Kael woke to the sound of his own heartbeat, pounding in his ears.
OUCH
OUCH
OUCH
The air was cold, sharp enough to bite through his clothes, and the world around him was… gray. Endless gray. No walls, no ceiling, no sky. Just him, lying on a rough stone floor that pressed against his back, and silence that felt heavier than a tomb.
Then it appeared infront of him.
A floating panel hovered in front of his eyes, glowing faintly with a light that seemed alive.
[Welcome! Player name : Kael]
[ Please select your class]
Kael sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Class selection? What the hell is this?"
[Available Classes: Warrior / Archer / Mage / Rogue]
[Choose Wisely, Player. Your choice will shape your destiny.]
His hand hovered over the options. Warrior seemed safe, strong, and straightforward. Mage promised raw power but demanded precision. Rogue whispered of speed, cunning, and unpredictability. Archer felt like a master of distance and patience. Kael's instincts pulled him toward Rogue.
[Class Selected: Rogue]
[Starting Attributes: Strength 10 | Agility 15 | Intelligence 12 | Endurance 10]
[Starting Skills: Quick Strike (Lv.1), Evasion (Lv.1)]
[Inventory: Basic Dagger, Leather Armor, Healing Herb x3]
A surge of energy ran through him. His senses sharpened. He could hear the faintest drip of water echoing somewhere in the distance. The edges of his vision picked up movements he hadn't noticed before. Even the texture of the stone beneath him felt sharper, more real.
"Okay… this is real," Kael muttered.
A new panel appeared, almost as if responding to his thought:
[Quest Available]
[Name: Tutorial – Survive Your First Encounter]
[Objective: Defeat 3 Cave Rats]
[Reward: 150 EXP, 50 Gold, 1 Skill Point]
Kael's stomach twisted. A quest? This wasn't a game on a screen. He could feel it in his veins. The panel pulsed, then faded, leaving him with a faint green glow in the dim gray.
A rustling sound came from the shadows. Small, gray creatures with glowing red eyes skittered into view.
[Enemy Detected]
[Name: Cave Rat]
[Level: 1]
[Health: 50/50]
[Abilities: Bite, Scurry]
Kael drew his dagger, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. The leather grip pressed against his palm, grounding him. "Guess this is my test," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline.
[Action Options: Attack / Skill / Item / Run]
He chose Skill → Quick Strike. The dagger flashed in a blur as he lunged at the nearest rat.
[Damage: 28]
[Enemy Health: 22/50]
The creature hissed, its small teeth snapping in midair. Kael rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a bite. Before the rat could recover, he struck again, cutting it down.
[Enemy Defeated]
[EXP Gained: 50]
[Gold Gained: 15]
Two more rats appeared, and Kael's movements grew sharper, more precise. His first kill was shaky, but the second and third felt natural. Every swing, every roll, every strike built his confidence. When the last rat fell, another panel appeared:
[Quest Completed]
[EXP Gained: 150]
[Gold Gained: 50]
[Skill Point Gained: 1]
[Level Progress: 12% → 24%]
Kael exhaled. He had survived his first fight. The pulse of excitement in his veins was intoxicating. He felt alive in a way he never had before.
He explored the cavern cautiously, every sense alert. The gray stone walls were slick, damp, and twisted, with faint echoes hinting at tunnels branching deeper. He ran his fingers along the walls, feeling small cracks and jagged edges. Something glimmered faintly on the ground ahead.
[Item Detected]
[Name: Rusted Short Sword]
[Type: Weapon – Melee]
[Damage: 12-18]
Kael picked it up and examined it. The blade was old and worn, but balanced. He strapped it to his side, considering its usefulness. His dagger was fast, light, perfect for quick strikes. This sword might give him a bit more reach if needed.
As he moved deeper into the cavern, he heard it: a low, guttural growl echoing from the darkness ahead. The ground trembled slightly. Kael crouched, instincts screaming that something bigger than rats waited for him.
[Enemy Detected]
[Name: Goblin Scout]
[Level: 2]
[Health: 120/120]
[Abilities: Spear Thrust, Dodge, Alert Call]
Kael's pulse quickened. The goblin was faster than the rats, smarter. But he was ready. He darted forward, using Skill → Quick Strike, slashing across its chest.
[Damage: 42]
[Enemy Health: 78/120]
The goblin hissed and lunged, spear aiming for Kael's side. He rolled under the attack, stabbing upward with his dagger.
[Damage: 35]
[Enemy Health: 43/120]
The goblin tried to call for help, but Kael was faster. Another stab, and the creature collapsed.
[Enemy Defeated]
[EXP Gained: 80]
[Gold Gained: 30]
Kael's chest heaved. Sweat stung his eyes. This was no simulation. Every heartbeat, every movement mattered.
A new panel appeared:
[Level Up Available]
[Current Level: 1 → 2]
[Stat Points: 3 Available]
[Skill Points: 1 Available]
Kael grinned. He tapped into the panel instinctively, distributing points. Agility went up first, then Strength, then Intelligence. He upgraded Quick Strike to Level 2.
[Quick Strike → Lv.2]
[Damage: 40 → 55]
A sense of power surged through him. Every step he took deeper into the cavern made him feel more alive. The faint gray light seemed less oppressive, shadows less threatening. He was adapting.
Kael paused, catching his breath. He looked at the faint tunnels branching ahead and smiled. He had no idea what awaited him, no idea how far this dungeon went. But for the first time, he felt ready to face it.
[Hint: Exploration and combat are the keys to survival. Always check for enemies and items.]
Kael sheathed his dagger and tightened his grip on the rusted sword. The cavern stretched before him, full of unknown dangers, mysteries, and treasures. He stepped forward, one careful foot in front of the other, and the adventure truly began.
This world was unforgiving. It did not care who he was or what he wanted. Kael only knew one thing: he would survive, grow stronger, and carve his name into its depths.