A Step Into the Unknown

Joseph sat at his desk, the faint glow of his laptop illuminating his weary face. The events of the past few days replayed in his mind like a loop: the system's arrival, the werebeast, the shade, and Cassandra's cryptic warnings about the Order of Arcanum. Each piece fit into a puzzle he didn't yet understand, but he knew one thing for sure: he was running out of time.

He leaned forward, calling up the system interface. The holographic display materialized before him, sharp and vivid.

> Upgrade Points: 0

Territory Strength: Low

Servants Available: 0

Joseph frowned at the last line. He had the essences of two powerful enemies—an aggressive werebeast and a cunning shade—but without sufficient Upgrade Points, he couldn't summon either of them. His makeshift plan to strengthen the territory had worked for now, but he needed more power, fast.

"System," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "What's the fastest way to earn Upgrade Points?"

The system's calm, mechanical voice responded immediately.

> Upgrade Points can be earned by:

Defeating enemies.

Expanding territory.

Completing system-designated objectives.

Joseph sighed. "Figures. Looks like I'll have to go hunting."

The sun had barely risen when Joseph left his apartment. The streets were quiet, the early morning haze blurring the edges of the buildings. He had no clear plan, only a vague hope that another hostile entity might stumble into his territory.

As he walked, he noticed something unusual: a series of strange markings on the sidewalk. They were faint, almost invisible, but the patterns reminded him of the glowing runes Cassandra had used during their brief encounter.

Joseph crouched, tracing the edge of one of the markings. The moment his finger touched the surface, a chill ran up his arm. The marking pulsed faintly, as though alive.

> Warning: External interference detected within territory.

Source: Residual magic. Potential threat level: Moderate.

His heart sank. The Order of Arcanum.

The faint sound of footsteps drew his attention. Joseph rose quickly, his hand instinctively reaching for the mace hidden beneath his jacket. Two figures emerged from the mist, their dark cloaks swaying with each step.

The first was a tall man with sharp, angular features and piercing green eyes. His companion, a younger woman, carried a staff adorned with glowing crystals.

"You've been busy," the man said, his voice smooth and condescending. "Your little territory is causing quite a stir."

Joseph clenched his fists. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The woman chuckled, her eyes scanning him like a predator sizing up prey. "You're not very good at lying, are you? The Order sent us to investigate the recent disturbances in this area. And judging by your... aura, I'd say we've found the source."

Joseph's mind raced. He couldn't let them discover the system, but he wasn't sure he could take them both on.

"I'm just a normal guy," he said, forcing a laugh. "Maybe you've got the wrong person."

The man's smile didn't waver. "Perhaps. But we'll know for sure once we've searched your territory."

Joseph's blood ran cold. If they crossed the boundary, they'd not only disrupt his system but also risk discovering the essences he'd stored.

He had to stop them.

"Sorry," Joseph said, stepping in front of them, "but I don't allow strangers onto my property."

The woman smirked. "And how exactly do you plan to stop us?"

Joseph didn't answer. Instead, he activated Territory Scan. The golden lines of his territory flared to life, revealing the exact position of the intruders.

The man noticed the faint glow in Joseph's eyes and frowned. "Interesting," he muttered. "You're not just some random mortal, are you?"

The woman raised her staff, the crystals pulsing with energy. "Shall we test him?"

Before Joseph could react, a blast of shimmering light shot toward him. He dove to the side, the beam scorching the pavement where he had been standing.

"System," he muttered under his breath, "analyze them."

> Entity Analysis:

Name: Unknown

Affiliation: Order of Arcanum

Strength: 12

Speed: 8

Magic Power: 15

Joseph's stomach twisted. These weren't weaklings like the shade or the werebeast. These were trained mages, and they were far stronger than him.

The man stepped forward, his hand crackling with green energy. "Last chance," he said. "Surrender now, and we'll go easy on you."

Joseph tightened his grip on the mace. "Yeah, I'll pass."

The woman attacked first, her staff unleashing a barrage of glowing projectiles. Joseph ducked and weaved, each blast narrowly missing him. The man circled around, cutting off his escape.

Joseph swung the mace at the woman, but she blocked it with a shimmering barrier. The force of the impact sent vibrations up his arm, but she remained unharmed.

"Pathetic," she sneered, firing another blast.

The explosion knocked Joseph backward, pain shooting through his body as he hit the ground.

> Health: 60/100

"System," he gasped, "I need options."

> Suggestion: Activate stored essences for temporary power boost.

Joseph's eyes widened. He'd been saving the essences for summoning servants, but now wasn't the time to be stingy.

"Fine," he growled. "Activate the werebeast essence."

The system responded instantly.

> Werebeast Essence Activated. Strength +5, Speed +3 for 5 minutes.

A surge of energy coursed through him, his muscles tightening and his senses sharpening. He rose to his feet, a low growl escaping his lips.

The woman's smug expression faltered. "What the—"

Joseph moved faster than he ever thought possible. He closed the distance between them in an instant, slamming the mace into her barrier. This time, the shield cracked, and the force sent her sprawling.

The man stepped in, his green energy coalescing into a blade. He swung at Joseph, but Joseph parried with the mace, the impact sending sparks flying.

"You're full of surprises," the man said, his tone darker now. "But it won't save you."

The fight was brutal and chaotic. Joseph's enhanced strength gave him an edge, but the mages' teamwork and experience kept him on the defensive.

He focused on the woman first, exploiting the cracks in her barrier. After a series of quick strikes, the shield shattered completely, and a final swing of his mace sent her collapsing to the ground.

The man snarled, his blade slicing through the air. Joseph dodged, countering with a powerful strike that knocked the blade from his hand.

"Enough!" the man shouted, a sphere of green energy forming in his palm.

Joseph didn't give him a chance to use it. With a primal roar, he swung the mace with all his might, the weapon connecting with the man's chest. The energy sphere dissipated as the man crumpled to the ground.

> Enemies Defeated. Upgrade Points Earned: +6

Joseph stood over their unconscious bodies, breathing heavily. His enhanced strength began to fade as the werebeast essence expired.

The system's voice chimed again.

> Essences Acquired:

Mage Essence (Male, Tier 1)

Mage Essence (Female, Tier 1)

Joseph stared at the glowing orbs hovering before him. His enemies had been powerful, and their essences could open new possibilities.

But he couldn't linger. The Order of Arcanum would come looking for them, and he needed to prepare.

As he dragged their bodies out of his territory, he made a silent vow: whatever came next, he would face it with strength, cunning, and his growing army of servants