The mist in the forest was thicker than Kael had anticipated. Every step echoed softly among the towering black trunks, but he didn't flinch. The system pulsed in his vision, showing detailed information on every creature in sight.
---
[ENEMY DETECTED]
Name: Shadow Wolf
Level: 3
HP: 180/180
Threat: Moderate
---
Kael studied the numbers quickly, analyzing movement patterns, agility, weaknesses—all like reviewing data in a lab. With the same cold precision he would apply to a complex equation, he mentally planned his attack.
— Well… this seems almost too simple — he murmured, adjusting his stance. — But every detail counts.
He began to move silently, each step calculated, every muscle poised for instant reaction. With every passing second, the screen updated: wolf's movement, distance, potential attack angles, and weak points.
---
[DISTANCE TO ENEMY: 30 METERS]
[AGILITY: 12]
[WEAK POINT: BACK]
---
Kael grinned, brushing his tattooed arms. The dragons etched into his skin pulsed faintly, as if resonating with the system's energy flowing through his body.
The wolf howled and charged, tearing through the mist. Kael remained still until the last second, then sidestepped with effortless precision. Time seemed to slow around him; the beast's movements were clear, predictable.
His fist struck the wolf's snout with brutal accuracy, a sound like cracking thunder. The creature tumbled, whimpering, blood trickling from its wounds.
— Too easy. — Kael observed it rise, wounded, yet still ready to attack again.
The system chimed:
---
[EXP GAINED: 50]
[LEVEL UP: 2 → 3]
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS GAINED: 5]
---
Kael quickly allocated two points to Strength, two to Intelligence, and one to Endurance. With each adjustment, his reflexes sharpened, his muscles tightened, his mind became clearer.
— Now we're talking… — he murmured, analyzing the enemy with absolute precision. — Let's see if you're worthy of testing me.
The wolf lunged with speed that would have been deadly before. Kael anticipated it, dodging effortlessly, then delivered a sequence of punches and kicks calculated down to the exact angle and force. The wolf collapsed, defeated, the dark forest now quiet except for his steady breathing.
---
[EXP GAINED: 100]
[LEVEL UP: 3 → 4]
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS GAINED: 5]
---
As Kael observed the fallen wolf, something else emerged from the mist. Shadows shifted, revealing a larger creature, covered in obsidian-like scales, eyes glowing with a cold, unnatural light.
---
[ENEMY DETECTED]
Name: Shadow Dragon
Level: 5
HP: 500/500
Threat: High
---
Kael chuckled softly.
— Finally… the real test.
He studied the dragon immediately, noting attack patterns, the distance from head to tail, estimated flight speed, fire projection angles—everything—while his system points and status flashed in his vision.
---
[DISTANCE: 50 METERS]
[AGILITY: 15]
[WEAK POINT: UNDERWINGS]
---
The dragon roared, flames bursting from its mouth, illuminating the forest with fiery orange light. Kael leapt backward, calculating each movement with surgical precision. This battle had only just begun, and his blood surged with anticipation.
— Finally… this world will teach me something. — he muttered, adjusting his stance. — But first, I teach it.
---
A voice echoed inside his mind, low but commanding:
"You are progressing quickly… but do not underestimate the Crown of Shadows."
---
Kael took a deep breath. The system blinked, offering new options: abilities, initial magic, extra attack points. He smiled, feeling the weight of each decision, knowing it could mean life or death.
The dragon circled, its wings slicing through the air, creating gusts strong enough to knock down trees. Kael watched, calculating trajectory, speed, and the angle of approach. He raised his fists, ready to strike.
— Let's begin the real game.
---
The forest trembled with each beat of the dragon's wings. Kael's agility allowed him to dodge, strike, and reposition continuously. Every hit, every step, was precise. The system displayed floating numbers as his attacks landed:
---
[DAMAGE DEALT: 45]
[CRITICAL HIT! 75 DAMAGE]
---
Even as the battle escalated, Kael's mind remained calm. Each enemy was a puzzle, each strike a variable to optimize. He was no longer the boy who felt trapped in a meaningless life. Here, his intellect, reflexes, and instinct were tools of survival—and dominance.
With a final, perfectly timed dodge, he struck the dragon's weak point under its wing. Flames erupted, and the creature howled in defeat, retreating into the shadows.
Kael exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. The mist swirled around him, and he could already sense new presences moving silently through the forest.
— This is just the beginning. — Kael whispered, eyes gleaming with hunger. — The Crown of Shadows is calling… and I will be ready.
---
✨ End of Chapter 2
Kael has fully adapted to the system, faced his first major enemy, and demonstrated his intelligence, agility, and battle precision. New threats loom, and the mysterious voice of the Crown begins to shape his journey.