Ethan stepped out of the swirling blue portal and into a world of towering trees and deep shadows. The portal vanished behind him with a soft whoosh, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves and distant birdcalls. The air was thick with the scent of moss, damp earth, and something wild. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting broken rays onto the forest floor.
He turned slowly in place, trying to get his bearings. "System," he said calmly.
No response.
"System, status. Where am I?"
Still nothing. The silence wasn't comforting. He tapped the side of his head and frowned. Usually, the system would chime in with a voice or at least display a message. But now, there was only silence and the forest.
"Tch. Great," he muttered, scanning his surroundings.
He decided to move, figuring it was better than waiting. After a few minutes of weaving through underbrush and stepping over thick roots, he came across a dirt road, worn but clear. It stretched both ways, disappearing into the forest.
He chose a direction and walked.
It wasn't long before he heard something—a low growl. He turned toward the noise, and his eyes widened.
A massive wolf emerged from the trees.
It was unlike any he'd ever seen. Nearly two meters tall, it looked more like a small horse with fur and fangs. Its dark gray coat was thick and matted, and its yellow eyes gleamed with hunger. Saliva dripped from its open jaws, and its paws dug into the ground as it crouched, preparing to lunge.
"Status," Ethan said quickly.
Finally, a translucent blue screen flickered in front of him.Monster Detected: Dire Wolf
Level: 12
HP: 180/180
Strength: 22
Agility: 18
Stamina: 20
Danger Level: HighEthan's breath caught. "Seriously? I just got here."
Despite his sarcasm, he felt the adrenaline surge through him. He'd fought before—back at school, in sparring matches and simulations—but never something real. Never something this big.
He looked around quickly. A few rocks. Some sticks. Not much. His eyes locked onto a long, sharp-looking branch on the ground not far from the wolf. That might do.
Thinking fast, he grabbed a rock and threw it toward the wolf to distract it. The stone hit the ground near the beast with a thud, but the wolf didn't even flinch. Instead, it locked eyes with Ethan and snarled louder before charging at full speed.
"Shit!" Ethan sprinted to the nearest tree and climbed, scrambling up onto a thick branch just as the wolf lunged and snapped its jaws below him.
From above, Ethan's mind raced.
Okay. Strength: 22. That thing could tear me in half. I need to strike first—and make it count.
His gaze drifted to the stick again. It was just to the side of the wolf, lodged in the dirt. If he could reach it and get a clean shot…
Ethan steadied his breathing, then suddenly dropped down from the tree.
He landed hard, right on the wolf's back, driving his fist into its right eye.
The creature roared in pain and bucked wildly. One violent twist threw Ethan off, slamming him back against a tree. He groaned, pain exploding in his side, but he pushed himself back up.
"Thank god for the physical upgrades," he muttered through clenched teeth. Without them, he would've passed out from the impact.
The wolf lunged again, jaws open wide. Ethan dodged just in time and ran toward the stick. Grabbing it, he turned and scanned the wolf's face. Its right eye was bleeding and swollen shut.
"You've got a weak spot now," he whispered.
He grabbed another rock and flung it at the wolf's left eye. The stone hit its mark. The wolf stumbled, dazed and blinded.
Ethan didn't waste a second. He sprinted forward, yelling as he leapt. With all the strength he had, he plunged the sharp stick into the top of the wolf's head. The beast howled, its legs twitching violently.
Not done yet.
Ethan pulled the stick out, blood spraying, and jabbed again—this time into the left eye.
The wolf gave a final whimper before collapsing, its body twitching once… then falling still.
Ethan staggered back, panting hard. His hands were soaked in blood—his fingers trembling, his chest heaving.
His first kill.
He stared at the lifeless body of the Dire Wolf, and his stomach twisted. It hadn't been glorious. It hadn't been cinematic. It was brutal, dirty, painful—and very, very real.
He crouched beside the body and rested his hand on it for a moment. "I didn't want to kill you," he said softly. "But if I didn't, you would've killed me."
He stood up and looked down at his clothes. His shirt was torn, stained with blood and dirt. His arms had scratches, and his side throbbed from hitting the tree earlier.
"I need to clean up," he muttered.
Grabbing the bloodied stick, Ethan resumed walking along the dirt road. His legs ached, and the forest seemed quieter now—as if the animals had all gone silent after the kill.
After nearly two hours of walking, he heard it—the distant sound of running water. His pace quickened, and soon he stumbled upon a river cutting through the woods. The water sparkled under the sunlight.
He didn't hesitate. With a relieved sigh, Ethan jumped in fully clothed. The cold shocked his system but felt amazing against his bruised body.
He submerged himself, scrubbing the blood and grime from his skin. For the first time since arriving in this world, he allowed himself a small smile.
"I survived," he whispered. "Barely."
Lying on his back in the water, eyes closed, he let the current carry him gently for a moment.
This was just the beginning.
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