The transition was seamless. One moment, he was in the arena, and the next, he was standing in a dense jungle teeming with life. Towering trees stretched high above, their canopies blotting out most of the sunlight. The air was humid, and the sounds of distant creatures created an unsettling atmosphere.
"Alright," he muttered, gripping the shield charm tightly. "I just need to survive."
The system chimed:
[Challenge Objective: Retrieve the Crystal Core from the Temple Ruins.]
[Time Limit: 60 minutes.]
"What happens if I don't make it?" he asked aloud, though he already knew the answer.
[Penalty: Expulsion.]
"Of course," he sighed.
He took a tentative step forward, the dense underbrush crunching beneath his boots. His senses were on high alert, every rustle and chirp sending his heart racing. The map overlay in his vision guided him toward the temple, a glowing waypoint marking the direction.
As he made his way through the jungle, he began to notice something strange. The plants seemed to shift subtly when he wasn't looking, their positions never quite the same when he glanced back. The air grew heavier, the faint scent of decay replacing the fresh earthiness.
He heard it before he saw it—a guttural growl that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He froze, eyes scanning the dense foliage. A shadow moved, too fast for him to track, and then it was gone.
"Great," he muttered.
The growl came again, louder this time, and the creature stepped into view. It was massive, with sleek, obsidian fur that seemed to absorb the light. Its eyes glowed an unnatural yellow, and rows of razor-sharp teeth gleamed as it bared its fangs.
The system chimed, as unhelpful as ever:
[Hostile Entity Detected: Umbra Beast.]
[Recommendation: Evade.]
"Easier said than done," he muttered, backing away slowly.
The beast lunged, and he barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as its claws tore through the spot where he'd been standing. His heart pounded as he activated the shield charm. A translucent barrier enveloped him just as the beast struck again, its claws skittering off the surface with a high-pitched screech.
The charm flickered and dimmed, and he realized with growing dread that it wouldn't hold for long.
"Think, think," he muttered, frantically searching for a way out.
The system chimed again:
[Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Instincts.]
Before he could question it, a surge of clarity washed over him. His breathing steadied, and his movements felt sharper, more precise. As the beast lunged again, he sidestepped with ease, delivering a quick jab to its side. It wasn't much, but it was enough to stagger the creature.
The newfound confidence didn't erase his fear, but it gave him a fighting chance. He used the terrain to his advantage, weaving between trees and using the dense foliage to obscure his movements. The beast was relentless, but it was also predictable, its aggression making it easy to outmaneuver.
Finally, he spotted the temple in the distance—a crumbling structure overgrown with vines and moss. The waypoint glowed brighter, urging him forward.
With one last burst of energy, he sprinted toward the entrance, the beast hot on his heels. Just as he crossed the threshold, the air shimmered, and an invisible barrier snapped into place. The beast slammed into it with a roar, but it couldn't follow.
He collapsed onto the stone floor, gasping for breath as the system chimed:
[Objective Updated: Locate the Crystal Core within the Temple.]
"Fantastic," he muttered, dragging himself to his feet. "What's next?"