AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER
I took a deep breath, forcing my trembling legs to move. My first step into the world felt real, too real. The grass beneath my feet pressed against my shoes, soft and damp. I took another step, testing the system. I needed to make sure that this game works the same way as other games done it before.
"Skills Menu, open."I ordered.
A small, translucent panel appeared in my vision.
"Skills: Basic Herb Gathering – Lv. 1. Simple Potion Crafting – Lv. 1. Survival Instinct – Lv. 1."The panel said.
I hesitated, then tentatively activated 'Basic herb gathering. Instantly, a faint blue outline highlighted a cluster of small green plants nearby. I bent down, crouched, and plucked them carefully.
"Herb Collected: Mint Leaf. EXP Gained: 5."Success! A tiny notification blinked.
My heart skipped lightly as it worked. The skills weren't just UI fluff, they were real, functional, tangible. I stuffed the herbs into a small satchel that appeared at my hip. My stomach twisted in a mix of awe and fear. Okay, now what? The guild, that's what. Every adventurer in starter zones eventually found their way to the 'Adventurer's guild, registered, and got their rank verified. If I wanted any chance of surviving, I had to check in.
The cobblestone road stretched ahead, townsfolk and adventurers moved along it, chatting, laughing, or arguing over maps and missions. I drew in a shaky breath and started walking, trying to look confident even though my legs felt like jelly. The guild hall loomed ahead, massive stone walls etched with old runes, banners flapping in the breeze. Inside, I followed the sound of chatter and shuffling boots. Adventurers were everywhere, Alphas striding with authority, Betas haggling over contracts, and Omegas like me, smaller, quieter, hovering near the edges. I stepped up to the registration desk, a tall guild clerk with sharp eyes looked down at me.
"Name, rank, and class?" She asked, her tone polite but clearly practiced in sizing up weaklings.
I swallowed.
"Xavier Stoneheart. Healer, uh herbalist."I whispered as my introvert side was kicking in.
Her eyes flicked to the screen she'd pulled up. Rank: weakest. Her lips twitched in something between amusement and pity.
"Herbalist, huh?" She said, typing quickly. "Well, we will see how long you last. Welcome to the guild, Mr. Stoneheart."She said.
I nodded, biting my lip as I turned, I realized the guild hall had quieted slightly. Adventurers were looking. Some curious, some sceptical, others outright amused. I could feel their gazes like a thousand tiny daggers. I cursed under my breath. Great, weakest rank, healer class. Everyone's watching me like I am a puppy that might bite back, but then a small thrill ran through me. I might be the weakest, I might be the one everyone expects to fail. But this world, this cruel, beautiful, dangerous world was mine to explore. My skills weren't flashy, my strength wasn't impressive, but my mind, my herbalist mind, could carve a path. I straightened my shoulders, ignoring the whispers and stares.
"Okay." I muttered to myself. "Time to see if the weakest Herbalist can actually survive this."
Suddenly, I remembered that I forgot to ask something. I cleared my throat, trying to sound confident, though my hands were still trembling.
"Uh excuse me." I said to the guild clerk. "Could, could I, uh see my rank? My exact stats?"
She glanced at me like I had just asked if the sky was blue.
"Of course. Let me pull it up."She said.
The screen flickered in front of me, blue light shimmering in the air. A panel appeared, more detailed than before, almost clinical in its precision.
"Name: Xavier Stoneheart. Age: 18. Gender: Male. Rank: Weakest. Class: Herbalist (Healer). Species/Type: Omega. Survival Index: Extremely Low. Abilities: Basic herb gathering Lv. 1, Simple potion crafting Lv. 1, Survival Instinct Lv. 1."I read it quietly.
I froze, every word stabbed at me like icy daggers. Omega?
"Wait, wait a second." My voice cracked. "I am an Omega?"
The clerk gave me a flat look, as if this was just another Monday.
"Yes. Omega. Your classification affects social interactions, survival strategies, and, depending on your surroundings, predator prey dynamics. You are among the most vulnerable."She explained.
My stomach lurched, and I staggered back a step, gripping the edge of the counter.
"I, I didn't, I am I am just-"I stuttered.
The words died in my throat, and my mind raced. Weakest rank, herbalist class, Omega, every stereotype, every warning I had ever heard about Omegas, now blinking at me in glaring, undeniable blue. My pulse hammered. The clerk didn't look cruel, she wasn't laughing, but I could feel the weight of the world pressing down just from that single word. Omega. I stumbled back a step and ran a hand through my copper hair, shaking my head.
"This can't I mean what the hell does that even mean here?"I asked.
"It means." The system whispered in my mind, calm and unfeeling. "That you are biologically and socially at a disadvantage. You will need to rely on intellect, resourcefulness, and survival skills to endure. Danger is amplified. Prey instincts are heightened. Adapt or perish."
I swallowed hard, my legs were weak, and my heart raced. The guild hall's chatter seemed to fade, replaced by the thudding of blood in my ears. I had never felt so exposed, so small, and so completely helpless, and yet a spark of something darker flickered in me. Fear. Panic. Survival instinct, maybe even an excitement.
"Okay." I muttered to myself, fists clenched. "So I am the weakest, Omega herbalist, healer. Great, just great, fantastic. Yeah." My voice was shaky, but underneath it was resolve. "Let's see if the weakest can survive anyway."
I quickly walked to the tasks table as I knew that I needed to begin my first task to survive here, if I even wanted to survive another day in this world.