Morning came slowly, the forest stirring to life as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the canopy. Ethan sat against a tree, his body aching from the previous night's battles. Despite the fatigue, he couldn't shake the strange energy coursing through him.
The Overgrowth System was real, and with every essence he absorbed, he became stronger. But the question that gnawed at him now was simple: Why me?
He glanced down at the glowing marks on his hand. They had dimmed overnight, but their presence was a constant reminder of the power he now wielded.
"Alright," he muttered, standing slowly. "I can't just sit here waiting for the next thing to try and kill me. Time to figure this place out."
The forest stretched endlessly in all directions, a maze of towering trees and dense undergrowth. Ethan's sharpened senses, courtesy of Predator's Prowess, made navigating a bit easier. Every sound and movement felt amplified, allowing him to avoid creatures before they came too close.
He moved carefully, his steps quiet and deliberate thanks to Silent Stride. The skill felt natural, as if it had always been a part of him.
I can get used to this, he thought, a small smirk crossing his face.
As he walked, he noticed the environment beginning to change. The trees grew sparser, their massive trunks giving way to smaller, more scattered vegetation. The air felt cooler, fresher, and the faint sound of running water reached his ears.
He followed the sound, his pace quickening until he reached a small clearing. At its center was a crystal-clear stream, winding its way through the forest. Ethan dropped to his knees at the edge, cupping the cool water in his hands and drinking deeply.
"Finally," he sighed, letting the water wash away some of the grime and blood from his skin.
His brief moment of peace didn't last long. A rustling sound across the stream caught his attention. Ethan froze, his hand instinctively moving to grab a sturdy stick nearby.
A figure stepped out from the trees—a person.
For a moment, Ethan thought he was hallucinating. The figure was tall and lean, wearing a dark, tattered cloak. Their face was mostly obscured by a hood, but Ethan could make out sharp, angular features and piercing, glowing blue eyes.
The stranger stopped, their gaze fixed on him.
"Well, well," they said, their voice smooth but edged with suspicion. "What do we have here? Another stray in the Wildlands?"
Ethan stood slowly, keeping the stick at his side. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him.
The stranger tilted their head, their eyes narrowing. "The better question is, who are you? You're not from here. That much is obvious."
Ethan hesitated. Was it that obvious? His clothes were different, sure, but he hadn't expected to stick out so quickly.
"I'm just trying to survive," he said cautiously. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't add to my list of problems."
The stranger let out a soft chuckle. "Fair enough. But surviving out here isn't easy, especially for someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Ethan asked, gripping the stick tighter.
The stranger pointed at his glowing hand. "The mark. You've got a system."
Ethan's breath caught. "You… you know about the Overgrowth System?"
The stranger's eyes narrowed, fixating on Ethan's hand. "Overgrowth? Never heard of it. But I don't need to. Systems leave traces, and yours is screaming for attention."
Ethan frowned, glancing at his faintly glowing hand. "What are you talking about? What kind of traces?"
The stranger tilted their head, their tone shifting to something almost instructional. "Every system user has a presence—an aura, you might call it. Most of the time, it's faint. A little spark, a flicker of energy that only those who know what to look for can sense. But you…"
They gestured at Ethan's hand, where the intricate symbols pulsed faintly. "Your system isn't just sparking. It's blazing like a bonfire. That glow? It's raw energy radiating off you, and trust me, it's not subtle."
Ethan stared at his hand, his heart sinking. "So, what? I'm walking around with a giant 'kick me' sign on my back?"
The stranger chuckled dryly. "More like a sign that says, 'I'm worth the trouble.' That glow isn't just bright—it's complex. Most systems are simple. A trader might have a skill to summon tools, or a farmer could get better crop yields. But your system? It's layered. Alive, almost. It's not just power—it's potential."
"Potential?" Ethan repeated, a mix of curiosity and unease in his voice.
The stranger nodded, their expression turning more serious. "I've seen system users who could do amazing things, but even the strongest had clear limits. Their energy felt… static, predictable. Yours? It's constantly shifting, like it's waiting to adapt or grow. That's rare. Dangerous, too."
Ethan's grip on the stick tightened. "And what do you want with me?"
"For now? Nothing," the stranger said, raising their hands in mock surrender. "I'm just giving you fair warning. The kind of power you're carrying will draw attention—good and bad. Some will want to recruit you, others will want to kill you before you become a threat."
Ethan glanced at his hand again, the glowing marks suddenly feeling more like a curse than a blessing. "What do I do?" he asked after a moment.
The stranger's expression softened slightly. "Keep moving. Stay quiet. And learn to use that power before someone else decides to take it from you."
Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "Where do I go?"
The stranger gestured downstream. "Follow the river. It'll lead you to a settlement. From there, it's up to you."
Before Ethan could ask anything else, the stranger turned and vanished into the trees, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Ethan stared at the flowing water, the stranger's words echoing in his mind. With a determined breath, he adjusted his grip on the stick and set off downstream.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see where this takes me".