When Lin Yuan regained consciousness, it felt like his entire body had been crushed by a truck. Every muscle screamed in pain.
He opened his eyes sluggishly.
Above him stretched a deep blue sky, clouds slowly drifting by. The sunlight was gentle, yet the air carried a faint, unfamiliar scent — a mix of earth and burning sulfur.
"This isn't… home?"
Struggling to sit up, Lin Yuan looked around.
He was lying in a dense, towering forest. Strange cries of unknown beasts echoed from the depths of the woods. A small creek flowed nearby, its surface shimmering under the light.
Everything looked somewhat familiar… yet utterly alien.
Just then, a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[System initializing…]
[Binding host: Lin Yuan.]
[Supreme Evolution System activated.]
Lin Yuan froze.
System? Reincarnation?
All these keywords exploded in his brain at once.
Before he could fully process it, a translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes:
[Newbie Quest: Survival Trial]
Defeat one wild monster (Level 1) Reward: 100 EXP, Starter Weapon ×1
Countdown: 01:59:58
"Survival trial? Monster?"
Lin Yuan swallowed nervously.
As he was contemplating escape, a low growl rumbled from the woods.
He snapped his head around to see a creature the size of a small cow emerging from the underbrush.
Its gray fur was matted with dirt, sharp fangs bared, and blood-red eyes glinted with hunger.
A new notification popped up:
[Wild Fangwolf (Lv1)]
HP: 300/300 Attack: 15 Speed: Medium Trait: Pack Hunter, Enhanced Smell
"A wolf?!"
Lin Yuan's heart pounded. His hands were empty — no weapon, no armor, not even a stick!
Sensing his dire situation, the system chimed again.
[Detected first combat engagement. Granting Starter Weapon.]
A burst of white light, and an old, battered iron sword appeared before him.
Without hesitation, Lin Yuan grabbed it.
The sword felt cold and a little heavy, but somehow reassuring.
"No choice but to fight!"
He gritted his teeth, adopting what he thought was a proper sword stance.
The wolf growled and pounced.
Lin Yuan instinctively raised the sword to block.
Clang!
The impact nearly knocked the weapon from his hands.
"Such strength!"
Lin Yuan staggered back, hands numb from the blow.
The wolf circled, muscles tensing for another strike.
He had to fight smarter — he couldn't overpower it head-on!
Steeling himself, Lin Yuan sidestepped the next lunge, slashing at the wolf's hind leg.
[-25]
A small damage number floated above the wolf.
It howled in pain, turning even more ferocious.
Sweat poured down Lin Yuan's face as he dodged and weaved. His breaths came ragged, his muscles screamed.
[System Notice: Combat proficiency increased.]
[Swordsmanship Skill: Lv1 → Lv2]
Warmth surged through his body.
Lin Yuan felt himself moving faster, reacting sharper.
"The system… it enhances my combat instinct?!"
Hope reignited in his heart.
No longer blindly blocking, he darted around the wolf, chipping away at its health.
Finally, as the wolf slowed from accumulated injuries, Lin Yuan spotted his chance.
With a shout, he lunged forward, plunging his sword deep into its throat!
[-68]
The wolf let out a strangled yelp and collapsed, twitching once, twice… then lay still.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations! You have defeated Lv1 Wild Fangwolf!]
[Rewards: 100 EXP, Starter Longsword (Durability +10)]
[Level Up! Current Level: Lv2]
The interface blinked.
[Lin Yuan Lv2]
Strength: +2 Agility: +1 Endurance: +2 Skill Points: +1
Lin Yuan collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air.
He had survived his first battle.
More importantly, he had tasted the system's power — and it was real.
If he could keep fighting, keep growing stronger, maybe… just maybe he could survive in this new world.
Gripping his sword tightly, Lin Yuan's gaze hardened.
However, deep in the shadows of the forest, a pair of massive, glowing eyes silently watched him…