I take a deep breath and try to center myself, fighting down the rising panic. Years of land navigation training kick in – assess surroundings, find reference points, establish position. But something's wrong. The stars above aren't right. Not just slightly off, but fundamentally wrong in a way that makes my brain itch.

  The constellations I've memorized and used countless times to orient myself during night ops are either missing or in impossible positions. Polaris, the North Star, my most reliable guide? Gone. In its place hovers a cluster of stars pulsing with violet light, their patterns shifting like living things.

  "Okay, Santos, basics," I mutter, pulling out every trick from my field craft training. My voice sounds oddly muffled, as if the forest itself is absorbing the sound. I check the moss on the trees – it's growing in all directions, defying the basic rule that moss favors the north side. Some patches even seem to be slowly crawling across the bark as I watch.

  The wind keeps changing, not just direction but... temperature? One moment it's warm as summer, the next it carries a bite of winter frost. And sometimes, when it gusts through the leaves, it sounds almost like whispered words.

  Environmental Analysis activated

  Warning: Wyldwood anomalies detected

  Magical interference: High

  Survival difficulty: Moderate to Severe

  The forest warped around me, defying natural law with each passing moment. Ancient trees towered overhead, their bark rippling like liquid metal in the strange light. What had started as ordinary pine forest had transformed into something from a fever dream – doorways carved into massive trunks, shadows that moved against the light, and canopies that transformed the sky's glow into dancing auroras.

  A hysterical laugh bubbles up from my chest. "Well, we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto." The words barely leave my mouth when the forest shadows deepen around me, and suddenly, numbers and stats start flashing across my vision like some kind of fantasy RPG interface.

  Full Status Report Available

  Would you like to view your current capabilities?

  "Uh, sure?" I say to the air, feeling slightly ridiculous. "Show me what you've got."

  STATUS UPDATE

  Level: 3

  Experience: 1,200/2,100

  Notable Achievements:

  ? First combat victory

  ? Basic Magic Manipulation unlocked

  ? Enhanced Physical Capabilities discovered

  "Wait, hold up," I interrupt, staring at the floating numbers. My hand passes through them as I try to swat them away. "These stats... they seem kind of low for someone who's supposed to be some lost princess. I mean, I've played enough RPGs to know that level 3 is basically still tutorial territory."

  Accurate assessment. Current power levels at 15% of baseline potential

  Warning: Full awakening process required for power restoration

  Estimated survival rate: 12.3%

  "Excuse me?" I sputter, nearly tripping over a root that definitely wasn't there a second ago. "What do you mean, twelve percent? And what's this about 'power restoration'?"

  Example comparison:

  At full awakening, your base strength would exceed current parameters by approximately 100x

  Note: Survival of awakening process required for full power manifestation

  Previous attempts by other candidates resulted in:

  Complete cellular dissolution: 45%

  Spontaneous combustion: 28%

  Transformation into various inanimate objects: 15%

  Successful awakening: 12%

  "Oh, that's just... great." I lean against a tree, trying to process this information. The bark feels warm under my palm, almost like it has a pulse. I snatch my hand away when I realize it actually does. "So I'm either going to become literally a hundred times stronger, or I'm going to end up as a particularly magical paperweight. Any other cheerful news?"

  Additional Status Effects detected:

  Sarcasm Level: Exceptional

  Adaptation to Fae Powers: In Progress

  Mortal Limitations: Dissolving

  Combat Tutorial: 15% Complete

  Current Chance of Becoming Furniture: 2.3%

  "At least you've got a sense of humor," I mutter, pushing off from the definitely-alive tree. "Alright then, how about we focus on staying alive first, and worry about the whole 'becoming a demigod' thing later?"

  Logical approach detected

  Proceeding with survival protocols

  Recommendation: Find shelter before nightfall

  Wyldwood predators show 300% increase in aggression after dark

  Note: Current location unsafe. Multiple hostile entities approaching

  "Because of course they do." I check my glowing compass again, which now seems to be pointing in five different directions simultaneously. Squaring my shoulders, I pick the direction that feels least likely to get me killed. "Lead on, then. Let's see if we can get through the rest of the tutorials without dying."

  Processing request...

  Remaining tutorial difficulty adjusted.

  Warning: This is not a simulation. Death will be permanent. Also, local fauna may attempt to recruit you into various political factions.

