Chapter 2: First Contact
The street outside looked like a mix between a horror movie and an MMO battlefield.
The Iron Wolf, its metallic fangs glinting under the dim streetlights, tore through a car's hood like it was paper. Screams echoed from every direction—people running, doors slamming, glass shattering.
I stood frozen by my apartment window, heart pounding so hard it felt like it was trying to escape my chest. My hand still trembled, gripping the jacket I'd grabbed purely out of instinct. The holographic window hovered beside me like it was mocking me:
Mission: Survive the first attack.
Detected Monster: Iron Wolf (Level 5)
Reward: 50 XP
"Five levels above me," I muttered, feeling a chill crawl up my spine. I knew how this worked in games—fighting something that far ahead was suicide.
But this wasn't a game. This was real life.
And apparently, the Global System wasn't about to let me sit in my tiny apartment eating instant noodles while the world went to hell.
I looked at my reflection in the glass. My eyes were completely black, with dark veins pulsing around them—it still sent shivers down my spine. My skin looked alive, shifting faintly, like the symbiote was restless.
"Alright, Klaus," I told myself, trying to muster some courage. "You're a symbiote now. You've got powers. You're not dying to some damn wolf."
I bolted down the stairs two at a time, almost tripping on the last step.
The hallway was empty, but I could hear chaos outside. I cracked open the building's front door and peeked out.
The Iron Wolf was about twenty meters away, sniffing the air. It was even bigger than I expected—about the size of a horse, its bristled fur looking like tangled wire. Red eyes glowed as its heavy paws cracked the asphalt beneath them.
"Holy shit… this is real," I whispered, ducking behind a trash bin. My mind spun, recalling everything I knew from RPGs.
Level 5 monsters weren't bosses, but they weren't weak either.
If I was right, its HP should be around 200—using the formula that flashed through my head: Monster HP ≈ 100 × (Level)^1.3.
I had 125 HP. Not exactly comforting odds.
Then the system window flickered again:
Enemy Analysis:
Iron Wolf (Level 5)
Estimated HP: 208
Strength: 12
Defense: 8
Speed: 10
Weakness: Precise strikes to joints or eyes.
Warning: Killing monsters above your level grants 2× XP.
"Double XP, huh?" I muttered.
A Level 5 monster gave 50 XP normally—so that'd be 100 XP with the bonus. Two-thirds of what I needed to level up.
Worth the risk? Maybe. But I didn't really have a choice.
The wolf was moving closer, and the street was emptying fast. If I didn't act, it would find me anyway.
I took a deep breath and activated Weapon & Limb Creation.
I thought of something simple—a single sharp claw on my right arm. My skin split open, and a sleek black blade about thirty centimeters long formed.
It was light, but radiated lethality. I could feel the symbiote—no, myself—thrumming with energy. My body just knew what to do, even though my mind was panicking.
The wolf sniffed again and turned its head toward me.
Its glowing eyes locked onto mine.
"Shit. It saw me."
No turning back.
I darted behind a parked car, mind racing.
Thanks to my Enhanced Agility & Reflexes, my movements were faster, sharper—almost surreal, like I was an anime protagonist mid-battle.
"Okay, Klaus. Focus. Weak point: joints and eyes. Aim for the legs."
The wolf lunged, claws tearing chunks out of the street.
It was fast—but so was I.
I rolled to the side as it landed, its fangs grazing my shoulder. The car behind me shredded like cardboard.
"Fuck!" I shouted, adrenaline surging.
I slashed upward, targeting its front leg. The claw cut deep, spraying dark blood and triggering a guttural roar.
The system flashed:
Critical Hit! –35 HP
"Nice!" I grinned—but only for a second.
The wolf swung its tail, slamming me into a wall.
Pain exploded across my ribs—but Accelerated Regeneration kicked in instantly.
The ache faded in seconds, and a gash on my arm sealed itself before my eyes.
"This is… insane," I breathed, pushing myself up.
The wolf didn't give me time to recover. It lunged again, aiming for my throat.
I dodged, rolling aside and stabbing my claw into its rear leg joint. Another roar. Another message.
Critical Hit! –40 HP
The beast staggered but stayed on its feet.
My HP was down to 95. I could feel fatigue creeping in.
"Come on, just a little more," I said—more to myself than anything.
All those years of gaming flooded back—kiting, spacing, cooldown timing.
"Keep your distance, Klaus. Use your speed."
I sprinted backward, vaulting over debris. The wolf was fast, but now it was limping—my opening.
I activated Genetic Memory, praying for some instinct or move to help.
A blurred image flashed in my mind—a sidestep followed by a spinning slash. Not much, but it would do.
When the wolf lunged again, I dodged right and drove my claw straight into its left eye.
The roar was deafening.
The creature convulsed, thrashing wildly before collapsing to the ground.
The system confirmed:
Iron Wolf (Level 5) defeated!
XP gained: 100 (50 × 2 for higher level)
Progress: 100/150 XP to Level 2
Mission Completed: Survive the first attack.
Reward: 50 XP
Progress: 150/150 XP to Level 2
You leveled up!
A surge of energy rushed through my body, like chugging three cans of energy drink at once.
The system updated my status:
Status Updated
Name: Klaus
Race: Symbiote
Level: 2
XP: 0/225
Attributes:
Strength: 6 (+1)
Defense: 6 (+1)
Vitality: 6 (+1)
Intelligence: 6 (+1)
Mana: 6 (+1)
HP: 150 (Vitality ×25)
MP: 240 (Mana ×40)
Physical Damage: 90 (Strength ×15)
Magic Damage: 150 (Intelligence ×25)
Free Points: 4 (2 + 2 from level up)
Skills:
Enhanced Agility & Reflexes (Rank C – Passive)
Accelerated Regeneration (Rank C – Passive)
Weapon & Limb Creation (Rank C – Active)
Genetic Memory (Rank C – Active)
Body Symbiosis (Rank C – Active)
Items: None
"I leveled up," I panted, a grin spreading across my face.
It felt exactly like in games—but a thousand times more intense. My muscles felt tighter, my mind sharper.
The free points were tempting, but I decided to hold off until I understood the system better.
I turned to the wolf's body—only to watch it dissolve into glowing particles, leaving behind a small orb on the ground.
I picked it up, and the system identified it:
Item Obtained:Iron Essence (Rank D)
Description: A forging material. Can be used to craft low-level weapons or armor.
"Nice. Loot," I muttered, slipping the orb into my pocket.
But the relief didn't last long.
More roars echoed in the distance, and new system windows appeared—visible to everyone in the streets:
Global System Notification
Invasion Event in Progress.
Detected Monsters: 12 Iron Wolves (Level 5), 3 Shadow Beasts (Level 7)
Mission: Eliminate 5 enemies.
Reward: 200 XP, 1 Random Chest (Rank E)
"Five enemies?" My stomach twisted.
I'd almost died fighting one—and now the system wanted five?
But something inside me—maybe the symbiote, maybe just pure adrenaline—was eager.
I could feel power pulsing beneath my skin, hungry for battle.
"Alright, System," I said, forming another claw on my left arm.
"Let's see how far I can go."