Virtual Space.
"Analyzing user's skeletal density, muscle efficiency, cognitive responses, and neural patterns... Initial stats assigned."
A heartbeat passed.
Amir found himself standing in a wide, open valley, the land aglow with an otherworldly clarity. Lush grass blanketed the hills around him, a vivid green that rippled in waves beneath the golden sun, as if the earth itself breathed with life. The sky stretched forever—deep blue, unmarred by clouds and man's creations.
For a long moment, he simply stood there, drinking it in. There were no HUD elements, no tutorials flashing in the corner of his vision. No other people either. Just him and the wind.
Then, a soft chime echoed in the air, like a bell struck underwater.
A sparkle of light hovered before him, blinking once, twice, before it burst outward in a swirl of translucent petals. From its center, a figure emerged: a tiny, winged creature no taller than his forearm, radiant and weightless. Her wings shimmered like stained glass, pulsing gently with an ethereal glow.
She blinked at him with bright, curious eyes. "Welcome, traveler, to Sky Horizon." Her voice was as light as the breeze. "Before we begin, I need to confirm your identity."
The fairy hovered a little higher. "Please state your username."
Her tone wasn't demanding. It was more like an invitation—gentle, ceremonial, yet clearly the beginning of something vast.
Amir exhaled slowly. This was it.
"Ashfall."
A soft glow pulsed in her wings, as if acknowledging him.
"And your class, Ashfall?" Three screens appeared in front of him. His options: [Rogue, Warrior, Scholar]
Amir met her gaze and replied, firm and steady, "Warrior."
The fairy gave a delighted twirl midair, leaving behind a spiral of light. "Your path begins now, Ashfall. Never forget your origins, for they will give you meaning."
A wind swept through the valley again—stronger this time. Amir closed his eyes, embracing the moment.
When he opened his eyes, the valley was gone. He now stood in a massive armory.
The hall was vast—vaulted ceilings arched overhead like the ribs of a great beast, and walls lined with racks of weapons glinted beneath hanging lanterns. Steel, wood, and stone caught the light in equal measure.
Swords, axes, hammers, polearms, maces, and shields lined the racks like silent sentinels. Everything gleamed as if freshly forged, untouched by war.
He gathered himself, only then noticing the fitted leather armor now clinging to his frame. Supple and snug, it flexed with his movements, built for mobility over bulk.
It must've appeared when he chose the Warrior class.
Amir began walking. His footsteps echoed softly against the polished stone floor.
He reached the swords first, dozens of them, each with a different length, curve, or balance. Longswords, cleavers, katanas, sabers.
Swords were what he knew. It was what he'd practiced with for years. Because they were all he had available.
He walked on.
The axes and hammers were next, heavy and brutal. The polearms followed—halberds, glaives, and tridents.
And at the end of the row: spears.
Effective and efficient. All he needed in a weapon.
Amir picked one up. It wasn't flashy—just a wooden shaft and an angular metal blade—but it felt right in his hands.
He gave it a few practice thrusts, familiarizing himself with the weight. It was perfect.
"Gotta make up for all the times I couldn't afford one," he muttered, a dry smile tugging at his lips. His dojo only contained swords—the standard for tournaments—and a good projector-compatible spear was way out of his budget.
Amir continued on, nearly to the end of the hall, when something caught his eye.
Shields. They sat quiet and unassuming on the final shelves. He paused before one in the center—a heater shield with a wood core and metal frame.
He took it; it would be much easier to implement Raalun forms with a shield.
With spear and shield in hand, Amir approached the towering double doors at the end of the hall. Carved into the wood was a rising sun, faded but meaningful.
He exhaled once, steady and slow.
Whatever came next, he would meet it head-on.
He tapped the doors.
[Analyzing… Strength is high enough. No movement debuff.]
[Would you like to begin the tutorial?]
Ah. He'd forgotten the basics.
Amir smiled sheepishly. "Status."
[Ashfall - Warrior
Rank 0, Level 0
Health: 170 / 170
Mana: Locked
Stamina: 210 / 210
Title: None
Traits: None
Skills: None
Strength: 15 (10) / Agility: 11 (10) / Constitution: 21 (10) / Vitality: 17 (10) / Spirit: 16 (10)]
He tapped the doors again.
[Would you like to begin the tutorial?]
"Yes."
The doors rumbled open.
