The first wave was over.
I stood amidst the corpses, my blade slick with the darkened blood of the fallen. My breath came heavy, but my mind remained sharp. The system had already absorbed what it could from the slain beasts, converting them into something useful.
[First Wave Cleared!] +3 Strength, +2 Agility, +1 Perception +500 Regression Points] New Title Acquired: "Unyielding Survivor"]
I barely had time to process the notifications before the others gathered around me. They stared at me with varying expressions—relief, admiration, and a hint of fear. I had fought harder, faster, and with a ruthlessness that no ordinary soldier should possess.
I sheathed my sword and turned toward the group. "Anyone injured?"
Silence. Then, one of the younger warriors, a lanky man named Jian, stepped forward. "A few cuts, but nothing serious."
I glanced at him. He looked exhausted but steady. Good. The others weren't faring too badly either. The battle had been brutal, but we had survived. More importantly, I had learned something valuable.
The first wave had been easier than expected. That meant the real challenge was still ahead.
A Strategic Gathering
We regrouped in the ruined temple at the center of the battlefield. Its broken pillars and crumbling walls offered just enough shelter from the bitter wind. A few men collapsed onto the stone floor, too tired to care about comfort. Others started sharpening their weapons, a nervous energy still lingering from the fight.
I remained standing.
I needed information.
"How long do we have before the next wave?" I asked, scanning the exhausted faces around me.
"It varies," said Wei, one of the older warriors. His face was lined with scars, his eyes sharp with experience. "Could be an hour. Could be a day. Depends on how much they want to toy with us."
"They?" I pressed.
Wei hesitated, then sighed. "The ones controlling this madness. The creatures don't just appear on their own. There's a mind behind them, pushing them toward us."
A mind behind the horde. That was information I didn't have in my previous regressions.
[New Intel Acquired: Unknown Controllers] [Regression Points +100]
So this wasn't just a mindless wave of destruction. Someone—or something—was orchestrating the attacks.
That changed things.
The System's Whisper
As the others rested, I reviewed the system's offerings. The store had expanded slightly, new options appearing after my first battle.
**[System Store: Available Items]
Minor Healing Elixir (50 RP) Stamina Recovery Herb (40 RP) Reinforced Leather Armor (300 RP) Unknown Relic (???)**
I ignored the relic for now. Anything labeled with '???' was a gamble, and I wasn't in the mood to waste points. Instead, I purchased two Stamina Recovery Herbs. The exhaustion from fighting for hours weighed on me, and I couldn't afford to be sluggish when the next wave hit.
[Stamina Recovery Herb Used. Fatigue Reduced by 40%.]
My muscles relaxed slightly, but my mind remained tense. The system was generous with rewards, but it never handed out anything for free. If it was offering stronger items, that meant the next fight would demand them.
Reinforcing the Defenses
"We need to fortify this position," I said, looking around the ruined temple. "We won't survive the next wave out in the open."
Wei grunted. "With what? Sticks and stones?"
"We work with what we have." I pointed toward the fallen corpses of the beasts. "Use their bones. Their hides. Reinforce the entrances. Make traps if you can."
Jian's eyes widened. "That's… actually a good idea."
Wei looked at me more closely, suspicion flickering in his gaze. I had been a nameless fighter before this, just another man thrown into the battlefield. Now, I was taking charge, making decisions like someone who had seen this all before.
I ignored his scrutiny. "We don't have much time. Move."
Despite their fatigue, the group sprang into action. Some carved bones into spikes, while others dragged the carcasses into makeshift barriers. It wasn't much, but it would slow the next wave down.
I stepped back, letting them work.
[Defense Preparedness Increased. Incoming Wave Difficulty Slightly Reduced.] [+200 Regression Points]
Good. Any advantage, no matter how small, was worth it.
A Brief Conversation
Jian approached me as the work continued. "You fight differently," he said, not quite a question, but not a statement either.
I met his gaze. "Is that so?"
He hesitated. "It's like… you already knew how they would attack."
I shrugged. "Experience."
Jian nodded slowly but didn't look convinced. "Still. It's impressive." He paused, then added, "If we survive this, you should teach me."
Something about his words made me pause. In my past regressions, I had always fought alone. I never let myself get attached. Yet here was someone asking to learn, to improve.
Would it be different this time?
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I looked out into the dark horizon, where the next wave would surely come.
"Survive first," I said. "Then we'll talk."
Jian grinned. "Deal."
The Storm Approaches
As night fell, a deep, guttural howl echoed in the distance. A sound that sent chills through the group.
Wei tightened his grip on his sword. "They're coming."
I took a slow breath, my fingers curling around my blade's hilt.
The first wave had been a test.
The second would be war.
[Second Wave Incoming in 10 Minutes.]
I rolled my shoulders and stepped forward.
Let them come.
[To Be Continued…]