The cold wind howled through the cracked wooden shutters of the orphanage, its mournful cry echoing in the dimly lit room. Kael shivered, pulling his threadbare blanket tighter around his shoulders. Another night of hunger. Another night of surviving in the forgotten settlement of Black Hollow—a place where dreams came to die.
Kael stared at the flickering lantern on the far side of the room, its light casting jagged shadows on the walls. Outside, the faint growls of the night-beasts prowling the outskirts sent chills down his spine. Black Hollow was barely holding on, perched on the edge of the wastelands. The settlement's defenses, rusted metal barriers, and outdated energy shields, were a joke compared to the monstrous threats that lurked just beyond.
"Kael, you awake?" a voice whispered.
Kael turned to see Anna, a girl barely a year younger than him, sitting up in the cot beside him. Her fiery red hair was tangled, and her green eyes glinted in the darkness.
"Yeah," Kael replied, his voice low. "Can't sleep. Too damn cold."
Anna smirked. "Cold or hungry?"
"Both."
The two shared a quiet laugh, but it quickly died out. The weight of their reality always crept back in.
---
A Life of Struggle
Kael wasn't anyone special. At least, that's what he told himself. An orphan since he could remember, he had grown up scavenging scraps and avoiding trouble. In Black Hollow, the strong survived, and the weak… well, they disappeared.
But Kael had always been a fighter. Even as a kid, he refused to let the bullies and the cruel world break him. His scrappy nature earned him respect among the other orphans and a few grudging nods from the adults.
"Tomorrow's the hunting raid," Anna said after a long pause. "You're still going?"
"I don't have a choice," Kael muttered. "The town needs more food, and I'm not about to let those pompous System Users take all the credit."
Anna frowned. "You know what happened last time, Kael. Those creatures out there… they're getting smarter. Stronger."
Kael's jaw tightened. He remembered all too well. The last raid had been a disaster. Half the team didn't come back, and the ones who did were barely alive. But he couldn't sit by and do nothing.
"I'll be fine," Kael said, forcing a grin. "Besides, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."
Anna rolled her eyes. "You mean your fists?"
---
The Raid Begins
Morning came too soon, the sun barely piercing through the perpetual gray clouds that hung over Black Hollow. Kael stood at the edge of the settlement, his makeshift spear in hand, alongside a ragtag group of hunters. Most of them were like him—ordinary people without a System, relying on grit and determination to survive.
Ahead of them stretched the wastelands, an endless expanse of jagged rocks and ash-covered ground. Somewhere out there, the beasts lurked.
"Alright, listen up!" barked Gareth, the leader of the raid and one of the few who had a System. His muscular frame and glowing sword marked him as a cut above the rest. "Stay in formation. Don't stray too far, and if you see anything unusual, call it out. We're here for food, not glory."
Kael nodded along with the others, but his mind was already racing. He hated relying on people like Gareth—System Users who acted like they were better than everyone else.
---
The Encounter
Hours passed as they scoured the wastelands, picking through ruins and hunting small game. Just as they were about to head back, a low, guttural growl echoed through the air.
"Hold!" Gareth commanded, his glowing sword raised.
Kael's heart pounded as a shadow moved among the rocks. Slowly, a massive beast emerged—a wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes and jagged, bone-like spikes protruding from its back. It was larger than anything Kael had ever seen, and its presence sent a ripple of fear through the group.
"A Bloodfang!" Gareth hissed. "Formation! Now!"
The hunters scrambled into position, but Kael's eyes were locked on the creature. Something about it felt… wrong. Almost familiar, as if he'd seen it before in a nightmare.
The beast lunged. Chaos erupted.
Kael ducked as claws raked through the air where he had stood moments before. He thrust his spear forward, but the beast swatted it aside like a twig. Around him, the hunters were falling one by one, their weapons useless against the creature's thick hide.
Gareth shouted commands, his glowing sword carving deep gashes into the beast, but it wasn't enough. The Bloodfang was relentless.
Kael's mind raced. He had to do something. Anything. He spotted a jagged piece of metal nearby and grabbed it, charging at the creature.
"Kael, no!" Anna screamed from behind.
The beast turned its glowing red eyes on him, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Kael felt an overwhelming surge of fear… and something else. A strange, pulsing energy deep within him.
The Bloodfang lunged, and Kael raised the metal shard in desperation. But before it could strike, a blinding light erupted around him, and everything went dark.
---
Awakening
When Kael came to, the battlefield was silent. The Bloodfang lay dead at his feet, its body scorched and mangled.
"Kael… what did you do?" Anna's voice trembled as she approached him.
Kael stared at his hands, which were glowing faintly with an eerie silver light. He didn't understand. He had no System. No power.
And yet, something inside him had awakened.
Something primal.
---
End of Chapter 1