Prologue II

The forest echoed the chirping birds songs, the rustle of leaves in a breeze that didn't touch his skin, and the faint trickle of a stream somewhere nearby. The air was crisp and carried the earthy scent of moss and damp wood. The sunlight, filtered through the canopy of towering trees, dappled the ground in shifting patterns of gold and green.

Gabriel stumbled over a root, catching himself against the rough bark of a tree. His breaths were shallow, his mind racing. The world around him was vivid, almost too real, and yet it felt like stepping into a dream—or a nightmare.

"Okay, Gabs." he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Get it together. Think."

He glanced around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their trunks massive and ancient. The forest seemed untouched by time, as if it had been here long before humans—and would remain long after.

"Where the hell am I?" he said aloud, his voice swallowed by the vastness of the forest. He ran his hand through his hair slowly as his eyes darted around, trying to make sense of this new environment. 

He tried to remember the system's words. Eryndor. A mission to change the world. It all sounded so vague, so absurd. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. "This can't be real!" he muttered, but the rough skin under his fingers and the distant calls of strange birds said otherwise.

Gabriel stopped walking and took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "The system." he said. "It's always been there. Maybe it still is."

He closed his eyes and concentrated, the way he used to when he wanted to summon the translucent interface. It had always been so simple—a thought, a whisper, and the screen would appear.

"Come on!" he urged, his voice steady. "Show me something."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, like a spark in the dark, a faint glow appeared in the corner of his vision. He opened his eyes, and there it was—a familiar screen, hovering in the air before him.

[Welcome, Gabriel.]

His heart leapt. Relief flooded through him, momentarily pushing back the fear and confusion. "Okay," he said, nodding to himself. "Let's see what I've got."

He focused on the interface, expecting to see the skills he had honed for years. Acting, dancing, singing, script analysis—his toolkit for success. But as he scrolled through the options, his chest tightened.

There was nothing.

No skills. No abilities. No progress bars or achievements. It was as if everything he had worked for, everything the system had given him, had been erased.

"What the—?" His voice cracked as he swiped frantically at the interface, searching for answers. "Where are my skills? Where's everything?"

The system's voice returned, calm and detached, as if oblivious to the turmoil boiling inside him.

[Previous skills are unavailable in this world. New opportunities await.]

Gabriel stared at the glowing words, his hands trembling with anger. "Unavailable? What the hell does that mean? You gave me those skills! You can't just take them away!"

The system's response came almost instantly, its tone devoid of sympathy.

[That is precisely what I did. I took them away.]

Gabriel let out a sharp, bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair as he paced in agitation. "You can't do that! Those skills were part of the deal! You don't just get to rip them out of me and expect me to be okay with it!"

The system remained unmoved, its glowing text reappearing like a slap in the face.

[The terms of our agreement were clear. Skills provided were tailored to the environment in which you resided. This world operates under different parameters. New opportunities will be provided.]

"Different parameters?" Gabriel snapped, his voice rising. "What does that even mean? You don't just erase everything I've worked for and call it 'new opportunities.' That's not how this works!"

The system's response came slower this time, as if it were considering his words—or mocking his outrage.

[Your skills were not erased. They were reclaimed. They were tools, not intrinsic to your being. You were merely their custodian.]

"Custodian?" Gabriel repeated, incredulous. He felt like the ground was shifting beneath him, everything he'd relied on suddenly yanked out from under his feet. "I earned those skills! I bled for them, worked for them! You don't just get to—"

[They were not earned. They were given.]

The words hit him like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe. His anger faltered, giving way to something colder, heavier. "I… I worked hard," he said quietly, his voice losing its edge. "I thought I was—"

[You used what was provided to you. That is all. Do not confuse effort with ownership.]

Gabriel clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as the familiar bitterness surged back. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Ripping away everything I've built and calling it a lesson. What am I supposed to do now, huh? Just stumble around and hope I don't get killed by whatever the hell is out there?"

The system's response was immediate, its tone as unflinching as ever.

[Adapt. Survive. Thrive. New opportunities await those who are willing to grow.]

"Yeah? And what if I don't want your 'new opportunities'?" Gabriel shot back, his voice dripping with defiance. "What if I don't want to play your game anymore?"

The system paused. For a moment, the glowing text flickered, as though considering his challenge. Then, the words reappeared, sharper and more pointed than before.

[You agreed to the terms. There is no opting out. Growth is mandatory.]