The double doors creaked apart, releasing a faint gust of warm air. Dust motes swirled in the glow beyond.
Amir stepped through.
The armory vanished behind him.
He now stood in a circular arena, its walls of pale stone rising high above like an ancient coliseum. The ground beneath his boots was packed dirt, firm but forgiving.
Overhead, the sky remained a serene blue—but there was no sun. Just a soft ambient light that came from everywhere and nowhere.
[Tutorial Initiating…]
[Round 1: Enemy Incoming]
A shimmer sparked at the far end of the arena. With a low snort, a boar stepped into view—solid and muscular, with shaggy brown fur and short, brutal tusks. Its eyes glowed faintly red.
Amir adjusted his stance, raising the shield and shifting the spear into a forward grip.
The boar pawed the ground and charged.
Amir didn't move.
He waited—timing the rhythm of the beast's pounding hooves.
Three meters.
Two.
One.
He shifted just enough to dodge the rush, stepping out of the boar's path. As the boar stampeded past, he drove the spear into its flank, clean and precise. The blade sank deep, blood pouring out onto the dirt.
The creature let out a sharp squeal, then dissolved into shards of fading light. The blood remained.
Amir gazed down at his shield in thought, brow furrowed.
[Round 1: Complete]
[Round 2: Enemies Incoming]
Two new ripples appeared across the arena. Boars again—but these ones slightly larger, thicker around the shoulders, their eyes glowing brighter.
They came in together.
Amir moved immediately, circling right to prevent getting flanked. The boar to the right—the closer one—led the charge, attacking low.
He met it with a thrust—but it was a feint to the side. When it jerked instinctively, Amir pivoted and caught it in the throat.
Before it finished disintegrating, the second boar was already upon him.
Amir didn't wait.
Lowering his stance, he surged forward—shield up, his legs pumping like pistons. The ground kicked up beneath his boots as he barreled into the charging beast.
The impact was thunderous.
Boar and shield collided in a brutal crash, and for a split second, everything jarred. The boar's hooves scraped against the dirt as its momentum broke, dazed by the force of Amir's counterattack.
It reeled backward, trying to recover.
Amir didn't give it the chance. He stepped in and drove his spear forward, straight through its eye.
Blood poured out, staining the ground.
The beast shattered into fragments of light, and the arena fell still again.
[Round 2: Complete]
[Round 3: Enemies Incoming]
The next wave came without pause—three boars this time, fanning out in a loose triangle. One in front, two flanking behind.
Amir advanced, feet light and steady.
When the lead boar lunged, he pivoted and swung wide—his spear arcing through the air. The blade bit deep into the beast's shoulder, tearing a ragged, open gash.
Blood painted the air in a crimson line.
The remaining two rushed from the sides. Amir backpedaled, keeping them in front of him, then jabbed at the boar on the right. The strike caught its neck, shallow but jarring.
The one on his left didn't slow.
Amir braced just in time, shield raised.
Bang!
The impact rang through his arm like a hammer blow, but he held his ground.
[HP: 159 / 170]
He spat to the side, rolling out his shoulder.
The boar that struck him backed off, snorting and pawing at the floor. Its eyes gleamed with dull aggression.
The next assault would come fast. He'd be ready.
Three left, two wounded.
The boars regrouped in a loose line. The one in the middle remained uninjured. The leftmost had a shallow gash along its neck. The rightmost limped, favoring its torn shoulder.
Amir took a half step forward, tightening his stance.
The center boar charged first—just as he expected. The others followed, a heartbeat behind.
Amir shifted right, keeping the leftmost one outside striking range. As the middle boar barreled in, Amir twisted and swept his spear in a wide arc.
The metal edge smashed into the beast's face with a wet crack, halting its momentum.
He stopped the swing just short of the third boar—then drove the spear forward.
The wounded beast couldn't react. The blade punched clean through its skull.
The boar gave a final twitch—then dissolved into fading light. One down.
The remaining two hesitated for only a breath.
The center boar, its snout bloodied and one eye half-closed, gave a furious snort and lunged again.
Amir wouldn't let it gather speed. He stepped in, close and brutal, and slammed his shield into the creature's face.
The impact resounded through the chamber. The boar reeled back, but a spear soon entered its neck. It shattered into light.
The final boar—neck bleeding, eyes wild—circled wide, wary now. It snorted, uncertain.