  "Yeah," I sigh, watching as more stats and warnings flash across my vision. A nearby bush suddenly sprouts eyes and quickly closes them when I look its way. "I was afraid you'd say that."

  The forest had transformed into a realm of impossible biology. Obsidian-barked titans stretched toward a sky that seemed to pulse in rhythm with their luminescent canopy. The path itself felt alive, bordered by colonies of architectural mushrooms that had constructed perfect miniature villages, complete with fungal chimneys releasing rainbow-tinted spores.

  I'd abandoned any pretense of navigation when my supposedly advanced compass began performing interpretive dance, offering helpful suggestions like "Turn left at the dancing boulder" and "Avoid the philosophical squirrels."

  Maybe antagonizing my only companion wasn't the smartest move.

  "Look," I sigh, watching the branch continue its sulking. "I'm sorry about being short with you earlier. This is all just... a lot to process. And you're actually trying to help keep me alive, even if your methods are a bit unconventional."

  Processing apology...

  Sincerity level: Acceptable

  Relationship status upgraded: Friendly with mild sass

  Note: Branch is still considering forgiveness

  "And yes, I'm sorry to you too," I add, looking at the offended branch. It perks up slightly, a few leaves twirling in what might be acknowledgment. "This whole 'plants have feelings' thing is going to take some getting used to."

  Status Effect: Growing Self-Awareness

  Tree Diplomacy: Improving

  Warning: Local flora spreading positive gossip about you

  Recommendation: Maintain goodwill. You may need allies later

  Warning: Dimensional anomaly detected

  Magical interference increasing

  Recommendation: Proceed with caution

  Secondary recommendation: Consider less dangerous career choices

  "Thanks for that incredibly vague advice," I muttered, ducking under a branch that seemed to reach for my hair. The branch actually pouted – I swear I saw it – and retreated with what could only be described as a huff. "Any other brilliant insights?"

  Status Effect: Increasingly Sarcastic

  System Note: Perhaps a more cooperative attitude would be beneficial

  Additional Note: Tree's feelings: Hurt

  I stopped dead in my tracks. "Hold up. Did you just... sass me back? And are you actually monitoring the emotional state of plants?"

  Analyzing query...

  Response: Obviously

  Tree emotional monitoring is a standard feature

  Would you like to apologize to the branch?

  "Great. My magical HUD has attitude and is apparently an advocate for plant rights." I shook my head, continuing through the strange forest. The branch I'd ducked under was now deliberately turning away from me. "At least you're entertaining company."

  A series of glowing symbols appeared in my vision, arranging themselves into what looked suspiciously like a smirking emoji.

  "You know what? I'm naming you JARVIS. You've got that whole AI butler vibe going."

  Processing new designation...

  Error: This system does not align with JARVIS parameters

  Suggestion: Perhaps FRIDAY would be more appropriate?

  Note: This system is far more advanced than mere Stark technology

  Multiple high-level threats detected

  Threat Analysis:

  Pack of Shadow Wolves (Level 15-20)

  Current combat effectiveness: Inadequate

  Survival probability: Declining rapidly

  Seeking shelter strongly advised

  Also, the trees suggest you run faster

  For once, I agreed with my sassy system. The cliff face ahead split open into a cave mouth that seemed more technological temple than natural formation. Crystalline formations studded the entrance in precise geometric patterns, each diamond-like node pulsing with an inner light that traced circuit-board pathways across the stone – beauty and warning intertwined in one elaborate display.

  Warning: Dimensional gateway detected

  Analysis:

  Power signature: Ancient

  Safety rating: Questionable

  Better than being eaten: Definitely

  Proceed? Y/N

  "Better than wolf chow," I decided, sprinting for the cave as the howls grew closer. The moment I crossed the threshold, everything changed. The air itself seemed to ripple like water, and for a split second, I could have sworn I saw lines of code floating in the space around me.

  The cave walls blazed with lines of light, forming intricate patterns that reminded me of circuit boards merged with Celtic knots. The air felt charged, like the moment before lightning strikes, carrying the scent of ozone and something older, something that made my newly awakened magic stir restlessly under my skin.

  Dimensional transfer initiated

  Loading new parameters...Welcome to the Eternal Maze

  Note: No refunds or exchanges available

  "The what now?" I spin around, but the entrance has vanished, replaced by smooth, reflective walls. As my eyes adjust to the otherworldly glow, I notice something that makes my blood run cold – dozens of statues scattered throughout the chamber. They're frozen in poses of terror, some mid-run, others with arms raised in desperate defense. Some wear modern clothing, others armor that looks centuries old.

