He found himself immersed in this unfamiliar expanse, his heart pounding with excitement and tension. He didn’t know where he was, nor the purpose of the letter and the potion he had ingested, but he knew that standing still wouldn’t bring him any answers. He had to explore, understand the place, and, most importantly, determine if his body had changed in any way.
He began walking, trying to imprint every detail of the forest into his memory. The ground was soft, covered by a thick layer of moss that muffled his steps, while strange vines hung from the highest branches, intertwining in unnatural shapes. Occasionally, he heard the rustling of small creatures hidden among the bushes, but they didn’t seem hostile. For now.
After several minutes of walking, a sudden sound made him stop.
A low, deep growl came from behind some dark bushes. He tensed, instinctively raising his hands, gripping the small sword he carried with him. The growl intensified, followed by the sound of soil being displaced by rapid paws.
An instant later, a creature emerged from the shadow of the trees.
It was a wolf, but not an ordinary one. Its body was covered in dark, bristly fur streaked with reddish veins that pulsed with a strange energy. Its eyes gleamed with a menacing light, and its slightly parted jaws revealed sharp fangs dripping with saliva. It vaguely resembled a normal wolf, but there was something monstrous about it.
A Bloodwolf.
He took a step back, but another growl came from his left. Then another, and another.
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He was surrounded.
Three Bloodwolves moved in sync, walking with slow yet determined steps. Their eyes were locked onto him as if studying their prey. A shiver ran down his spine. He had to react—and fast.
The first wolf lunged at him, jaws wide open. Instinctively, he threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. He rolled on the ground and quickly got back on his feet, his breath ragged. His eyes landed on a thick branch nearby. He had no other choice.
He grabbed it with both hands and swung it up just in time to strike the second Bloodwolf that leaped at him. The blow wasn’t particularly strong, but it was enough to make the beast recoil with an angry yelp.
The third wolf attempted a side attack, but he managed to dodge it and, with a well-placed strike to the head, sent the creature crashing to the ground. Panting, he watched it for a few seconds. The Bloodwolf struggled to get up, staggering, but then its body dissolved into a faint, dark mist, leaving behind only a few reddish traces on the ground.
Silence.
The other two wolves exchanged a glance and, with a low growl, turned to flee. But he had no intention of letting them go. With a swift movement, he lunged after them, gripping his small sword with determination.
The first Bloodwolf tried to weave between the trees, but a precise slash struck its side, making it collapse with a strangled whimper. The last wolf, now alone, desperately tried to escape, but a decisive blow brought it down before it could disappear into the shadows of the forest.
He remained still for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He had won, but the real surprise came an instant later.
A faint golden glow enveloped his right hand.
Then, before his eyes, a floating, luminous screen filled with information appeared. It was like a virtual interface, yet it felt like part of his very existence. His gaze immediately fell upon the first line of text:
Name: Zayne Notcis
Title: ???
Level: 1
Rewards obtained:
- Pure Water (x1)
- Stale Bread (x1)
- Beginner’s Stone (x1)
His eyes widened.
His name had changed. Or rather, a new name had been assigned to him. And that title, marked by three question marks… what did it mean? Why wasn’t it visible yet?
A shiver of excitement mixed with confusion ran through him. The mystery was deepening. But one thing was clear: he couldn’t stop here.
He had to keep fighting, keep exploring, keep uncovering the truth behind all of this.
His journey had only just begun.