Chapter 1: The Awakening*
The first sensation was cold.
Not sharp, icy cold—but the damp chill of grass and soil beneath bare skin. A faint breeze brushed across his face. It carried the scent of pine and something sweet—like blooming flowers. Birds chirped high above, hidden in the thick canopy of a vast forest.
Adams blinked slowly. His eyelids felt heavy. Muscles stiff. His mind sluggish, like it had just rebooted.
"Where... am I?"
The words came out hoarse, barely audible, but they triggered something. A pulse of light flickered before his eyes—impossible and surreal. It hovered in midair, translucent and blue, like a hologram:
*[SYSTEM INITIATED]*
*Welcome, Player: Adams*
*Class: Unassigned*
*Level: 1*
*HP: 100/100 | MP: 50/50*
*Primary Quest: Survive*
Adams sat up with a start, staring at the message. He tried to wave it away. It flickered once, then vanished. Panic surged in his chest. What the hell was that?
"System... Player?" His voice was stronger this time, though still rough. "Is this... a game?"
He looked around. The forest felt too *real*. The light filtering through the trees, the rustle of leaves, the sensation of earth beneath him—none of it resembled the artificial clarity of a screen. He touched the ground, picked up a handful of dirt, and let it slip through his fingers.
*This isn't VR. This is real.*
And yet, the system prompt... That couldn't be imagined. He closed his eyes, trying to recall *anything*—a name, a home, a memory.
Nothing. Just a void.
No parents. No friends. No past. Only that name, printed clearly in his mind like it had been burned into the core of his being: *Adams.*
It wasn't a nickname. It wasn't a guess. It was *his*.
"Why can't I remember anything else?"
He stood slowly, testing his balance. His body felt light but untrained—like he hadn't used it in weeks. Or years.
Ahead, nestled between the roots of a large tree, something glinted. Curiosity—or maybe instinct—drew him toward it. It was a stone pedestal, moss-covered and ancient-looking. On it lay a short sword, its metal dull but humming faintly with energy.
As his hand touched the hilt, another message appeared:
*[New Weapon Acquired: Beginner's Sword]*
*+10 Attack*
*Skill Unlocked: Slash I*
He pulled the blade free. The weight was modest. The grip fit his hand perfectly. Not ornamental, but serviceable.
Just then, a rustle came from the underbrush. Adams turned sharply. He wasn't alone.
From the shadows emerged a low, growling creature—like a wolf, but distorted. Its fur was dark gray, its eyes glowing a violent red. Foam dripped from its mouth.
*[Wild Beast - Lv. 1]*
Another prompt. His heart pounded. Fight or flight?
There was no time to run.
The creature lunged. Adams stepped back instinctively, raising the sword just in time. The weight of the blade dragged slightly, but he followed through with a wide arc—
*[Skill Activated: Slash I]*
The blade shimmered briefly as it sliced across the beast's chest. It yelped, stumbled back, and dissolved into flickering light. No blood. No corpse. Just a faint shimmer.
A ping echoed in his mind:
*[EXP Gained: 25]*
*[Progress: 25/100 to Level 2]*
He stood frozen, trying to make sense of what just happened.
"That thing… was part of the system," he muttered. "Like a game enemy. This whole place—it's a game world."
But why was he here?
Games had rules. Mechanics. Systems. But real life didn't come with a stat screen or EXP points. And yet… this world *did*. So either he was in a simulation, a coma dream, or something even stranger.
Still breathing heavily, he looked down at the sword. It had saved his life. For now.
If this was a game, he needed to understand its rules. If there was a system, there had to be quests, skills, levels, and maybe—just maybe—a way to recover his memories. Or escape.
He turned in a slow circle, surveying the forest. Everything looked untouched by civilization. There were no roads. No people. Just raw, untamed wilderness. The only clue to his purpose was the message that still lingered in his mind:
*Primary Quest: Survive.*
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll survive. I'll level up. I'll figure this out. And I'll find out who I am."
But even as he spoke, another question echoed in his heart—quieter, but far heavier:
*Why was I alone?*
The answer wouldn't come today. But Adams had a feeling the truth—about this world, about himself—was somewhere out there. Waiting.
And he would find it.
No matter what