"Alright, let's see what you've got," Aren muttered under his breath, crouched low on a cracked ridge of black stone that jutted out like the spine of some ancient, dead titan. The horizon burned red and orange, smoke and ash swirling like a storm no one alive had ever survived. Every movement, every vibration underfoot, pulsed with deadly intent, and yet he felt…awake. More alive than he had in years. Pain had sharpened into awareness, fear into calculation, chaos into opportunity.
[System Notification – New Objective]
Objective: Engage first Godly Entity.
Reward: EXP +50, Unlock Combat Skill
He flexed his fingers, felt the subtle hum of his Survival Instinct coursing through his nerves, the pulse of Tactical Reflexes sharpening his mind. His heart beat fast, not in panic, but in rhythm with the world itself. The fissures beneath him shivered, rippling outward as though the land itself recognized the predator that moved toward him.
A low, resonant vibration preceded the entity's arrival, a sound felt more than heard, the sheer scale of it pressing against his chest like a physical weight. And then he saw it—massive beyond comprehension, its shadow blotting the horizon, eyes faintly glowing, a form that could crush mountains as casually as humans crushed insects.
"…Oh, you massive fucker," Aren muttered, dry, bitter, humorless. "You're first. Lucky me."
The entity moved, each step rolling the ground beneath him, shards of black stone flaring like sparks from the friction of its movement. Aren rolled forward, letting the first shockwave pass over him, body reacting instinctively before thought could catch up. The system pinged, overlaying stats and combat suggestions:
[Threat Scan – Godly Entity]
Physical Resistance: Extreme
Magic Resistance: Unknown
Speed: High
Weakness: Unknown
"Fantastic," he muttered, flexing into a crouch. "No weakness yet. Guess I'm figuring that out the hard way."
A fissure exploded beneath his feet as the entity swung a massive arm toward him. Aren dove sideways, hitting the jagged stone mid-roll, sending shards flying. The panel glowed:
EXP Gained: 30
Level Up Available: 1 Point
He rolled to a standing crouch, allocating Strength +1 | Agility +1, muscles coiling, reflexes tightening, mind sharpening. "…Fucking perfect. Level two, first real fight, let's go."
The entity's next movement was deliberate, slower this time, almost testing. Aren smirked faintly, voice low and dry: "…Testing me, huh? Cute. You'll regret that."
[Combat Skill Unlocked – Quick Strike]
Effect: Delivers a precise, high-speed attack.
Cooldown: 5 seconds
He lunged, hitting a minor portion of the entity's massive leg. Nothing significant, but the system pinged:
Combat Success – Hit Registered
EXP Gained: 50
"First strike. Not bad," he muttered, lips curling faintly. "Not dead yet. Check."
The fissures widened, black stone cracking in jagged lines. Heat radiated upward, pulses of energy vibrating in the air like living threats. Aren ducked another swing, rolled through shards, and jumped onto a higher ridge. Tactical Reflexes flared, giving him predictive insight—small, precise nudges toward safety. Survival Instinct fed minor predictive boosts, letting him anticipate the next movements.
[Level Up – 1 Point Earned]
[Survival Instinct Improved]
Aren gritted his teeth. "…Alright, you massive motherfucker. Let's dance."
He launched himself, rolling and striking again, faster, sharper, the system guiding, his own instincts blending with machine insight. Each successful hit pinged EXP, level points, new minor attributes activating. He could feel himself growing, small at first, but undeniable—a step ahead, a flicker of control in the storm of apocalypse.
The entity's eyes glowed faintly, as if acknowledging him, adjusting, aware that this mortal—this one person—was moving differently than the rest. He smirked faintly. "…Finally, a bit of acknowledgment. Cute."
The horizon vibrated, fissures spreading, shadows twisting as more entities stirred. But Aren didn't flinch. Reflex, prediction, Survival Instinct, Tactical Reflexes—they were tools, extensions of him now. Every movement precise, measured, flowing in rhythm with the chaos.
[Optional Quest – Test Strike Completed]
Reward: EXP +75, Unlock Skill: Precision Strike
He landed another blow, this one grazing the entity's foreleg, energy humming through his arm, tiny but tangible feedback from the system. He exhaled sharply, grimy, bloody, adrenaline pumping. "…Alright, Ragnarok. You picked the wrong guy to fuck with first."
And as the first clash escalated, the horizon shifted again. Shadows moved faster. The system pulsed faintly. Aren grinned, dry and sharp. "…Good. Let's see how bad you really want me dead."
***
The shadows shifted again, darker now, moving like liquid across the cracked black stone, folding in and out of the jagged fissures as if the land itself breathed with intent. Aren crouched low, feeling the hum of the system pulse against his nerves, every microsecond of reaction amplified by Survival Instinct, Tactical Reflexes, and the faint, almost teasing whisper of Ragnarok itself.
"…Alright," he muttered under his breath, voice dry and flat, carrying that sarcastic edge that had kept him alive more than luck ever could. "…You want to play? Let's see who the fuck learns the hard way."