Gabriel let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Of course it is," he muttered. "You always make it sound like I have a choice, but there's never really a choice, is there?"

The system didn't respond this time, its silence louder than any words.

Gabriel stood there, the forest pressing in around him, the weight of his situation sinking in. The skills he'd relied on, the abilities that had carried him to stardom, were gone. He was starting over from nothing.

"Fine," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and venomous. "If this is how you want to play it, then fine. But don't think for a second I'm going to do this your way."

The system's final response appeared, simple and unwavering.

[New opportunities await.]

The screen flickered, and a new option appeared at the bottom of the interface.

[Skill Shop: Unlock new abilities tailored to this world. Explore and adapt to thrive.]

He blinked, his frustration giving way to confusion. "Skill shop?" he murmured. He hesitated for a moment before selecting it.

The interface shifted, revealing a list of options. Each skill was accompanied by a description and a cost, though the currency was unfamiliar—some kind of glowing, crystalline points labeled as [Eryndor Essence]. The skills were unlike anything he had seen before.

Survival Instinct: Enhance your ability to find food, water, and shelter in the wild. (Cost: 50 Essence)Basic Combat Training: Learn fundamental techniques for self-defense. (Cost: 75 Essence)Language Adaptation: Understand and speak the common tongue of Eryndor. (Cost: 100 Essence)Mana Sensitivity: Begin to sense and manipulate the magical energy of this world. (Cost: 150 Essence)

Gabriel's boots sank slightly into the mossy ground with every step, the spongy surface giving just enough to make walking a frustrating chore. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, a mix of exertion and simmering irritation. 

The trees weren't just tall—they were massive, their twisted trunks gnarled with veins of glowing blue sap that pulsed faintly, like the forest itself had a heartbeat. The light from the sap cast an supernatural glow, painting the forest floor in faint blues and greens, like an underworld. Strange vines dangled from the canopy, dripping with dew that shimmered like liquid crystal, catching the faint light in a way that made the droplets look like stars.

The air was thick with the mingling scents of damp earth and something sweeter, almost intoxicating, like overripe fruit left too long in the sun. The smell clung to his skin, heavy and suffocating, as if the forest itself was alive, breathing in sync with him. Every now and then, the distant howl of some creature echoed through the trees, a sound that sent a chill creeping up his spine. It was a strange, guttural cry—part howl, part scream—that seemed to hang in the air longer than it should.

He swatted at a buzzing insect that hovered too close to his ear, its translucent wings catching the pale light that filtered through the dense canopy above. It darted away with a high-pitched whine, but he could feel its presence lingering, as though it was watching him. "Great. A magical jungle." he muttered, his voice sharp with sarcasm. "Because a normal forest wasn't confusing enough."

The system interface still lingered in his mind. His eyes had scanned the list of skills over and over, hoping for some hidden option to reveal itself. But no. This wasn't the glamorous toolkit he'd relied on back home. These skills were raw, gritty, and unnervingly practical. He didn't even know what half of that meant, let alone how to use it. He glanced at the top of the screen before it faded away:

[Eryndor Essence: 0].

"Essence? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair. The screen flickered out of existence, leaving him alone again with the forest.

As he trudged deeper, the light dimmed, the towering trees above growing denser. The faint glow of the sap seemed to retreat, leaving long shadows that stretched unnaturally across the ground. The howl of unseen creatures grew louder, more insistent, and Gabriel found himself glancing over his shoulder more than once.

It was faint at first, almost indistinguishable from the forest's ambient hum—a low, guttural growl that seemed to vibrate through the air. Gabriel froze, his breath catching in his throat. The sound wasn't quite right; it didn't belong in the natural rhythm of the forest. Then, it came again, louder this time, reverberating through the dense underbrush. His heart skipped a beat, and his hand instinctively went to his side, only to find nothing. No weapon. No tools. 

His mind raced. The growl was closer now, far too close. His eyes darted through the shadows, trying to make sense of the dark shapes that seemed to shift just beyond his vision. Every crack of a twig beneath his feet, every rustle in the leaves, felt amplified, like the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Gabriel's feet shuffled nervously on the uneven ground. He glanced behind him. The muddy pool he had narrowly avoided earlier now stretched out like a trap, its slick surface gleaming in the pale light that filtered through the canopy. He knew he couldn't go back. The swampy terrain would slow him down, make him vulnerable. No. That's not an option. He had to keep moving forward.

