The wolf lunged.
Its horned skull cut through the air with terrifying speed, jaws snapping wide enough to tear him in half. Arin's pulse spiked as his body screamed at him to move—but this time, instead of running, he planted his feet.
The golden light that had saved him before shimmered faintly along his palm, as though waiting to be called again. He didn't know how he had triggered it the first time, but instinct whispered: will it. Command it.
He thrust out his hand.
A flare of warmth surged through his arm. Light erupted once more, a beam that struck the monster mid-leap. The wolf howled as it was blasted sideways, crashing into the ground hard enough to gouge a shallow crater.
Arin's chest heaved. "It… it worked again…"
The beast twitched, trying to rise, its smoky fur flickering as though half-substance, half-shadow. It was hurt—but not finished.
Arin swallowed hard, adrenaline warring with terror. He had two choices: finish the fight or run and hope it bled out later. But a voice deep inside told him clearly—if he turned his back, this thing would hunt him until it killed him.
Forcing his shaking legs forward, he approached. The wolf staggered upright, snarling, blood dripping from its mouth. Its horned head lowered, glowing eyes locked on him.
"Come on then…" Arin muttered, his hand trembling as he raised it again. "Let's see if I can do this twice in a row."
The wolf sprang.
Arin pushed every ounce of fear into focus. His palm blazed with golden light. This time, instead of a wild blast, the energy condensed into a glowing spear of fire-bright essence that shot forward like lightning.
The spear pierced the wolf straight through its chest.
There was a sickening sound—half-scream, half-roar—as the creature convulsed, its body unraveling into smoke and fragments of fading shadow. In seconds, nothing remained but a faint, glowing crystal the size of a coin lying on the ground.
Arin stood frozen, his breath ragged, sweat pouring down his brow. Slowly, as if afraid it would vanish, he bent and picked up the crystal.
It pulsed faintly in his hand, radiating warmth. And then, before his eyes, more glowing text appeared in the air:
[Horned Shadow Wolf defeated.][Soul Crystal obtained.][Rank One: Progress 3% → 7%.]
Arin blinked. "Rank… one?"
So it really was like a game. Defeating monsters gave him progress, like experience points. His mind spun with the implications.
He slumped against a tree, exhaustion washing over him now that the adrenaline had drained away. The light in his hand flickered out.
"Damn it," he muttered, clutching his chest. "What the hell is going on? Why me? Why this world?"
Silence answered. The forest was alive with distant sounds—bird-cries, rustling leaves—but none offered comfort.
Arin stared at the soul crystal, the faint glow reflecting in his tired eyes. "If this world really expects me to fight monsters like that… then I can't stay weak."
Hours passed.
Arin stumbled through the forest until he found a stream. He dropped to his knees, drinking deeply, the cold water biting his throat. His reflection stared back at him—messy black hair, wide brown eyes, pale skin dirtied with sweat and blood. Just an ordinary boy.
But in this world, he had something new: power.
He cupped the soul crystal in his hand again. As he focused, faint knowledge flickered in his mind, like whispers of how to absorb it. Hesitant, he pressed the crystal against his chest.
It dissolved instantly, warmth flooding into him. His limbs felt lighter, his vision sharper, the ache in his body easing.
Text appeared:
[Soul Crystal absorbed. Progress 7% → 10%.]
Arin exhaled, shuddering. "So that's how it works."
He leaned back, staring up at the alien sky, where floating islands glimmered faintly like silver lanterns. Seven continents, the voice had said—named after gods. Seven great dungeons. And ranks one to ten.
This was no dream. This was a new life.
And if he wanted to survive it, he had to grow stronger.
By the time night fell, Arin had managed to craft a crude shelter with branches and leaves. The forest glowed faintly in the dark, the silver-leafed trees casting eerie light, but exhaustion dragged him into uneasy sleep.
Dreams plagued him—visions of colossal dungeons like mountains torn from the earth, of warriors wielding power enough to split seas, of continents named after gods: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Ares, Apollo, Hades.
And somewhere within those continents lay dungeons filled with horrors far greater than the wolf.
When he woke at dawn, the sun rising like a burning jewel over the horizon, Arin's resolve had hardened.
"This world dropped me here for a reason," he muttered to himself. "Fine. If the only choice is to fight… then I'll fight."
His gaze swept over the forest, fierce determination burning behind his tired eyes.
"But I won't do it alone. If I'm really supposed to reach Rank Ten… then I'll need allies."
The Great Wilderness had opened its gates to him. The journey had begun.