The golden light from leveling up faded, and Null stood there breathing hard. The canyon air tasted like blood and smoke. He was Level 6 now, but the game was already being stingy with experience. Even when you won, the system found ways to screw you over. Two levels... and a reminder this world wasn't playing around. Like how does he kill a level 10 boss but only gain two levels. That's some bullshit.
Every move mattered here. Survival wasn't about luck—it was about not fucking up. Not wasting time on useless stuff. You have to manage your time well. In game or in real life. His parents didn't spend all that money for him to die to some stupid wolves.
The little dragon sat beside him, her gold scales catching the last light. She was still small enough to sit on his shoulder, but sometimes she looked at him with these old eyes, like she'd seen centuries pass. Weird for something that just hatched.
Null crouched down to her level. "You're something special, aren't you?"
He pulled up her stats in the system window, and his eyes went wide. Her growth numbers were crazy. No normal pet, no monster, nobody in the starting area should have stats like this.
"Ten stars... in everything?" he mumbled, half laughing. "That's broken as fuck literally maxed out on growth rating." No wonder that dragon Aurelius wanted her back.
The dragon tilted her head and made a soft chirping noise.
Null grinned. "Okay, okay. You need a name."
He thought for a second. "How about... Titan? Sounds strong, right?"
A sharp chirp cut him off, and a system message popped up.
Your companion prefers a more feminine name.
Null blinked. "Oh... you're a girl. Sorry." He smiled properly this time. "What about... Stella? Like the stars?"
The dragon blinked slowly, then nuzzled his hand gently. I guess she likes it.
You have named your companion [Dragon Heir: Stella]. Bond strengthened.
Null chuckled. "Alright Stella. Let's see what that wolf dropped for us."
The canyon floor had some loot scattered around. Null picked through it carefully, the smell of dead wolf still hanging in the air.
There was some leather armor—bronze quality, tough but flexible. A sharp fang dagger that felt good in his hand. A silver bracelet with weird markings that looked like part of a set. And a skill scroll glowing with soft light.
He read the description:
[Lucky Strike] — A rare skill that lets you throw your weapon for big damage, but you lose the weapon. No cooldown.
Null smirked. "A all-or-nothing move. Perfect for someone with nothing to lose." And with Null-Command, maybe he could find a way around losing the weapon too.
He put on the new armor and dagger, stuffing the rest in his inventory. The canyon was still crawling with more corrupted wolves, their red eyes glowing in the shadows. Stella's tail twitched, ready to fight.
"Okay," Null said quietly. "Let's keep moving. Stay quiet, hit hard."
They fell into a rhythm. Null's sword cutting through the dark, Stella's tail smashing into enemies like a golden wrecking ball. She moved like she was born for this, all grace and destruction. They shared experience from each kill, though Null noticed the game gave him more when he landed the final blow and less when Stella did. Which made sense.
The levels came steady. Seven. Then eight. Small wins, but each one made him feel more in control. His sword moves got cleaner, less panicked. Null gets more and more used to the mechanics.
When they finally stopped to rest, Null leaned against a big rock, catching his breath. Stella cleaned her wings, scales shimmering in the fading light.
For just a moment, everything was quiet.
He closed his eyes, feeling the wind on his face—real wind, not hospital air conditioning. Not the feeling of struggling to breathe. Here, every breath was easy. Every heartbeat was his own.
"Man," he whispered, smiling a little. "I could get used to this."
But peace never lasts in Oblivion. At least not for the supposed main character.
A deep growl echoed through the canyon, way louder than the wolves. Null's eyes snapped open. Three huge shadows moved in the distance, their shapes getting clearer in the dim light.
At first he thought his eyes were playing tricks. Then he saw them properly.
A tiger, its fur all burned-looking with red veins pulsing under the skin.
A lion, its mane flickering like fire under ash.
And above them, a giant eagle with metal claws that glowed like they were fresh from a forge.
[Corrupted Tiger] (Silver Boss) - Level 20
[Corrupted Lion] (Silver Boss) - Level 20
[Steel-Claw Eagle] (Silver Boss) - Level 20
The whole canyon shook. Rocks fell from the cliffs. The air smelled like lightning. Every part of him screamed to run away.
He let out a shaky laugh. "You've got to be kidding me. Three Silver bosses? Here?" And all level 20. What kind of beginner area has this shit?
He could feel Stella tensing up beside him—her tail twitching, a low growl in her throat. She wanted to fight. He wanted to live.
"Not today," he whispered, backing up. "We're not dying here. Stella, go!"
The dragon didn't hesitate. Her wings snapped open, kicking up a dust storm. The wind roared as they shot into the air, just as the tiger's massive paw smashed where they'd been standing, cracking the ground open.
Null held tight to Stella's scales as they flew deeper out of the canyon. Below, the bosses roared in anger, their cries following them through the narrow passages. The Eagle tried to give chase but unsurprisingly Stella was much faster even as a newborn.
The world became a blur of gray rock and red light. Null clung to Stella, each heartbeat reminding him how close they'd come to being smashed into paste.
"Rise like a hero, huh?" he muttered, laughing despite the fear. "More like run away screaming first." But no shame in surviving first.
Stella made a soft rumbling noise, almost like she was laughing too.
Even while running for his life, Null could feel it—that thrill of being alive, fierce and addicting. Today, they'd escaped. But tomorrow...
He looked ahead at the canyon exit growing closer, and whispered to himself with new determination:
"This game won't beat me. Not ever when even reality can't." I will definitely be back and by then we will see who's gonna be the one running.