The voidling's claws swipe an inch from my face, and I can practically feel the rush of air. My heart's hammering away, and I'm pretty sure I've forgotten how to breathe. The glowing tattoo—okay, rune—on my arm is pulsing, hot and itchy, like I accidentally microwaved my hand. A blue countdown screen hangs in my view, smug as ever: 9:32 remaining. Fantastic. Ten minutes to not die. No pressure.
"Kinetic Pulse, huh?" I mutter to myself, dodging another swipe that sends a chunk of rock flying. The voidling's red eyes are locked onto me, filled with that predator's hunger—like my boss when I'm late for a shift. I point my hand at it, trying to feel like a superhero, even if it's just for a moment. "Alright, intent. Let's send this bony freak packing."
I clench my fist, picturing the voidling hurtling into the nearest crumbling spire. The rune flares, a jolt of energy zipping through my arm—sharp, like chugging an energy drink after a double shift. A burst of invisible force explodes from my palm, hitting the voidling square in its skeletal chest. It screeches and tumbles backward in a cloud of dust, bones clattering like a row of dishes falling off a shelf.
"Hell yeah!" I shout, grinning like a fool. The screen dings, almost as if it's celebrating: Enemy Staggered: Lesser Voidling (1/3). Stamina: 90%.
The other two voidlings, however, are not impressed. They advance, claws glinting under the bloody sky, moving like they have a personal vendetta against me. I quickly scan the Shattered Plains—it's a chaotic mess of jagged rocks, glowing mist, and those creepy rune-carved spires that seem to hum with eerie secrets. No sign of Veyra. Figures. She drops this bombshell about a death-game and vanishes, leaving me to figure out my survival.
"Intent, intent," I chant, backing up until my heel hits a rock. I thrust my hand at the nearest voidling, picturing it blasted out of the area. Another pulse fires, but this one's weaker, more of a shove than a knockdown. The voidling stumbles but keeps coming; its claws graze my jacket. I let out a yelp as fabric rips, and I scramble away. The screen flashes: Warning: Stamina at 80%. Overuse may cause Runeburn.
"Runeburn? Seriously?" I groan. "Couldn't you just say 'out of juice' like a regular game?" But of course, the system doesn't respond; it's too busy being a sadistic glowstick.
The ground rumbles again, louder this time, like some massive beast is waking beneath the ruins. The third voidling lunges, and with no cool moves left in my arsenal, I dive behind a boulder. My knees sting, still scraped from the last fall. The rune on my arm throbs, and I could almost swear it's laughing at me. I peek out and spot the first voidling I knocked down; it's back up, limping but clearly angry, joining its buddies to form a corner around me.
7:48 remaining.
"Okay, Kael, think," I whisper to myself, wiping blood from my lip. The air's buzzing with energy, and those glowing spires pulse faster, almost in rhythm with my rising panic. Veyra said the Rune Matrix responds to intent, right? Maybe I can use my surroundings to my advantage. I scan the area, spotting a cracked spire leaning precariously over a ravine. If I can lure these voidlings under it and knock it down…
I bolt from cover, waving my arms like a lunatic. "Hey, boneheads! Free barista with your lunch!" They take the bait, skittering after me, claws drawn. My sneakers slip on gravel as I sprint toward the spire, the rune's heat rushing up my arm as if I'm drinking espresso straight from the source. I slide under the spire's shadow, the voidlings hot on my tail, and spin around to face them.
"Pulse, don't fail me now!" I aim at the spire's base, envisioning it collapsing like all my plans have done. The rune flares, and a blast of force slams into the rock. It groans, cracks spiderwebbing up its side, then topples with a deafening crash. Dust fills the air, muffling the voidlings' screeches as they get buried under the rubble.
The screen pops up again, all smug and shiny: Trial Objective Updated: Lesser Voidlings Defeated (3/3). Reward: Rune Enhancement – Shard of Will (Rank 1.1). New Ability Unlocked: Focused Pulse – Narrowed force blast for precision. Cost: 15% Stamina. Cooldown: 4 seconds. Time Remaining: 6:12. New Objective: Reach the Rune Altar to complete the First Trial.
I slump against a rock, panting. "Not dead yet. Take that, universe." My arm is buzzing, the rune glowing brighter as if it's proud of me for managing not to screw this up. But the ground's still shaking, and that deep, guttural roar is getting closer, like a truck gargling nails.
Then I see her again—Veyra, perched on a ledge above the ravine, her silver hair catching the crimson light. She's watching me with that infuriating smirk. "Not bad, newbie," she calls, her voice dripping with a mix of jasmine and smoke. "But the trial's not over. That altar's guarded, and it's not by voidlings."
I glare up at her, wiping sweat from my brow. "You gonna help, or just critique my technique?"
She laughs, low and dangerous, then leaps down, landing with a feline grace. "Help? Maybe. If you're worth it." She steps closer, her amber eyes scanning me like I'm on the menu. "The Rune Altar's half a mile east. Something big's waiting there. You ready to stomp on through?"