Amir exhaled, resetting his grip, watching it.
The moment it committed to a charge, he was already moving—angled, waiting. When the beast lunged, Amir stepped aside, then spun his spear low in a sweeping cut across its front legs.
The boar shrieked, stumbling forward, trying to stop its momentum.
Amir brought the spear down in a brutal slash, right into the back of its neck. The boar collapsed, fading away a moment later.
Amir straightened, breath steady, and took in the streaks of blood still staining the ground.
They were getting smarter and faster each round. So was he.
[Round 3: Complete]
[Round 4: Enemies Incoming]
The next round brought four boars—more aggressive, more coordinated.
But Amir had already adapted.
He fought with increasing fluidity now, sweeping his spear in wide arcs and using his shield to block and stun. Every strike was cleaner. Every movement, more efficient.
By the end of the round, he was winded—but barely scratched.
[Round 5: Enemy Incoming]
The air shifted. Amir felt it. He glanced at his health. 152.
This would be a challenge.
'Am I really ready?' He pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time.
Gone was the clatter of multiple hooves. This time, only one creature emerged—but it was not like the previous boars.
[Mini-Boss 'Throg' has appeared.]
The creature stepped from the mist at the edge of the arena. It was massive—easily thrice the size of the normal boars, with thicker muscle beneath bristling black fur and red eyes that gleamed unnaturally. Steam curled from its nostrils as it snorted, stamping once.
A new message appeared in front of Amir.
[Tutorial Hint: Enemy skill 'Bullrush' detected – Cooldown: 25 seconds]
Bullrush. The world settled into Amir's mind like a warning bell.
He tightened his grip on his shield. The spear tip wavered slightly in his grasp, but he centered it with a breath. This wouldn't be like the last rounds. He could feel it in the weight of the air, in the tension that hummed across his skin.
The beast snorted again—and then barreled forward.
It was faster than anything that size had a right to be.
Amir barely had time to react. He braced, planted his feet, and raised his shield.
Boom!
The impact hit like a freight train. His heels tore against the floor, and for a heartbeat, he was airborne.
He landed hard, tumbling across the dirt floor with a grunt. The edge of his vision pulsed red. Amir scrambled upright, barely managing to block a follow-up tusk swipe that would've gored his ribs.
It wasn't like the other boars. It moved with intent, eyes watching him, testing him.
[HP: 84 / 170]
"Alright," Amir muttered, steadying his stance and shaking his aching arm. "Shouldn't do that anymore."
The mini-boss circled, then lunged again. This time, Amir didn't lock down. He pivoted at the last second, angling his shield—not to block the boar, but to redirect it.
The edge of his shield caught the boar's head, and the beast skidded past him with a squeal, losing its balance.
Amir didn't hesitate.
He lunged, spear flashing in a clean arc, and jammed the blade deep inside the boar's back leg. A critical spot.
It bucked, but Amir was already moving. He stepped back, circling, counting down the skill's cooldown in his head.
16 seconds left.
The Bristleback turned again, slower now, blood leaking from its leg. Its eyes narrowed—and then it charged again, this time without the skill.
Perfect.
Amir sidestepped, angled the shield again, and slammed it into the boar's skull as it thundered past. The impact cracked through the hall like a splitting tree.
The beast stumbled, dazed, and Amir drove his spear into its side once more.
Its momentum spent, the boar hobbled a few steps before collapsing. It struggled to get back up, one of its back legs scraping uselessly against the floor, trying—and failing—to push it upright.
Amir didn't wait for it to recover, closing the distance in two smooth strides and aiming his spear.
With one fluid motion, the blade pierced through flesh and fur, burying deep into the boar's neck.
The beast gave one final, rattling cry—then shattered into motes of light.
[Round 5: Complete. Player Condition Restored.]
Amir stood over where the beast once was, steadying his breath as life returned to his limbs.
"Deflect, don't absorb," he muttered. "Got it."
He had more than just strength now. He had technique—just a little.
He could already tell: this build fit him. Positioning, pressure, patience. That was his rhythm, even if he hadn't realized it until now.
The gamble had paid off.
Amir rolled his shoulders, grounded and steady. From here on, he wasn't just surviving the tutorial—he was stepping into the real world of Sky Horizon.
[Round 6: Enemies Incoming]
He buckled. "How long is this damn tutorial?!"