Just as I’m about to step closer, a realization hits me—I completely forgot to check my level-up and apply my skill points.
I quickly pulled up my skill sheet, the translucent screen hovering in front of me and see I received 7 skill points this level. My mind shifts away from the lurking danger, and I start contemplating where to place my free points. Every decision here could be life or death. Do I bolster my Stealth more? Can I even put more points into at skill at 10? Maybe put more into Perception to spot threats earlier? Or should I focus on offense and increase my Basic Melee or Basic Spellcasting? I feel the pressure of the choice weighing on me as I glance between the skills, the Elemental momentarily forgotten.
The first thing I do is attempt to place a point into Stealth. The skill rank switches to 11 for an instant, then the window flashes Purple and I am greeted by a strange message.
What was that? Something is directly overseeing the tutorial. I thought Athena said there could be no changes to the tutorial. I can’t worry about that right now. I continue looking through my skills list to decide the best place to put the points. After considering the choice for a few minutes, with the knowledge that skills at 5 or higher have to be increased naturally for now, my choice becomes clear. I put in my selections and my Skills sheet looks something like this now.
After I confirm my choices, two notifications pop-up in my view.
I closed the notification window with a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. My fingers tightened around the hilt of Stormcaller. I crouched low and focused, scanning the pond in front of me. My thoughts drifted to Athena’s last words: “Focus on the Core of your problem and attack it with Critical focus.” If this elemental was anything like the monsters in the books and games I loved, it had to have a weak point. Something I could exploit. I activated Perception and looked intently around for a core of some kind. It took a moment of staring, but then I saw it—a faint shimmer deep within the swirling waters, pulsating like a heartbeat. That had to be its core. My grip on Stormcaller tightened. My mana bar ticked down as I activated Arcane Shield and Shocking Grasp, arcs of electricity crackling along my skin and blade. I felt a surge of confidence as I added the final layer: Weapon Enhancement, channeling the lightning into Stormcaller. The katana hummed with power, faint streaks of light dancing along the blade’s edge giving me the strange feeling that the blade enjoyed it. I crept forward, every step intentional and silent. The weight of Stormcaller felt natural now, its energy pulsing in time with my own heartbeat. My Stealth skill was in full effect, every muscle in my body tuned to the task. The elemental remained motionless, its watery form undisturbed. I took another deep breath, steadying myself. The faint shimmer of the core grew brighter as I approached, as if it were taunting me.
I lunged forward, bringing Stormcaller down in a single, decisive arc aimed directly at the core. The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle, then straight through the water, and for an instant, everything seemed to freeze. Then, the katana connected with my target. The explosion of energy was blinding. Lightning surged through the water, crackling and flashing with raw, destructive power. The sound was deafening, a violent roar of thunder that shook the ground beneath me. The elemental’s screech echoed through the clearing, its form distorting violently as it flailed in pain.
Critical Hit!
- Damage Dealt: 954.
- Remaining HP of Water Elemental: ?
The core flickered wildly, the water elemental’s form collapsing momentarily before it began to reform, its movements slower but no less threatening. I stumbled back, my chest heaving as I tried to process what had just happened. It wasn’t dead. The elemental reared up, its watery form surging upward like a tidal wave. One massive arm lashed out, catching me across the chest and sending me flying backward. Pain erupted in my ribs, and I felt several sharp cracks as I hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop against the soft grass.
HP: 66/105.
“Damn it,” I gasped, clutching my side as I pushed myself to my feet. My vision swam, but I forced myself to focus. Every breath sent agony through me as my broken ribs flexed. The elemental loomed before me; its core shielded now by swirling torrents of water. Its movements were erratic, slower than before, but it was still very much a threat. The realization hit me like a second punch—I had done severe damage, but it was not enough. How much health does this thing have? My initial strike had weakened it, but now I was back to square one. The elemental was still stronger, faster, and far deadlier than me. I gritted my teeth and steadied Stormcaller, sparks of residual lightning flickering along the blade.
“Alright,” I muttered, wiping blood from my lip. “Round two.”
The elemental’s swirling form towered above me, its core glowing faintly, partially obscured by the churning water. My chest ached with every breath, and my hands trembled as I tightened my grip on Stormcaller. I had one advantage: it was slower now, its movements less fluid, less precise. But it was still powerful. One more hit like that, and I would not get back up. I dashed to the side as another watery arm crashed down where I had been standing moments before, sending a spray of water into the air. My legs burned as I sprinted toward the tree line, trying to put some distance between me and the creature. I crouched low behind a tree, panting heavily. My mind raced. The initial strike had been effective, but it clearly was not enough. I needed to hit the core again, but this time I couldn’t rely on just one blow. I needed a plan. I activated Perception, scanning the elemental’s swirling body for patterns in its movements. Its attacks were not random; they were focused on me, but there was a rhythm to the chaos. I just had to time it right. The elemental raised a massive arm, its watery appendage crashing down toward me. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the impact, and dashed toward the edge of the pond. My chest burned, my limbs felt like lead, but I couldn’t stop now.
