The world around Kyle was alive in ways that terrified him. The air shimmered with faint energy, like it had a pulse. The ruins of the building were gone, replaced by jagged black rocks and molten rivers, the landscape hostile and alien.
Every step he took crunched over brittle ground. His hands were still glowing faintly, the system's power running through his veins, but it wasn't enough to calm the fear gnawing at his chest.
From the shadows, movement.
He barely had time to react as a figure lunged at him, fast, inhuman. Its blade, black as night and jagged, sliced the air. Kyle rolled to the side, feeling the heat of the strike graze his shoulder. Pain flared, but adrenaline surged stronger.
> [Objective Updated: Survive initial attack]
[Time Remaining: 280 seconds]
Kyle took a deep breath, letting the system guide him. He focused, instincts sharpening. Movement, observation, prediction—all became one.
The attacker wasn't alone. Shadows split and multiplied, surrounding him. Their eyes glowed red, calculating, cruel. Kyle ducked, dodged, struck back with a swing of his fist. The air crackled. He barely managed to knock one away, only for two more to appear in its place.
[Player Skill Unlocked: Reflex Boost Lv.1]
Kyle felt the system respond. His reflexes sharpened, senses heightening. He could see the trajectory of every incoming strike, predict, and react faster than before. The fight became a blur—a deadly dance with shadows, every moment life or death.
Amid the chaos, a voice echoed in his head:
[Warning: Betrayer nearby]
Kyle froze. Betrayer. That one person—the one who had killed him before—was somewhere close. This world wasn't random; it was designed. Each challenge was meant to test him, push him closer to death, and possibly, confrontation.
He gritted his teeth. "I won't die again."
Time stretched. The shadows came faster, relentless. Kyle's fists, feet, and energy glows struck with precision. He felt his body change—muscles adapting, stamina increasing, mind calculating faster. Survival wasn't just instinct anymore; it was evolution under fire.
[Quest Progress: 45% – Survive first encounter]
Lightning split the sky. One shadow lunged, faster than the rest, blade aimed for his chest. Kyle twisted, narrowly evading, sending a burst of energy from his glowing hands. The shadow screamed and fell, evaporating into black mist.
He barely had time to breathe when a new alert popped up:
[New Skill Available: Temporal Awareness Lv.1]
Kyle's vision sharpened. He could now sense attacks a fraction of a second before they happened, enough to anticipate and counter. It wasn't just fighting—it was learning the world, adapting to the rules of the system.
Minutes felt like hours. Sweat, blood, and adrenaline mixed in a brutal symphony. But Kyle kept moving, fighting, surviving.
Finally, the last shadow dissipated, leaving him on scorched, cracked ground. His chest heaved, hands trembling, but alive. The timer flickered:
[Survival Time Remaining: 12 seconds]
He exhaled, a laugh of relief and rage escaping together. He had survived the first trial. But the betrayer… the real challenge… was still out there.
> This world isn't just a game. It's a war, and the rules are only starting to unfold.
Kyle's eyes burned with determination. Next time, I won't just survive. I'll hunt.
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