  "Perfect. Let me guess – I can't leave until I complete whatever this is?"

  Correct

  Would you like a tutorial?

  Warning: Previous tutorial completion rate: 3%

  But hey, you might get lucky

  "Yes please."

  Initiating Tutorial Mode...

  Warning: Signal interrupted

  Hostile entity detected

  Current Tutorial Status: ERROR

  System Note: This seems suboptimal

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  The massive chamber opened into an impossible space where physics seemed optional. Floating platforms hung at various heights, connected by bridges of pure light. At the center, a pillar of ancient flame pulsed with raw power. Among the platforms, more petrified figures stood as silent witnesses – their expressions a permanent record of their final moments.

  "This is some serious Alice in Wonderland meets Dark Souls energy," I said, approaching the first platform. "Any advice, FRIDAY?"

  Attempting Tutorial Restart...

  Tutorial Initialization: Failed

  Analyzing combat capabilities...

  Recommendation: Don't die

  Alternative suggestion: Consider interpretive dance?

  Combat effectiveness against ancient guardians: Unknown

  "Your concern is touching." I stepped onto the smooth platform, and immediately regret it as cracks spiderwebbed beneath my feet. "Um, FRIDAY?"

  The creature emerged from the pillar of light, its massive form radiating primordial power. A lion three times the size of a tank, its mane blazed with raw energy that turned the air itself to stone. Each step left traces of its curse in its wake, transforming everything it touched into eternal monuments. Those caught in its path didn't just freeze – they became perfect replicas of their final moments of terror.

  Combat Analysis:

  Enemy Type: Petrifying Crystal Lion (Legendary)

  Threat Level: Extreme

  Notable Features:

  ? Stone-Touch Field

  ? Enhanced Physical Attributes

  ? Ancient Magic Signature

  Current Survival Chance: 8.7%

  "Oh, you have got to be kidding me." I dive as a wave of petrifying energy sweeps over my previous position, the platform behind me transforming with a sound like breaking glass. "FRIDAY, a little help here? Maybe that tutorial would be good right about now?"

  Attempting Emergency Tutorial...

  WARNING: Tutorial interrupted by incoming attack

  Analyzing combat patterns...

  Note: Previous adventurers lasted an average of 47 seconds

  Current survival time: 12 seconds

  Achievement Unlocked: Not Dead Yet

  "You know," I pant, rolling behind a petrified statue – once a warrior in ornate armor, now an eternal monument to failure – "I'm starting to think these tutorials are cursed."

  Analyzing pattern...

  Statistical analysis shows 89% of tutorial attempts end in combat

  Recommendation: Learn on the job

  Additional Note: Consider ducking NOW

  The lion's roar shakes the entire chamber, its mane erupting into a deadly aura that launches razor-sharp shards in all directions. The air fills with lethal projectiles, light dancing through their faceted surfaces.

  Analyzing opponent...

  Pattern recognition activated

  Current chance of survival: 12.3%

  Note: Better odds than the tutorial

  What follows is pure desperation. Without access to the magic I'd briefly wielded against the wolf, I'm forced to think on my feet – literally, as each surface I touch begins to transform beneath me. The elemental's attacks leave me singed and gasping, each near miss a reminder of how outmatched I am. My military training helps me predict its movements, but this is like trying to outmaneuver a tank with a slingshot.

  "FRIDAY," I pant, diving behind a jutting formation as flames reduce my previous cover to molten slag, "there has to be a weakness!" My lungs burn from the superheated air, and I can feel the petrifying effect trying to creep up my legs every time I pause too long.

  Analyzing enemy pattern...

  Weakness detected: Core matrix visible during attack sequences. Structural vulnerability detected in core matrix

  Note: Direct magical assault inadvisable with current power levels

  Suggestion: Consider environmental factors

  Warning: Left leg showing signs of transformation

  The elemental roars like a thousand furnaces igniting at once. I roll away from another attack, muscles screaming in protest. That's when I notice it – the creature's movements create patterns in the floor, like ripples in a pond. Each step sends out waves of energy that interact with the existing structures.

  "The formations," I mutter, an idea forming as I watch the energy patterns ripple and intersect. "They're all connected, aren't they? Like a giant circuit board..."