With a sharp intake of breath, Gabriel took a tentative step ahead, pushing through the thick undergrowth. His foot sank into the soft earth, making a squelching sound as he pressed forward. The trees seemed to close in around him, their twisted roots and low-hanging branches making the already narrow path feel even more suffocating. The air was thick with moisture, each breath feeling like he was inhaling the very essence of the forest itself.

The growl came again, closer this time, a deep, resonant sound that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Gabriel's pulse quickened. He forced himself to stay calm, to move with purpose. Don't make any sudden moves. Don't draw attention. His mind raced, trying to calculate his next steps. The growl wasn't just a sound—it was a warning. Something was out there, watching him, and he couldn't afford to be caught off guard.

The ground beneath him shifted again, the dense roots rising like serpents from the earth, making it harder to move quickly. He had to be careful. Each movement calculated to avoid making too much noise, to avoid drawing attention. He pushed past a thick bush, its leaves brushing against his arms, leaving behind a trail of dampness on his skin. The forest felt alive in a way he couldn't explain, as if it were reacting to his every move, shifting to keep him on edge.

Gabriel's eyes flicked upward. The canopy above was thick, casting the forest floor in deep shadows, but he could still make out the movement of something large between the branches. The growl was coming from there, from the treeline. Whatever it was, it was circling him, stalking him.

He couldn't stop. Not now. His only choice was to press on, to move deeper into the unknown. His mind focused on the rhythm of his breath, the steady thud of his heart in his chest. He couldn't afford to panic. The forest was alive with danger, and he was just another creature trying to survive within it.

Gabriel took another step, his foot slipping slightly in the damp soil, but he caught himself. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the shadows once more, looking for any sign of movement. Keep moving. Don't stop. Keep your eyes open.

He pushed forward, his muscles tensing with each step, the growl now a constant presence in the air, a reminder that he was being hunted. The forest seemed to close in around him, its dense underbrush and twisted trees making each movement feel more like a challenge. But he had no choice. The path behind him was a trap, and the only way out was forward.

Gabriel's breath hitched as his eyes locked onto two faint red orbs floating in the shadows. They glowed, not with the warmth of heat, but with something far colder. Those eyes weren't just watching him—they were studying him, almost as if they were amused by his every movement.

His heart pounded in his chest. No. No, this isn't happening. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath, but it was no use. The presence of the eyes sent a cold shiver down his spine.

"Okay," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible, thick with tension. "Time to go."

As if it had heard him, the shimmer paused. For a heartbeat, the forest fell eerily silent, the hum of the air fading away. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the shimmer shot forward, weaving between the trees like a serpent, its movement impossibly swift, too fast for him to track.

Gabriel's instincts kicked in. He didn't wait to see what it was. Without a second thought, he spun on his heel and bolted, his boots pounding against the uneven ground, the forest blurring around him. He pushed himself harder, faster, every step an effort to outrun whatever hunted him.

But then, the ground beneath him seemed to shift. He found himself in front of the same muddy pool—the one he had narrowly avoided earlier. His stomach churned. No. Not again. He knew that sinking into the muck would only slow him down, make him an easy target. He couldn't afford to make that mistake.

Without hesitation, he veered off to the side, his legs burning as he sprinted in the opposite direction. The trees parted for a moment, revealing a small clearing, its center dominated by a pool of water that reflected the dim light filtering through the canopy. Gabriel skidded to a stop, his boots slipping on the damp moss beneath him. His chest heaved with ragged breaths as he spun around, eyes frantically scanning the tree line, trying to spot any movement.

The forest seemed to hold its breath. Every shadow, every rustle of leaves felt like it was hiding something. His pulse raced, but there was no sound—no sign of the shimmer. The growl from before was gone, replaced by an silence that pressed in from all sides.

He didn't trust it. This forest had a way of playing tricks on him, of making him feel like he was being watched even when he wasn't. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was still out there, waiting for him to make a mistake. Gabriel took a step backward, his eyes darting from tree to tree, every muscle tense, ready to spring into action. Where are you?

The shadows between the trees shifted, and for a brief moment, he thought he saw the shimmer again, flitting between the trunks like a wisp of smoke. His heart skipped a beat. He wasn't alone.

The forest seemed to close in around him, the trees pressing in tighter, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—something faintly metallic, like blood. Gabriel's eyes narrowed, his breath shallow as he tried to steady himself. He wasn't sure what he was dealing with, but he knew one thing for sure: it was playing with him. It was toying with him, waiting for him to slip up.