The forest pressed in on all sides as Lin Feng followed Yu Yan and her companions. Every step reminded him of his strangeness in this world—a world where monsters prowled and strength ruled. The ground was spongy beneath his feet, every footfall releasing the scent of damp earth and crushed leaves. Above, the sky was a distant, fractured blue, glimpsed only through the dense canopy of twisting branches and blue-green leaves.
Zhang Wei led the way, his heavy club resting on his broad shoulder. The two brothers, Jin and Min, flanked Yu Yan, who glanced back at Lin Feng with a curious smile. They moved cautiously, senses on edge.
"Stay close," Zhang Wei grunted, eyes sweeping the undergrowth. "Monsters are attracted by spirit energy. If you get separated, you might not survive."
Lin Feng nodded, grateful for their protection but determined not to be a burden. He stole a glance at his translucent panel:
Attributes:
Strength: 5 | Speed: 8 | Body: 5 | Spirit: 1
Innate Talents:
Flame Spirit Constitution (Dormant)
Skills:None
He longed to try out his new power, to feel the spark of the Flame Spirit Constitution, but he didn't dare reveal his secret—not yet. Instead, he observed his companions closely, curiosity burning in his chest. What other innate talents might they possess? Was every person in this world born with a unique gift, or were people like Yu Yan rare?
As they trekked, Jin whispered, "Yu Yan's flame is amazing, right? Only those born with a special fire constitution can use it."
Min nodded. "Yeah. I wish I had something like that. All I got is tough skin."
Lin Feng's ears perked up. Tough skin? Was that an innate talent too? He maneuvered closer to Min as they walked, trying to brush against his shoulder. The panel flickered, but nothing happened. It must only work when I actually shake hands or touch their palm... he thought, recalling the sensation from Yu Yan.
Suddenly, a loud snort echoed through the trees. The group froze. A massive boar burst from the undergrowth, its body covered in dull, metallic plates. Its eyes locked onto them, and it charged.
"Scatter!" Zhang Wei shouted, swinging his club into a ready stance.
Yu Yan's fists ignited with orange flames. She leapt forward, drawing the boar's attention. Zhang Wei flanked left, club raised. The brothers split right, but Min tripped, landing hard on his hands.
The boar veered toward Min, tusks lowered. In that instant, Min's skin took on a stone-like sheen.
Innate Talent detected: Stone Skin (Active)
Attribute Orbs generated: Body +2
Lin Feng, seeing the faint orbs, lunged and swept his hand through them. A surge of resilience flooded his body.
Body increased to 7.
Min scrambled back, the boar's tusks grazing his arm but failing to pierce the hardened skin. Zhang Wei crashed his club down onto the boar's armored back. The impact rang out like a bell, the club bouncing off with barely a dent. The boar snorted and turned, its gaze wild and furious. Jin, seeing his brother in danger, hurled a stone at the creature's eye, drawing a grunt of pain and a momentary distraction.
Yu Yan didn't waste the opportunity. Her fists flared even brighter, flames licking up her arms. She darted in, ducking beneath a wild tusk swipe, and drove her flaming knuckles into the beast's soft underbelly. The boar squealed, staggering. Lin Feng's panel flashed again:
Attribute Orbs generated: Strength +1, Spirit +0.1
He reached for the orbs, and as they dissolved into him, he felt a raw surge of power and a faint, tingling clarity in his mind.
Strength increased to 6.
Spirit increased to 1.1.
The boar, now enraged and wounded, thrashed violently. Min managed to scramble to his feet, his skin still shimmering with a rocky luster. Lin Feng, eyes wide with adrenaline, circled around, searching for a weapon. His gaze landed on a sharp piece of broken branch, its end jagged as a dagger.
He snatched it up and, timing his move with another of Yu Yan's fiery strikes, lunged in from behind. With all his newfound strength, he drove the makeshift spear into the joint behind the boar's foreleg. The creature let out a final, pained roar, staggered, and collapsed in a heap, shuddering before going still.
For a moment, the only sound was the group's ragged breathing.
Jin ran to Min, checking him for injuries. "You alright, brother?"
Min grinned, rubbing his bruised shoulder. "Stone Skin's not just for show!" He flexed, and the rocky sheen faded, leaving only muddy skin and a torn sleeve.
Zhang Wei stood over the boar's body, club still at the ready. He eyed Lin Feng, surprise flickering in his gaze. "Not bad for someone with no weapon or badge," he said, nodding toward the bloodied branch in Lin Feng's hand. "You've got guts."
Lin Feng offered a shaky smile, his heart still pounding. Inside, he marveled at how much stronger and sturdier he already felt. The world's dangers seemed a little less overwhelming now.
Yu Yan wiped sweat from her brow, her flames dying down. "We should harvest the core before scavengers show up," she said, kneeling by the boar's head. With practiced hands, she used a small blade to cut into the beast's skull