  Affirmative

  Network exhibits resonance properties

  Detecting potential tactical advantage

  Caution: Current magic reserves insufficient for direct manipulation

  Note: Sometimes the simplest solution is hitting things very hard

  "Who said anything about magic?" I grab a fallen shard, feeling it vibrate in response to the elemental's movements. The piece pulses with stored energy, like a tuning fork picking up sympathetic vibrations. "Sometimes the old ways are best."

  The next few minutes become a lethal game of cat and mouse. I use the chamber's terrain like a chess board, each move calculated despite my burning muscles. The elemental's footsteps thunder through the ground, sending shockwaves that pulse through the surrounding formations. I'm not just evading anymore – I'm weaponizing its own power against it.

  Tactical analysis: Pattern recognition improved

  New skill unlocked: Environmental Manipulation

  Achievement Unlocked: Thinking Outside the Box

  Warning: Health at 35%

  Note: That last flip was unnecessary but effective

  My legs nearly buckle as I dodge another blast, the heat searing across my back. The creature's fist crashes into the wall where my head was a split-second ago, sending razor-sharp shards flying. One slices across my cheek, but I can't afford to flinch. My plan is working – the elemental's attacks are creating resonance points throughout the chamber. Its movements become erratic, desperate. It knows something's wrong.

  Blood trickles into my eye as I line up my final move. The timing has to be perfect. The elemental lunges, its massive arm sweeping toward my midsection. I jump, but not quite high enough – its fingers graze my leg, instantly burning through fabric and skin. The pain is blinding, but I manage to launch my shard at the precise point above its head. The impact triggers a cascade of energy.

  The chamber convulses as the accumulated power rebounds through the network of formations. The elemental's own energy becomes its undoing, reflected and amplified until it tears itself apart in a thunderous explosion. As it dissolves into harmless sparks, my legs finally give out.

  I crash hard onto the stone floor, my body screaming in protest. The petrification that had been creeping up my legs shatters, leaving behind intricate scar patterns that look like lightning strikes frozen in flesh. Every breath feels like swallowing broken glass – definitely some cracked ribs. Blood seeps steadily from the gashes along my side, and my right shoulder hangs at an angle that sends waves of nausea through me. But I'm alive. Somehow, against all odds, I'm still alive.

  "Status report," I manage to whisper, feeling the familiar surge of emergency protocols engaging. Time seems to stretch like taffy as the system kicks in, giving me precious extra seconds to process.

  Compiling complete battle analysis...

  Processing unprecedented tactical variables...

  Note: You shouldn't be conscious right now

  Additional note: But you shouldn't have won either, so...

  A weak laugh escapes me, immediately followed by a stabbing pain in my chest. "Guess we're both learning new things today, FRIDAY." The scars on my legs pulse with residual energy, a permanent reminder that sometimes the impossible just needs a different approach. As the adrenaline fades, every injury makes itself known – the deep bruising across my back from being thrown against the wall, the burns along my left arm, the splitting headache from oxygen deprivation.

  The system's warnings flash across my vision in urgent red, but there's a certain satisfaction in seeing those new titles scroll past. Legendary Slayer. Elemental Breaker. Probability's Bane. Not bad for someone operating at 14% power.

  "Let's just..." I slump back against the wall, letting the pain suppression protocols do their work, "...take a minute before the next impossible task, okay?" I cough, spitting blood onto the floor. "Next time... let's skip the tutorial."

  STATUS UPDATE - Post Crystal Lion Trial

  Level: 7 (Multiple level-up from legendary enemy)

  Experience: 3,500/4,200 to Level 8

  Current Power Level: 14% of baseline (↑2% from resonance exposure)

  ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: THE IMPOSSIBLE TACTICIAN

  ? Defeated Legendary Enemy without active magic

  Combat Analysis Complete

  ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: THE IMPOSSIBLE TACTICIAN

  ? Defeated Legendary Enemy without active magic

  ? Survival probability exceeded all projections

  ? New combat technique recorded: Resonance manipulation

  Health: Critical (35%)

  Crystallization Effect: Decreasing

  Note: First recorded victory against this entity without full powers

  Additional note: Statistical improbability achieved

  NEW TITLES EARNED:

  ? Legendary Slayer

  ? Crystal Whisperer

  ? Probability's Bane

  CRITICAL STATUS WARNING:

  ? Health: 35/159 (Critical)

  ? Mana: 5/600 (Nearly Depleted)

  ? Physical Status: Multiple injuries detected

  ? Crystallization Effect: 15% (Decreasing)

  [EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED]

  Time Dilation Protocol: Initiated

  Pain Suppression: Active

  Injury Stasis: Engaged

  Warning: Temporary measures only

  CRITICAL CHOICE POINT DETECTED

  Analyzing potential paths...

