The forest stretched endlessly before Lucas, a place where every tree seemed like a towering sentinel watching his every move. The air was damp, filled with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves. Above, the canopy blocked most of the moonlight, leaving only faint silvery shafts that pierced through gaps, sketching eerie shapes on the forest floor.
He tightened his grip on the rusted sword in his hand. It wasn't much—just a blade dulled by time, the handle wrapped with half-torn leather—but right now, it was the only thing standing between him and death.
Why me? he thought, his heart pounding as if it might burst out of his chest. Why this place? Why this trial?
The system's voice echoed faintly in his head, mechanical and emotionless.
[Trial Objective: Survive the Night][Secondary Objective: Defeat the Beast of the Forest]
Lucas licked his dry lips. Survive the night? That sounded simple enough. But if the forest was truly alive, if something was hunting him already, then even making it to dawn would be near impossible.
A branch snapped somewhere to his right.
Lucas froze.
The sound wasn't from him.
Slowly, he shifted his gaze, his whole body trembling. Between the trees, two faint glimmers of gold shone like burning coals. They blinked once. Twice. Then began to move closer.
"Shit…" Lucas whispered, his breath shallow.
The creature emerged from the shadows—a wolf, but larger than any he had ever seen. Its shoulders were as high as his chest, its fur midnight black, its eyes glowing with unnatural hunger. Saliva dripped from its maw, sizzling as it hit the ground, eating through fallen leaves like acid.
Lucas staggered back, his sword raised. His legs screamed to run, but his mind knew it was pointless. The trial had begun.
The wolf prowled around him in a circle, muscles rippling under its thick coat. Every movement was slow, deliberate, predatory.
Lucas forced himself to steady his breathing. "I can't… I can't panic," he muttered.
Think. Think! His mind raced. It's stronger, faster… but maybe I'm not completely helpless.
The system chimed again.
[Hint: Weakness—The Eyes]
The eyes? Lucas swallowed hard. Hitting such a small target while this monster was charging him sounded like suicide. But he didn't have another option.
The wolf snarled, a sound so deep it rattled his bones. Then it leapt.
Time slowed.
Lucas saw the beast mid-air, claws extended, fangs glistening under the dim light. His instincts screamed to dodge, but instead he planted his feet, raising the blade.
"Come on!" he roared, more to himself than to the wolf.
The impact was like a battering ram. The sword met flesh, but the rusted blade only scraped along the wolf's jaw, sparks flying. Lucas was thrown backward, crashing into the ground, the air knocked from his lungs.
Pain shot through his side. His vision blurred.
The wolf turned, already preparing for another strike.
Lucas coughed blood, struggling to rise. "If I don't fight… I die here."
He forced himself onto his knees, gripping the sword with both hands. His body trembled, but deep inside, a spark of determination ignited.
The wolf lunged again.
Lucas rolled aside, barely avoiding the claws that tore into the soil where he had just been. He slashed upward, the blade cutting across the wolf's leg. A shallow wound, but it made the beast howl in rage.
"Got you!" Lucas gasped, even as his arms shook from the effort.
The wolf's golden eyes burned brighter. It was angry now—angry and reckless.
Lucas steadied himself. This is my chance…
The beast charged, head lowered, eyes glowing like targets. Lucas inhaled sharply, raising the sword. At the very last moment, instead of dodging, he thrust the blade forward with every ounce of strength he had.
The rusted steel pierced flesh.
The wolf's momentum carried it onto the blade, the tip driving into one of its glowing eyes.
The forest exploded with the beast's roar.
Lucas screamed as he was thrown to the ground again, but this time the monster staggered, thrashing wildly, blood pouring from its ruined eye.
He crawled backward, gasping for breath. "I… I actually hit it…"
The wolf swayed, then collapsed with a heavy thud, shaking the earth.
For a moment, there was silence. Only Lucas's ragged breathing filled the air.
Then, the system's voice returned.
[Secondary Objective Complete][Reward: Beginner's Pack Granted][Trial Status: Continue Surviving Until Dawn]
Lucas stared at the glowing notification in disbelief. He was alive. He had slain the beast.
But his relief was short-lived.
From deeper within the forest, multiple howls answered the fallen wolf's cry.
Dozens of glowing eyes appeared between the trees.
Lucas's blood ran cold. "You've got to be kidding me…"
The night had only just begun.