I crouched low, slipping into the shadows of the nearby trees, my cloak seeming to draw me further into it. The elemental thrashed wildly, searching for me, its core exposed but shielded by torrents of water. My hands trembled as I reached into my inventory, pulling out the shimmering blue potion I had found in the chest. “Alright, time for a boost,” I whispered, uncorking the vial and downing its contents in one gulp. A cool, invigorating sensation spread through me, the pain in my chest dulling slightly as the potion took effect. I could feel magic coursing through me, an intense sensation, already new for me, brought to a new extreme. I felt a surge of energy as my mana reserves filled, and I activated Shocking Grasp once more, the crackling energy flowing into Stormcaller. I also Cast Elemental Harmony and Stone Skin, I felt my skin harden and saw it transform into a rock-like substance. Then a soft aura surrounded me, and I felt myself become more in tune with my surroundings. The aura slowed flowed and changed, reacting to something in the air around me. This was my chance. With Stealth active, I crept closer to the pond. The elemental’s thrashing slowed, its movements growing more sluggish as its core pulsed erratically. I was almost there…. and my foot hit what felt like a puddle of water, apparently it was way worse, it turned. For a split second, its glowing eyes locked onto mine, and a massive arm lashed out. I barely had time to brace as the attack struck me square in the chest, sending me flying backward.
HP: 22/120.
I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of me, a couple of my already broken ribs shattering. My vision swam, and for a moment, I thought it was over. But then I saw it—the core, flickering weakly, exposed, and vulnerable. Summoning the last of my strength, I forced my breaking body so stand, my left arm hanging limply at my side. I charged forward, getting clipped by another wild swing and bringing Stormcaller down in a final, desperate strike.
The katana pierced the core, and for a moment, everything went still. Then, with a deafening roar, the elemental exploded in a torrent of water and light, the force of the blast throwing me to the ground once more.
The water exploded outward, drenching me as I knelt on the ground. My health bar flashed red precariously: HP: 12/105. I didn’t dare move as the ripples in the pond began to settle. The glow of the core was gone.
I had won.
The air in the clearing grew impossibly still as the elemental dissolved into shimmering water, the last traces of its core flickering out like dying embers. For a moment, everything felt wrong—too quiet, too calm—until the pond began to glow.
At first, it was subtle, a faint light rippling across the surface of the water. Then the glow intensified, spreading outward like ink in a pool. The light crept up the trees surrounding the clearing, painting the trunks with soft, silvery radiance. A low hum resonated through the air, sending shivers down my spine.
I stepped back instinctively as faint, translucent walls of light shimmered into existence around the clearing. They formed an imperfect dome, barely visible, a soft blue glow. It wasn’t a solid barrier—it looked more like a shifting veil, rippling gently like the surface of the pond. As soon as it solidified it sent a gentle beam of light straight into the air that seemed to pulse and sparkle almost like a cylindrical flare. That will make it easier to find my way back while I am out exploring.
A notification popped into view.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. A safe zone. I was finally safe. For now.
I sank to my knees, my body trembling with exhaustion and relief. Before I could even process the change in my surroundings, another screen appeared.
I barely registered the message before a wave of raw emotion slammed into me like a tidal wave. It was as if the sturdy dam holding back my fear, exhaustion, and pain had shattered in an instant. My chest tightened, and my breath hitched, the controlled calm I had clung to during the fight disappearing completely.
“Oh god,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Oh god, oh god…”
My hands started shaking uncontrollably, and I curled into myself, clutching my knees as I rocked back and forth. The fight replayed in my mind in vivid, horrifying detail—the elemental’s towering form, its relentless attacks, the sound of my own ribs cracking under the pressure of that wave. The pain I had pushed aside roared back to life, every breath a struggle, every nerve screaming. My hands felt so cold, I had a headache throbbing in time with my racing heart. I felt bruises all over and a strange burning where the fast-moving water had apparently punctured my skin. The pain in my arm and chest so severe I felt like all the bones were shattered. Every breath was torture as my ribs expanded. I tried not to move as my mind started to drift.
