Chapter 2 – Part 3 (Expanded
Ryo wandered deeper into the abyss, his breathing steady but cautious. Every step echoed against the uneven stone walls, creating an illusion that countless invisible eyes were watching him from the darkness. His wooden spear trembled slightly in his hands—not only from fear, but from the faint thrill of survival that was starting to awaken inside him.
The abyss was endless, or so it seemed. Strange moss glowed faintly on the rocks, casting dim green light that painted the cavern in eerie shadows. The deeper he went, the less he could hear the surface world. No wind. No voices. Just the drip of water and the distant growl of monsters hidden beyond sight.
For the first time since the accident with the restaurant sign that had thrown him into this strange world, Ryo realized something important:
He wasn't just unlucky. He was chosen. Or cursed. Either way, this abyss was his reality now.
Suddenly, a sound broke his thoughts.
GRRRHHHHH…
From the cracks in the stone, a pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared. A wolf-like creature with a body covered in scales slithered out. Its fangs glistened, and its tail rattled like a serpent's.
"A hybrid…" Ryo whispered, sweat dripping down his forehead.
The beast lunged. Ryo barely rolled aside, his spear scraping against the stone floor. His heart pounded in his chest as he forced his shaky legs to hold firm.
"I can't die here. Not before I figure out what this place is."
The wolf-snake pounced again, and this time, Ryo jabbed the spear forward. The wooden shaft shook violently when it connected with the beast's chest, but it didn't pierce deep enough. The creature howled in rage, swiping its claws at him.
The impact knocked Ryo against the wall, pain shooting through his ribs. His grip on the spear tightened.
Think, Ryo. You're weak. But not powerless.
His eyes scanned the glowing moss. In a desperate move, he snapped a chunk off the wall and smashed it against the spear's tip, coating it with the faint luminous dust. When the wolf-snake charged again, Ryo thrust with all his strength.
This time, the glowing dust seemed to react with the beast's scales. A hiss of smoke rose where the spear struck. The monster shrieked, stumbling backward in pain.
Ryo gasped. "So… the moss is toxic to it!"
Seizing the moment, he lunged, driving the spear deep into the creature's throat. A sickening crunch echoed as the beast collapsed, twitching before going still.
Ryo's entire body shook—not just from exhaustion, but from exhilaration. His lungs burned, his arms ached, yet inside his chest something was changing.
The faint golden lines of Qi began to stir within him. It was weak, barely a spark, but it was there. Energy that wasn't his before. Energy that now flowed into his veins from the slain beast.
He dropped to his knees, clutching his chest. His vision blurred, but a strange warmth spread through his body.
"Qi… so this is real. I can… feel it."
Memories of cultivation stories he had read in his old world surfaced. Warriors who trained for decades to master Qi. Heroes who shattered mountains with a single punch. And now, he—an ordinary man who had been crushed by a stupid restaurant sign—was touching that same power.
His lips twisted into a shaky smile. "Maybe… maybe this abyss isn't a curse after all."
He sat cross-legged, breathing slowly, letting the faint Qi circulate. His wounds didn't heal instantly, but the pain dulled slightly. His muscles felt firmer. His heartbeat steadier.
Hours passed in silence. Then, a whisper filled his ears—not a voice from outside, but from within.
> [System of the Abyss Activated]
Congratulations, you have slain your first beast.
Basic Qi awakened: Rank 0 → Rank 1.
A translucent screen shimmered faintly in front of him. It wasn't like the games he used to play, but it carried the same cold, mechanical feeling.
> Name: Ryo
Race: Human
Cultivation: Qi Rank 1
Stats:
Strength – 3
Agility – 4
Vitality – 3
Spirit – 2
Ryo blinked, rubbing his eyes. "No way… there's a system here?"
The screen vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving him in stunned silence.
For a moment, laughter escaped his lips. First, he nearly died from a falling sign. Then, he got swallowed by an abyss. Now, he had a cultivation system.
"What's next? Dragons spitting fire at me?"
As if mocking him, the cavern rumbled. Rocks fell from the ceiling as a deeper growl shook the ground.
Ryo froze, his humor vanishing instantly. He raised his spear, but his arms trembled again. He wasn't ready for another fight. Not yet.
But the abyss wasn't merciful.
From the shadows ahead, a massive shape emerged. A wolf-snake—but three times larger than the one he killed. Its scales glowed faintly, its fangs dripping venom.
Ryo's throat went dry. "I should've kept my mouth shut…"
---
He didn't run. His body screamed at him to flee, but something deeper whispered to stand and fight. This was the abyss. There was no running here.
With shaky determination, he raised his glowing moss-coat
ed spear again.
"I'm not dying in a hole. Not today."
The monster roared, and Ryo charged.