  Warning: Choice will be permanent

  Note: Previous path selections have 87% mortality rate

  The doorways tear into existence, each one commanding attention in its own way. Ancient runes ignite around each arch, their pulse matching my heartbeat. The symbols shift and flow, transforming from abstract patterns into words I somehow understand.

  Path Recognition Protocol Activated

  Analyzing candidate's resonance with ancient pathways...

  WARNING: Multiple strong alignments detected

  The first doorway catches my eye, its frame in constant flux. The runes around it pulse with deep violet light, forming "PRIMAL ARCHITECT" in floating, geometric script. Reality ripples around it, sending mathematical equations and architectural blueprints spinning through the air. Something about it feels familiar, like remembering how to fly.

  "FRIDAY," I whisper, "what am I seeing?"

  Path Recognition: Primal Architect

  Origin: First Fae civilization

  Note: Your resonance technique triggered recognition

  Warning: This path has not chosen a wielder in three centuries

  The second doorway seems to devour light itself. "SHADOW SENTINEL" appears in tactical overlay script, like military HUD readouts but impossibly more complex. The arch swirls with living darkness and combat simulations, each one revealing strategic possibilities. My military training responds instinctively, recognizing the familiar dance of tactical analysis.

  The third doorway pulses with raw vitality, manifesting "WILD QUEEN" in script that resembles intertwined branches. Natural energy radiates from it in waves that make my royal blood sing, echoing the power I touched during the wolf encounter.

  The final doorway radiates pure elemental force. "SOVEREIGN" burns into existence in sharp, precise letters that seem carved from the fabric of reality. Energy patterns shift along its frame, each one reflecting the power I wielded against the lion. The residual energy from the battle responds, making the scars on my legs burn with recognition.

  Path Alignment Analysis Complete

  Warning: Multiple resonance patterns detected

  Note: This is highly unusual

  Additional Note: Previous multi-path candidates had short but spectacular careers

  But hey, you've already beaten impossible odds once today

  "The Lion's power..." I mutter, watching how the suspended fragments react to my presence, "I didn't just defeat it. I understood it. The patterns, the resonance, the way it all connects..."

  Correct

  Analyzing compatibility:

  ? Sovereign Path: 89% resonance with energy domain

  ? Primal Architect: 92% affinity with fundamental forces

  Warning: Attempting to channel both would be...[Calculating possible outcomes]

  ERROR: Results exceed computational parameters

  Time until critical system failure: 30 seconds

  The paths pulse with ancient power, each one singing a different song to my blood. Time compression starts failing – I can feel reality trying to reassert itself, bringing with it all the pain I've been holding at bay. Fractures spread through the air like cracks in a mirror, the very fabric of space struggling under the weight of four active path gates.

  "FRIDAY," I gasp, as my legs threaten to give out, "any last advice?"

  System Analysis: Path selection must align with core identity

  Note: Previous candidates chose based on power metrics

  They chose... poorly

  Warning: 15 seconds remaining

  P.S. It's been an honor being sassy with you

  I force myself forward, violet energy sparking around me like a malfunctioning circuit. The doorways blur at their edges as time compression fails. Each offers something unique – mastery, protection, harmony, sovereignty. The markings on my legs burn in response to the Sovereign path, while my mind races with the Primal Architect's promise of reality manipulation.

  Everything erupts into blinding light as I fall through the door into whatever destiny awaits. The scattered remnants of the Lion ring out as reality stabilizes, an almost laughing sound echoing through the chamber as the paths fade.

  Reality freezes around me, the explosion's aftermath suspended in a deadly beautiful tableau. Fragments of the shattered Lion hover motionless, catching the strange light like broken glass. My injuries still scream for attention, but the pain feels distant now, like it belongs to someone else.

  The last thing I hear is FRIDAY's voice, distorted and breaking up:

  Status: Path selected

  Chance of survival: Calculating...

  ERROR: Signal lost

  Warning: Reality manipulation for beginners usually ends badly

  But you've already broken most of the rules

  Why stop now?