"What... the hell is that thing?"
Zane's voice cracked as he stumbled back, eyes locked on the massive, horned beast clawing through the wreckage. It was at least twice his height, muscles rippling beneath thorn-covered hide. Its eyes were soulless—predatory.
He turned to run but slipped on loose gravel, crashing to his knees. "Perfect. Just perfect."
And then it happened.
A strange chill swept through him. Time slowed. A mechanical chime echoed in his skull.
> [System Activation: Displaying Stats]
"What the—?"
Text blinked to life before his eyes, suspended in the air.
---
Name: Zane
Level: 1
HP: 50/50
MP: 0/0
Strength: 5
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 4
Void Energy: 100/100
Special Ability: None
Quest: Survive the Trial of the Void
---
"Stats? What is this, a game?" he muttered, scrambling to his feet. "No... no time to think—move!"
The creature roared, dirt exploding beneath its claws as it charged.
Zane dove behind a broken wall, heart pounding. "Okay. Alright. Breathe. Breathe. It's big, but maybe it's dumb. I can work with dumb."
> [System Update: New Ability Unlocked — Voids Gaze]
"Wait—what's that mean?"
He peeked over the rubble, locking eyes with the beast. Instantly, information surged into his vision.
---
Name: Thornhide Beast
Level: 15
HP: 100/100
Weaknesses: Fire, Electric
Abilities: Frenzy Charge, Roar of Terror
Description: Aggressive predator mutated by residual war magic. Unstable, relentless, lethal.
---
"Level fifteen?!" Zane hissed. "I'm level one! This is a joke. I'm going to die. I am definitely going to die."
He scanned the battlefield—splintered spears, bloodied armor, broken carts. Nothing remotely helpful.
A glint caught his eye: a shard of metal. "Better than nothing."
He grabbed it and threw—hard. It whistled through the air and clanged uselessly off a stone. The beast didn't even blink.
Zane backed up slowly, eyes wide. "Right. Great aim, Zane. Totally useful."
> [System Update: Quest Failure = Death]
His stomach dropped. "What?! You've gotta be kidding me. That's the part you leave out until now?"
He pressed his back against the wall, panting. "Okay, okay... I get it. I fail, I die. Thanks for the motivation, mysterious voice in my head."
> [Quest Timer: 10 Minutes Remaining]
"Ten minutes? You expect me to survive ten minutes against that?"
The Thornhide sniffed the air. It had his scent. It growled.
Zane's eyes darted across the area. Come on, think. What would Dad do? What would Mom say?
He swallowed the ache in his throat. They'd tell me to adapt. To survive.
He spotted a collapsed torch holder and shattered crates wrapped in fabric. "If only I had fire... or lightning. Y'know, one of its listed weaknesses. Not asking for much here!"
The creature rounded the corner, locking eyes with him.
"Crap. Alright, Zane. It's just you, a half-melted fence post, and a suicidal monster. Let's make it interesting."