“I almost died,” I choked out, my words barely audible. “I shouldn’t be alive…”
Tears streamed down my face, hot and unrelenting, as my body convulsed with silent sobs. My heart pounded erratically, a frantic rhythm that felt like it might burst out of my chest. The weight of the past hours bore down on me: the fear, the uncertainty, the sheer impossibility of what I’d just survived.
The warm glow of the safe zone did little to comfort me; it only amplified the stark contrast between the safety I now felt and the terror I’d just escaped. My vision blurred as dizziness set in, the adrenaline draining from my system entirely. Pain and fear were my existence. My thoughts spiraled uncontrollably, every rational line of thinking drowned out by panic and despair. I don’t know how much time went by in this state. Hours must have passed before I could even form thoughts again, and the last thing I remember is feeling hopeless.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered. My voice cracked, a raw and broken sound that barely resembled my own. “I can’t… I…”
My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, and my body felt heavier with every passing moment. The edges of my vision darkened, the safe zone’s light dimming in my mind as exhaustion finally claimed me. My shaking hands loosened their grip on my knees, and I slumped against the soft ground, my muscles giving out completely.
As the world around me faded into black, the last coherent thought that crossed my mind was a quiet, desperate plea.
“Please… let me wake up…”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I groaned softly, blinking against the pale light filtering through the canopy above me. My body felt strangely light, as if the weight of my earlier injuries had vanished, yet my chest tightened with a lingering ache. It was not pain exactly—more like a phantom memory of every blow I’d taken, every muscle that had screamed in protest. My mind, though, was not so lucky.
I sat up slowly, my hands shaking as I braced them against the soft grass beneath me. For a moment, I just breathed, focusing on the rhythm of my chest rising and falling. But it was not working. My heart was racing, pounding as if I were still in the middle of that fight. My throat tightened, my breath catching. I wasn’t safe. Not really. My brain replayed the scene over and over—the water elemental surging toward me, the way it had shattered under my blade, the sheer overwhelming terror I had felt.
I couldn’t stop it. My vision blurred, and a sharp pressure built behind my eyes. My body felt too small for the storm of emotions tearing through me: relief, fear, dread. I was alive, but what if I hadn’t been? What if the next fight is worse? What if I—
A chime interrupted the spiral. It was soft, almost soothing, and the familiar glowing blue of a notification pulsed in the corner of my vision. My instinct was to ignore it, to stay curled in this moment of fear, but curiosity and the need for distraction won out. I glanced at the blinking icon. There were several stacked-on top of one another, patiently waiting for me to acknowledge them.
But even as I looked at the notifications, my hands still trembled. I clenched them into fists, forcing myself to focus. The notifications were not going anywhere, and I wasn’t in immediate danger—was I? My mind clung to the thought like a lifeline. The safe zone. I was in the safe zone. The soft glow surrounding the clearing was still there, a pale blue barrier shimmering faintly in the air. Whatever this place was, it was keeping me alive for now.
I pressed my palms against my thighs, grounding myself. "You’re fine," I whispered, my voice hoarse and uneven. "You’re okay. Just...breathe."
Stolen novel; please report.
I closed my eyes, still trembling, and tried to push away the gnawing panic clawing at the edges of my mind. My heart raced like it was trying to break free from my chest. I clenched my fists, willing the chaos inside me to settle, but it wasn’t working. The fear, the exhaustion, the overwhelming uncertainty—it all churned together, threatening to drown me.
I needed to get control of myself. To think clearly.
A memory surfaced, unbidden but welcome. I was younger, ten, sitting cross-legged on the cold concrete floor of the garage. The smell of motor oil and sawdust filled the air, the remnants of whatever project Dad had been working on scattered across his workbench. He sat across from me, his posture straight but relaxed, his broad shoulders at ease despite the tension I felt in my own.
“You can’t just let it take over, Alex,” Dad said, his voice calm but firm. He rested his hands on his knees, palms up, as if inviting me to mirror him.
“I’m not letting it take over,” I shot back, my voice cracking with frustration. My small hands were balled into fists, pressed hard against my thighs. “It’s not fair! Tommy hit me first, and I’m the one who got in trouble!”
Dad chuckled softly, the sound warm and understanding. “Life’s not always fair, kid. But letting your emotions control you? That’s a fight you will lose every time.”
I frowned, staring at the floor. My breath came fast, short, my chest tight. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
“First, you breathe.” Dad inhaled deeply through his nose, holding it for a moment before exhaling slowly through his mouth. “You let the storm pass. You don’t have to stop feeling, Alex. You just need to make room for the feelings to sit without letting them drive.”
I tried to mimic his breathing, but my breaths came out uneven, my shoulders rising and falling with too much force.
