Episode 1: "The Cracks Appear"

The bustling streets of Lonavala were filled with students making their way to college, chatting and laughing as if the world hadn’t changed overnight. For Aryan, though, everything felt different. The news had been broadcasting reports of strange cracks appearing all over the world. And these weren’t just geological phenomena—they were gateways, or so the rumors said. Gateways to something dark and dangerous.

Aryan, a 16-year-old boy with sharp eyes and a lean frame, walked alongside his younger sister, Anaya, who was equally alert, though quieter. She was only a year younger, but her maturity often surprised Aryan. They’d lost their parents to a mysterious accident just a year ago, and now all they had was each other.

"Do you really think those cracks are real?" Anaya finally asked, her voice low, as if speaking louder would make the threat more real.

Aryan glanced at her. "I don't know, but we should be prepared."

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet trembled. It was subtle at first, but it quickly grew stronger, sending students running in all directions. A few meters ahead of them, the ground split open, revealing a dark, glowing fissure. It was small—barely the height of a man—but the energy radiating from it was intense.

Aryan’s heart raced. He grabbed Anaya's arm and pulled her back, hiding behind a nearby wall. "Stay here!" he ordered.

From the crack, a creature began to emerge. Its body was massive, covered in dark, leathery skin, and it had glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. It stood on two legs, its claws scraping the ground as it pulled itself fully out of the crack.

Aryan’s system activated.

[Warning! Hostile monster detected.]

[Level: 1]

[Threat: Low]

[Crystals present: Absorbable]

Aryan stared at the notification in shock. This was the second time the system had appeared since he first received it a few days ago. The first time, it had given him a brief overview of what it could do, but he hadn’t fully understood it. Now, it was clear—this monster wasn’t just dangerous; it was an opportunity.

[Combat Mode Activated]

[Weakness Detected: Chest, Back]

The monster roared, charging toward Aryan. His instincts kicked in. He dodged to the side, barely avoiding the beast’s massive claws. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, but he knew he wasn’t strong enough to fight this thing on his own.

"Anaya, stay back!" he shouted as he made a dash toward the creature.

With the system's guidance, Aryan aimed for the monster’s chest. He swung a broken piece of metal he had picked up from the ground, hitting the glowing crystal embedded in its body. The creature shrieked in pain, staggering backward.

[Enemy Health: 50%]

Aryan pressed on, landing another hit to its back. The crystal shattered, and the beast collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

[You have defeated a Level 1 monster. Experience gained: 20 points.]

[Crystal detected. Do you wish to absorb?]

Panting, Aryan bent down and pulled the glowing crystal from the monster's chest. It felt warm in his hands, pulsating with energy. Without hesitation, he confirmed his desire to absorb it.

[Absorbing Crystal...]

[You have gained 5 system points.]

A surge of power coursed through Aryan’s body. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The system points would allow him to purchase skills and abilities, but for now, he needed to focus on surviving.

"Are you okay?" Anaya’s voice broke through his thoughts.

Aryan nodded, though his heart was still pounding. "Yeah, I’m fine. But this isn’t over."

The crack was still there, its dark glow flickering ominously. Before Aryan could react, two more creatures emerged, smaller and faster than the first. Their sleek, black bodies moved with unnerving agility, and their claws gleamed in the morning light.

Aryan’s system flared again.

[Combat Mode Activated]

[Enemies: Level 1]

[Weakness: Head, Chest]

The battle resumed, but Aryan was tired. His strikes were getting slower, and the creatures were relentless, attacking from all sides. He dodged, parried, and struck back, but it wasn’t enough. Just as he thought he was about to be overwhelmed, Anaya stepped in. She had picked up a metal rod and swung it with surprising force, knocking one of the creatures to the ground.

With a quick strike to the chest, Aryan finished the other creature. The system chimed again.

[You have defeated two Level 1 monsters. Experience gained: 30 points.]

[Crystals detected. Do you wish to absorb?]

This time, Aryan handed one of the crystals to Anaya. "You should absorb this one."

Anaya hesitated but nodded, placing the crystal in her palm. The moment she absorbed it, her eyes widened in surprise.

Aryan glanced at his system interface, seeing that his points had increased. The system had allowed him to share its benefits with others, but he would receive a commission for every purchase or power gained.

[You have gained 5 system points from shared absorption.]

As the dust settled and the adrenaline faded, Aryan couldn’t help but wonder what would come next. These cracks, these monsters—they were just the beginning. He opened his system again, scrolling through the shop. There were weapons, artifacts, and skills, each more expensive than the last. But he knew he had to start somewhere.

He distributed his attribute points carefully:

[Current Stats: Strength: 6, Agility: 5, Stamina: 5, Intelligence: 4, Spiritual Energy: 5]

[Available Attribute Points: 5]

He felt a surge of power as his strength and stamina increased. But it still wasn’t enough. The monsters were only going to get stronger, and he had to be ready.

As Aryan and Anaya began their walk back to the city, they knew that the world had changed forever. The cracks were appearing everywhere, and more monsters would come. They had to prepare for the battles ahead.

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To be continued...

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