. He had no choice but to continue forward, to survive, and to discover the true extent of his power.
As the growls from the darkness intensified, and the eyes that glowed in the shadows seemed to draw nearer, Leonardo took a deep breath, his body now alive with energy. The monster's death had not been the end. It had been the beginning.
Leonardo's vision blurred, and his body felt weightless, as though he were floating. Then, darkness enveloped him, consuming his senses entirely
Leonardo had just completed level 1 of the mysterious trial, and the system had rewarded him with all the prizes for his success. But as fate would have it, he was unconscious, unaware of the events unfolding around him. His mind was lost in the void, unable to grasp the enormity of what had just transpired.
The following day, when Leonardo awoke, the state he found himself in was beyond belief. His body felt different, and his surroundings seemed altered. He tried to make sense of it all, but nothing added up. It was as if the world around him had shifted overnight. His eyes were wide with confusion, his thoughts a tangled mess, and the realization that something extraordinary had occurred left him with a sense of dread.
As he sat there, trying to piece together his scattered thoughts, his mother—who had been sick for as long as he could remember—sat beside him, her frail hands trembling as she spoke. She explained the situation, but Leonardo found it impossible to believe. The words that left her lips were too far-fetched, too unbelievable. How could this be? How could everything have changed so suddenly?
The truth that his mother revealed to him seemed like an impossible dream or a nightmare, and Leonardo's disbelief grew with every sentence. He wanted to deny it, to shake it off, but deep down, he knew the reality was staring him in the face. What had happened to him? What did all this mean for his future?
If you're enjoying the journey of The Awakened Slayer, I'd really appreciate your support! Your feedback and power stones mean the world to me and help keep the story going strong. Every like, comment, and stone motivates me to write even more and bring you the next thrilling chapter. Thank you for being a part of this adventure, and I look forward to sharing more twists and turns with you!