Kael bolted upright and stumbled to his feet, heart pounding. That growl—it hadn't been his imagination.
He scanned the tree line. Something was there. Something big.
System Interface.
The words came to him instinctively.
> [STATUS PANEL]
Name: Kael
Age: 16
Race: Human
Level: 1
Class: None
Titles: [The Reborn]
HP: 50/50
MP: 20/20
Skills: None
Equipment: Basic Tunic, Worn Boots
Quests: Survive. Adapt. Conquer.
Inventory: [Empty]
It was like a game screen. But this was no game.
Snap.
Crunch.
Branches cracked under something's weight. A low snarl echoed through the forest.
He backed away slowly—then turned and ran.
He didn't know how long he sprinted. Long enough for his lungs to burn, for his legs to tremble beneath him. Finally, he collapsed near a riverbank, gasping, gulping in the cool air.
"Okay… okay…" he whispered. "Let's think."
He was in another world. That much was obvious. And somehow, he had been reborn in a body named Kael with a mysterious System.
"Alright," he muttered. "Fantasy world. Sword. Magic. Goblins. Monsters. That's how these things usually go, right?"
He opened the interface again. Still no class. No skills. Nothing but that single, ominous quest:
> Survive. Adapt. Conquer.
He'd always dreamed of a world like this. But now that he was in one?
He was alone. Unarmed. And completely untrained.
The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the grass. He needed shelter. Food. Something to protect himself.
Following the river downstream, he eventually spotted smoke in the distance—thin wisps rising against the twilight sky.
A village.
Kael's pace quickened. Maybe he could find help, answers—anything.
As he approached the outskirts, a figure spotted him. A boy about his age, armed with a pitchfork, eyes wary.
"Halt! Who are you? What are you doing near Thornebrook?"
Kael raised his hands. "I'm not here to cause trouble! I was… attacked. I got separated from my group."
The boy narrowed his eyes. "You don't look like a traveler. You look like you crawled out of the forest."
"Yeah, well, the forest bit back."
After a long pause, the boy sighed and lowered the pitchfork. "Come on. I'll take you to the elder. But if you're a thief or a bandit spy, the town guard will gut you."
"Noted."
Kael was led through narrow dirt streets lined with thatched-roof houses and stone wells. Thornebrook was small but alive—chickens clucked, smoke curled from chimneys, and the scent of stew hung in the air.
Inside the elder's hut, an old man with a white beard and wise eyes peered at Kael.
"You came from the forest… and you carry no weapons, no coin. Strange."
Kael nodded. "I—I don't remember much. I just woke up there."
The elder studied him for a long time, then finally said, "You're not the first. This world… sometimes it pulls in strange souls. I'll offer you shelter and a job at the mill. Earn your bread. Keep your head low."
Relief surged through him. "Thank you."
"But know this, boy." The elder leaned closer. "Power like yours—it draws attention. If the Church finds you… or worse, the Nobles' Guild… I won't be able to protect you."
Kael blinked. "You know about the System?"
The elder only smiled. "I've lived long enough to recognize a Reborn when I see one."
That night, Kael lay in a straw bed, staring at the ceiling.
The village was quiet. Safe. For now.
> System Notification:
New Objective Unlocked:
Complete one week of training – Reward: Skill Unlock (Weapon Proficiency)
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
"Alright, then. Let's see what this world has to offer."