The twin moons hung pale in the sky, casting long silver shadows across the endless grassy plains.
Zhao Yu's legs ached, lungs burning like fire, and his hands shook from gripping the stick so tightly he was pretty sure he'd break it if he flexed once more.
Behind him, a low hiss cut through the quiet night like a knife, the molten eyes of the serpent following his every step, calculating, patient, hungry.
He skidded across loose dirt, breath hitching.
"Okay… okay… just stay calm… just… just survive this… no, actually think this through."
His voice trembled, half-command, half-prayer.
"Silent Step! Silent Step! Come on! Don't fail me now, you useless… thing!"
Nothing.
"…Of course nothing. Why would it ever work when I actually need it?"
Zhao Yu's shoulders slumped.
Panic bubbled, sour and hot in his chest.
He crouched low, trying to think, trying to recall any game logic he could adapt.
'Roswell would be calm… Roswell would be strategic… me? I'm a panicked idiot with a stick and a bad sense of timing.'
The serpent hissed again, molten-hot breath wafting over the grass, and Zhao Yu froze.
He could feel its eyes in his chest, its tail vibrating the earth.
Every instinct screamed: run, run, run.
But the farther he ran, the closer it seemed to get, gliding over the land like death incarnate.
He swallowed, wet with fear.
"Okay… okay, strategy… strategy…"
His hands moved almost compulsively, gripping the stick, scanning the terrain, counting steps.
"If I zigzag… maybe I can throw it off balance… if I roll into the brush… maybe it'll hesitate… maybe I can survive…"
He took a deep breath, heart hammering.
"If I die here… I die knowing I tried. If I survive… I get stronger. Every step forward is proof I don't just exist. Every scar, every panic attack, every stupid mistake… it's my training. The world doesn't hand you power. You snatch it. You take it."
With renewed, desperate energy, he sprinted toward a low hill in the distance.
The city walls glimmered faintly in the pale light, lanterns floating like promises of warmth and safety.
He dodged a snapping jaw, rolled across a patch of dirt, and scrambled back to his feet.
The serpent lunged again, tail whipping violently, sending a spray of sand and stones.
"Ugh… ugh… okay… okay…"
Zhao Yu's mind raced as adrenaline pumped through him.
I can't die here.
I refuse to die here.
Not now.
Not like this.
He grabbed a loose rock from the ground and flung it with all his strength.
It bounced harmlessly off the serpent's armored scales.
"Of course. Of course it doesn't work. Armor class: invincible, naturally."
A second lunge, closer this time.
Zhao Yu's legs screamed in protest, knees wobbling. He stumbled, barely catching himself on a fallen branch.
"Plan B… improvise… oh, oh, yes, panic wildly while hoping for miracles! That's a solid plan!"
Another burst of speed carried him toward the gates.
The city walls glowed ahead, faint light spilling onto the plains.
His hands ached.
His chest felt ready to explode.
Each breath burned.
But he kept moving, each step a struggle between terror and determination.
And then a realization cut through the chaos:
"I don't get power because I'm lucky. I don't get safety because I'm clever. I survive because I refuse to give up, because even when I'm terrified, even when my body wants to collapse, I keep moving. And every step forward… every single miserable, panicked, screaming step… is mine. I earned it."
With that thought, he leapt over a fallen tree, scrambled up the last slope, and flung himself through the city gates.
He collapsed in a heap, lungs heaving, dirt and sweat coating him.
Guards rushed over, eyes wide, weapons ready, and Zhao Yu waved feebly, stick still in hand.
"No… don't… shoot… please… I fought… a giant… scary… thing… totally fine now."
The serpent skidded to the edge of the city, molten eyes burning, but the gates had closed behind him.
Zhao Yu collapsed fully onto his back, staring at the stars.
His chest still heaved, heart racing, mind buzzing.
The system pinged.
———「Side Quest Complete」———
◆ Survive Until Dawn
◆ Reward: +100 EXP
◆ +1 Unknown Drop
—————————————————
He groaned, hands on his face.
