A sudden series of chimes cut through Kael's quiet. Sharp. Insistent.
A translucent screen flickered into his peripheral vision, hovering just within reach. Words glowed faintly, pulsing almost like a heartbeat:
You have yet to complete the tutorial quest.
His chest tightened. Responsibility settled on him like a weight pressing down from all sides. He flexed his fingers, feeling the restless energy in his limbs.
[Next Tutorial Quest: Begin Your Journey]Destination: EvergroveObjective: Meet the Town Elder and assist him in collecting herbs
[Main Quest Now Available]You have five incomplete main quests
Kael's eyes lingered on the notification. Main quests. The words whispered promises of discovery… and danger. He reached for the menu—then froze.
[RESTRICTED]You have not reached the required level or fulfilled the necessary conditions to access Main Quests
Conditions:-- Meet your System Guide – Incomplete-- Reach Level 5 – Incomplete-- Complete the Tutorial Quest – Incomplete
His jaw tightened. Meet your System Guide… I thought that had already happened. Unease curled in his stomach, a cold, coiling thing.
He spoke quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "Wait… aren't you the System Guide?"
Silence stretched. Then the voice came, low, calm, almost detached.
"No. I am not your System Guide."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Then… what are you?"
A long pause, heavier than it should have been. When it finally answered, its tone held an edge.
"Hmmm. You lack the strength to make me reveal my true form… or even my name."
Frustration flared. He clenched his jaw. "How am I supposed to find my System Guide if you won't even tell me who you are?"
The entity retreated into silence.
Kael exhaled slowly. He pushed irritation aside. Another chime rang in his mind, and a glowing notification appeared:
[Unclaimed Rewards Detected]
He remembered the earlier message he had ignored. Navigating the menu, he found it:
[Reward Earned: Beginner's Luck Chest]
He hovered over the confirmation. "Open it," he said, voice steady.
The chest materialized, floating in mid-air, radiating soft golden light. Its lid creaked open. A burst of brilliance forced him to shield his eyes. The hum of the system echoed in his mind.
When the glow faded, he saw the contents: 100 gleaming coins, a rusty iron sword, and a torn piece of parchment.
[Items Acquired: 100 Coins, Rusty Iron Sword (Beginner Level), Map Fragment of Erendath]
Kael lifted the coins first. Their weight felt tangible, real. They vanished in a flash of golden particles, added to his virtual bank. A notification blinked:
[Total Coins: 350]
He examined the sword. The edge chipped, the balance awkward. This is all I have.
The map fragment caught his eye.
[Map Fragment of Erendath: 1/10]Description: Collect all ten fragments to reveal the legendary map's secrets. Fragments appear in treasure chests, secret realms, or abyss rifts.
"Ten pieces," he muttered, exhaling sharply. Figures it won't be that simple.
He queried the system about secret realms, but restrictions popped up again:
[Information Restricted. Level Requirement Not Met]
Kael's teeth ground together. Every time I try to learn something, it's locked.
"Patience," the entity said in his mind. "You're trying to sprint before you've learned to walk. Finish the tutorial first. Then we'll talk about maps and rifts."
He opened the quest log:
[Tutorial Quest: Gather Herbs]Description: Travel to Evergrove and meet with the Town ElderObjective: Collect medicinal herbs for the village healerReward: 50 XP, 50 coins, Basic Healing Potion x1
He selected it. A glowing path unfolded before him. Adjusting the rusty sword at his side, he stepped onto the forest trail.
Leaves rustled. A bird chirped. Yet tension coiled in his gut, cold and tight. Every shadow seemed to shift, alive.
The forest went still.
Kael's ears twitched—leaves whispering, a branch snapping in the distance. Fingers tightened around the rusty sword. Chipped, awkward, barely a weapon—but it was all he had.
Two red eyes glinted from the underbrush.
The Darkspawn stepped into view, sinews rolling under mottled gray skin. Claws dug shallow furrows in the dirt. The air thickened, tangy with iron—and something fouler Kael couldn't name.
[Darkspawn: Level 1]Threat Level: LowEngaging Battle Mode
Kael's chest tightened.Low threat? It looks ready to shred me.
A calm, deliberate voice slid into his mind.
"Focus. Fear clouds judgment."
Right. Watch. Calculate. Strike.
The Darkspawn lunged first.
Claws whistled past his face. Kael rolled backward, dirt and twigs scraping his arms and legs. Heart hammering, he scanned the creature—twitch of its shoulders, weight shifts, rhythm in its strikes.
"Right swing first. Don't react—anticipate," the entity said.
Muscles tensed. Sweat ran into his eyes. Damp earth and iron filled his nostrils. He wiped his vision with the back of his sleeve. Step lightly. Wait for the opening.
The Darkspawn lunged again, faster.
Kael feinted left, baiting it. It took the bait. He pivoted, pressing the tip of his sword into its neck.
Black ichor spattered across his arm—sticky, metallic. He hissed.
"Every strike counts. Don't overreach," the entity warned.
The creature flailed, regaining balance. Eyes burned with malevolence. Kael's pulse raced. Predictable bursts… I can exploit this.
He shifted, timing each step.
The Darkspawn charged. Kael sidestepped, rolling across damp soil. Grass bit his palms. He sprang to his feet, slamming the sword into its flank.
It screamed—a raw, ear-splitting howl that rattled his teeth.
"Commit. Fear slows you," the entity said.
Kael clenched his jaw. No mistakes.
The Darkspawn lunged again, eyes locked on him.
Kael measured the distance, felt the pull of momentum in its muscles. As it swiped, he twisted aside, bringing the sword down on the back of its neck.
Black ichor sprayed. The stench of blood and damp forest clawed at his senses. Every nerve fired.
"Now. End it," the entity commanded.
Kael lunged, driving the sword down again.
The creature shuddered, then collapsed, twitching.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]Darkspawn DefeatedAll stats increase by 1SP +2Dark Essence x1Coins: 50
Kael sank to his knees, chest heaving. Sweat plastered his hair. Arms ached. The creature's ichor cooled on his skin, sticky and metallic.
"…I actually did it," he muttered, small laugh escaping.
The entity's voice returned, calm and unwavering.
"Barely. Progress is progress. Onward. The journey's just begun."
Kael's gaze swept the shadowed trees. Every rustle, every sway of branches, felt alive, predatory. Excitement and fear coiled in his chest.
I have power now… but it's not enough. Not nearly enough.
"You need more strength," the entity said softly. "This is not enough. Or you will be prey."
Kael's fingers tightened on the rusty sword. Weight pressed down—the countless monsters, unclaimed quests, hidden threats. Every instinct screamed: survive. Grow. Adapt.
He's right. I need to grow stronger. Fast. Otherwise… I'll be hunted. And I won't survive.
The system interface glimmered faintly at the edge of his vision, pulsing with potential.
Kael's eyes narrowed. Adrenaline still coursed through him. The forest waited, dark and watchful, hiding threats beyond the shadows.
The System Guide…
A thrill ran through him, sharp and uneasy. Danger lurked everywhere—but the thought of finally finding the Guide, of unlocking the path to real power, drove him forward.
He rose, adjusting the sword. The forest stretched endlessly, alive with hidden motion. Each step a challenge. Each shadow a test.
Kael inhaled sharply, heart hammering.
No mistakes. No hesitation. Survive, grow, find the Guide. That's the only way.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's finish the tutorial… Then find that System Guide."