Luo Zheng awoke the next morning to the cold whisper of wind sneaking through the cracks of his small attic room. The events of the previous day felt like a dream—the Genius System, the blue screen, the knowledge test. But when he opened his eyes, the screen appeared before him once more.
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Welcome back, Luo Zheng.
New Mission Unlocked: The First Test
Objective: Defeat one F-Class Beast hound without external assistance.
Reward: +1 Strength | Combat Skill: Basic Blade Arts | System Upgrade Fragment (1/5)
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He sat up, blinking. A Beast hound? Those creatures were dangerous even for trained guards, let alone a bottom-ranked F-Class civilian like him. Still, he didn't hesitate. The mission was clear—and it was his first real step forward.
He strapped on a worn-out belt, tucked a rusted dagger he'd found years ago into it, and slipped on his old leather boots. Every step echoed with quiet determination as he left his room and stepped into the waking city of Bright Haven.
The scrapyard on the city's outskirts was his destination—a twisted graveyard of machines, wires, and rusted metal where scavengers and beasts often wandered. Beast hounds, mutated mongrels fused with cybernetic parts, were known to roam there.
As he approached the towering gates of the scrapyard, the scent of oil and decay grew thicker. He clenched his fists. "Let's do this."
Inside, heaps of metal cast strange shadows. Rats squeaked beneath piles of junk, and distant clanks hinted at movement.
Then he saw it.
A Beast hound. Its mechanical hind legs clicked as it sniffed through a mound of broken parts. Glowing red eyes turned toward him. Its mouth opened, revealing sharp metallic teeth.
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Target Identified: Beast hound (F-Class, Mid Stage)
Estimated Threat: Moderate
Tips: Target exposed wiring near hind leg. Avoid frontal assault.
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The Beast hound growled low and pounced.
Luo Zheng dodged to the side, barely escaping the snapping jaws. He rolled across the dirt, heart pounding. The beast turned quickly, lunging again.
This time, Luo Zheng feinted left and darted right. He spotted a hanging coil of wire on the creature's leg. As the Beast hound charged again, he slashed his dagger at the spot.
Sparks flew. The creature howled.
It stumbled, its leg twitching.
Luo Zheng didn't waste the opening. He sprang forward, climbed onto its back, and jammed his dagger deep into a weak point at the base of its neck.
With a final jolt, the beast collapsed.
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Mission Complete.
Beast hound Defeated.
Reward Granted: +1 Strength | Skill Acquired: Basic Blade Arts | System Upgrade Fragment (1/5)
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Luo Zheng fell to one knee, gasping. Sweat drenched his clothes. Blood—some his, most the beast's—stained his hands. But his mind was sharp, his vision clearer.
A strange warmth coursed through his muscles. He could feel the change—he was stronger.
Then a screen flickered again.
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System Tip:
Basic Blade Arts Unlocked
Status: Level 1 | Increases precision and efficiency in close-combat knife attacks.
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A faint smile crept across his face.
"I did it."
He picked up his dagger, now dented and chipped, and turned toward the city. The path ahead would be hard, but he'd taken his first step.
And from a rooftop nearby, a cloaked figure watched him vanish into the scrapyard mist. He pressed a button on a wrist device.
"He's passed the first test," the figure whispered. "The system... has really awakened