Chapter 18: The Awakening Begins

Axton's head throbbed as he slowly opened his eyes. The sensation of his skull being split open was all-consuming, and he blinked, trying to clear the fog in his mind. His vision swam, the edges of the room blurring before sharpening into a recognizable shape. He was in a dimly lit room, lined with neatly arranged beds, some occupied by other students who appeared to be resting—or unconscious. A faint smell of herbs and antiseptic clung to the air, mixing with the earthy scent of damp stone walls.

The academy's infirmary.

He groaned, his body screaming in protest as he pushed himself into a sitting position. The ache in his limbs was unbearable—scratches along his arms, bruises that felt like they could hide entire worlds of pain. His ribs protested with every small movement. It all came rushing back: the dark forest, the feral growl of the beast, the desperate struggle for survival, the roar of thunder in the storm that hadn't been weather-related… And then… nothing. Just darkness.

"Axton?"

The voice, soft and slightly hesitant, made him jolt. He turned his head to see an older healer entering, her expression a mix of stern professionalism and something he couldn't quite place—concern, perhaps. She was dressed in the academy's standard healer robes, her hands poised as if ready to offer aid or reprimand, depending on his state.

"Good, you're awake," she said briskly. "You're lucky the instructors found you when they did. Another minute and—well, you're fortunate."

Axton didn't reply immediately. His throat was dry, the words stuck somewhere between his chest and his lips. He reached for the cup of water she handed him, nodding his thanks but not trusting his voice just yet.

"Your team is fine," the healer continued, as if reading his thoughts. "A bit shaken but unharmed. Rest. You've been through enough."

With that, she left him alone, her footsteps muffled as she moved out of the room. Axton looked around, his eyes resting on the flickering candles along the walls. He breathed in deeply, the weight of everything bearing down on him.

It was then that he heard the voice again—a voice inside his mind, as real as the one he'd just heard.

"Welcome, Host. The system has been successfully activated."

Axton froze, his hand trembling slightly as it hovered over the cup. "W-who's there?" he whispered, his breath catching in his throat.

"I am the system, your guide to unlocking your true potential. You are the chosen Host."

Axton's heart began to race. His mouth went dry, his mind scrambling to make sense of what was happening. "System? What… what does that even mean?"

The voice responded with a calm, measured tone, as though it had said this a thousand times before. "You are gifted with the potential to wield great elemental power. This system will aid you in achieving mastery, but the choice to embrace this path lies with you."

A cold shiver ran down Axton's spine. This was absurd. He had no powers—at least, none that he knew of. No elemental abilities. His entire life had been… ordinary. Until now.

"Why me?" Axton muttered, his hands tightening around the cup, as if the physical discomfort could distract him from the growing panic. "I don't even have any powers."

"Incorrect," the voice replied, its tone never wavering. "Your powers are dormant, waiting to be awakened. The trial you endured triggered the activation of the system. Would you like to access your status?"

Axton blinked, a rush of confusion flooding his mind. "Status? What… what do you mean by that?"

The air around him seemed to shift, the temperature growing colder. A faint, translucent screen appeared before him, shimmering like a thin veil of light, and Axton found himself staring at it in awe. It hovered in mid-air, perfectly still, as if waiting for him to process its contents. He read the information aloud, his voice barely more than a whisper:

Host: Axton Backwoods

• Level: 1

• Strength: 6

• Agility: 8

• Endurance: 5

• Perception: 2

• Dexterity: 4

• Vitality: 4

• Wisdom: LOCKED

• Intelligence: 8

• Charm: LOCKED

• Mana: LOCKED

• Control: 3

• Affinity: LOCKED (Lightning, others locked)

The screen disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving Axton staring at the empty space before him. His mind was racing. Lightning? He didn't even remember using it. A wave of unease swept over him. Had he… did he do something? Something that triggered this system?

Axton's thoughts spun, and for a long moment, he didn't know what to say. The silence in the room felt suffocating.

"What happens if I don't accept this… system?" Axton finally asked, his voice trembling slightly. His hand tightened around the bed's edge, as if seeking some kind of grounding.

The voice responded, its tone strangely patient. "Without guidance, your powers will remain unstable and may harm you. Your stats will deteriorate, leaving you vulnerable."

Vulnerable. The word echoed in Axton's mind. He remembered the beast—the way it had towered over him, the way he had felt so helpless. The terror he had felt as he fought to stay alive. If what the system said was true, then he couldn't afford to ignore it. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

"Fine," Axton muttered, the words escaping in a rush. "What now?"

"You will be assigned a quest to grow stronger and unlock your potential," the voice responded. "Your first task: survive the second trial and earn 50 points."

Axton frowned, still struggling to process everything. "Points?"

"Points can be used to enhance your stats, unlock new abilities, and access hidden features. They are earned through completing quests and defeating challenges."

Before Axton could ask anything else, the door to the infirmary opened. Elias stepped in, his brow furrowed in concern. His eyes softened when he saw Axton sitting up, a slight relief evident on his face.

"You idiot!" Elias exclaimed, crossing the room in a few strides and grabbing Axton's shoulder. "What were you thinking, charging at that beast? You could've been killed!"

Axton didn't immediately respond. The words were stuck in his throat, and he could feel his cheeks burning slightly with embarrassment. "I didn't exactly have a choice," he muttered, forcing a weak smile as he tried to make light of the situation.

Elias didn't seem to buy it. He sat down on the edge of Axton's bed with a sigh. "Well, you're lucky the instructors showed up when they did. That thing would've ripped you apart. They had to call in a Grandmaster to handle it." He paused, glancing at Axton. "Turns out, it wasn't just any beast—it was a higher-level variant."

Axton's stomach dropped. He had fought something stronger than he'd realized.

Elias continued, his voice a little less sharp now, "Anyway, they're letting us rest before the second trial. You'd better be ready. I'm not letting you nearly die on me again."

Axton nodded absently, his mind racing. The system. The powers. The quest. The lightning. It was all too much, too fast. But he couldn't afford to fall behind. He couldn't afford to stay weak.

As Elias rambled on about their team regrouping and their plans for the trial, Axton clenched his fists, determination settling in his chest. The voice in his mind had called him the chosen host, but that didn't matter. What mattered now was that he couldn't remain weak any longer.

The storm had come for him—and he would rise to meet it.