Chapter 2: Awakening in the Dark
Darkness.
Alaric lay on the cold, damp ground of the Exiled Lands, his breath shallow, his body weak. His muscles ached from days of wandering, and his stomach twisted in protest from hunger. He had long since stopped counting the hours. Was it dawn? Dusk? It hardly mattered.
Then, just as his consciousness wavered on the edge of exhaustion, a sound rang in his mind.
[System Initialization Complete.]
Alaric's eyes snapped open. He bolted upright, scanning his surroundings, his heart pounding. But there was nothing—just the endless, lifeless wilderness around him. Yet the voice had been clear, undeniable, as though someone had whispered directly into his skull.
"Who's there?" he rasped, his voice hoarse. His pulse thundered in his ears. He reached for the rusted dagger at his belt, gripping it with trembling fingers.
[No external presence detected. You are currently alone.]
The voice returned, calm and emotionless, yet unnatural. Alaric stiffened. This was not a voice carried by the wind, nor the whispers of ghosts. It was something else—something within him.
[System has successfully bound to Host. Welcome, Alaric Draven.]
He flinched. It knew his name. A chill ran down his spine. Was this sorcery? A curse? The Exiled Lands were said to be haunted by remnants of forgotten magic. Had he fallen victim to some unseen force?
"What… what are you?" he whispered, trying to steady his breathing.
[This entity is the Sign-In System. It exists to aid the Host in growth and development. The Host may gain rewards by signing in at various locations.]
Alaric blinked, struggling to process the words. Aid? Growth? None of this made sense. He was no sorcerer, no scholar of arcane arts. The concept of an unseen force granting him power was absurd.
"A system? A sign-in? What does that mean? Explain properly!"
[The System functions as follows: At designated locations, the Host may perform a 'Sign-In' to receive rewards. Rewards vary in nature and power, dependent on the significance of the location. Repeated Sign-Ins at the same location may yield diminishing returns.]
Alaric narrowed his eyes, trying to grasp the meaning. "You're saying… I just need to be somewhere and… I receive something? Like a divine blessing?"
[Conceptually similar, though not reliant on divine intervention. The System operates autonomously and is exclusive to the Host.]
He exhaled sharply. This was madness. Things like this didn't exist—at least, not in the world he knew. But then again, his world had already crumbled when his house was destroyed, when his family was betrayed. He had nothing left. If this so-called 'system' was real, then perhaps…
"You said I can sign in?" he asked slowly. "Can I do it now?"
[Affirmative. Current location: Exiled Lands. This location is eligible for the first Sign-In. Proceed?]
A moment of hesitation passed. Alaric still wasn't sure if this was real or if he was slipping into delirium. But what did he have to lose?
"Do it. Sign in."
[Sign-In Complete.]
A sudden warmth surged through his body, unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't painful, nor was it overwhelming, but it was there—like a pulse of energy threading through his veins, awakening something dormant.
[Reward Acquired: Shadowfang Dagger.]
Before he could question it, something materialized before him. A dagger—sleek, black as midnight, and pulsating with a faint, eerie glow—hovered in the air before dropping neatly into his open palm. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt it—a strange resonance, as if the weapon itself acknowledged him.
Alaric stared at it, breathless. This was no ordinary blade. Even an untrained eye could tell.
"What… what is this?"
[Shadowfang Dagger: A weapon that adapts to its wielder. Initial properties enhance stealth and lethality. Growth potential unknown.]
His grip tightened around the dagger. It felt perfect in his hand—balanced, deadly. More than anything, it was real. Solid. Tangible.
His mind reeled. This 'system' had given him this weapon. It wasn't a hallucination. It wasn't a cruel trick. It was real.
And that meant everything else might be real too.
For the first time since his exile, a spark of something unfamiliar flickered within him—hope.
He clenched his fist, taking a steady breath. "You said this system helps me grow… does that mean I can become stronger?"
[Correct. Host possesses the potential for immense growth.]
Alaric exhaled, then nodded. "Can you show me my current abilities."
[Displaying Status Attributes:]
Name: Alaric Draven
Level: 0
Strength: 8 – Above average for a normal person but weak compared to trained knights.
Agility: 12 – His strongest attribute—his noble training gave him speed and dexterity.
Endurance: 7 – He's physically weak due to malnutrition and injuries from exile.
Intelligence: 15 – A strategic thinker who learned politics and tactics before his exile.
Perception: 10 – Decent awareness but not yet trained in tracking or detecting threats.
Mana Control: 5 – Extremely weak—he was never formally trained in magic.
Stealth: 11 – Has natural talent in moving unnoticed, but no formal assassin training.
(Note: The average person has a score of 5–6 in each attribute, while trained warriors range from 10–20.)
[Shadowfang Blade]—A weapon forged from the essence of the void. It grows stronger as its wielder does. Currently, it possesses the following abilities:
Edge of Shadows: Increases lethality against enemies below Rank 3.
Phantom Step: Slightly enhances movement speed in combat.
Devour Essence (Sealed): Unlocks at a higher level.
Alaric studied the list, processing each attribute. The numbers were meaningless to him, but the descriptions made things clear. He had always been fast, always relied on agility more than brute strength. His intelligence was his greatest weapon, honed by his noble upbringing. But his endurance… his mana control… both were pitifully low.
"Can these be improved?"
[Affirmative. Attributes can be increased through training, system rewards, or special events.]
He nodded slowly. "And the sign-in rewards… can they be anything? Weapons? Skills? Power?"
[Correct. The nature of the reward depends on the location's significance and the Host's growth. More dangerous or unique locations yield greater rewards.]
A moment passed before a new message appeared.
[Class Selection Available.]
[Based on Host's attributes, the following class is recommended:]
– Assassin: A combat style focused on speed, stealth, and precision strikes. Complements agility and stealth attributes.]
Alaric inhaled sharply. A class… an identity beyond an exile. A path to power.
He looked down at the Shadowfang Dagger in his hand.
He had a choice to make.
And for the first time in a long while, he felt that choice was truly his to take.