As we were walking out of the alley way, I got curious so I decided to about them. The information that I got was one that was a shock to me. The girl with the Katanna and sword case, her name is Alexandria Montelle. She moved with the poise of someone born to command respect. At 21, she was not only beautiful but a champion in both Kendo and fencing. Her long, jet-black hair—tied neatly in a high ponytail—cascaded down her back with striking pink endings that contrasted vividly against the dark strands. Her piercing blue eyes shone like sapphires beneath the determined arch of her brow. Every motion she made was measured and precise—a blend of artistry and lethal skill, which I believed was picked up from years honed by years of rigorous training. In her hand, her trusted katana gleamed in the neon light, its polished edge a testament to her prowess and discipline. She carried herself with the air of a warrior forged in the crucible of combat, and yet beneath that formidable exterior lay a soul that understood the delicate balance between strength and restraint.
In contrast, Cleo Thrush was a whirlwind of energy and spontaneity. With short, dark blue hair framing her expressive brown eyes, she possessed a lively and infectious personality that lit up even the dimmest surroundings. Her gaze sparkled with mischief—a trait that hinted at the playful side of her character—but there was more to her than just fun and games. Raised by a military father who had instilled in her a rigorous foundation in self-defence and combat, Cleo had honed both her offensive and defensive skills from an early age.
When I heard this, all the confidence that I managed to conjure up deflated away. They were like the female leads and while I was a supporting role in the drama. Though despite this, they were still quite nice with me despite my bland looking face. We kept on making small talk with each other trying to bring us closer to prevent awkwardness between us.Just as we were about to leave the narrow alleyway, the world around us seemed to pause. A luminous digital interface suddenly burst into view before my eyes, overlaying reality with a crisp, neon grid. The message came with an authority that brooked no argument. A resonant, omnipresent voice declared:
{"Citizens of this world, heed this proclamation. The planet is undergoing a World Upgrade. In order to remain in the new, evolved order, every inhabitant must prove their worth in a series of Trials of Ascension."}
[Tutorial Quest 1: Eliminate enemies
Tutorial Objective: Kill an enemy. The final reward will depend on the number of enemies you eliminate. This area that has been marked on the map is a rich zone, teeming with monsters, otherworldly beings. It is entirely up to you to determine which enemies are worth your time.
Time Limit: 10 Minutes
Warning: The quest starts immediately
Failure Criteria: Inability to kill an enemy
Penalty: Elimination of the candidate
Stand ready, for your survival depends on your ability to adapt, to fight, and to prove your worth. Let the trial commence!"]
I exchanged a glance with my companions as the interface faded from view. Our situation had shifted from a simple exploration of an unfamiliar district and then introductions as we got familiar with each other, to an urgent, life-or-death trial that would soon define our fates.
For a suspended moment, the ambient glow of the city was replaced by streams of data and a countdown timer flickering at the edge of my vision. The miniature map detailed our current locale—Advent Ridge City Hall served as the spawn point for the monsters about to be unleashed. Red and orange markers pulsed on the digital map, promising danger and the chance to prove ourselves.
There was no further explanation as to what constituted a valid enemy target. The responsibility was mine to decide, to determine which threats were worth the risk and which could be dispatched without undue risk. It was a test of both judgement and resolve.
Before we went out the alley, curiosity got the lead over me which prompted me to will my Status Screen to open. A translucent blue panel materialized in front of me, displaying a series of neatly categorized details.
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: XXXX XXXXX
Age: 20
Race: Human
Class: Unawakened
Patron: Unregistered
Title: None
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 5(10) (Determines raw physical power and melee damage output.)
Agility: 10(10) (Affects movement speed, reflexes, and evasiveness.)
Vitality: 10(10) (Measures endurance, health capacity, and damage resistance.)
Intelligence: 8(10) (Enhances magic power, problem-solving ability, and knowledge processing.)
Wisdom: 8(10) (Determines mana control, insight, and resistance against mental or illusionary attacks.)
Luck: 5(10) (Influences critical hits, random encounters, and fortunate events.)
Note: Normal Stats for a Human is 10
Currency: 0 System Credits (Used for transactions within the System Store.)Skills: None (No active or passive skills have been obtained yet.)
Status Notification: The name registered in your previous existence does not correlate with the current world settings. Please obtain a new name using the one-time Name Changer available in the System Store after the completion of the tutorial quest. ]
I frowned at the blank space where my name should have been. My real name had been erased—completely incompatible in this world that I have found myself. The system wasn't even giving me a choice; I had to rename myself. And the worst part? I had only one chance to do it, locked behind a System Store purchase I couldn't even access until this brutal tutorial was over.
When he saw the status screen, a sudden flood of memories washed over him. These weren't the fragmented pieces of his current life but fragments of something older—memories that had been locked away, deep in the recesses of his mind. He saw himself, in a previous life, hunched over a desk, tapping away at a keyboard. The words flowed effortlessly, a novel taking shape in front of him.
His fingers paused, and as the screen in front of him began to flicker, he realized with shock that the novel he had written in his past life now mirrored his present situation almost exactly. The plot, the characters, the world, and the very scenario he now found himself in—everything was so eerily familiar. It was as if he had crafted this exact moment in vivid detail, only to live it out now.
