The sharp scent of damp earth filled Clay's nose as his senses slowly returned. He was lying on the ground, sprawled beneath an enormous canopy of leaves. His mind was clouded, the remnants of his previous life still clinging to him like a thick fog. He could barely remember the details of how he had gotten here, but the sharp pang in his head reminded him of a life lost—a life cut short by a single accident.
He tried to move, but his body felt foreign, as if it belonged to someone else. Panic clawed at his chest. Was I dead?
He sat up quickly, brushing away the loose leaves that clung to his clothes. The jungle stretched out in every direction, an endless sea of trees, vines, and thick foliage. There was no sign of civilization, no office buildings, no city lights. Just wilderness.
I remember...
A flash of light, the feeling of being yanked from his body, and then a strange encounter. The goddess—Faith, she had called herself. Her glowing presence, her warm smile.
"You were given a second chance," she had said.
"Second chance?" He had asked. "To do what?"
"Your past life was cut short, Clay Klient. You'll have a new life here, with new powers, new possibilities. But remember, it's up to you to decide what you make of it."
The memories of their brief conversation were hazy now, but something stuck. The choice. He had chosen to reincarnate, to leave behind his unfulfilling life, to escape the humdrum of office work, to escape his addiction. But now, in this strange new world, he wasn't sure if he had made the right choice.
The air was thick with the scent of strange flowers and something... far more menacing. As Clay's head began to clear, his instincts screamed at him. Something's watching me.
He stood up, cautiously scanning his surroundings. The sounds of the jungle were all around him—bird calls, the rustling of leaves, distant growls of beasts—but there was something else. A soft rustling from the brush to his left.
His heart pounded as he slowly reached for the small pouch at his side—where was his phone? His wallet? He had nothing. Only the clothes on his back and an eerie feeling that he wasn't alone.
Then, from the underbrush, emerged a figure. It wasn't human—no, it was far from it. A massive creature, its body covered in sleek, jet-black fur, with eyes that gleamed like molten gold. It was larger than a lion, its muscles rippling beneath its fur, and its teeth were sharp enough to tear through steel.
Clay froze. His Appraiser skill was active, the familiar hum of the ability thrumming in the back of his mind. He could feel the details of the creature coming to him, its strength, its speed. But what struck him most was the sense of intelligence in its eyes. This wasn't a simple beast—it was something far more dangerous.
[Beast Type: Shadow Beast | Rank: Alpha | Level: 25]
The information appeared in his mind like a prompt, but there was no time to marvel at his new ability. The creature took a step toward him, a low growl rumbling in its chest.
Clay's heart raced. He had no weapons, no armor—nothing. His mind flashed back to Faith's words. You have new skills, Clay. Use them.
He could feel a strange energy bubbling inside him, a power he couldn't explain. The Domination skill—Faith had said it was his gift. But how did he use it?
Before he could think further, the Shadow Beast lunged at him with terrifying speed. Clay reacted instinctively, his body moving before his mind caught up. The Domination skill surged to life within him, and with a fierce shout, he focused all his will on the creature before him.
"STOP!"
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The jungle fell silent. The Shadow Beast hesitated mid-air, its body suspended in the air, as if bound by an invisible force. Its golden eyes flickered, confusion sweeping across its features.
Clay's breathing was heavy, his hands trembling as he fought to maintain control. He could feel the weight of the beast's struggle against his power, but for the first time since his reincarnation, Clay felt... powerful. The strange, raw force of his Domination skill flowed through him, forcing the creature to submit to his will.
"Go. Away."
With a sharp bark, the Shadow Beast finally broke free, but it didn't attack. It turned and bolted into the jungle, vanishing into the undergrowth.
Clay sank to his knees, the adrenaline leaving him in an exhausted heap. His body was covered in sweat, his breath ragged. What had just happened?
The jungle was still, as if the entire world was holding its breath.
Clay's mind spun. He had survived—barely. And yet, something felt off. He hadn't felt entirely in control. There was more to his powers than he understood, and it would take more than brute force to survive in this world.
And then, a voice echoed in his mind. A whisper, soft but unmistakable.
There are others like you... but not all of them are your allies.
Clay's eyes widened. Others?
The mysteries of this world were just beginning to unfold, and Clay had the sinking feeling that the answers would not be as simple as he had hoped.