Eli Carter had never considered himself special—just an average guy slogging through a dead-end job, trapped in the monotony of daily life. Hours spent in a dim cubicle drained him of ambition, leaving him to dream of adventures he would never have. He had no inkling that his ordinary existence would come to a screeching halt the moment a truck barreled through the intersection, its blaring horn slicing through his earbuds and the dullness of his thoughts. One moment he was trudging across the street, and the next, darkness consumed him.
When Eli finally opened his eyes, he found himself sprawled on the damp forest floor, the scent of rich earth and rotting leaves filling his nostrils. Confusion washed over him like a tidal wave.
"What the hell?" he muttered, pushing himself up to take in the towering trees and unsettling silence surrounding him. "Did I hit my head? Am I dreaming?"
"Initializing System... Please stand by," a mechanical voice echoed in his mind, flat and devoid of emotion. Eli frowned, rubbing his temples.
"What? Who's there? Is this some kind of joke?"
"System initializing... 10%... 20%..." the voice continued, seemingly unbothered by his agitation.
Eli couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing his mind. "I must be hallucinating," he muttered, shaking his head. "This is too weird."
"System initialization complete. Welcome, Eli Carter! You have entered the realm of Itheria, where danger and adventure await!" the voice suddenly shifted, infused with an odd enthusiasm that felt out of place. "Please note: you have died and been reborn into this new world."
"Okay, this is definitely a mental break," Eli said aloud, glancing around the dense forest as if expecting someone to jump out and reveal the punchline. "I'm dead? Stuck in a fantasy world? Please. This has to be a dream, or I hit my head harder than I thought."
"Your primary function is to survive, gather resources, and complete achievements. I will assist you in this process during the tutorial," the System explained, its tone more factual now. "Warning: immediate danger detected."
Eli scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Right. What's next? A fairy godmother? I'm really not in the mood for this nonsense." Just as he finished his thought, a low growl rumbled nearby, sending icy tendrils of fear creeping up his spine. "What the—"
Before he could process it, a low-level ghoul burst from the underbrush, its body a grotesque parody of humanity. Its skin was a sickly green, mottled with dark patches, giving it the appearance of something that had been pulled from the depths of a swamp. Sunken black eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger, and long, jagged teeth protruded from its rotting gums as it snarled, revealing a mouth that looked far too large for its head. Thick, wiry limbs ended in claw-like fingers, each tipped with sharp, yellowed talons that glistened in the dappled sunlight. It moved with an unnatural grace, the stench of decay wafting off it like a warning.
Eli's heart raced as panic set in, the reality of his situation crashing down on him. "This is not happening!" he shouted, turning to run. But the ghoul was faster, its clawed hands outstretched, lunging at him with a feral snarl that sent adrenaline surging through his veins.
Eli stumbled backward, and in his desperate attempt to evade the creature, he lost his footing and fell hard to the ground. The ghoul pounced, its claws scraping against his arm with a searing pain. "Ah! Get off me!" Eli cried out, struggling to push the creature away. The ghoul's breath was hot and fetid against his skin, a sickening mix of rot and decay that threatened to overwhelm him.
"Survive," the System intoned, its voice steady and unyielding. "You may earn your first achievement."
"Achievement? What are you talking about?" Eli shouted, his voice laced with desperation as he grappled with the ghoul. Blood trickled from the wound on his arm, and the reality of the situation hit him like a freight train. "This isn't a game!"
"Focus on your surroundings. Find something to defend yourself with," the System suggested, its tone devoid of emotion.
With a surge of instinct, Eli glanced around, searching for something—anything—he could use to defend himself. His eyes landed on a sturdy fallen branch, jagged and heavy, just within reach. With a desperate lunge, he snatched it up, swinging it wildly at the ghoul as it lunged for him again.
The branch connected with a satisfying crack against the creature's head, and to Eli's astonishment, the ghoul staggered back, momentarily dazed. "I did it!" he exclaimed, a rush of adrenaline coursing through him. But the creature quickly regained its footing, snarling and lunging once more, its claws glinting menacingly in the muted sunlight.
"Keep going," the System replied, maintaining its calm demeanor. "You might just earn that achievement."
Eli wasn't thinking about achievements anymore; he was focused on survival. He swung the branch again, this time aiming for the ghoul's knees. The creature fell to the ground with a guttural scream, and Eli's heart raced with a mix of fear and exhilaration. Eli preceded to bash the ghouls head in. With a final sickening crunch it was over.
"Achievement unlocked: Survivor's Instinct!" the System announced, its voice almost cheerful in contrast to the chaos. "You have successfully defended yourself against a hostile creature. Congratulations!"
"What does that mean?" Eli gasped, panting as he tried to catch his breath. "What do I get from this?"
"Checking rewards..." the System replied, and Eli could almost hear the gears turning in its virtual mind. "You have unlocked: Spatial Inventory. A limited ability that allows you to store objects and retrieve them at will. Functionality will improve as you gather more achievements."
"Wait, what?" Eli exclaimed, the realization hitting him like a splash of cold water. "I can store things? But how do I—"
"Try picking something up," the System suggested, its tone steady and factual. "Utilize your new ability."
With no time to waste, Eli reached down and grabbed the ghoul's tattered cloak, yanking it free from its body. "I can store this?" he asked, willing the thought into being.
"Affirmative. Focus on the item and will it into your inventory," the System instructed, its tone unchanging.
Eli concentrated, feeling a strange warmth envelop the cloak as it vanished from his hands. A sensation of emptiness filled his mind, and a grin crept across his face. "It worked! I actually did it!"
"Congratulations, Eli! You've successfully utilized your Spatial Inventory. Just imagine the possibilities," the System stated, its voice devoid of inflection. "But be cautious; threats are still present."
"Huh, it can't be that there's more," Eli said, shaking off his moment of triumph as he surveyed his surroundings before he turned back to the downed ghoul, which was now attempting to rise once more! "Alright, let's finish this!"
As Eli swung the branch down with newfound determination, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was starting to lose his grip on reality. He had survived his first encounter, discovered an ability by accident, and somehow held onto his sanity amidst the chaos.
"Congratulations, Eli! You're officially on the path to becoming a 'cool' guy—though you might need a few more achievements to really get there," the System remarked, its tone flat.
"Shut up!" Eli huffed, a mix of disbelief and joy coursing through him. He had taken down a ghoul. It was tough. It was tiring as hell.
With the thrill of victory pulsing through him momentarily, Eli knew this was just the beginning. The world around him pulsed with potential danger, and he wasn't ready to explore it— how was he going to survive here with things like this?!
To be continued…