Reis opened his eyes to find himself cast into a barren plain.
He had no weapon, no armor, nothing to shield him from the first threat that might emerge.
The system opened a cold glowing window before him.
[Begin Mission: Cross the plain. Find your first weapon].
He had no choice but to comply.
Each step through the mud felt heavier than the last as if the earth itself rejected him trying to swallow him whole.
Yet he forced himself to keep going until in the distance he spotted a withered tree with a half-buried wooden chest beside it.
He approached cautiously pried it open and found a broken rusted sword inside.
It was far from ideal but better than nothing.
The system flashed again.
[Obtained: Rusted Sword].
He gripped the sword feeling its unbalanced weight but held on to it as though it were his last hope.
With his first step dragging the blade across the ground a strange sound rose behind him.
Reis turned to see three skeletons clawing their way out of the earth.
Their bones crumbled with each movement but their hollow eyes glowed with murderous intent.
Another window appeared:
[Enemies: Undead Soldiers. Level 2].
His heart skipped a beat. He stepped back raising the broken sword.
The first skeleton lunged and Reis struck it wildly shattering its skull and dropping it instantly.
The second came from the side. He ducked low and thrust forward piercing its chest. The bones collapsed into dust.
The third was relentless slashing at him with a sharpened bone that pierced his shoulder. Blood ran down his arm.
Reis roared shoving it to the ground and smashing it until nothing remained but fragments.
The system displayed the result:
[Enemies Defeated].
[Obtained: 5 Coins].
Reis opened the system menu and saw the five coins glowing beside his energy bar.
He gave a bitter smile and muttered.
"Five coins.. A cheap start, as always."
He had no choice but to move forward.
Between the scattered rocks a dark gap caught his eye an opening to a small cave.
The system flashed a hint:
[Hidden Missions Available].
Without hesitation Reis entered dragging his sword along the stone.
Darkness swallowed the cave but a faint blue glow guided him to the corpse of an ancient warrior his hand still locked around a small iron shield.
Reis pried it from his grip.
[Obtained: Small Iron Shield].
Beside the corpse lay a strange blue-glowing stone. The system explained:
[Soul Stone – Increases Spirit by +2].
Reis activated it. Warm energy surged through him as the system adjusted his stats.
[Spirit: 7].
This time he smiled without bitterness.
It was the first real boost he had gained.
He stepped back outside. Cold air lashed against his face and in the distance a faint fire flickered.
Curiosity drove him closer until he found a small shrine surrounded by shattered stone statues.
An ancient half-burned book rested on the altar.
Opening it Reis read the system's message:
[Side Quest – Guardian's Charm.]
[Collect three shards from the Cursed Grounds to activate defensive charms.]
He closed the book and muttered.
"So there are other ways to survive.. not just blind fighting."
His gaze lingered on the ruined altar.
No new prompts appeared but the thought of a defensive charm steadied his heart.
He sat for a few seconds before the shrine catching his breath.
His shoulder still bled from the bone's strike his sword smeared with mud and blood.
He opened his status window:
[Name: Zereis van Valeria]
[Age: 15]
[Class: Beginner Player]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 5]
[Spirit: 7]
[Special Abilities: {None}]
[Stamina: 90/100]
[Health: 85/100]
[Equipment: Rusted Sword – Small Iron Shield]
[Inventory: Empty]
[Coins: 5].
He closed the menu with a grimace.
"Five coins and a sword barely good enough for a kitchen knife. If I keep going like this the first real monster will end the story right here."
...
Reis stood and scanned the plain.
Nothing but mud and darkness until his eyes caught a narrow path winding between broken rocks.
[Sub-Path Discovered].
He didn't step forward right away.
Instead he stood there wondering.
"A sub-path? Is it a trap.. or an opportunity?"
He chose to risk it.
Lifting his shield he moved forward carefully.
The passage narrowed until he had to crawl at times.
Mud clung to his shield and his breath echoed unnervingly in the tight space.
Then a notification appeared:
[Alert: Hidden Chest Nearby].
Reis lifted his head.
At the end of the rocky passage a metallic corner gleamed faintly.
He pulled the small rust-covered chest from the mud and opened it.
[Obtained: 10 Coins].
[Obtained: Small Healing Charm – Restores 30 Energy].
For a moment he just stared at the message:
"A healing charm?".
Despite the pain he smiled.
"Now that's something worth finding".
He added the charm to his inventory.
[Inventory: Healing Charm (1/1)].
He sat on a rock and immediately used it.
A green glow wrapped around his body his shoulder wound knitting shut.
[Stamina: 100/100].
Reis let out a long breath.
"Finally.. I feel alive again".
But the system didn't allow him much rest.
[Main Mission Updated: Cross the plain. Confront the Tree Sentinel].
Reis lifted his head slowly.
Far in the mist, the outline of a colossal knight on horseback gleamed faintly beneath the pale moonlight.
Golden armor glimmered like a beacon, and the massive shield on his arm stood as unyielding as the trunk of the Erd Tree itself.
Reis tightened his grip on the rusted sword.
He raised his battered shield and began walking again.
This time, his steps were steadier.
But deep inside, he knew that beyond this knight waited something far worse than a chest or a forgotten corpse.