It had been 20 long days since Captain and the rest of the warriors had departed for reinforcements.
In that time, the air in the village had grown heavy—too still, too quiet. Even the animals in the forest near the mountain footpaths seemed to sense the tension.
Mia, usually composed and unshaken, now showed signs of unease. Her warriors Diya, Joy, and Roy stood silent, sharpening blades, meditating, or standing watch, their eyes sharper than ever. Something was about to happen.
And everyone felt it.
---
Max's Change
In these 20 days, Max had changed.
Not just physically though his body had become more toned, his movements more coordinated but mentally too. He had finally begun to accept himself, piece by piece, as if the world around him was healing what his past had once broken.
He remembered his old world:
His failed attempts at boxing—hands too fragile.
His love for football and handball—his sense of fairness making him hesitate in rough play.
His lack of standout talent in anything—be it sports or studies.
Even in video games, he was decent but never exceptional.
His memory wasn't sharp, his confidence brittle, and his body average at best.
In that world, Max was forgettable. Replaceable. Weak.
But this world was different.
Here, when he trained, he improved.
Here, when he focused, he learned faster.
He didn't know if it was because of his "Focus (F)" skill, the properties of this world, or just the lack of worldly distractions but he had begun forging a path of his own.
Combining bits of knowledge from boxing, taekwondo, survival shows, and even video game tactics, Max began developing his own fighting style a blend of unpredictability, real-world grit, and careful observation.
His warrior friends had taken notice especially Mia.
In these 20 days, Max and Mia had grown closer.
She had introduced him to various life paths of this world:
Scholar exams for knowledge-driven roles.
Military enlistment, for defense or strategy-based careers.
And of course, the Warrior Path, which required passing the Quarterly Warrior Trials held across countries.
She explained that they were currently in the Eastern Border Province of a large continent called "Auraleth."
Nearby countries included:
Druvail (to the north, filled with deep forests),
Valkarin (a militaristic empire to the south),
And Shanbera (a floating-city alliance to the east, heavily focused on scholars and magic-like tech).
Max soaked in everything. For the first time in life, he wasn't failing to keep up he was thriving.
That morning, Mia stood by the village gates, watching the woods.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle of wings a sky hawk swooped down. It circled once and landed on Mia's outstretched arm. Tied to its leg was a sealed scroll.
She broke the wax with her thumb. The moment she read it her face changed.
Shock.
Tension.
Urgency.
She turned and shouted, "Everyone assemble now!"
In moments, the courtyard near the central post was filled. Diya, Joy, and Roy appeared, weapons slung, expressions tight.
Max, hearing the call, jogged in with his usual curiosity.
Mia's voice rang clear, "Max! That ravine you told us about. The one behind the waterfall. Take us there. Now."
Max's heart skipped a beat. "What happened?"
"The Captain found something. Or someone. I can't say more orders are clear. We leave now."
She looked straight into his eyes, and for the first time in 20 days, Mia looked truly afraid.
They packed light, moved fast. The sun was high as Max led the way through hidden paths. His copy body, waiting patiently back in his real world, felt a pulse of adrenaline. This was the first time Max felt important not just needed, but trusted.
Each step closer to the ravine, the air grew colder.
The waterfall now dubbed Bloodfall Ravine after Max's first encounter roared louder. Birds scattered unnaturally fast. Even the wind whispered wrong.
Mia turned to her team, "Weapons ready.
Stay close. Joy, you cover Max. Diya, rear. Roy, center."
Max unsheathed a short blade gifted by the village a bit too light, but it fit his grip.
He wasn't a warrior yet. But he wasn't the old Max either.
As they reached the ravine's edge, a strange scent filled the air metallic, burnt, unnatural.
And then, from the cliff above the ravine, they saw it—
A trail of smoke, bodies of men possibly the very bandits Max had seen before slaughtered, torn, or melted.
And right in the center of the carnage stood a cloaked figure holding something glowing in his hand…
Mia whispered, "That… that's not our Captain."
Roy murmured, "Then who the hell is that?"
And Max, breath held, realized this world was about to show him a darker side he hadn't imagined yet.