Everything went white.
For a heartbeat, Lin felt nothing—no pain, no fear, no jungle, no predator.
Just a cold void.
Crystal's voice drifted through the darkness, softer than ever.
"You're at the edge, weakling. Respawn now… or awaken."
Lin's fingers tightened around his Glowing Fang Club. His mind screamed to respawn, but his heart burned with something different.
"No… not again. Not another death. I'm done running."
The void cracked like glass.
---
Hidden Skill Activation
> Emergency Override Triggered.
Unique Skill Unlocked: Reboot Surge Lv.1
Lin's body ignited in a faint golden glow. Pain vanished, replaced by a rush of energy. His stats spiked.
Crystal gasped—an actual gasp. "Oh… so that's why the system picked you."
"W-what's happening?" Lin asked, his voice trembling with power.
"You've awakened your first hidden skill," Crystal said, excitement creeping into her tone. "Reboot Surge. A ten-second window of enhanced speed, strength, and invulnerability… if you don't mess it up."
---
Heroic Counterattack
The white light faded to reveal the predator mid-lunge.
Lin stepped forward, glowing eyes locked on the beast.
He swung his club—faster than he'd ever moved.
The Glowing Fang Club smashed into the predator's jaw, cracking its armor. Sparks and blood flew.
Elara's eyes widened. "Impossible…"
Lin moved again, dodging the tail, striking the underbelly, moving like a blur.
The predator howled, its scales cracking under the onslaught.
Crystal's voice was sharp now: "You have ten seconds. Make it count!"
---
The Kill
Lin vaulted onto the predator's back, driving the club down between its three eyes. The glow pulsed, the beast roared—
—and collapsed with a thunderous crash, shaking the jungle.
Lin stumbled off its body, panting. The glow faded. Pain slammed back into his ribs like a truck.
But he was alive.
And the predator was dead.
---
System Rewards
> Quest Completed: Hunt of the Jungle Beasts
Rewards: +500 XP, +200 Credits, Jungle Predator Fang (Rare), Skill Reboot Surge Lv.1 Unlocked
Lin blinked at the glowing notifications. "I… I did it…"
Elara slowly got to her feet, brushing dirt from her armor. "You… you're not just some idiot after all."
Lin laughed weakly. "I'm still an idiot. Just… a slightly stronger one."
Crystal's voice purred. "A very slightly stronger one. But credit where it's due—you impressed me. Don't get used to it."
---
First Hint of a Larger World
As they caught their breath, the jungle grew quiet again. Too quiet.
Elara glanced at the trees. "We need to move. The predator's roar will draw attention."
Lin frowned. "From what?"
Elara's expression darkened. "From them."
Before Lin could ask, a flash of blue light appeared ahead. A figure stepped out—a young woman clad in shimmering azure armor, holding a staff that pulsed with runes.
She was beautiful in a different way from Elara—mysterious, regal, with eyes like the sea.
Crystal muttered, "Oh great. Another one."
Lin blinked. "Who… who is that?"
Elara's eyes narrowed. "A Guardian of the Jungle. And if she's here, it means our fight just woke up something far worse than the predator."
The woman's voice carried across the clearing, calm but commanding. "You killed a predator. That is forbidden."
Lin raised his hands weakly. "Uh… hi? We can talk about this, right?"
The staff's runes flared brighter. "No. We cannot."
To be continued…