Ethan followed the stream, its gentle babbling a soothing contrast to the chaos he had endured the past few days. His mind, however, was far from at ease. The stranger's words replayed in his head: Your system isn't just power—it's potential. Dangerous, too.
He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig set his nerves on edge. With Silent Stride active, his footsteps were nearly soundless, but it wasn't enough to dispel his paranoia.
Hours passed. The forest began to thin, and the air grew warmer, carrying the faint scent of smoke. A settlement must be close. Ethan tightened his grip on his makeshift weapon—a sturdy stick reinforced with thorny vines courtesy of his system.
Finally, the trees parted, revealing a wide dirt path. It was rough and uneven, lined with wheel ruts and scattered rocks, but it was clearly used often. Ethan paused, crouching low as he surveyed the area.
In the distance, he saw a collection of wooden buildings clustered together, their roofs slanted and weathered. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the faint sound of voices carried on the wind.
"A town," Ethan muttered, relief washing over him. "Finally."
But his relief was short-lived. As he stepped onto the path, a loud, guttural roar echoed behind him. Ethan spun around, his heart leaping into his throat.
Emerging from the forest was a massive creature, its thick, scaly hide glistening in the sunlight. It had the body of a bear but with reptilian features—a maw filled with jagged teeth and claws that glinted like steel. Its eyes locked onto Ethan, filled with primal hunger.
"Oh, come on," Ethan groaned, backing away slowly.
The beast snarled, its powerful legs tensing as it prepared to lunge. Ethan raised his stick, the vines on its surface seeming to tighten and sprout jagged thorns.
The sensation caught Ethan off guard. The weapon felt alive, almost an extension of his own will. He glanced down at the glowing marks on his hand, feeling a strange connection to the vines. Is this the system's doing?
There was no time to dwell. The beast lunged, and Ethan sidestepped with uncanny precision, his enhanced agility courtesy of Predator's Prowess. The creature's claws raked the air where he'd just been standing, and it crashed into the dirt path with a deafening thud.
Ethan struck quickly, driving the thorn-covered stick into the creature's flank. The beast roared in pain, twisting to swipe at him, but he was already moving, his sharpened reflexes keeping him just out of reach.
System update: Combat data recorded. Adapting.
The words flashed in his mind, and suddenly, a new skill unlocked.
Skill unlocked: Briar Bind.
Acting on instinct, Ethan thrust his free hand toward the creature. Vines erupted from the ground, thick and thorny, wrapping around the beast's legs and torso. It thrashed and roared, but the vines only tightened, piercing its scales and holding it in place.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He drove the stick into the beast's exposed throat, the thorns tearing through flesh. With a final, gurgling roar, the creature collapsed, its massive body shuddering before going still.
Breathing heavily, Ethan stepped back, his glowing hand dimming as the system deactivated. The adrenaline coursing through his veins began to subside, leaving him shaking but alive.
"Okay," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "That was way too close."
He turned back toward the settlement, his heart sinking as he noticed several figures emerging from the buildings, weapons drawn.
"Great," Ethan said under his breath. "Now what?"
The figures approached cautiously, their eyes darting between him and the dead creature. The apparent leader, a burly man with a thick beard and an axe slung over his shoulder, stopped a few paces away.
"You kill that thing?" the man asked, his tone equal parts impressed and suspicious.
Ethan nodded, trying to keep his voice steady. "Yeah. It… uh, wasn't exactly friendly."
The man studied him for a moment, then glanced at the glowing marks on Ethan's hand. His expression darkened. "You've got a system."
Ethan tensed, gripping his stick. "Is that a problem?"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Depends. You with the Guild?"
Ethan blinked. "The Guild?"
The man exchanged a look with his companions before turning back to Ethan. "If you're not with them, you'd better keep moving. This isn't a place for lone system users."
"Why?" Ethan asked, his voice rising slightly. "What's the Guild?"
"You'll find out soon enough," the man said, turning away. "But take my advice: get out of here before they find you."
With that, the group retreated, leaving Ethan standing alone on the path.
He looked back at the settlement, then down at his hand. The glowing marks pulsed faintly, a reminder of the power he carried—and the danger that came with it.
"Looks like I've got more questions than answers," Ethan muttered, starting down the path toward the town. "But I'm not running. Not yet."