The blinding light receded, leaving Liam in darkness.
But this darkness was different; it hummed with a nascent energy, echoing the torrent of power that had surged through him.
His body throbbed with restless strength.
He pushed himself up, his muscles responding with an effortless fluidity he'd never experienced.
He no longer felt the ache of hunger.
As he stood, a strange, crystalline sensation bloomed before him. A screen materialized before his eyes.
Liam blinked, startled, rubbing at his eyes, but the screen remained. He stared, confused, his heart quickening.
"What is this?" He reached his hand, but it passed through the glowing letters.
> Liam – Level 1
> * Strength: 10
> * Agility: 10
> * Endurance: 10
> * Magic: 10
> * Health: 1000/1000
>
His enhanced senses could discern faint outlines in the gloom, the subtle shifts in the air, the distant drip of water. He moved with a new confidence, each step silent, his balance perfect.
He hadn't taken more than a few paces when a low growl echoed from the shadows.
Two pairs of red, predatory eyes materialized in the gloom.
Cave-Gnashers. They were lean, wolf-like beasts with obsidian claws and teeth, their snarls echoing with hunger.
As the first Gnasher lunged, Liam ducked under its snapping jaws with impossible speed. But his technique was raw, his instincts new. While he avoided the fatal bite, the creature's flailing claws raked across his arm, tearing through his tunic and drawing a line of fire across his skin.
A sharp pain flared through him.
Ignoring it, Liam's hand lashed out, propelled by a force he didn't know he possessed.
His fist connected with the creature's head. The Gnasher yelped, flung backward, and slammed against the cavern wall, its body limp.
> Gnasher Defeated!
> Experience Gained: 10
>
Liam focused and the crystalline screen appeared again, showing his complete status.
> Liam – Level 1 / 100
> * Strength: 10
> * Agility: 10
> * Endurance: 10
> * Magic: 10
> * Health: 920/1000
>
The second Gnasher hesitated, unnerved by the sudden fall of its packmate. Angered, Liam moved first.
He launched himself forward, a blur of motion. He willed energy to his limbs, and the force behind his strike was even greater. His open palm struck the Gnasher's head, snapping its neck.
> Gnasher Defeated!
> Experience Gained: 10
> Total Experience: 20
>
He stood over the fallen beasts, his breath heavy from the shock of his own power.
He knew that gathering "experience" was key to survival.
Driven by this new understanding, Liam began to explore. The cavern system was vast, a labyrinth of twisting tunnels and echoing chambers.
He encountered more creatures. Each encounter was a brutal lesson.
He learned to anticipate. He learned to strike with precision. The fights were often messy; he took bites and blows, watching his Health dip precariously, only to slowly regenerate over time.
As he fought, the exp climbed.
> Total Experience: 95
>
Then:
> LEVEL UP!
>
The screen immediately refreshed.
> Liam – Level 2 / 100
> * Strength: 30
> * Agility: 30
> * Endurance: 30
> * Magic: 30
> * Health: 1500/1500
>
He stared at the numbers, a genuine smile touching his lips for the first time in the oppressive dark.
The incredible jump in power was a tangible reward for his struggle. He felt stronger, faster, his senses even sharper. This was it. This was how he would ascend.
Days blurred into a single, continuous cycle of hunting and recovering.
He moved deeper.
He was no longer Liam. He was Liam, the nascent predator.
Finally, his path led him to a narrow, upward-sloping tunnel. A faint, distant light appeared. With a final, desperate push,
he emerged. He blinked, momentarily blinded by the sheer intensity of the light.
He was at the base of a towering cliff face, covered in thick vines and ancient trees. Behind him was the mouth of the cave.
He had found his way out. He had survived.
The city of Oakhaven, the humiliation—it all felt like a distant nightmare. His journey had truly just begun.