The entity's first real strike came like a tidal wave of force, its massive arm slicing through the air, sending jagged stone splintering and black dust rising in choking clouds. Aren rolled forward instinctively, the ground vibrating beneath him, pulses of energy brushing past his skin like invisible hands trying to crush him. The system flashed in his vision:
[Threat Analysis – Godly Entity]
Speed: High
Physical Resistance: Extreme
Weakness: Unknown
Recommended Action: Exploit environment, observe attack patterns
"Fantastic," he muttered, landing on the edge of a fissure. "…My favorite kind of opponent. Totally straightforward, totally kill-me-in-one-swipe type. Perfect."
He leaped, rolling across the fractured stone to gain better footing. Every movement fed the system microdata, and Tactical Reflexes nudged him subtly: shift left, anticipate swing, counterbalance, keep distance. His fingers curled instinctively, muscles tensing and releasing like springs.
[System Notification – Combat Skill Unlocked]
Skill: Precision Strike
Effect: Delivers high-speed, pinpoint attacks targeting weak points
Cooldown: 8 seconds
Aren grinned faintly. "…Now we're talking." He lunged forward, aiming for a minor joint in the creature's massive arm, the strike grazing, feeding feedback to the system. Tiny sparks of energy hummed through his veins as the system recorded the hit, measuring force, trajectory, and resistance.
EXP Gained: 40
Level Up Available: 1 Point
"Level up? Already?" he muttered, flexing, letting the subtle surge of potential course through him. Strength +1, Agility +1. "…Nice. That's more like it."
The entity shifted its massive bulk, eyes glowing faintly like molten cores, and the ground trembled in reaction. Fissures spread wider, black stone splintering into jagged teeth that threatened to trap him. Aren's gaze flicked over the landscape, noting each crack, ridge, and collapse point. The system pinged:
Optional Objective: Utilize terrain advantage
Reward: EXP +20, Unlock Environmental Tactics
"Environmental tactics? Fucking brilliant," he muttered under his breath. He leaped onto a higher ridge, using the jagged stone like a launchpad, rolling midair and landing behind the entity, narrowly avoiding another sweeping strike. "Okay, that's a start. Start small, learn fast."
[Level Up – 1 Point Earned]
[Survival Instinct Improved – Level 3]
Aren exhaled sharply, chest heaving, mind calculating. "…Alright. Let's see what else you've got, big guy." His words were dry, sharp, a smirk barely visible. Every instinct screamed danger, every thought refined by Tactical Reflexes and Survival Instinct. He could feel the hum of Ragnarok in the air, in the stone beneath him, in the entity's deliberate, patient movements.
The entity's next attack was slower, more calculated. It raised its arm, sweeping down with devastating force. Aren rolled to the side, letting the edge of its massive strike smash into the ridge behind him, sending debris flying. The system pinged immediately:
Combat Analysis – Hit Evaded
EXP Gained: 20
Optional Skill Unlock Available
Aren's lips curled into a dry grin. "…Optional skill, huh? Let's try it."
[Skill Unlocked – Adrenal Surge]
Type: Passive/Active
Effect: Temporarily boosts all physical attributes and reflexes, minor regeneration for 10 seconds
Cooldown: 60 seconds
He felt the faint pulse activate as he triggered it instinctively. Strength, speed, reflexes, awareness—every sense sharpened, every muscle coiling with potential energy. "…Fuck yeah. Finally, some juice."
The entity's eyes followed him, aware, deliberate, adjusting its attack patterns now. Each swing, each stomp, each step sent fissures racing through the black stone. Aren leaped, rolled, dodged, and countered, the system pulsing with each interaction, each successful strike, each avoided hit. He could feel himself growing in real time, tiny sparks of understanding feeding into the panels hovering in his vision.
[Quest Update – First Real Combat]
Objective: Survive initial engagement
Reward: EXP +150, Unlock Skill: Counter Strike
Aren muttered under his breath, voice low, dry. "…Counter strike? Finally. About fucking time." He crouched, focusing, watching the entity's rhythm, predicting the next swing. He felt the rush of power, of potential, and the thrill of survival. Every strike dodged, every fissure used as leverage, every minor hit counted. He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was learning, adapting, evolving.
The horizon trembled again. More shadows moved. The air vibrated with deadly intent, but Aren smirked faintly, chest heaving, mind calculating, system humming like a living entity feeding him guidance. "…Alright, Ragnarok," he muttered dryly. "…You brought your first challenge. But I'm not just surviving. I'm starting to fight back."
The entity's eyes glowed, a faint, molten acknowledgment. Fissures widened, stone cracked, heat pulsed. And Aren—smirking, tense, alive—readied himself. This was just the beginning. The first clash had only scratched the surface of the world that waited for him. The system hummed, objectives lined up, skills waiting, growth imminent. And Aren grinned, sharp and dry: "…Let's see who really wants me dead."
