Xu Ran's mind was still reeling from the shock of his new reality. The world around him was wild and untamed, its vastness pressing in from every side. He could feel the weight of the land, the thick air, the pulse of life in every blade of grass. It was as though the very earth beneath him was alive, breathing, waiting.
The towering figure from earlier remained standing in front of him, watching him with an expression that seemed equal parts curiosity and wariness.
"Newcomer, huh?" the man repeated, crossing his arms over his massive chest. "You don't look like much, but I've seen stranger things. You got a name?"
Xu Ran blinked. It felt strange to speak the name he'd carried through his old life, a life that now felt distant. "Xu Ran," he replied, his voice sounding foreign in this new world.
The man's eyes narrowed, scanning him up and down. "Xu Ran, huh? Well, I'm Rorak. You look lost, but there's one thing you gotta understand here." He took a step forward, his boots thudding heavily on the ground, sending small tremors through the earth.
Xu Ran took a half step back instinctively, his senses on high alert, but Rorak didn't seem hostile. Instead, there was a glint of something else in his eyes—a challenge.
"You think you're strong because you feel power in your bones? Maybe you've got some magic or a gift of some kind. But you're nothing until you learn how to use that strength." Rorak reached down, picking up a large branch that could have easily been mistaken for a small tree in Xu Ran's previous world. "I've been training for years, and even I'm not at my peak. But the key to survival here is simple: strength comes from the mind."
Xu Ran raised an eyebrow. "The mind?"
Rorak nodded, slamming the branch into the ground with a mighty strike. "Without discipline, without focus, all your strength is just raw power. Unrefined, uncontrolled. You'll be like one of those wild animals you see running around. Strong, sure, but lacking purpose. You're here now, so you've got a choice: use what you've got to survive—or die like the rest."
The words stung more than Xu Ran cared to admit. He had spent his entire life in a world where the grind of work had crushed his spirit, and here, in this strange new world, he was being told that raw strength alone wouldn't be enough.
"I don't even know where to start," Xu Ran admitted, shaking his head. "I've never fought before. I was just… a worker. An office drone."
Rorak chuckled, the deep sound reverberating in the air. "Yeah, I figured as much. You don't get that look of someone who's fought for their life. But you've got something most people don't: a clean slate. Here's your first lesson."
He tossed the branch in the air with ease, its massive length spinning like a toy. Xu Ran's eyes followed it, mesmerized by the casual display of strength.
"Survival isn't about brute force alone," Rorak continued. "It's about adapting. About understanding the rhythm of the world around you and moving with it. You're strong now, but you'll only be stronger when you learn how to move your body as one with the land. So, let's start with something simple."
Rorak turned and knelt, picking up a small rock from the ground. He tossed it to Xu Ran, who caught it awkwardly.
"Throw it."
Xu Ran stared at the rock in his hand, the weight of the simple task feeling like a challenge in itself. Throw it? He'd never thrown anything larger than a paper airplane. But here, in this strange world, it felt important.
With a deep breath, Xu Ran drew his arm back, focusing on the motion. He couldn't explain why, but it felt like something deeper than just the action of throwing. His body seemed to know what to do before his mind caught up.
With a smooth motion, he hurled the rock forward, watching it soar through the air. It wasn't much, but it landed several feet away with a satisfying thud.
Rorak nodded, his face unreadable. "Not bad. But you're still thinking too much. Strength in this world isn't just about power; it's about fluidity. About knowing how to move without hesitation."
Xu Ran frowned. "So, what do you want me to do?"
Rorak grinned. "Watch me."
Before Xu Ran could react, Rorak spun with a sudden swiftness that defied his massive frame. He drew a stone from his belt and, in one smooth motion, threw it with incredible precision, sending it flying faster and farther than Xu Ran could have imagined. It landed in a distant bush, where it made a sharp cracking sound upon impact.
The display was so effortless, so controlled, that Xu Ran was left speechless. His mind buzzed with questions. How had Rorak moved like that? What kind of training had he gone through to reach that level?
"Now it's your turn again," Rorak said, his voice calm. "But this time, you'll focus not on the rock, not on your strength. You'll focus on the world. Find its rhythm."
Xu Ran wasn't sure what Rorak meant by that, but he decided to try. Closing his eyes for a moment, he tried to tune in to the air around him—the subtle movements of the wind, the sounds of distant rustling, the hum of life flowing beneath his feet.
And then, with a fluid motion, he threw the rock again.
This time, it felt different. The rock flew with more ease, more precision, its path almost natural. It landed a little farther than the first time, its thud far more satisfying.
Rorak's approving nod told Xu Ran everything he needed to know. "There's potential in you, Xu Ran. But you'll need to keep practicing. The world here doesn't wait for anyone. You either rise, or you fall."
Xu Ran stood there, chest heaving with the exertion, a strange sense of accomplishment blooming in his chest. This world was different, and his life had taken an unexpected turn. But somehow, it felt like this was where he was meant to be.
As the sky above shifted from day to night, Xu Ran knew that his true journey was only just beginning.