Chapter 2: The System’s First Test

Ethan jolted awake to a guttural howl, his back stiff against the ravine’s rocky wall. The Tianxu Realm’s dawn painted the sky a sickly orange, and the air carried a damp chill that sank into his bones. His hoodie was a soggy mess, his sneakers squelched with every step, and mosquito bites—big, angry welts from bugs the size of quarters—dotted his arms. His stomach growled louder than the distant beast, a hollow ache that reminded him he hadn’t eaten since… well, the ramen incident.

The system’s blue screen flared to life: [Main Quest Update: Find Shelter. Sub-Task: Gather Resources. Reward: 10 XP.] Ethan rubbed his eyes, groaning. “XP? So I’m in an RPG now? Great, where’s the tutorial?” His voice echoed faintly, unanswered. The strength boost from last night made him feel marginally less pathetic—his arms didn’t tremble as much—but he was still a twig in a world that could snap him like kindling.

He scanned the ravine: muddy water trickled through, flanked by scraggly bushes and loose stones. “Resources, huh?” He scavenged a sturdy stick, about as long as his arm, and a sharp rock with a chipped edge. Using a vine torn from a bush, he tied the rock to the stick, crafting a crude spear. It wobbled in his grip, but it was better than nothing. “Survival 101,” he muttered, channeling every camping video he’d half-watched on YouTube. “Pointy end goes in the bad guy.”

A rustle froze him mid-step. The bushes parted, and a boar burst out—tusks gleaming, bristly hide rippling with muscle. It was twice his size, its beady eyes locked on him. [Task: Defeat Horned Boar. Reward: 20 XP, Beginner Weapon.] Ethan’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” He gripped his spear, hands slick with sweat. The boar snorted, pawing the ground, and charged.

Ethan thrust the spear, aiming for its snout. The stick hit, but his weak arms couldn’t drive it deep—it snapped like a twig, the rock tip bouncing off. The boar’s tusk slammed into his leg, tearing through his jeans. He screamed, crashing to the mud as blood welled up, hot and sticky. [HP: 8/10. Warning: Low Health.] The system’s alert blared in his skull. “HP? I’m a damn video game character now?!”

The boar wheeled for another charge. [Dodge Instinct Activated.] His body lurched, rolling aside as the tusks gouged the dirt where he’d been. Pain throbbed in his leg, but the skill kept him moving—barely. He grabbed the broken spear’s rock tip, desperation fueling him. As the boar lunged again, he stabbed wildly, sinking the shard into its flank. It squealed, blood matting its hide, and bolted into the brush.

[Task Complete. Reward: 20 XP, Beginner Weapon: Iron Dagger.] A rusty dagger materialized in his hand, its grip worn but solid. The warmth from the reward pulsed through him, and his leg’s bleeding slowed—[HP: 9/10.] [Level Up! Level 2. Strength: 5/100. New Skill Unlocked: Minor Heal (Restores 2 HP, 1/day).] Ethan slumped against the ravine wall, laughing bitterly. “I’m alive. Barely. That’s a win, right?”

He tested the dagger, its weight reassuring despite the rust. His leg ached, but he could stand—Minor Heal’s glow had patched the worst of it. “Okay, system,” he said, wiping mud from his face. “Shelter next. Lead the way.” No response, but a faint plume of smoke curled on the horizon. Civilization—or trouble. Either way, he limped toward it, dagger in hand.

The trek took hours. The ravine gave way to a rocky plain, then a sparse forest of twisted trees. His sneakers shredded on thorns, and hunger gnawed at him, but the smoke grew thicker. By midday, he stumbled into a village—huts of straw and clay clustered around a dirt square, villagers in rough tunics eyeing him warily. Their faces were gaunt, their hands calloused, and they whispered as he approached, his modern clothes a glaring anomaly.

An old woman, hunched with a cane, shuffled forward. Her squinting eyes raked over him. “Outsider,” she rasped, her voice like dry leaves. “You’re not from here. What brings you?”

Ethan clutched the dagger behind his back, forcing a smile. “Uh… accident? Dropped in, literally.” The system chimed: [Quest: Gain Villagers’ Trust. Reward: Shelter, 15 XP.] He swallowed. “I need a place to stay. I can help—chop wood, carry stuff, whatever.”

She snorted, jabbing her cane at his skinny frame. “Help? You’re weaker than my grandson. Prove it.” She pointed to a pile of logs by a hut. “Chop that, and we’ll see.”

Ethan’s arms shook as he hefted an axe from a stump, its blade dull but heavy. Each swing was a struggle—wood chips flew, but the logs barely split. His strength was pitiful, a measly 5/100, and sweat stung his eyes. Villagers watched, some smirking, but he gritted his teeth. “Not… giving… up…” The system nudged: [Effort Detected. Strength +1.] A faint warmth fueled his swings, and by dusk, the pile was halved—sloppy, but done.

The old woman nodded grudgingly. “Sleep in the barn. Don’t die.” Ethan collapsed onto a hay pile that night, the dagger glowing faintly beside him. [Hidden Trait Discovered: Adaptability. Growth accelerates with each challenge.] He grinned through the exhaustion. “Okay, Tianxu. Let’s play this game.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***