Sleep came in fragments.
Every time my eyes closed, the sound of claws scraping stone crept into my thoughts. I'd jerk awake, dagger tight in my grip, heart racing, only to find the underground chamber unchanged—silent, dim, and cold.
The system clock ticked down relentlessly.
QUEST: FIRST NIGHT ALIVE
TIME REMAINING: 19 HOURS, 43 MINUTES
I pushed myself to my feet, muscles stiff but stronger than before. The level-up hadn't been my imagination. My movements felt more deliberate now, as if my body listened to me better.
Standing still wouldn't keep me alive.
I focused on the system map again. The gray area I'd entered spread wider than I thought, branching into several narrow tunnels. One path pulsed faintly—different from the others.
I frowned. "What's that?"
The system responded after a brief pause.
ANOMALY DETECTED
POSSIBLE RESOURCE ZONE
RISK: UNKNOWN
Unknown risk was quickly becoming the theme of my life.
I tightened the strap of the satchel I'd found and moved toward the pulsing path, keeping my steps light. The air grew colder as I went deeper, the stone walls damp beneath my fingertips.
Halfway down the tunnel, the system chimed sharply.
WARNING
MULTIPLE LIFE SIGNS DETECTED
HOST LEVEL: 2
RECOMMENDED ACTION: STEALTH
I slowed to a crawl.
Ahead, the tunnel opened into a low-ceilinged cavern dotted with jagged stone pillars. Pale shapes clung to the walls—three of them. Ruin Crawlers, smaller than the one I'd fought before, but faster-looking. Their claws twitched as they shifted restlessly.
Level indicators hovered over them.
Level 1. Level 1. Level 2.
I swallowed.
One-on-one had nearly killed me. Three at once would finish the job.
The system highlighted the cavern's shadows in soft blue, marking cover points. I studied the layout, forcing my breathing to slow.
Don't fight fair.
I crept behind a stone pillar and picked up a loose shard of rock. Testing the weight, I tossed it toward the far side of the cavern.
The stone clattered loudly.
All three crawlers snapped their heads toward the sound.
That was my opening.
I surged forward, targeting the nearest Level 1. The dagger slid between its ribs before it could react. It collapsed without a sound.
The second crawler shrieked, spinning toward me.
Too late.
I rolled under its lunge, slashing upward. The blade bit deep, but not enough. It screeched and thrashed, catching my arm with its claws. Pain flared—but I didn't stop. I twisted and drove the dagger in again.
It went still.
The Level 2 roared, launching itself from the wall.
I barely raised my dagger in time. The impact knocked me backward into a pillar, knocking the breath from my lungs. My vision swam as it pinned me, red core blazing brighter.
The system flared urgently.
CRITICAL MOMENT
RECOMMENDED ACTION: PRECISE STRIKE
I ignored the pain screaming through my body and focused.
The system outlined a faint, pulsing point beneath the creature's jaw.
I thrust.
The dagger punched through.
The crawler convulsed, then collapsed on top of me, its weight crushing the air from my chest. I shoved it aside and lay there for a moment, gasping, staring at the cavern ceiling.
Then the chime came.
KILLS CONFIRMED: 3
EXPERIENCE GAINED: +85 XP
LEVEL UP!
Light flared again.
HOST LEVEL: 3
ATTRIBUTE POINTS AVAILABLE: 2
I laughed weakly, rolling onto my side. Blood smeared my sleeve, but the wounds were shallow. I'd survive.
I assigned the points without hesitation.
Strength +1
Agility +1
The world sharpened. My senses felt tuned, like I'd just woken from a long sleep.
The system wasn't finished.
BONUS ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
FIRST BLOOD (MULTI-KILL)
REWARD: BASIC STEALTH SKILL (PASSIVE)
New text appeared, burning itself into my awareness.
SKILL ACQUIRED: SHADOW STEP (BASIC)
EFFECT: Movement noise reduced in low-light environments
I stood slowly, testing my steps.
Silent.
A grin tugged at my lips despite everything.
"So this is how it works," I murmured. "Risk… then reward."
I searched the cavern and found more than just corpses. Cracked stone revealed a hidden alcove containing sealed ration packs and a small vial filled with faintly glowing liquid.
The system identified it instantly.
ITEM: MINOR STAMINA ELIXIR
EFFECT: TEMPORARY ENDURANCE BOOST
I tucked it carefully into my satchel.
As I turned back toward the tunnel, the system map shifted.
A new marker appeared deeper underground—golden, pulsing slowly.
NEW QUEST AVAILABLE
QUEST: DISCOVER THE HIDDEN PATH
REWARD: UNKNOWN
I stared at the marker, then back at the tunnel behind me.
Safety… or answers.
I exhaled slowly and stepped toward the golden light.
Somewhere in the dark, the Fallen Empire was watching.
And for the first time since the sky cracked open, I wasn't just running.
I was hunting.