Rihan's eyes fluttered open. His body ached as if he had fallen from the sky. For a long moment, he simply lay on the cracked temple floor, gasping for breath.
The strange glowing screen still hovered in front of him. Its letters pulsed faintly in the dim light.
[System of Forgotten Deities Activated.]
[Directive: Survive.]
Rihan groaned. "System? Survive? What is this, some kind of game?"
His voice echoed in the ruins. No answer came. The demon he had seen earlier was gone—or perhaps it had never truly been free. The chains, the statues, the monstrous laughter… maybe it had all been some twisted hallucination.
But the cold stone beneath his hands felt too real. The scent of dust and decay burned his nostrils.
This isn't a dream. This is real.
He struggled to his feet, clutching his head. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat loud enough to deafen him.
The screen shifted.
[Status Window Unlocked.]
Against his will, words filled his vision:
> Name: Rihan Arora
Race: Human (Outlander)
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Endurance: 6
Intelligence: 8
Unique Trait: Vessel of Forgotten Deities
Rihan blinked. "Stats? Levels? This really is like a game…"
Before he could think further, the ground trembled again.
From the shadows of the temple corridor, something crawled forward.
It wasn't the colossal demon this time. No—this was smaller, faster, but no less terrifying.
A beast made of writhing darkness, its body shifting like liquid smoke, its eyes glowing faint crimson. Its claws scraped against the stone as it dragged itself closer.
Rihan's breath caught. "N-no way… a monster?"
The System chimed:
[First Trial: Eliminate the Lesser Shadow Spawn.]
[Failure: Death.]
His blood ran cold.
"Y-you've gotta be kidding me!"
The creature lunged.
Rihan barely rolled aside, the beast's claws tearing deep gashes into the ground where he had been standing. His chest burned with fear. His body screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere to go. The temple walls loomed high, broken arches letting in only faint moonlight.
The shadow beast snarled, leaping again.
Rihan grabbed a broken piece of stone from the floor and swung desperately. The shard smashed against the creature's head—yet the monster barely flinched. Instead, it screeched, knocking him back with a swipe of its claw.
Pain exploded across his ribs. He hit the ground hard, coughing blood.
[HP: 72/100]
The glowing number appeared before his eyes. His body trembled.
I can see my health?
The beast advanced slowly now, savoring his fear. Its eyes reflected hunger.
Rihan scrambled backwards. His mind raced. Think! There has to be something… anything…
The System pulsed again.
[Skill Unlocked: Forgotten Flame (Lv.1)]
[MP Cost: 20]
Words filled his head, alien yet strangely familiar.
Almost instinctively, he raised his hand. "Forgotten… Flame!"
A small spark burst to life in his palm. Not a mighty fireball—just a flicker, weak and unstable. But when the shadow beast leapt at him, Rihan thrust the flame forward.
The spark ignited into a brief flare, striking the monster's chest. The beast howled, its smoky form burning as if touched by sunlight. It stumbled back, screeching in pain.
Rihan gasped. His hand shook, the flame already gone, but it had worked.
The System chimed again:
[Enemy HP reduced.]
[Shadow Spawn: 60% remaining.]
The creature snarled, recovering. It lunged again, faster than before.
Rihan's body froze. He had no more strength left.
This is it… I'm going to die here… in some cursed temple in another world.
And then—
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Thwip!
An arrow, glowing faint silver under the moonlight, pierced through the shadow beast's head. The creature shrieked, its body unraveling into black smoke before dissolving into nothingness.
Rihan blinked, chest heaving. He turned.
At the entrance of the ruined hall stood a figure.
A tall woman, clad in light armor of silver and green. Her long hair, the color of moonlit gold, cascaded down her shoulders. A bow still in her hands, another arrow already nocked, her stance calm but ready. Her emerald eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
She was beautiful. Not in a fragile way, but in the sharp, commanding presence of a warrior.
Rihan stared, words stuck in his throat.
The woman lowered her bow slightly, studying him.
"…Strange. You're no knight, no mercenary." Her voice was steady, carrying authority. "And yet you stand within the Temple of Eclipse."
Rihan swallowed hard. "I-I don't… I don't know how I got here. I was on a train, and then—"
She frowned. "Train? I've never heard of such a thing."
Rihan realized too late—this was another world. His world's words meant nothing here.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "You're not from this land… are you?"
Rihan hesitated. Finally, he shook his head. "…No. I don't think I am."
For a long moment, silence hung between them. Only the faint sound of rain outside filled the temple.
Then, the woman lowered her bow completely.
"My name is Elira Veylan, Princess of Sylvaris." She stepped closer, her gaze piercing into him. "And you, stranger… seem to have stepped into a fate larger than you realize."
Rihan's legs nearly gave out. Relief, confusion, and fear swirled inside him all at once.
Elira extended a hand.
"Come. If you wish to survive, you'll need guidance. This land devours the weak."
Rihan stared at her hand, trembling. Slowly, he reached out and grasped it.
The System chimed one last time that night:
[New Quest: Follow Elira.]
[Reward: Survival.]