The battlefield was silent now, except for the distant rumble of thunder. The hero had stepped back, giving me space, but his eyes never left me.
Blue energy still crackled around my fists. My heart pounded, not from fear, but from excitement. This was real. I was alive. And for the first time, I felt that being "a mistake" didn't mean being weak.
1. Testing My Strength
The system blinked in front of me again.
STATUS: ERROR – UNREGISTERED
STATS: Strength 2 | Agility 1 | Mana 3
MISSION: Survive the first trial
A small line caught my attention:
NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: Energy Burst – Short-range, raw force attack
I clenched my fists. Slowly, I focused. Blue sparks gathered at my palm, flickering like tiny lightning bolts. I thrust my hand forward, and a small wave of energy shot toward a nearby boulder.
The boulder cracked. Then shattered.
I stepped back, stunned. I actually did it. The first sign of real power.
2. The Hero's Test
The hero didn't attack again. Instead, he circled me slowly, eyes sharp as knives.
"Power is meaningless without control," he said quietly. "If you cannot handle it, you'll destroy yourself before anyone else."
I nodded, trying to calm my racing mind. The system's voice echoed in my head:
"Control your energy. Learn to survive. Your existence depends on it."
I realized the hero wasn't just a threat—he was a teacher. The first challenge wasn't winning or losing. It was learning to exist in this world without being erased.
3. First Real Battle
The sky darkened further. Torn pages from old books swirled around us, as if reacting to my emotions. A shadow moved at the edge of my vision—a small magical creature, wild and aggressive.
Instinctively, I raised my hand. The blue energy shot forward, striking the creature. It screeched and vanished into smoke.
The hero's eyes flickered. "You have potential… but raw power is dangerous if left uncontrolled."
I felt a surge of pride. I had survived my first battle. But more importantly, I had learned that even small victories mattered.
4. Understanding My Place
The system flashed again:
MISSION COMPLETE: Survive first encounter
STATS UPDATED: Strength +2 | Agility +2 | Mana +3
ABILITY UNLOCKED: Energy Shield – Temporary defensive barrier
I smiled. For the first time, I felt like I had a purpose. Not the hero's purpose. Not the story's purpose. My purpose.
I looked at the hero. His sword still gleamed. His expression was unreadable.
"Next time," he said quietly, "don't let luck guide you. Let skill guide you."
I clenched my fists. I didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: I wasn't going to be erased.
5. Ending Hook
As night fell, the battlefield glowed faintly with energy. I stood alone, system floating before me, blue sparks dancing on my skin.
Somewhere in the distance, I could feel eyes watching. Friends? Enemies? I didn't know yet.
One thing was clear: the story had never expected me to exist.
And now, I was ready to rewrite it.