Alex crumpled the rejection letter in their fist, the Iron Vanguard Guild's emblem staring back mockingly. "Insufficient physical capabilities," it read. The words stung, but Alex knew better. They were more than their frail body; their mind was sharp, their spirit unbreakable. Tonight, they would prove it.
The city buzzed with life under the neon glow of towering skyscrapers, their reflections rippling across the glass-like pavement. Portals—shimmering gateways to other realms—dotted the skyline, guarded by drones and patrolled by guild members. To most, they were symbols of opportunity, wealth, and danger. To Alex, they were a calling, a siren song they couldn't ignore.
Under the cover of darkness, Alex slipped through the shadows, their lean frame barely noticeable against the alley walls. They had spent weeks studying the patrol patterns of the drones near the low-level portal in Sector 7. It was risky, but it was their only chance. The guild had rejected them, but Alex wouldn't let that define their future. They would make their own path.
The portal loomed ahead, a swirling vortex of blue and silver light, its edges crackling with energy. It was smaller than the high-level portals the guilds monopolized, but it was enough. Alex's heart pounded as they approached, their makeshift gadget—a hacked frequency jammer—humming in their pocket. With a quick glance to ensure no one was watching, they activated it. The drones' red lights flickered and went dark.
"Thirty seconds," Alex whispered to themselves, stepping forward. The air around them shifted as they crossed the threshold, the familiar hum of the city replaced by a heavy, oppressive silence.
The forest realm was unlike anything Alex had imagined. Twisted trees with bark that pulsed faintly stretched toward a sky painted with stars and swirling nebulae. Glowing fungi dotted the ground, casting an eerie light that danced across the undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something... alien. Distant roars echoed through the trees, a reminder that this was no ordinary place.
Alex's breath hitched as they took in their surroundings唐三. This was it—the world beyond the portals, a place of mystery and danger. But they weren't here to sightsee. They had a purpose: to prove they could survive, to show the guilds what they were capable of.
They moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the soft, mossy ground. In their hands, they clutched a small device—a rigged explosive made from scavenged parts. It wasn't much, but it was all they had. Alex had never been strong, but they were resourceful. That had to count for something.
A twig snapped behind them. Alex froze, their pulse racing. Slowly, they turned, and their eyes widened. From the shadows, a sleek, panther-like creature emerged, its fur shifting like liquid darkness. Its eyes glowed red, fixed on Alex with predatory intent. A shadow beast—one of the low-level creatures guilds often mentioned in their recruitment ads.
"Stay calm," Alex muttered, their mind racing. They had read about these creatures, but reading and facing one were two different things. The beast prowled closer, its muscles rippling beneath its shadowy form. Alex's grip tightened on their device. They had one shot.
The beast lunged, and Alex reacted instinctively, throwing the device at the ground between them, diving to the side as it exploded in a burst of light and sound. The shadow beast let out a guttural cry, stumbling back, wounded but not defeated. Alex scrambled to their feet, their heart hammering in their chest.
The beast charged again, but this time, Alex was ready. They dodged, rolling across the ground as the creature's claws raked the air where they had been. Pain shot through their side, but Alex ignored it. They had to end this.
With trembling hands, Alex pulled out a second device—a small, sharp blade hidden in their sleeve. It wasn't much, but it was all they had left. The beast circled, its eyes locked on them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Come on," Alex whispered, their voice steady despite the fear coursing through them. "You're not taking me down."
The beast lunged again, and Alex sidestepped, slashing at its flank. The blade connected, drawing a line of dark, shimmering blood. The creature roared, its form flickering as if destabilizing. Then, something unexpected happened. A faint, glowing energy began to emanate from the beast, flowing toward Alex like a river of light.
Alex gasped as the energy entered them, searing through their veins like fire. Pain overwhelmed them, and they collapsed to their knees, clutching their chest. Their vision blurred, and for a moment, they thought they might die. But then, the pain subsided, replaced by a strange warmth.
Their senses sharpened. The forest around them seemed clearer, more vivid. And then, they felt it—a new presence within them, something alien yet familiar. They looked down at their hands, now trembling with a power they couldn't explain.
"What... what just happened?" Alex whispered.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in their mind, startling them. "Essence absorbed. Initiate growth protocol?"
Alex blinked, confusion washing over them. "Essence? What are you?"
"System initializing," the voice continued, ignoring their question. "Quest received: Survive the realm and return."
"System? What system?" Alex demanded, but the voice fell silent, leaving only the faint echo of its words.
Alex stood, testing their legs. They felt... different. Stronger. More aware. And then, they noticed something else. The shadows around them seemed to respond to their presence, as if they could blend into them, become one with the darkness.
A test. Alex focused, and to their astonishment, their form began to fade, merging with the shadows of the trees. They could move unseen, unheard. A smile tugged at their lips. This was power—real power. But it came with a cost. As they stepped out of the shadows, faint whispers echoed in their mind, fragments of memories that weren't their own. The beast's essence, perhaps? A reminder that this power wasn't free.
"I have to get out of here," Alex said, their voice barely above a whisper. They couldn't stay in this realm any longer. Not without understanding what had just happened.
Using their newfound ability, Alex moved silently through the forest, avoiding other creatures that lurked in the shadows. The portal back to Earth shimmered ahead, a beacon of safety. As they stepped through, the familiar hum of the city greeted them, grounding them in reality.
But Alex wasn't the same. They looked at their hands, still trembling from the experience. They had done it—they had entered a portal, faced a creature, and come back stronger. But at what cost? The whispers in their mind were a constant reminder that power came with a price.
Determined, Alex vowed to master this ability, to uncover the mysteries of the portals, and to become the explorer they always dreamed of being. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of a journey that would challenge everything they thought they knew about themselves and the world.