The giant bear roared, its sound like thunder tearing through mountains. Birds dropped dead from the trees, the ground quaked, and the very air shimmered with terror. Black scales gleamed across its body, its molten eyes glowing like volcanoes ready to erupt. Each claw was longer than Ahmed's entire arm, dripping with a corrosive liquid that sizzled where it hit the earth.
And Ahmed?
He was face-first in the mud, unconscious, drooling like a toddler at naptime.
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST HAS INVENTED NEW TECHNIQUE: PLAYING DEAD. SUCCESS RATE: QUESTIONABLE.]
The cultivator woman's eyes narrowed. Her glowing blade hummed with power as she raised it, her robes fluttering in the storm of spiritual energy. "A Nightmare Beast… already?" she muttered. "This land is more cursed than I thought."
The wolves, who had been so terrifying a moment ago, whimpered and slunk back into the forest. None dared stay near the beast.
But Ahmed? He was out cold, snoring faintly.
🔊 [ANALYSIS: HOST'S STATE – 0% COURAGE, 0% STRENGTH, 100% USELESSNESS.]
Ahmed Wakes Up (Unfortunately)
The ground shook as the bear stomped forward. Ahmed's limp body bounced with every tremor until one particularly loud roar jolted him awake.
His eyes fluttered open. Mud clung to his cheek, his mouth tasted like soil, and he groggily mumbled, "Eh… mama, five more minutes…"
Then he saw it.
The giant bear. The molten eyes. The dripping claws. The mountain-sized shadow of doom looming right in front of him.
Ahmed screamed so loudly that the forest squirrels fainted.
"YAAAAA RABBI! WHAT IS THIS FINAL BOSS?!"
🔊 [CORRECTION: NOT FINAL BOSS. THIS IS TUTORIAL MINI-BOSS.]
"TUTORIAL? THIS? THIS IS A TUTORIAL?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
🔊 [CORRECT. SURVIVAL CHANCE: 0.0000001%. PLEASE DIE QUICKLY.]
Ahmed staggered to his feet, slipping in the mud, his heart trying to escape through his throat.
The Cultivator's Disdain
The woman didn't even glance at him. Her gaze was locked on the beast, her blade glowing brighter with each passing second. "Stay behind me," she commanded coldly.
Ahmed instantly obeyed, scurrying behind her like a child hiding behind his mother's skirt.
"Yes, yes, I'll stay behind you forever, don't worry! Matter of fact, I'll stay so far behind you, you won't even see me!"
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST HAS PERFECTED 'COWARDLY SHADOW TECHNIQUE.' POWER LEVEL: EMBARRASSING.]
Ahmed shook his fist. "Shut up, System! At least I'm alive!"
The woman glanced at him briefly, her expression one of sheer disappointment. "You… are weaker than I imagined. Even ants show more backbone."
Ahmed gasped, clutching his heart as if she'd stabbed him with her words. "AN AN—WOMAN, PLEASE! That's harsh! I'm doing my best!"
🔊 [CORRECTION: HOST'S BEST = TRASH.]
The Battle Begins
The Nightmare Beast roared and swiped its colossal paw. The cultivator leapt into the air, her sword slashing arcs of light that clashed against the beast's claws with thunderous booms. Energy waves shredded the forest, trees splintering into dust.
Ahmed ducked behind a boulder, hugging it like his only friend. His teeth chattered as explosions rang out around him.
"Ya rabbi, it's like Dragon Ball Z out here!"
🔊 [CORRECTION: THIS IS DRAGON BALL Z, BUT YOU ARE KRILLIN.]
"KRILLIN?! NOOO! HE'S USELESS TOO!"
🔊 [CORRECT. FITTING ROLE FOR HOST.]
As the woman danced across the battlefield, slashing and dodging, Ahmed peeked out just enough to see her glowing with elegance and power. She was a goddess of war, every move precise and perfect.
And Ahmed? He was hyperventilating behind a rock.
Ahmed Tries to Help (Instant Regret)
Another roar shook the clearing, knocking Ahmed flat on his face. His cheek pressed into a strange glowing fruit that had rolled from a shattered tree. It pulsed with qi energy, humming with power.
Ahmed's eyes widened.
"…could this… be my chance?"
