BraveDfirst

Drake was a troublemaker with a knack for bad jokes. One of them got him killed. Now, he finds himself in Atheria, a world of magic, mythical creatures, and warring Gods. Equipped with the mysterious System of Chaos—a game-like interface that grants him skills, stats, and quests—Drake must learn to survive in this dangerous new reality. But his arrival hasn't gone unnoticed. The Gods, offended by his irreverent attitude and fearful of his unique system, have marked him for death. To live peacefully (and maybe get some payback), Drake will have to embrace his chaotic nature, master his newfound powers, and challenge the very beings who rule Atheria.

The System of Chaos

"The Whispering Caves? That's… dangerous," Elara said, her brow furrowing slightly. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Dangerous is relative," Drake replied with a shrug. "Besides, I've got a job to do. The Merchant's Guild is paying good money to deal with those goblin pests."

"The Merchant's Guild?" Elara's eyes widened. "So you're working for them? I'm heading that way myself. I often trade with some of the settlements near the caves."

"Really?" Drake raised an eyebrow. "Small world. Or maybe this world just isn't as big as I thought." He paused, a thought striking him. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know anything about these goblins, would you? Or maybe… a certain Sunstone they're supposed to have?"

Elara's expression turned serious. "The Sunstone… that's a powerful artifact. It's said to be a fragment of the sun itself. The goblins have been unusually aggressive lately. Some say it's because of that stone."

"So, the rumors are true," Drake muttered. "Any idea what kind of 'darker purposes' it could be used for?"

Elara shook her head. "No one knows for sure. But there are whispers of ancient rituals, dark magic… things best left undisturbed."

"Disturbing things is kind of my specialty," Drake said with a grin. He then remembered something. He opened the Codex and checked his notifications.

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Pyrowolf Defeated (+100 XP)."*

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Tavern Brawl Won (+50 XP)."*

*Notification: "Level Up! Drake has reached Level 3."*

*Notification: "Stat Points Available: 5"*

"Well, look at that," Drake said, a surprised tone in his voice. "Guess I got a little stronger after all." He looked back at Elara. "So, about these caves… any tips?"

Elara considered for a moment. "The caves are a maze of tunnels and caverns. The goblins have set traps throughout. Be careful where you step. They also have a fondness for ambushes, so keep your eyes peeled."

"Traps and ambushes," Drake repeated. "Sounds like fun." He paused, then extended his hand. "Well, since we're both heading that way, why don't we travel together? Strength in numbers, and all that."

Elara hesitated for a moment, then smiled and shook his hand. "Elara," she said.

"Drake," he replied. "Pleasure to meet you, Elara. Now, about those stats..." He opened his Codex again and looked at his available stat points. He decided to invest them all into Strength.

*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Strength +5. Current Strength: 13."*

"Much better," Drake muttered, flexing his arm. He felt a noticeable difference, a newfound sense of power.

"What was that?" Elara asked, tilting her head.

"Just… admiring my gains," Drake replied with a wink. "So, Elara, lead the way. I'm eager to see these goblin-infested caves."

Chapter 16: Shared Paths