“It’s okay,” he said gently. “It takes practice. Close your eyes.”
I hesitated but did as he asked, shutting my eyes and focusing on the sound of his voice.
“Now imagine the anger you are feeling is a fire,” he continued. “It is burning hot, right in the middle of your chest.” He poked me right in my sternum. “Feel it, but don’t feed it. Don’t throw more wood on the fire. Just let it burn itself out.”
I pictured the flames, fierce and wild, and as I followed his steady breathing, the fire seemed to shrink, flickering lower with every exhale. I continued to breathe , following his pace, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
“Good,” Dad said after a while. “When you calm the fire, you can see through the smoke. That is when you make your decisions—when the air’s clear.”
The memory faded, but the calmness it brought lingered. I shifted my position, sitting cross-legged on the soft grass, and rested my hands on my knees as Dad had taught me. My breaths were still shaky, but I focused on them, counting each inhale and exhale. My first few breathes were shuddery and tears still slid down my face, but slowly I experienced my emotions and gained clarity.
The storm inside me began to quiet. The tension in my chest eased. I wasn’t completely calm—there was too much uncertainty for that—but I could feel a semblance of clarity returning.
A soft chime echoed in my mind, and I opened my eyes to see a new notification glowing in the center of my vision.
I let out a slow breath, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Thanks, Dad,” I murmured, staring up at the canopy of trees.
The other notifications could wait a little longer. For now, I just let myself sit in the stillness, the weight of the moment finally lifting. Time passed while I focused on my breathing, my eyes closed, everything else slowly fading from my mind. I shifted slightly, letting the grass beneath me cushion my weight as I sank deeper into my meditative pose. The warmth of the safe zone’s barrier wrapped around me, offering a sense of security I had not felt since this nightmare began. I focused on my breathing again, slow, and steady, letting my mind drift without fully releasing my awareness.
For a while, I didn’t think about the notifications flashing in the corner of my vision or the battle I had barely survived. I did not think about the elemental or the chest I had looted. I just...breathed.
The minutes stretched into hours. My stomach growled occasionally, a reminder of how hungry and thirsty I was, but I let the sounds fade into the background. Each breath steadied me further, a grounding rhythm that quieted the chaos in my head. The tension in my muscles eased, and even the phantom aches of my healed wounds disappeared completely.
Another soft chime broke the silence, startling me slightly. I opened my eyes to see another notification glowing faintly.
I grinned to myself and closed my eyes again. If this skill was going to help me stay calm and regain my strength, I needed to hone it as much as possible. I sank deeper into my meditation, letting the safe zone’s energy and the ambient sounds of the forest lull me into a near-trance state.
Time passed, though I had no way of knowing how much. The faint hunger and thirst gnawed at me more persistently now, but I pushed them aside. The clarity I felt with each passing moment was worth the discomfort. I focused on the sensation of energy flowing through me, my breaths becoming slower and steadier. I slowly thought through each of my experiences since I entered the tutorial. The pain and fear I felt slowly being processed so that it could not overwhelm me. The “flame” of each emotion slowly smoldering out as I experienced it. An occasional tear flowed from my eyes as I worked through my emotions, but over time I was able to come to terms with my situation.
Another chime, softer this time, pulled me from my trance. My eyes flickered open to see a second notification.
I stretched, feeling more at ease than I had in days, though my body reminded me of its needs with a sharp pang of thirst. "Alright," I murmured to myself, my voice barely above a whisper. "Time to deal with those notifications and figure out what’s next." That new effect will be handy if I can’t find food, but it looks like my need for food and water returns right after I stop meditating. I can’t just meditate forever. It is time to get back to work surviving.
I don’t know how long I sat there but when I finally opened my eyes again, the sun was rising, bringing light into the clearing and a soft warmth on my back.
As the adrenaline faded and the sharp edges of panic softened, I sat in the comforting stillness of the safe zone. The shimmering dome of light around me pulsed faintly, a gentle reminder of the protection it offered. It wasn’t solid—nothing tangible that I could touch—but it felt like a barrier between me and the chaos outside. I could feel the tension in my chest loosening, though my stomach reminded me I couldn’t rest forever with an impatient growl.
My gaze turned to the pond at the center of the clearing. The water rippled faintly under the moonlight, clear and inviting. I could almost hear its call, and as if on cue, a pulsing blue notification flashed in the corner of my vision. I ignored it for now, needing to hydrate before I could process anything else. My throat was dry, each swallow painful and scratchy. Slowly, I got to my feet, wobbling slightly as my legs adjusted to movement again.
