Daric awoke gasping, his chest heaving as cold earth pressed against his cheek. Pain throbbed in his head like he'd been clubbed repeatedly. Groaning, he slowly rolled over, grimacing as dizziness threatened to overwhelm him. The scent of damp moss, wet soil, and an unfamiliar earthy undertone filled his senses, clearer and more vivid than he'd ever experienced.
"What the hell…?" he muttered hoarsely, throat parched.
He pushed himself up on trembling arms, fighting off nausea. Blinking rapidly, Daric was surrounded by an endless forest of towering trees whose branches intertwined overhead, forming a dense canopy. A perpetual twilight lingered above, dimly illuminating his surroundings in shades of gray and soft blue. His pulse quickened as he took in the alien landscape, realizing that he was far from home, wherever that had been.
Beneath his hands, soft moss and tiny crystalline mushrooms emitted a faint azure glow. Curiosity overcame caution, and he reached out to touch one. Immediately, bright blue letters sprang into existence before his eyes:
[Welcome, Daric, to the Trial of Ascendance.]
He jerked his hand back, startled, heart pounding.
"Who's there?" he demanded, scrambling to his feet and spinning around, eyes darting frantically in all directions. Only silence greeted him—the heavy, oppressive quiet of an untouched wilderness.
Another line of text shimmered into view:
[Objective: Survive and ascend.]
Daric swallowed, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. Survive? Ascend? The words held a chilling promise, one he wasn't sure he liked. He rubbed his temples, trying to recall anything—his last memory before waking her. Fragments flickered in his mind—home, family, school—but nothing concrete, nothing that explained his current predicament.
Suddenly, another notification appeared, its brightness forcing him to squint:
[You have awakened your Primal Core. Initiating your path.]
A strange sensation ignited within his chest, a pulsating warmth that quickly spread outward, tingling across his body. He felt stronger, senses sharpening in ways he couldn't describe as if he'd suddenly become acutely aware of every rustling leaf and distant murmur.
A new message manifested:
[Primal Core Awakened: Hunter Aspect.]
Before he could comprehend, a transparent overlay appeared, displaying an array of stats:
Strength: 10Agility: 10Vitality: 10Perception: 12Essence: 15
Daric blinked at the numbers, confusion mixing with intrigue. Hunter Aspect—he repeated mentally, feeling an instinctive resonance with the words. Flexing his fingers experimentally, he was struck by how powerful and agile his limbs suddenly felt, infused with potential.
A low, menacing growl pierced the quiet, snapping Daric's head sharply around. His sharpened perception immediately pinpointed glowing amber eyes lurking in the shadows at the clearing's edge. His heart rate accelerated, panic and excitement mingling as adrenaline surged through him.
Another notification urgently flashed before him:
[Quest: Defeat your first enemy. Reward: 500 Essence.]
From the shadows emerged a hulking beast—a massive wolf-like creature with rippling muscles beneath coarse black fur. It bared elongated fangs, eyes locked predatorily on Daric, saliva dripping from its maw. Every hair on Daric's body stood on end as fear fought with primal instinct.
The beast lunged, snarling viciously.
Daric dodged instinctively, his newfound agility surprising even himself. The creature missed, skidding to a halt, claws gouging deep grooves into the dirt. Daric quickly scanned his surroundings, searching desperately for a weapon, anything to defend himself. Spotting a hefty branch nearby, he lunged for it, grabbing the improvised club just as the beast charged again.
He swung with strength he didn't know he possessed, connecting solidly with the beast's jaw. It yelped in pain, staggering back, momentarily stunned. Confidence surged within Daric, and he stepped forward boldly, adrenaline pumping furiously.
Yet the creature recovered quickly, rage blazing in its eyes as it leaped at Daric again, faster this time. Daric narrowly avoided the snapping jaws, stumbling backward into the dirt. Desperation fueled him; he rolled aside, scrambling to regain his footing.
The beast's claws grazed his shoulder, drawing blood and sharp pain, but Daric gritted his teeth, ignoring the agony. He pivoted swiftly, the club raised high, and delivered another crushing blow to the side of the creature's head. A sickening crack echoed, and the beast collapsed heavily, twitching.
Panting, Daric stood over his fallen foe, trembling with exhilaration and residual fear. A final notification appeared, glowing triumphantly:
[Quest Complete: Enemy defeated. Reward: 500 Essence awarded.]
He felt an invigorating surge within him as the essence flowed, replenishing and enhancing his very being. It was intoxicating, and he sensed it was only the beginning.
Steeling himself, Daric scanned the darkened woods, knowing more dangers lurked just out of sight. Survival demanded caution, strength, and determination. If ascending meant facing such beasts—and perhaps worse—then he would rise to meet every challenge.
His journey had just begun.