Kael Vance's last memory was the screech of tires and a blinding flash of chrome. He'd been trudging home from a double shift at the diner, head down against the rain, when the truck barreled through the crosswalk. No time to scream. Just pain, then darkness.Now, he was… somewhere else. His eyes snapped open, lungs gasping like he'd been underwater. The air stung, thick with ash and something metallic. He lay on his back, staring at a sky bruised purple, streaked with jagged green lightning. No stars. No clouds. Just an endless, churning void."What the hell?" Kael croaked, voice hoarse. His body ached, but he wasn't bleeding—no broken bones, no road rash. He sat up, heart hammering, and took stock. He was sprawled on cracked stone, surrounded by jagged ruins. Collapsed towers loomed like broken teeth, draped in vines that pulsed faintly, glowing blue. The ground vibrated with a low hum, like a machine buried deep.He checked himself: tattered gray tunic, patched trousers, boots worn thin. No phone, no wallet. Just a leather pouch tied to his belt, heavy with… something. He fumbled it open, finding a handful of dull copper coins and a shard of black crystal, sharp enough to cut if he wasn't careful."Okay, Kael," he muttered, forcing calm. "You're not dead. Or maybe you are, and this is hell."A sharp ding echoed in his skull, like a notification chime. Before he could flinch, blue text flickered across his vision, floating like a hologram:System Initialized. Welcome, Player: Kael Vance.
Status: Level 1 Scavenger
HP: 50/50 | MP: 10/10 | Stamina: 30/30
Attributes: Strength 8, Agility 10, Vitality 7, Intelligence 12, Will 9
Skills: None
Perks: Iron Soul [Unique, Locked]
Inventory: 10 copper shards, 1 obsidian fragmentKael blinked, the text fading but leaving an afterimage. He waved a hand, half-expecting it to reappear. Nothing. "System? Like a game?" He'd played his share of RPGs—cheap mobile ones when he could afford data—but this was next-level. A UI in his brain? Stats? A perk called Iron Soul?He stood, legs shaky, and scanned the ruins. If this was a game, there'd be a tutorial, right? A quest marker, a friendly NPC? Instead, the wind carried a guttural snarl, chilling his spine. He froze, eyes locking on movement—a shadow slinking between crumbled pillars, eyes glinting red."Shit," Kael whispered, backing up. His foot hit a loose stone, the clatter loud as a gunshot. The shadow lunged.It was a wolf, but wrong—lean, hairless, with skin like cracked leather and teeth jagged as broken glass. It skidded into view, claws sparking on stone, maybe thirty feet away. Kael's pulse spiked. No weapons, no cover. Just ruins and that pouch of useless coins.Warning: Hostile Detected – Ashfang Wolf, Level 3
Threat: Moderate"Moderate?!" Kael hissed, scrambling backward. The wolf crouched, muscles coiling. He glanced at his stats—Strength 8, Agility 10. Could he outrun it? Doubtful. Fight it? With what, his fists?The wolf charged, jaws wide. Kael dove behind a pillar, breath ragged, as claws raked the stone, showering sparks. Think, think! Inventory—copper shards, obsidian fragment. He yanked the crystal from his pouch, its edge biting his palm. A weapon, maybe?Obsidian Fragment: Crude Dagger
Damage: 3-5 (Slashing)
Durability: 10/10Good enough. Kael gripped it, knuckles white, and peeked out. The wolf circled, sniffing, eyes locked on him. No running—he'd die tired. He needed an edge. The pillar beside him was cracked, leaning precariously. An idea sparked."Hey, ugly!" Kael shouted, stepping into view. The wolf snarled, charging. He waited, heart pounding, then dove aside at the last second. The beast slammed into the pillar, stone groaning. Kael rolled to his feet, lunged, and drove the obsidian into its flank.The wolf howled, thrashing. Red text flashed: Critical Hit! 8 Damage. Kael yanked the dagger free, dodging a snap of jaws. The pillar wobbled, cracks spiderwebbing. He kicked it, hard. With a thunderous crash, it collapsed, pinning the wolf beneath rubble. Dust choked the air, the beast's whines fading to silence.Victory! Ashfang Wolf Defeated.
+50 XP | Level 1: 50/100 XP
Loot: Wolf Pelt (Common), 3 Copper ShardsKael slumped, gasping, the dagger slick with blood. His HP was steady at 50, but his stamina was down to 12. The System pinged again:Quest Unlocked: Survive the Ashen Wastes
Objective: Reach the Outpost before nightfall (6 hours remaining)
Reward: 100 XP, Basic GearA glowing arrow flickered in his vision, pointing north through the ruins. Kael wiped sweat from his brow, grinning despite himself. "Alright, System. Let's play."