🔊 [WARNING: RANDOM SPIRITUAL FRUIT DETECTED. EFFECTS: UNKNOWN. POTENTIAL DEATH RATE: 90%.]
"90%?! That means 10% chance to live! That's the best odds I've had since I got here!"
Before the System could protest further, Ahmed shoved the fruit into his mouth and chewed furiously.
It tasted like expired onions mixed with battery acid. His entire body spasmed, veins glowing as spiritual energy ripped through him. His stomach bloated like a balloon, and smoke poured from his ears.
"AAAAAHHHH! IT'S LIKE I ATE FIREWORKS!"
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST HAS INVENTED NEW TECHNIQUE: 'STOMACH EXPLOSION ART.' WARNING: HOST MAY DIE.]
Ahmed staggered up, glowing faintly. His hands sparked with unstable energy.
"…ya salam… look at me… I have power…"
He raised his hand dramatically at the Nightmare Beast. "HEY! BEAR! TASTE MY WRATH!"
A tiny spark fizzled out from his fingertip.
Pop.
It hit the bear's nose.
The Nightmare Beast blinked, then roared so loudly Ahmed's ears bled.
Ahmed turned pale. "Oh no. I just pissed it off."
🔊 [CORRECT. HOST HAS INVENTED 'SUICIDE AGGRO TECHNIQUE.']
The Bear's Wrath
The colossal beast turned from the cultivator and charged directly at Ahmed.
"YA RABBI NOOO! DON'T LOOK AT ME!" Ahmed screamed, running in zigzags like a panicked chicken. "I DIDN'T MEAN IT, IT WAS A SPARK, JUST A SPARK!"
The ground shattered as the bear chased him, molten saliva sizzling wherever it landed. Trees toppled, the forest burned, and Ahmed's life flashed before his eyes.
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST IS NOW TARGET PRIORITY. SURVIVAL CHANCE: 0.0000000000000001%.]
"YOU'RE MAKING THE NUMBERS WORSE!" Ahmed shrieked.
The cultivator frowned, irritation flashing across her face. With a single leap, she landed in front of Ahmed, her sword glowing brighter than the sun. She slashed upward, releasing a wave of qi energy that blasted the beast back several meters.
Ahmed collapsed to his knees, wheezing. "Oh thank you, ya malika! You saved me again!"
She glared down at him. "You fool. Why would you draw its attention?"
Ahmed pointed at the faint spark still smoking from his hand. "…I thought I could help?"
Her silence was louder than any insult.
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST'S CONTRIBUTION TO BATTLE – NEGATIVE.]
Seeds of Change
The cultivator turned back to the beast, determination in her gaze. But for the first time, Ahmed noticed something: a slight tremor in her stance, a faint line of sweat on her brow.
She wasn't invincible.
Ahmed gulped.
"…wait… if she falls… then I…" He looked at his shaking hands. "…I really will die."
It was the first time a sliver of seriousness crept into his thoughts.
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST IS EXPERIENCING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. WARNING: MAY BE TEMPORARY.]
Ahmed stood, trembling but resolved. "System… give me anything. I don't care if it's trash, just… something to help her."
🔊 [BEGINNER PACK UNLOCK IN: 2 HOURS, 12 MINUTES.]
Ahmed screamed into the sky again. "TWO HOURS?! I'LL BE DEAD IN TWO MINUTES!"
🔊 [CORRECT. TRY HARDER.]
Epilogue Cliffhanger:
The Nightmare Beast reared up, black flames spewing from its mouth. The woman raised her sword for a final strike, but Ahmed saw it — her blade was flickering, qi draining fast.
She couldn't hold out much longer.
Ahmed clenched his fists, his body glowing faintly from the unstable fruit inside him. He knew if he tried again, his stomach might literally explode.
But if he didn't… the beast would kill them both.
The bear roared, flames descending like a tidal wave of death.
Ahmed screamed, leaping forward with glowing hands —
And the screen of fate froze.
🔊 [NOTICE: HOST IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING INCREDIBLY STUPID.]
Epilogue – Chapter 3 Cliffhanger
The cultivator's blade flickered. The Nightmare Beast's flames closed in. And Ahmed, glowing like a broken lantern, charged straight into certain death.
Would he survive?
Would his stomach explode?
Would the System keep roasting him even as ashes?.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]