The next 24 hours were a blur of anxiety, practice, and half-hearted attempts to act normal. I didn't tell anyone about the system—how could I? If I went around talking about teleportation and apocalyptic dimensions, they'd think I'd lost my mind.
So, I kept my head down, did my work at the smithy, and avoided eye contact with anyone who might ask too many questions.
But no amount of normalcy could keep the system's timer out of my mind.
"Timer: 1 hour until second teleportation."
By the time the countdown reached its final moments, I was back in the meadow, standing under the same tree I'd scorched the day before. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the glowing panel in front of me.
"Preparing for teleportation…"
I barely had time to brace myself before the world around me warped.
When the light faded, I found myself standing in the middle of a frozen wasteland.
Snow covered the ground in uneven patches, and jagged ice formations jutted up like frozen spears. The air was biting, every breath stinging my lungs. In the distance, the ruins of a once-great city loomed, half-buried in snowdrifts.
A shiver ran down my spine, but I wasn't sure if it was the cold or the eerie silence that surrounded me.
"New task generated: Survive the Frostbound Horde.
Objective: Defeat the Frostbound Stalkers (15 enemies).
Reward: 300 experience points and 2 skill points."*
I swallowed hard, my breath visible in the icy air. "Frostbound Stalkers? What even are those?"
My question was answered almost immediately.
A low growl echoed from the shadows of the ruined city. Then another, and another. My heart sank as I saw them emerge—hulking, wolf-like creatures with glowing blue eyes and frosted fur. Their breath came out in visible puffs, and their jagged teeth gleamed like shards of ice.
"Of course," I muttered, raising my hands. "It couldn't just be something small and harmless."
The first creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air. I barely managed to sidestep, the frozen ground slippery under my boots. My hands moved on instinct, a burst of energy shooting from my palm and striking the creature in the side.
It let out a pained yelp but didn't go down. If anything, the attack seemed to enrage it.
"Great. Just great," I muttered, backing away as it charged again.
The next few minutes were a chaotic blur of movement and energy blasts. The Frostbound Stalkers were fast, their claws tearing through the snow as they closed in on me again and again. My energy manipulation ability was powerful, but it wasn't enough to take them down in a single hit.
I had to get creative.
When one of the creatures leapt at me, I ducked and fired a blast straight into the frozen ground beneath it. The ice shattered, and the creature fell into a shallow crevice, howling in frustration.
Another lunged from the side, and I spun, catching it with a well-timed burst of energy that sent it crashing into an ice formation.
Bit by bit, I whittled down their numbers. My breaths came in ragged gasps, my body aching from the effort, but I refused to stop.
Finally, only one remained.
It was larger than the others, its frosted fur shimmering in the dim light. Its glowing blue eyes locked onto me, and I could feel the weight of its gaze.
"This is it," I muttered, forcing myself to stand tall.
The creature snarled, charging at full speed. I waited until the last possible moment before raising both hands, pouring every ounce of energy I had into a single, focused blast.
The force of the attack sent the creature flying, its body slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash. For a moment, it lay still, the snow around it stained with frostbitten blood.
"Task complete. You have defeated 15 enemies. Experience gained: 300 points. Skill points earned: 2."
I collapsed to my knees, the cold seeping through my clothes as I tried to catch my breath. My vision swam, exhaustion threatening to drag me under, but I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.
I'd done it.
Before I could fully recover, the familiar sensation of teleportation washed over me. The frozen wasteland blurred, and when the light returned, I was back in the meadow.
The warmth of the sun was a welcome relief, but my body still felt like it had been through a war. I sat there for a long moment, letting the calm of the meadow wash over me.
But the system wasn't done.
"Congratulations. You have earned enough experience to level up."
The glowing panel reappeared, displaying my updated stats.
Li Yun
Level: 3
Experience: 0/700
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Intelligence: 16
Energy Control: 25
I stared at the numbers, a mix of pride and unease swirling in my chest. Each level made me stronger, but it also meant the system expected more from me.
"New skill unlocked: Frost Barrier. Grants the ability to summon a protective shield of ice."
A shield? That might actually come in handy.
I leaned back against the tree, staring up at the sky. My peaceful life felt like a distant memory now.
This system, these apocalyptic worlds—it wasn't just some random fluke.
It was a test.
And something told me the hardest challenges were yet to come.