The last thing Drake remembered was the sound of shattering glass and the feeling of cold steel. One minute he was cracking a joke at the expense of a particularly thin-skinned individual, the next he was staring up at the flickering lights of an ambulance. Then… nothing.
Now, he opened his eyes to the smell of smoke and the sight of burning trees. Embers danced in the air, casting an orange glow on the surrounding forest. "Well, this is just great," he muttered, dusting off his non-existent clothes. "First I get offed for a bad joke, and now I'm in… Middle-earth on fire? Thanks, Gods. Real classy."
A notification appeared in his vision: *Aetherium Codex Activated.* A holographic book materialized before his eyes, its pages glowing with a soft blue light.
Drake blinked. "What in the…?" He poked at the translucent book. His finger passed right through it. "Is this some kind of sick joke? A consolation prize for dying?"
The Codex opened to a page displaying his stats: Strength 8, Dexterity 14, Constitution 9, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 7, Charisma 14, Luck 5. Below, his skills were listed: Observe, Sense Magic, Street Fighting.
"Okay," Drake said, running a hand through his hair. "So I have stats now. Dexterity's pretty good, I guess. Luck… not so much. Fitting." He chuckled dryly. "Guess I used it all up not getting a papercut."
Suddenly, a guttural roar echoed through the forest, cutting through the crackling of the flames. A creature emerged from the inferno, its fur glowing with heat. It was a wolf, but larger and more menacing than any wolf Drake had ever seen, with flames flickering around its jaws and eyes burning like embers.
Another notification appeared: *Enemy Detected: Pyrowolf. Threat Level: Moderate.*
"Oh, come on!" Drake exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "You've got to be kidding me! Right after I complain to the nonexistent management, I get a fire-breathing dog? Did I accidentally sign up for some kind of interdimensional pet adoption program?"
The Pyrowolf snarled, its breath igniting the air in front of it, sending a wave of heat washing over Drake. He could feel the heat even from several feet away.
Another notification: *Quest Received: Survive. Objective: Defeat the Pyrowolf or Escape the Burning Forest. Reward: 100 Codex Points.*
"Alright, Aetherium Codex," Drake said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what you've got. Observe."
The Codex displayed information about the Pyrowolf: *Pyrowolf: A magical beast imbued with fire magic. Abilities: Fire Breath, Enhanced Speed, Heated Fur. Weakness: Water, Earth Magic.*
"Heated fur, huh? Good to know," Drake muttered. He scanned his surroundings, looking for anything he could use as a weapon. His eyes landed on a sturdy branch that had fallen nearby, partially charred but still solid. He picked it up, hefting it experimentally. "Improvised Weaponry, here we go."
The Pyrowolf lunged, its enhanced speed allowing it to close the distance in a heartbeat. Drake, relying on his high Dexterity, rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding its fiery breath. The air where he had been a moment before was now a patch of scorched earth. He scrambled to his feet, wielding the branch like a makeshift club.
The Pyrowolf turned, its fiery gaze fixed on Drake. It lowered its head, preparing to charge again. Drake knew he was outmatched in terms of raw power, but he wasn't about to give up without a fight. He gripped the branch tighter, a grin spreading across his face. "Alright, Fido," he muttered. "Let's dance."