The wolves slowly stepped out of the tall grass.
Moonlight reflected off their sharp teeth as they circled Alex, their red eyes glowing like burning coals in the darkness.
Alex's heart pounded in his chest.
"…Okay," he whispered nervously. "Stay calm. Stay calm."
The system screen still floated in front of him.
Mission: Survive the night
Reward: Beginner Ability Unlock
Failure: Death
Alex looked at the wolves again. "There are at least six of them…" he muttered.
One of the creatures stepped forward, growling low in its throat. Its body was larger than any normal wolf Alex had ever seen. These are definitely monsters.
The pack slowly tightened the circle around him. Alex glanced around desperately.
No weapons.
No shelter.
Just grass and stones.
"This system better do something useful," he said under his breath.
But the glowing interface remained silent.
One of the wolves suddenly lunged.
"AH—!"
Alex jumped aside at the last second. The monster crashed into the ground where he had been standing.
Too close!
The other wolves began moving faster, sensing weakness. Alex grabbed the first thing he could find—a rough stone from the ground.
"This is stupid," he said, raising it like a weapon.
The wolf attacked again. This time Alex swung the rock with everything he had.
CRACK!
The stone struck the wolf's head. The creature yelped and stumbled back. Alex stared at the rock in disbelief.
"…That actually worked?"
But his victory lasted only a second. Two more wolves rushed him from opposite sides.
Alex barely managed to roll away, the claws of one beast tearing through the sleeve of his jacket. He scrambled back to his feet, breathing heavily.
I'm going to die.
The thought hit him like cold water. He wasn't a fighter. He was just a tired university student who worked part-time and ate instant noodles for dinner. And now he was fighting monsters in another world.
Another wolf leapt toward him. Alex reacted instinctively. He ducked and slammed the stone upward. The rock connected with the wolf's jaw. The creature crashed into the ground.
Suddenly— A new message appeared.
[Enemy defeated.]
[Experience gained.]
Alex blinked.
"Wait… what?"
The defeated wolf lay motionless. The other monsters hesitated. Then the system flashed again.
[Level Up!]
Level 1 → Level 2
Strength +1
Agility +1
Alex felt something strange rush through his body. His muscles tightened. His breathing became steadier.
"…I feel stronger."
The wolves sensed the change. They snarled and attacked together. But this time Alex moved faster. He dodged one wolf and kicked another away. The sudden burst of strength surprised even him.
"Okay…" he said, gripping the stone tightly.
"Maybe I can survive this."
After a brutal struggle, the last wolf finally collapsed. Alex dropped the rock and fell to his knees, gasping for air.
"I'm alive…"
The system appeared again.
[Mission Completed.]
Survive the night
Reward Granted
The glowing text shifted.
[Beginner Ability Unlocked]
Skill Acquired: Analyze
Alex frowned. "Analyze?"
The moment he focused on one of the dead wolves, new information appeared.
Shadow Wolf
Level: 2
Threat Level: Low
Alex's eyes widened. "So this skill lets me see information about things…"
A slow smile spread across his face. For the first time since arriving in this strange world, hope sparked inside him.
"Maybe… just maybe…"
He looked at the glowing system interface again.
"…this forbidden system might actually help me survive."
Far away, deep within a massive stone fortress, a hooded figure suddenly looked up from an ancient crystal. The crystal flickered violently. The figure's voice trembled.
"…Impossible."
The crystal displayed a single word.
FORBIDDEN SYSTEM DETECTED
The hooded figure whispered softly into the dark hall.
"After thousands of years…"
"…it has appeared again."