The pond was mesmerizing. As I approached, I noticed faint glimmers of light swirling beneath its surface, like stars trapped under the water. Kneeling at the edge, I cupped my hands and dipped them into the cool liquid. The moment the water touched my skin, a tingling warmth spread up my arms. It was soothing, too soothing, and for a brief second, I hesitated. Is this… safe?
But the thirst won out. I brought the water to my lips and drank deeply, the coolness spreading through my body like ice. It was not just water; I could feel something more—an energy weaving itself into me, soothing the lingering ache of exhaustion and sharpening my senses.
I swiped the notification away with a satisfied sigh, letting my shoulders relax as the magical water worked its way through me. It was not just my thirst fading; I felt rejuvenated, more alive and the ache in my stomach lessened. The stress of the last fight didn’t disappear, but it no longer loomed so large.
Then I remembered the flashing notifications that had been waiting since I woke up. I stood and stretched, finally ready to tackle the mountain of updates. With a thought, the system interface appeared in front of me. Screens filled my vision one after another, detailing everything I had gained.
The level-ups brought a small smile to my face and a strange tingling sensation beginning at my brain and flowing through my body. I then looked over the new skill ranks and thresholds I reached. The Overcharge Strike ability stood out immediately. A single supercharged attack? It sounded incredible, but it also came with a single use drawback. I’d have to figure out how to use it effectively without wasting it.
The Elemental Conqueror achievement and the Legendary Skill Token left me stunned. Advanced elemental abilities and a skill token? I didn’t even fully understand what that meant yet, but it sounded… world changing. “I’ll have to figure all this out later,” I muttered, shaking my head as I dismissed the screens.
Taking another deep breath, I glanced back at the shimmering barrier around the safe zone. For the first time in hours—maybe days—I felt something close to hope. The safe zone wasn’t just a break from danger; it was a chance to plan, to prepare, to get stronger. I clenched my fists, determination settling in my chest. I survived this far. I can survive what comes next.
But first, I sat by the pond again, cupping another handful of water to drink. There was no rushing forward this time. I would take this moment to breathe, to recover, and to plan. The fight ahead could wait. I opened my status screen to see what else I needed to select before interacting with the Legendary Skill Token.
These levels and Achievements bring huge changes to my sheet. More spells, higher ability scores, more mana and health, and so many skill points to spend. I think I have more than I could spend to get skills to the level 10 threshold with skill points. Well for the useful skills at least. What am I supposed to do with the extra? For now, I will start by placing my free Attribute points and skill points. I think I should keep my Attributes as balanced as possible so I will put two points in Strength, one in Constitution, one in Wisdom, and one in Charisma. That brings most of my Attributes to twenty or higher and I can bring the other ones up to stay near the others as I level up more. My Charisma just does not seem like it will be important here.
Next, I have thirty-eight skill points to place. Thresholds give great bonuses so I should obviously bring every skill I have at level five to the level 10 threshold. That will use up twenty skill points leaving me with eighteen. I can use seven more to bring meditation to the same threshold leaving eleven more points. None of these other skills seem immediately useful, but then I notice the plus sign on my skills list. I click it before continuing with my points placement and a window appears in front of me.
I follow the directions of the prompt and am rewarded with another window. This one contains a list of all the Skills available to me with a price or requirement listed next to each one. The Basic Skills seem self-explanatory but thankfully the class skills have brief descriptions next to each of them.
It looks like I don’t qualify for any of the Skill Fusions yet, but I have almost unlocked Stealth Combatant. I will have to make sure I get that when I have high enough skills for it. It seems like it would fit my build perfectly. With these new options I still want to place my points as I previously selected and I can use the remaining 11 for the new skills. I go ahead and place those in the skills and select confirm. As expected, I receive a notification detailing each Threshold reached.
These are all great! As I am just finishing reading all of them, my nose starts to twitch. Then my ears begin to ring, my eyes start to burn, and my skin starts to itch. I think back to the last line of the Perception Threshold upgrade, “Brace for new Sensations.” Then all my senses go into overdrive ramping them all up at once is itchy and painful at the same time and I scream out rolling around on the ground praying for it to stop.
I begin to get accustomed to the new level of input after a few minutes. Then I heard something coming from the woods behind me. Outside the safe zone is the sound of something big running closer towards me. I hear footsteps pounding and something breathing heavily as it approaches me. I hear many wolves howling as they hunt, closing In on their prey. This is a Safe Zone. Nothing can get me in here, right? I quickly leapt to my feet and hid behind one of the boulders nearby, pulling my cloak close to my body and activating my Stealth skill. I fade into the long shadows cast by the morning light and focus on the approaching threat.
What is headed towards Alex?