***
The entity's movements were deliberate, calculated, each step sending fissures racing through the black stone like veins of molten energy. Aren crouched low, flexing, letting Survival Instinct hum through him. The system pinged softly, almost teasing:
Threat Level Rising – Godly Entity
Suggested Action: Exploit openings, use environmental advantage
Aren's smirk twisted sharper, dry and flat. "…Exploit openings? Yeah, sure. Let's see how fucking obvious they are." He sprinted across a jagged ridge, leaping over a fissure that had just split like a jagged maw, dust and shards trailing his path. The entity's arm swung, a blunt mass of force designed to crush, and he rolled underneath it, claws of rock snapping past him like oversized knives.
[System Notification]
Tactical Reflexes Engaged – Predictive Motion Activated
Adrenal Surge – Active
Muscles coiled, senses sharpened, reflexes dancing just beyond normal human limits. Aren's first real swing came from instinct: a Precision Strike aimed at the entity's knee joint, tiny sparks of energy humming where steel-like bone met force. It grazed, a minor impact, but enough. The system pulsed:
EXP Gained: 50
Level Up Available – 1 Point
He muttered dryly. "…One point. Perfect. And it's mine." Strength +1, Agility +1. Each breath, each heartbeat, felt amplified, connected to the world, the entity, the fissures, the air itself.
The creature shifted, slower this time, adjusting its pattern. Aren's eyes flicked across the horizon: cracks, ridges, unstable stone. Every micro-flinch, every hesitation, every shift was a clue. He rolled over a protruding ridge, kicking a chunk of black stone into the air as a distraction. The entity adjusted, reaction delayed just enough.
[Optional Objective – Environmental Manipulation]
Use terrain to gain tactical advantage
Reward: EXP +30, Unlock Skill: Impulse Strike
Aren snorted, dry and humorless. "…Impulse Strike? Fuck yeah. Let's make this interesting." He lunged, energy coiling through his legs, launching off jagged stone to deliver a midair strike aimed for a glowing weak spot near the creature's shoulder. The strike landed with a sharp impact, vibrations coursing up his arm, system recording force, resistance, speed.
EXP Gained: 60
Level Up – 1 Point Earned
He gritted his teeth, selecting Strength +1. "…One more and we'll see if this thing really bites."
The horizon shuddered. Fissures widened, black stone splitting further, and the air hummed with pressure, alive, watching. Aren's pulse synced to it, subtle adrenaline surging as he rolled behind another ridge, Tactical Reflexes guiding him like a whisper. The entity's arm swung again, slower now, more deliberate. And Aren, anticipating, darted forward:
[Skill Activated – Counter Strike]
Effect: Automatic counter on successful evasion, enhanced damage and stability
Cooldown: 15 seconds
His fist connected with the entity's exposed joint as it swung past. A sharp shock ran up his arm, the system recording impact, resistance, and minor structural weakness. Sparks of black energy flared faintly.
"…Not bad," Aren muttered, lips curling, dry humor threading through tension. "I might actually fucking survive this."
[Level Up Available – 1 Point]
[Survival Instinct Level 4]
He selected Agility +1. Movement sharpened, reflexes faster, body lighter, awareness more acute. Every swing avoided, every fissure leveraged, every counter strike applied—he was growing in real time, system feeding him more data than he could have imagined a human mind handling.
The entity, patient, deliberate, shifted its stance. Its eyes glowed molten now, acknowledging him—not fear, not respect, just recognition. Recognition that the little fucker scrambling across black stone was adapting.
"Yeah," Aren muttered, voice low, dry. "…I'm learning. You want me dead? That's fine. But I'm learning faster."
A fissure snapped beneath him. Black stone erupted, shards launched upward, energy rippling outward. Aren flipped over it, landing on unstable ground, system pulsing:
Combat Analysis Update – Weak Points Noted
Skill Unlocked – Enhanced Reflex
Effect: Minor predictive movement, reduces incoming damage by 15% for 5 seconds
Cooldown: 12 seconds
He smirked faintly. "…Enhanced Reflex. About fucking time."
The entity's arm came down again. Aren rolled sideways, feeling Adrenal Surge pulse, muscles coiling. Mid-roll, he fired a Precision Strike, connecting with a weak spot near the shoulder, system recording, energy humming. Sparks flickered faintly.
EXP Gained: 80
Level Up Available – 2 Points
Strength +1, Agility +1. Heart hammering, mind racing, body coiled, he muttered dryly. "…Yeah. This is starting to feel like a fight. Not death by scenery anymore."
The horizon shuddered again. Shadows twisted, fissures expanded, and the entity's massive bulk shifted closer. Aren crouched low, system pulsing, awareness sharp. The first real engagement wasn't just survival anymore—it was adaptation, growth, evolution.
"…Alright," he muttered, voice low, teeth gritted, smirk curling. "…Let's see who really wants me dead."
He darted forward, faster than the fissures could reach, weaving through rubble, dodging debris, striking weak points, system pulsing with every movement. This wasn't just a fight—it was a symphony of survival, strategy, and instinct.
And in the chaos, Aren knew one thing:
He wasn't just surviving. He was beginning to fight.
And Ragnarok had only just started.
[End of Chapter 2]
Thanks!♥️
-Astra