Chapter 2: A New World
The alley disappeared.
One moment, Lin Mu stood amidst the remains of the shadow creatures, his heart still racing from the fight, and the next, the world around him shattered like broken glass. The pieces of reality crumbled, dissolving into a void of darkness, and for a brief moment, he felt nothing—no sound, no light, just an endless abyss.
Then, as quickly as the darkness had consumed him, it spat him out.
Lin Mu landed hard on his knees, gasping for breath. The air around him was different—cleaner, crisper. He glanced up and his breath caught in his throat.
Before him stretched an unfamiliar landscape. Towering trees, their bark as black as night, reached into the sky, their leaves glowing with a faint luminescence. In the distance, mountains loomed, jagged peaks cutting into the sky like the teeth of a beast. The ground beneath his hands was soft, covered in a thick carpet of moss that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
He was no longer in the alley. This was an entirely new world.
System Notification:
New World Detected: Velria - Low Tier Fantasy Realm
Mission: Survive and Evolve
Objective: Reach Level 10 in this realm
Rewards: Evolution Points, Skill Unlocks, and System Upgrade
Lin Mu groaned as he sat up, his body still aching from the battle with the shadow creatures. His mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. The system had transported him to another world—Velria, whatever that was. And he had a new mission: survive and evolve, just like before.
But this place… it felt more dangerous. More alive.
He glanced at the screen hovering in front of him, displaying his current stats.
Host: Lin Mu
Level: 2
Strength: 4, Agility: 5, Endurance: 4, Intelligence: 5
Evolution Points: 5
Available Evolutions: Basic Strength Enhancement - Cost: 3 EP, Basic Endurance Enhancement - Cost: 3 EP
New Skill Unlock: Minor Regeneration - Cost: 2 EP
Lin Mu frowned as he studied the options. He needed to be stronger. The creatures in the alley had been weak, but something told him that this new world wouldn't be so forgiving. He activated the Basic Strength Enhancement, feeling the familiar surge of energy flood his body. His muscles tightened, growing denser, stronger.
Strength: 7
It wasn't much, but it was a start. He still had 2 Evolution Points left, and he immediately used them to unlock Minor Regeneration. The idea of healing quickly appealed to him—if he was going to survive in this world, the ability to recover from injuries could be the difference between life and death.
With his immediate upgrades taken care of, Lin Mu stood up, taking a deep breath. The forest around him was silent, but not in the peaceful way—there was something ominous in the air, like the calm before a storm.
He scanned the area, trying to get his bearings. The system hadn't given him much to go on, just the vague instruction to reach level 10. But how was he supposed to do that? Hunt creatures? Complete tasks?
A soft rustling sound caught his attention.
Lin Mu froze, his eyes darting toward the sound. The bushes to his left shook, and slowly, a creature emerged. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—roughly the size of a wolf, but covered in a thick exoskeleton of bone-like armor. Its eyes glowed with the same eerie light as the trees, and its maw opened to reveal rows of sharp, jagged teeth.
System Notification:
Species: Velrian Bonehound
Threat Level: Moderate
Defeat to gain Evolution Points.
The Bonehound growled, lowering itself into a predatory stance. Lin Mu's heart pounded in his chest. This was his first real challenge in this new world. His hands tightened into fists, and he readied himself for the fight.
The Bonehound lunged.
Lin Mu jumped back, narrowly avoiding the creature's jaws as it snapped at him. He was faster now, his enhanced agility allowing him to move with a fluidity that had been impossible before. But speed alone wasn't enough. He needed to find a way to strike back.
The Bonehound circled him, its glowing eyes locked on his every movement. Lin Mu glanced around, searching for something—anything—that could give him an advantage. His hand brushed against the ground, feeling the texture of a fallen branch. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
The Bonehound charged again, and this time, Lin Mu was ready. He sidestepped the creature's attack, swinging the branch as hard as he could. The makeshift weapon connected with the Bonehound's side, and to his surprise, the creature howled in pain. The exoskeleton cracked under the force of the blow, exposing the vulnerable flesh beneath.
Encouraged, Lin Mu pressed the attack. He swung again, aiming for the same spot, and the Bonehound staggered, its movements becoming sluggish. But it wasn't finished yet. With a snarl, it lashed out, catching Lin Mu across the chest with one of its clawed limbs.
Pain flared through him, but Lin Mu gritted his teeth and fought through it. His body was already healing, the Minor Regeneration working to close the wound. He couldn't afford to lose focus now.
One more strike.
Lin Mu raised the branch and brought it down with all his strength. The Bonehound collapsed, its body twitching before going still. For a moment, Lin Mu stood there, panting, his chest heaving from the effort. He had won, but the battle had been close.
You have defeated a Velrian Bonehound. Evolution Points +3.
Lin Mu let out a sigh of relief. He checked his status again, noting the new points he had earned. Slowly but surely, he was getting stronger.
But this was just the beginning.
As he caught his breath, Lin Mu couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him. He turned, scanning the trees, but saw nothing. Yet the feeling persisted, a cold weight in the pit of his stomach.
This world was dangerous, more so than the last. And if he wanted to survive, he needed to evolve faster.
System Notification:
New Mission Unlocked: Defeat the Alpha Bonehound. Reward: High-tier Evolution Skill.
Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. An alpha? That sounded like a real challenge, and the rewards were tempting. A high-tier skill could give him the edge he needed to survive in this hostile world.
But first, he needed to prepare.
He checked the remaining Evolution Points he had, considering his next move. With 3 points, he could enhance his endurance, making him more resistant to damage. It wasn't as exciting as strength or speed, but it could keep him alive in a tough fight. He activated the Basic Endurance Enhancement.
Endurance: 7
His body felt sturdier, more resilient. With his new upgrades in place, Lin Mu set off deeper into the forest. The Alpha Bonehound wouldn't be easy to find, but if the system had marked it as his next target, he had no choice but to face it.
As he moved through the trees, the shadows seemed to grow thicker, and the sense of being watched intensified. Lin Mu gripped the broken branch tighter, his senses on high alert.
Whatever awaited him in this world, he would face it head-on. The system had brought him here for a reason, and he wasn't about to let it control his fate.
His journey had only just begun.