The target was only a few meters away.
Narrow corridors. Quick steps. Controlled breathing. Gunshots echoed through the building as bodies dropped behind him. Henchmen kept appearing one after another, but none posed any real threat. Adrian's movements were clean, his shots precise, his advance relentless.
Just another contract. Another predictable ending.
He turned the final corner.
The target was there—trapped, frozen, unable to react.
Adrian raised his weapon, aligning the sights with the man's forehead. There was no hesitation. His finger pulled the trigger—
And the world shattered.
No sound. No light. Only the abrupt sensation of absence.
Then, everything changed.
He was somewhere else.
A vast hall, built of polished stone, adorned with golden details reflecting ambient light. Tapestries covered the walls, pillars supported the structure, and soldiers stood in formation. At the far end, an elevated throne.
And on it—a king.
Adrian observed in silence. He didn't need explanations to understand the basics.
Summoning. Another world.
His gaze swept across the surroundings, quickly analyzing positions, distances, threats. Armed guards. Knights on standby.
The king began to speak, his firm voice echoing through the hall:
— Summoned hero, you have been brought to this kingdom to—
Adrian stopped listening.
A message appeared before his eyes.
Direct.
Mission: Escape.
Failure: Death.
At the same time, another piece of information forced itself into his mind—not in words, but in images.
A rapid sequence.
Him standing still. Listening. A brief lapse. Movement around him. Blades closing in from all sides. No room to react.
End.
Adrian didn't react immediately. He simply registered it.
This wasn't optional.
He made his decision instantly.
He ran.
The movement was immediate, without warning.
— Stop him!
The command echoed, and the knights charged.
They were fast. Faster than their armor suggested.
Adrian drew his Beretta 92 in one fluid motion.
The shot cut through the air.
The bullet struck one of the knights, slightly damaging the armor. Still, the impact was enough to throw him off balance.
A small opening—but enough.
Adrian kept moving.
Twelve enemies. Four already close.
He fired again.
This time, the response was different.
A translucent barrier appeared in front of one of them, completely blocking the shot.
Adrian adjusted instantly, without slowing down.
He kept running. Kept firing.
The defense worked—but it restricted their movement.
That was enough.
The magazine ran empty.
He reloaded without breaking stride.
Still had ammo. Sixty-four rounds left.
The window was just ahead.
He accelerated.
Wind rushed into the hall as he approached. Below, the sea crashed violently against the rocks surrounding the castle, built atop a steep hill.
A fall like that would be fatal for most.
Adrian didn't consider it a problem.
At the last moment, he changed direction, sprinting across the rooftop. Footsteps behind him were still close.
He jumped.
Mid-air, he grabbed a banner attached to a metal pole. The fabric gave under his weight, swinging violently.
He used the momentum.
Let go at the right moment and launched himself toward a tree. The branches absorbed part of the impact. Without stopping, he jumped again, reaching the rocky slope.
The knights were already at the window.
Watching.
But still out of reach.
Adrian made a quick calculation.
And jumped.
The impact with the water was brutal. For a moment, his body failed to respond.
Pressure. Muffled noise. Disorientation.
He didn't resist.
The current carried him away.
When he finally resurfaced and reached solid ground, he was far enough.
As he opened his eyes, he found himself on the damp ground of a forest.
The sound of the sea was now distant. The air carried the scent of earth and vegetation.
Unknown environment—but the castle was still visible far away if he looked back.
He stood up slowly. His body still responded, despite the impact.
He recovered quickly.
Resting wasn't an option.
— Damn… what the hell was that…
His uneven breathing betrayed the recent effort. His mind replayed what had happened—the shot, the void, the castle… the escape.
— Where the hell am I…
His focus shifted.
His phone.
He reached into one pocket. Then the other. Searched more urgently.
Nothing.
— You've got to be kidding me…
A brief irritation crossed his face, but disappeared just as quickly.
He checked the essentials.
The weapon was still there. The ammo too.
— At least that…
He pulled out the Beretta. Wet, just like his clothes.
Without wasting time, he removed his jacket and shirt, placing them over a rock. The weapon received the same treatment. Every second mattered.
He took out a lighter.
Soon, a small fire crackled, its reflection dancing in his focused eyes.
Once satisfied, he dressed again, grabbed the weapon, and headed into the forest.
Experience guided his steps.
He observed the terrain, the wind, the sounds. It didn't take long to find what he needed.
Water.
A small stream.
He moved toward it when—
Something changed.
Noises, at first subtle, then numerous.
Leaves being crushed. Branches snapping. Movement from multiple directions.
— Shit…
Even someone like Adrian felt the weight of the situation.
No information. No support. No room for error.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
Then—
Something emerged from the bushes. Small. Green. Misshapen.
A goblin.
Adrian let out a short breath.
— Of course… uglier than I expected.
The creature charged.
It didn't get close.
The gunshot echoed sharply.
The goblin's head snapped back, and its body dropped lifeless to the ground.
Silence.
For less than a second.
More appeared—from all sides.
Many.
No time to count, Adrian moved instantly to the left.
Three targets.
Two shots to the head. One to the body.
All three dropped.
— …So body shots work too.
He turned.
Another coming from behind.
A shot to the torso was enough.
— Good… saves time.
But they didn't stop.
A horde advanced.
Adrian kept the rhythm.
One shot. One kill.
Every bullet mattered.
The seventh enemy fell.
And then—
A message covered his vision.
**Level Up.**
A single instant.
It was enough.
A goblin appeared behind him.
Adrian tried to react, jumping forward—
Too late.
A blade tore through his abdomen.
The goblin grinned and advanced.
Adrian didn't retreat.
He drew his knife and drove it straight into the creature's head.
He turned immediately, gun in hand, and kept fighting.
The battle dragged on.
Heavy breathing.
When it was over, bodies were scattered across the ground.
Thirty-six goblins dead.
The rest had fled.
Adrian remained still for a few seconds, then sat down, taking a deep breath.
Two cuts.
Three missed shots.
Unacceptable.
— Fuck… how did this even happen…
Before he could continue, something appeared before him.
A translucent screen.
Clear.
Name. Level. Skills. Inventory.
Adrian observed in silence.
— …So that's how it is.
Level 5.
He analyzed everything quickly.
Attribute points. Physical enhancement. Shop. Items. Storage.
One point into defense, strength, endurance, and speed.
He tested the inventory.
It worked.
— That'll do…
But it wasn't time to explore.
Not yet.
He stood up.
— Alright… let's move.
Time passed. The light faded.
The forest grew darker.
Until—
A structure appeared between the trees.
A cabin. Simple. Isolated.
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
— Hope the people here are more hospitable…
He took a step.
And then—
He felt something touch the back of his neck.
A voice came from behind him, low and firm:
— Move… and I'll blow your head off.