Leon stood in the middle of the village square, the echoes of his victory still ringing in his ears. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and burning wood. The sun had barely risen, casting a faint, blood-red light over the wreckage. The village, once peaceful and quiet, now lay in ruins.
The power that had surged through him moments ago was still fresh in his veins. He flexed his fingers, feeling the remnants of magic crackling in the air around him. It was... unlike anything he had ever experienced. The warmth of the magic, the sharpness of the energy, it felt as though it was now a part of him, flowing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
He glanced around. The other creatures—beasts, like the one he had just defeated—were still tearing through the village. They were vicious, relentless, and their numbers seemed endless. Leon felt a tightening in his chest. He wasn't sure if he had the strength to fight them all.
But the voice in his head spoke again, calm and sure.
"Your first task: Defend the village. Collect the power of the Light Relics."
The words stirred something deep inside him, a call to action he couldn't ignore. His body moved on instinct as his eyes scanned the surrounding area. The creatures were vicious, but they weren't invincible. He had just proven that. His hand tightened into a fist.
"Let's finish this," he muttered to himself.
Without another thought, Leon dashed toward the nearest beast, a massive, hulking creature with twisted horns and scales that shimmered like black glass. It was tearing down a building with one clawed swipe, sending chunks of debris flying. The villagers who had been trapped inside screamed in terror.
Leon didn't hesitate. His legs carried him faster than he thought possible. He couldn't rely on magic alone, not with how exhausted he felt. But as he neared the creature, he felt the pulse of the Light Relic System stirring again, urging him forward.
The creature noticed him at the last second, but it was too late. Leon was already close enough.
He jumped, twisting his body in midair, and as he came down, his fist connected with the beast's jaw. There was an explosion of light as his punch landed, sending the creature staggering back. Leon didn't give it time to recover. His other fist flew forward, this time releasing a burst of energy that surged through his arm and struck the creature's chest. The blast sent it crashing into the ruins of a nearby building.
Leon landed in a crouch, his heart pounding, but he felt a thrill rush through him. The magic was still there, fueling him, giving him strength he never thought he could have.
"Task complete: 1 creature defeated. Reward: 10 Light Relics collected."
The voice in his mind was calm, but its message was loud and clear. Light Relics. He had no idea what they were, but the System seemed to value them. It was an odd feeling—he was receiving rewards for things he had always thought impossible.
He stood up slowly, wiping the sweat from his brow, feeling the exhaustion set in. It was only his first real fight with magic, and already his body was beginning to tire. But he couldn't stop. Not now. Not when the village still needed him.
As he moved toward the next threat, the System spoke again.
"Reminder: Collect 100 Light Relics to unlock the next phase of your abilities."
Leon paused. That was a lot of Relics. But it was a challenge. And for the first time in his life, he felt the urge to rise to it. To push himself beyond what he thought he could do.
He wasn't just some ordinary boy anymore. He had a purpose. A mission.
The roar of another beast brought him back to the present. This time, it was smaller—only about the size of a large wolf, but with razor-sharp claws and fiery red eyes. It was already attacking a group of villagers who had been cornered near the village's eastern wall.
Without wasting another moment, Leon dashed toward the wolf-like creature. It didn't notice him at first, focused entirely on its prey. Leon used that to his advantage.
He drew in a deep breath, reaching for the power within him. His fingers crackled with energy, and as he approached, he thrust his hands forward, unleashing a blast of light that knocked the creature off its feet. It yelped in surprise, but Leon wasn't finished.
He was growing more confident now, the magic surging through him with a purpose. As the creature tried to recover, Leon dashed forward again, this time using his magic to propel himself faster. He grabbed the creature by its scruff, lifting it off the ground with surprising ease. With a determined look, he threw it against the nearest tree, watching as the impact left a deep indent in the bark.
The creature growled, but it was weak. Leon was stronger now. He raised his hand again, and with a powerful surge of light, the creature was obliterated in a flash of radiance.
"Task complete: 1 creature defeated. Reward: 10 Light Relics collected."
Leon gasped for breath as the last remnants of the magic faded. His limbs felt heavy, but there was a sense of accomplishment within him. The village was still in danger, but for the first time, he felt like he was truly making a difference.
He turned to see the group of villagers he had saved, their wide eyes filled with gratitude and fear. They didn't understand what had just happened. But they didn't need to. All that mattered was that they were alive, and for the first time in his life, Leon had done something meaningful.
"Thank you," one of the villagers, an older woman, said softly, stepping forward. "You… you saved us."
Leon smiled, though it felt foreign on his face. "It's not over yet."
His voice was steady, but inside, a fire was growing. The System had given him a task, and he intended to see it through. The village wasn't safe yet. And neither was he. There was still much to learn, many more enemies to face, and a long road ahead of him.
But for the first time in his life, Leon wasn't afraid. He was ready.