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Sarah stood in the silent cave, the System's warning flashing in her vision like a crimson alarm.
[WARNING: Host is in a high-threat zone: Abyss Cave. Monster activity: High.]
[Recommended Actions: Immediate Evasion or Rapid Leveling.]
Before the panic could fully set in, a new prompt appeared, its text glowing with a soft, golden light.
[Emergency Skill Available: Auto-Battle Mode. Activate?]
Auto-Battle Mode? Sarah pondered the words. Did it mean the System would pilot her body like a puppet? The thought was terrifying—to surrender her very self. But as she glanced at her stats—the D-Rank Endurance, the C-Rank Strength—and listened to the echoing growls drawing nearer, she knew her options had run out.
"Activate," she whispered.
A wave of cold numbness washed over her. Her last conscious thought was the sight of the skill's description finalizing in her view.
[Auto-Battle Mode: Activated.]
[Duration: 00:20:00.]
[User consciousness: Suspended. System control: Engaged.]
Her body went rigid, her expression blank. For the next twenty minutes, she became a perfect, efficient weapon. The System, wearing her form, moved with a grace and lethality Sarah herself could never possess. It weaved between the fangs and claws of the Rock Wolves, striking weak points with brutal precision. One by one, the monsters fell, and Sarah's experience points soared.
When her mind snapped back into her body, it was met with a tsunami of agony. Every muscle fiber screamed in protest, feeling as if they had been shredded and set on fire. Gasping for breath, she clutched her trembling legs, the System's earlier warning about "muscle injuries" now a brutal, physical reality.
She had survived, but the cost was immense.
Forcing her eyes open, she saw her updated status.
[LEVEL UP: 4 -> 25!]
The incredible gain was small consolation for the pain. As her vision cleared, three new notifications shimmered into view.
[New Skills Unlocked!]
- Regeneration (Low-Grade)
- Mana Drain (Low-Grade)
- Weapon Mastery (Low-Grade)
A flicker of hope—these could be her path to true strength, a way to survive without relying on the dangerous Auto-Battle Mode.
"System," she thought, her mental voice strained. "Where am I?"
[How should I know?] the System replied, its tone infuriatingly casual.
"Are you really that useless?" she snapped, her irritation cutting through the pain.
[I am a combat and growth companion, not a GPS. My purpose is to facilitate your power progression, not provide travelogues.]
Frustrated, Sarah pushed herself to her feet, wincing as she limped toward the cave's exit. In the distance, she spotted the spires and smoke of a town. As soon as her eyes focused on it, a new System tag appeared.
[Location Identified: Frenria Town. A settlement predominantly populated by Demi-humans. Suggestion: Register with the local Adventurer's Guild.]
Sarah stopped dead, a fresh wave of annoyance washing over her. "You knew? If you knew, why didn't you tell me immediately?"
[You did not ask for a location assessment. My primary function is reactive to your direct inquiries and combat needs.]
Suppressing a sigh, Sarah forced a smile. It was just her and this frustrating, literal-minded program. Squaring her shoulders, she began her painful walk toward Frenria Town, determined to become an adventurer on her own terms.
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