The sense of deja vu was overwhelming. Was this really happening, or was he merely acting out the story he had once penned? His mind raced, trying to reconcile the narrative he had authored with the reality unfolding in front of him.
Was this some kind of twisted echo of his past life, or was he now a character trapped within his own creation? The memories slowly returned, and with them, a new understanding of his situation. He wasn't just an author; he was now part of the story he had once written.
The last part of the message echoed in my mind. "It is up to you to determine which enemies are worth your time." That felt strangely comforting. The choices were ours to make.
"Looks like we need to head over to this marked area," Alexandria said, her katana glinting in the dim light as she spoke. Her voice had an edge of excitement, but there was also a glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes.
Cleo, standing beside her, nodded eagerly. "Yeah, we should go there. It's got to be full of action, right? That's where all the enemies will be."
I looked at both of them, feeling an odd tension building in the air. My thoughts were racing, but I couldn't just let them rush into something so recklessly. Alexandria's fiery determination and Cleo's youthful enthusiasm were both admirable, but they weren't considering all the angles.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "We're not going there."
Both Alexandria and Cleo stared at me in surprise, clearly not expecting my response. Alexandria raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'no'? It's the first quest. It's obvious we need to go there to kill the monsters, right?"
I held up my hand, signaling for them to listen. "I don't think we should rush to that marked area just yet."
"Why not?" Cleo asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "That's where the most enemies are. You can't deny that's the place to go if we want to survive this."
I took a deep breath. "The thing is, we don't have to take the dangerous route. Killing 'an enemy' is up to interpretation. Look at it this way—what defines an enemy?" I paused, making sure they understood where I was coming from.
Alexandria and Cleo exchanged puzzled glances. "What do you mean?" Alexandria asked, her katana still held loosely in her grip, the blade catching the light from the streetlamps above.
I gestured vaguely at the alleyway around us. "There are plenty of potential enemies right here, in this very environment. Take a rat, for example. A rat might not seem like much, but it's a creature that can be deadly. Rats carry diseases and can easily kill or severely harm someone if they're not careful. So, why risk going to a place filled with who knows what monsters, when we can deal with something more manageable? Something like that rat can be our enemy."
Cleo's eyes widened as she processed my words. "So, you're saying we should take the 'easy route'? Like... find a rat or something to kill?"
I nodded slowly. "Exactly. We don't have to jump into a fight with some otherworldly creature to prove ourselves. In fact, we don't know how crowded that marked zone is. There could be a ton of other people already there, fighting for kills. And we don't know what kind of enemies we'd be facing either. What if it's something much stronger than we're ready for? We could die before we even get a chance."
Alexandria and Cleo were silent for a moment, clearly thinking it over. After a few seconds, Alexandria sighed and lowered her katana, her expression softening. "You know... that actually makes a lot of sense. We don't know what we're getting into, and taking the easy way out might be better for now."
Cleo nodded as well. "Yeah, I guess a rat would work. And it's not like we're scared of a little vermin."
I smiled at their willingness to listen. "Exactly. And this way, we get to start slow, test the system, and figure out how everything works. If we manage to kill a few smaller enemies, we'll have a better sense of how to tackle bigger threats when we're ready."
Alexandria chuckled. "Well, I never thought I'd hear the words 'take the easy way out' from you. But I guess you've got a point. Let's find a rat then."
Cleo grinned. "I'm in! Let's find us a rat and make it regret crossing our path!"
With that, we began our search. The streets outside the alleyway were eerily quiet, save for the distant sounds of bustling traffic. The city felt different, like something was quietly humming beneath the surface, waiting to spring to life. It was almost as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for the trials to begin.
As we walked, the map appeared again in my vision, this time showing a small area nearby where enemies were likely to be found. It wasn't the rich zone marked before, but it was a zone filled with potential targets for us to test our mettle. It seemed like a good place to start.
After a few minutes, we came across a small park, overrun with debris and trash. It looked like an abandoned area, which only made it all the more likely that there were rodents lurking in the shadows. And sure enough, we spotted a rat scurrying along the ground, its beady eyes flicking around nervously.
I motioned for the others to stay back. "Alright, here's our target. Let's get it done."
Without waiting for a response, I moved in swiftly. The rat didn't stand a chance. It was too slow, too unaware of the danger. With one precise motion, I crushed it underfoot. The system instantly reacted.
[Enemy killed: 1 rat. Tutorial Quest for this candidate is now complete. Keep killing enemies to increase your overall score]
A notification appeared in my vision, marking my first kill. The system was efficient, and I could already feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The others followed suit, quickly dispatching any other rats that appeared, gaining the approval of the tutorial quest being completed and starting to understand how the system worked. there was disapointment though, as I expected this to be the type of game where you could earn EXP for killing enemies which can then be converted into growth but i guess not, after all, this is reality not a game so it obviously had to follow some rules
"Well, that wasn't so bad," Alexandria said, wiping her katanna clean. "I think I'm getting the hang of this."
Cleo laughed. "This is fun! Let's find more!"
As we continued our hunt, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew one thing for sure: The world had changed. And it was up to us to adapt, survive, and ultimately prove ourselves worthy of the new world that awaited.