"Haa… survived. Somehow… barely… survived. And you know what? If I can survive that, I can survive anything. Every stupid decision, every panic, every failed Silent Step… it's just fuel. Just prep. Just… life telling me to grow, and grow hard."
He sat up slowly, brushing dirt from his clothes, and muttered, voice low but fierce:
"Life doesn't give you a break, doesn't give you guidance, and sure as hell doesn't care if you cry. You get one chance: move, fight, survive. If you make it… you're stronger. If you fail… well, better luck next life."
The unknown drop in his inventory glimmered faintly.
Zhao Yu's lips curved into a weary, cocky grin.
"Alright… Xinzhi City. Let's see how much trouble you can throw at me next. Bring it on."
Just as he stepped onto the cobblestone road leading to the gates, a guard's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding:
"Puts your hands up!"
Zhao Yu froze mid-step, stick dangling in one hand, dirt smeared across his clothes, sweat dripping down his face.
He slowly raised his hands like a cartoon villain caught red-handed.
"Whoa… okay… no need for stabbing or yelling… I'm friendly!"
He blinked at the guards, and then, in true Zhao Yu fashion, decided this was the perfect opportunity for a little foolish dramatics.
He spun in a circle, wobbly but confident.
"Behold! Zhao Yu, conqueror of slimes, survivor of giant snakes, and now, oh yes, legendary visitor of Xinzhi City! Witness my heroic entrance!"
One guard's eyes narrowed.
Zhao Yu interpreted this as awe and nodded sagely.
"Ah… I see you understand greatness when it walks, or stumbles, before you. Excellent. Excellent."
He crouched dramatically behind a low crate, then peeked over it like he was sneaking into the city undetected.
"You see, I'm an unregistered entity. Rules do not apply to me. But… let's pretend they do. Hands up. Respect the law. Yeah… that's the ticket."
The guard repeated, sharper this time:
"Name. Identification. Reason for entry!"
Zhao Yu thought fast, pointing at himself with one hand while the other still held the stick like a ceremonial staff.
"Ah! Name? Zhao Yu, wanderer extraordinaire, slayer of desert monsters, seeker of civilization and probably overpriced food. Reason? Well… survival, adventure, and… eh, why not fame?"
He struck a dramatic pose.
"And I bring nothing but my charm, courage, and, okay, maybe a little chaos, but mostly charm!"
The guards blinked.
One of them muttered something, clearly unimpressed.
Zhao Yu took this as a cue to ramp up the theatrics.
OHe spun around once, accidentally kicking up a small cloud of dust.
"Yes! Witness! Feel the energy! This is me, alive, undefeated, and slightly insane!"
Then the system pinged.
———「System」———
「Quest Complete」
◆ Reach Xinzhi City!
———「Rewards」———
◆ +100 EXP
◆ +1 Basic Qi Capsule
◆ +1 Common Tier Chest
————————————
Zhao Yu yelped, pointing at the notification.
"Whoa! Did you see that, guards? Quest completed just by showing up! Legendary move right here! And… rewards! Oh, yes… finally, proof I exist and did something meaningful today!"
He took a dramatic bow.
"I accept these rewards humbly, and yet with style! I am Zhao Yu, adventurer, survivor, and the first hero of my own story! Bow down, citizens of Xinzhi City… bow down to me… eventually…"
The guards blinked again, one muttered,
"Send him to registration…"
Zhao Yu grinned, ignoring everything.
"Ah! Registration! How exciting! I will gloriously register myself as Zhao Yu, wanderer extraordinaire, slayer of slimes, survivor of desert serpents, and future legend of Xinzhi City!"
With that, he finally stepped fully through the city gates, nearly tripping over the threshold, but with a huge grin on his face.
"Onward! Let's see what Xinzhi City has for me… food, inns, shops, and maybe more monsters to slap around for EXP!"
As Zhao Yu go away with one of the guards, the two guards mutterd from behind.
"Was that an Idiot?"
The another one replied,
"Looks more like a Joker To me."
*****