Ethan's body ached, each step through the dense forest sending waves of exhaustion crashing into his limbs. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving him with a bitter taste of reality. The creature was gone, but the damage had been done. His blood soaked through his ragged clothes, and the world around him seemed to pulse with an eerie quietness.
He couldn't stay here. Not like this.
His mind raced, trying to make sense of what had happened. The System. The creature. His new body. None of it made sense, yet the more he tried to deny it, the more real it became. His reflection in the pool had confirmed it—he wasn't just in a new world; he was in someone else's body, living a life that wasn't his own.
[System Status: Active]
Host: Ethan Cross
Age: 21 (Adjusted)
Chrono Rank: F (Novice)
Attributes:
Strength: 4
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 12
Willpower: 10
Abilities:
Rapid Cognitive Acceleration – Learn and process information 2x faster for a limited time.
Time Instinct (Locked) – Instinctive awareness of immediate threats, activated at Rank E.
[Suggested Action: Find Shelter. Recover Health.]
[Warning: Critical Condition Detected. Immediate Medical Attention Required.]
The words on the screen seemed to mock him. Recover health? How was he supposed to do that when he barely knew where he was? He didn't even have basic survival skills. His mind flickered to the brief flashes of combat techniques he'd absorbed during the battle with the creature, but it was clear that his body couldn't handle much more. He needed help.
That's when he saw it. Through the trees, a flicker of movement. It was quick, almost imperceptible, but it was there.
His instincts screamed at him to hide, to stay low, but his feet betrayed him, moving forward despite his better judgment. As he pushed through the thick underbrush, he came upon a small clearing—a campsite.
A fire burned low in the center, and a figure sat with their back to him, their posture relaxed. The faint glint of metal caught the last rays of twilight, and Ethan felt a spike of caution rise in his chest. Was this a survivor? An enemy? He wasn't sure, but he couldn't risk being spotted.
He dropped to his knees, leaning behind a thick tree, his breath shallow as he waited, watching the stranger. The System seemed to pulse in his mind, offering no suggestions for this situation. It was as if it were leaving him to make the call.
[System Status: Active]
Combat Status: Caution Advised
The figure shifted, and Ethan held his breath, hoping they hadn't heard him. But then, to his surprise, the person spoke, their voice low but clear.
"I know you're there. Come out."
Ethan froze, his heart skipping a beat. How could they have known? Had the System alerted them? Was there some kind of sixth sense at play?
"Look, I'm not here to fight," the figure continued, their tone slightly amused. "But I can't have you lurking in the shadows. Not out here."
After a long moment, Ethan rose slowly from his hiding place, his hands raised in surrender. The figure turned to face him, revealing a young woman with dark hair tied back in a tight braid, her eyes sharp and calculating.
Her eyes scanned him briefly, taking in his ragged appearance, the blood that stained his clothes. She didn't seem surprised, though. As if she had expected him.
"Thought you'd be a little more... capable for someone with the System," she said, her gaze flicking to something in the air that Ethan couldn't see. "You look like you're still figuring it out."
Ethan blinked, not entirely sure what to say. "You—can see the System?" he asked, his voice hoarse from his earlier struggle.
She gave a half-smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I can see the effects of it. You're not the first to wake up like this. But you're lucky. You survived the first encounter."
His stomach churned at the thought of the creature that had nearly killed him. "I... I don't know what happened," he admitted, lowering his hands. "One minute, I was... I was dead. The next... I'm here. In this body. With this… thing inside my head."
She tilted her head, studying him intently. "That's a lot to process," she said. "You're lucky it's you. Some people would've broken just from the shock."
Ethan's head swam, but he fought to keep his focus. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice steadier now. "And where are we?"
The woman sighed, glancing toward the fire as if weighing something in her mind. "My name's Aelira," she said after a moment. "And where you are... well, that's complicated. This is the Shrouded Wilds. A place of transition for people like you."
Aelira stood up, dusting off her pants before glancing back at Ethan. "If you're serious about surviving, you'll need to learn fast. The world isn't kind to those who don't adapt."
Ethan didn't hesitate. "I'll do whatever it takes. But I need answers."
Aelira nodded, her expression unreadable. "And you'll get them. But first, you need to heal. Let's get you to a safer place."
As Aelira turned to lead him deeper into the forest, Ethan's mind was a whirlwind. This was only the beginning, he realized. Whatever this world was, he was now a part of it. To survive, he would need to rely on the System, adapt to its demands, and discover the truth behind his mysterious transmigration.
System Status: Active
[Host Condition: Critical, Immediate Medical Attention Required.]
[Suggested Action: Proceed to a Safe Location. Rest and Recover.]