The System Awakens
Academy Training Grounds – Entering the Portal
The massive circular portal pulsed with green energy, casting eerie ripples across the training grounds. The students stood in silent anticipation, their eyes locked on the gateway leading to an uncharted world.
Kyle stood at the back, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
This wasn't just a training mission anymore. This was a proving ground.
Instructor Elara Voss stepped forward, Luminara Serpent coiled around her shoulders, glowing faintly in the dim morning light. Beside her, Dr. Wolfe adjusted his data pad, ensuring all wristbands were activated.
"This is your final warning before departure."
She flicked her wrist, and a floating digital timer appeared, counting down from 24:00:00.
"Your mission lasts twenty-four hours. You will be transported to a designated Green Zone. Do not mistake this for safety. This is a foreign planet, and every creature here evolved to survive. You have not."
Some students shifted uneasily.
Dr. Wolfe stepped forward. "Stay within the designated area. None of you are equipped to handle Dominion-Tier threats yet. You lack the weapons. You lack the experience. If you stray too far, you will not be rescued."
The warning hung in the air.
"Understood?" Elara's voice was cold.
A collective "Yes, Instructor!" echoed across the field.
She nodded once. "Then enter."
One by one, students stepped into the swirling vortex.
Kyle and his team exchanged glances. No words needed.
Then, together—they stepped through.
---
Arrival – A Planet Unlike Any Other
A rush of energy. A pulling sensation. Weightlessness.
Then—solid ground.
Kyle landed in soft soil, his eyes instinctively snapping upward.
And he froze.
The sky was purple.
A deep, rich shade, stretching infinitely above them.
And yet…
The clouds were still white.
Jace was the first to speak. "Okay. That's weird."
Vivian turned in a slow circle, taking in the alien landscape. "A purple sky… but normal clouds? What kind of planet is this?"
Lena crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Better question—why does it feel so normal?"
Despite the sky's unnatural hue, the rest of the landscape felt eerily familiar.
The trees were massive, their dark brown trunks stretching high above them. But their leaves… were blue.
Vibrant, glowing blue.
And the grass beneath their feet?
The same color.
Kyle crouched, running his hand over the soft blue blades. "Mana saturation. The planet absorbs and channels energy differently than Earth."
Darius rolled his shoulders. "Whatever. It's still just trees and grass."
Jace kicked the dirt lightly, watching the dust settle. "Yeah, but I bet it burns different when you set it on fire."
Elara's voice came through their wristbands.
"All teams, confirm arrival."
Each team leader checked in.
Elara continued. "Your designated training zone has been marked on your wristbands. Stay within the boundaries. Straying too far will result in immediate disqualification… or worse."
A silent warning.
Dr. Wolfe's voice followed. "None of you are equipped to fight Dominion-Tier threats. You do not have weapons strong enough to deal with them. Stick to the mission."
The holographic maps on their wristbands flashed, showing a marked perimeter.
Lena clicked her tongue. "Babysitting rules. Great."
Vivian frowned. "They wouldn't restrict us unless it was necessary. It means something out there is strong enough to kill us without effort."
Darius cracked his knuckles. "Then we don't give it the chance."
Kyle didn't comment.
But he felt it.
A presence.
Something was watching them.
---
The Hunt Begins – First Crystals & First Blood
The jungle was alive with distant sounds.
Rustling in the foliage. The occasional chirp of an unseen creature. The hum of energy radiating from the Gemite Crystals embedded in the trees.
Jace pointed to a nearby cluster of glowing stones lodged in the bark of a tree. "There. Our first crystals."
Vivian ran her fingers over the crystal's surface. "This one's Ember-Tier. Easy harvest."
Lena drew a small extraction blade, tapping the crystal's edge. A faint crack formed, and the crystal came loose.
+1 Ember-Tier Crystal
Jace stretched. "Well, that was easy."
A low growl echoed from behind them.
Darius turned. "Too easy."
Kyle's eyes flicked to the trees.
Shadows moved.
Then—they attacked.
---
Predators of the Jungle – Gorefang Wolves
A blur of motion. Snarling teeth. Molten fangs.
Gorefang Wolves.
Five of them burst from the foliage, eyes burning with fire-infused mana.
Jace reacted first. "We got company!"
The lead wolf lunged.
Jace sidestepped, blades flashing, slicing across its side. The wound burned, but the creature didn't fall.
Darius met another head-on, fist colliding with its jaw. The impact sent it skidding, but it recovered instantly.
Lena dodged one's bite, twisting mid-air, her dagger cutting deep into its leg.
Vivian moved fast, knocking one back with a pulse of mana, forcing it to retreat.
Kyle watched. Waiting. Calculating.
Then—one lunged for him.
He moved.
A single step to the left.
His hand snapped out, gripping the wolf's throat mid-air.
Before the beast could react—he twisted, slamming it into the ground.
The impact shook the earth beneath them.
The wolf twitched once—then stopped moving.
Then—
A ding.
A screen flashed before Kyle's eyes.
---
[System Alert]
✔ You have slain 1/10 Gorefang Wolves.
✔ EXP Gained.
✔ New Skill Unlocked: Shadowstep (Rank 1).
✔ System Function Detected: Absorb Crystal?
[YES] / [NO]
Kyle's eyes narrowed.
The system… had never left.
And now—it had evolved.
But he didn't press YES.
He couldn't.
The competition came first.
Instead, he simply dismissed the screen.
Darius stepped over, pulling a Veil-Tier Gemite Crystal from the wolf's forehead.
Veil-Tier Crystal Acquired.
Darius grinned. "One down."
Kyle remained silent.
Vivian glanced at him. "Something wrong?"
He didn't answer.
He still didn't trust her.
She was on his team, but that didn't mean she mattered.
The jungle wasn't quiet.
Far from it.
Something else was coming.
Something bigger.
And this time…
It wasn't just watching.
---