The day had come.
Prince stood at the city's space terminal, staring up at the massive silver ship that would take them to the First God Sanctuary testing site. His heart thudded in his chest like a drum.
"Prince!" a cheerful voice called out.
He turned to see Anaya, her long braid swaying as she jogged toward him. Behind her, Mira and Rhea were chatting excitedly. Arjun and Kabir followed, carrying small backpacks.
"You don't look nervous at all," Mira teased, seeing Prince's calm face.
"I… am nervous," Prince admitted softly.
"Good. Means you're alive." Anaya grinned. "But don't worry. We're going in together, remember?"
Prince nodded.
---
🛫 Journey to the Sanctuary
The ship roared to life, lifting off the ground. Through the window, the city shrank until it was a patchwork of lights below.
"Do you think it'll be dangerous?" Rhea whispered.
"Of course it will," Kabir said. "That's why they call it a test. Only the strong get to stay."
Prince stared out at the stars. His smartwatch buzzed faintly.
[Beginner Mission: Survive Entry Test.]
[Reward: Unlock Basic Soul Absorption.]
Survive… That's all I need to do for now, Prince thought.
---
🌌 The Testing Ground
When they arrived, the group was herded into a massive metal gate that opened into a glowing forest. Strange birds with crystal feathers chirped above, and the air smelled sharp and electric.
A tall instructor with a scar across his cheek addressed them.
"Listen up! You have one hour. Survive inside the zone. Avoid the creatures, collect energy crystals if you can. If you're caught, you're out. If you're injured badly, press your emergency tag to withdraw."
"Sounds simple," Arjun whispered.
"Nothing's ever simple," Anaya replied grimly.
"Begin!" the instructor barked.
The gate hissed open.
---
🏃 The Test Begins
The six friends ran together into the glowing forest.
"Stay close," Anaya ordered. "No splitting up."
But soon, a pack of glowing wolf-like beasts blocked their path.
"Scatter!" Kabir shouted.
The group broke apart instinctively. Prince found himself alone, his back against a tree, as one of the glowing beasts snarled and padded toward him.
His heart pounded wildly.
[Warning: Threat Detected.]
[Would you like to activate Beginner Defense Protocol?]
"Yes!" he whispered.
A faint glow surrounded his skin, and his legs felt lighter.
[Gravity Suppression Deactivated. Strength increased by 5%. Reflexes increased by 10%.]
When the beast lunged, Prince dodged faster than he thought possible. He grabbed a heavy stick and swung with all his might, striking the beast across its jaw.
The creature yelped and ran into the bushes.
Prince stared at his shaking hands.
Was that… me?
[Beginner Mission Progress: 30%.]
---
🤝 A Promise
"Prince!"
He turned to see Mira and Rhea running toward him, faces flushed with fear.
"Are you okay?" Mira asked. "We saw the wolf chasing you."
"I… I'm fine."
"You're not as helpless as I thought," Mira teased, but her voice was shaky.
Prince gave her a small smile. "Let's find the others."
The three of them set off again, deeper into the glowing forest, unaware that a pair of red eyes were watching them from the shadows.
Far away, the system's voice whispered softly in Prince's mind:
[Good work, Host. To survive this world, you must grow stronger.]