The system

The forest was dense, its towering trees casting long shadows that danced in the faint light of the setting sun. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the occasional rustle of wildlife echoed through the undergrowth. I tightened my grip on the sword I had been given by the king, its weight unfamiliar in my hand. The blade was supposed to be a symbol of trust, a tool to prove my worth in this strange new world. But as I ventured deeper into the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

A sudden noise from a nearby bush snapped me out of my thoughts. I spun around, raising my sword instinctively. My heart pounded as I scanned the area, my senses on high alert. The rustling grew louder, and then, emerging from the foliage, were slimes—small, gelatinous creatures that wobbled as they moved. In my world, slimes were harmless, almost comical beings. They were the kind of creatures children would poke with sticks for fun.

"Oh, slimes," I muttered, lowering my sword slightly. "I doubt they'd do anything to harm me."

I turned away, ready to continue my journey, when suddenly, the slimes lunged at me. Their gelatinous bodies surged forward with surprising speed, and I barely had time to react. With a swift swing of my sword, I eliminated the first slime, its body dissolving into a puddle of goo. The rest came at me in quick succession, and I dispatched them just as easily. But as I stood there, catching my breath, I noticed something alarming—my sword was badly damaged, its edge dulled and its surface corroded.

"Damn, what the hell?" I muttered, examining the blade. "How did mere slimes do this?"

Before I could ponder further, a sudden chime echoed in my mind, followed by a voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.

System: Slimes eliminated.

I froze, my eyes widening in shock. "What? What's this?"

System: I am your guide in this world.

The voice was calm and mechanical, devoid of emotion. It was as if the universe itself was speaking to me.

System: Warning—The slimes were drawn to the spell cast on your bag. Remove the spell to avoid attracting more beasts.

"What?" I said, my confusion mounting. "A spell on my bag? That explains why the slimes attacked me… and why this sword is useless. It's almost as if someone wants me dead."

System: Should I remove the spell?

"You can do that? Sure, then," I replied, still trying to process the sudden appearance of this "system."

System: Spell uplifted! Points gained. Spells gained. Skills acquired.

I felt a strange energy surge through me, as if something had been unlocked deep within. The system's voice continued, listing off a series of abilities and spells that were now at my disposal. It was overwhelming, but also exhilarating.

"Looks like the person who cast that spell didn't put much effort into it," I murmured to myself, a hint of satisfaction in my voice.

System: Would you like to gain the spells and weapons in the bag as well?

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, do that."

A soft glow emanated from my bag, and I watched as streams of light flowed into the system. It was as if the bag itself was being purified, its contents absorbed and catalogued by the system.

System: Spells gained! Would you like to activate any?

A series of holographic screens appeared around me, each displaying a different spell or ability. The options were dizzying, but I shook my head. "No, not at the moment."

The screens vanished, and I continued deeper into the forest, my mind racing with questions. Who had cast that spell on my bag? Why did they want me dead? And what was this system, really?

As I walked, the system chimed again.

System: Host's health in danger.

"What? What do you mean?" I asked, my voice tinged with alarm.

System: A spell has been cast on this forest by the Dark One's army. It is dangerous only to human species.

I cursed under my breath. "But where am I supposed to go? I'm new to this world, and I don't know any places around here."

System: Would you like to cleanse the forest with holy magic: Heavenly Baptism? Warning—This will drastically reduce your HP.

I weighed my options. If I didn't act, the spell would continue to threaten my life. But using such a powerful spell could leave me vulnerable. Still, I had no other choice.

"Do it," I said firmly. "It's not like I have anywhere else to go. And I can always eat to regain my HP."

System: Activating Heavenly Baptism.

The forest around me began to change. The air grew heavy, and dark clouds gathered overhead. A fierce wind whipped through the trees, and rain began to pour down in torrents. The ground beneath my feet glowed with a holy light, and I felt a surge of energy as the spell took effect. After a few minutes, the storm subsided, and the forest was calm once more.

System: Forest cleansed! Host's health is no longer in danger.

I let out a sigh of relief. "Wow, that seemed like a powerful spell. I wonder how much HP it used."

The system displayed my HP status, showing it rapidly replenishing from 70% to 100%. "Damn, my HP is so low it got filled up quickly," I muttered, shaking my head.

With the immediate threat gone, I turned my attention to my next goal. "I need supplies. It's a shame I'm so far from the capital. I could've gotten some there."

System: Would you like to use teleportation magic?

I blinked in surprise. "Teleportation magic? In my world, only high-level mages could use that. It seems so easy here."

"Sure, do it," I said, curiosity getting the better of me.

System: Teleportation magic active. Where is Host's destination?

"Take me to the capital, system," I replied. But then a thought struck me—if any of the guards or mages recognized me, it could spell trouble.

System: Would you like to use a body-changing spell?

"A body-changing spell? I didn't know that existed. Yes, I would," I said, intrigued.

In an instant, my appearance shifted. My face, my build, even my voice—everything about me was different. I examined my new reflection in a nearby puddle and nodded in approval. "This should be good enough. Now, take me to the capital."

System: Roger!

With a flash of light, I was transported to a secluded alley in the heart of the capital. The bustling city was a stark contrast to the quiet forest I had just left. I made my way to a nearby guild, a place where adventurers and mercenaries gathered to take on quests and hone their skills.

The guild hall was lively, filled with the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. I approached the receptionist, a young woman with a friendly smile.

"Welcome to the Tigers Guild, sir. Would you like to register?" she asked.

"Yes, I would," I replied.

"Okay, sir. What's your name?"

I hesitated for a moment, then said, "Fernando." It was the name I had given my pet in my former world, and i said it by mistake.

"Here's your guild chain, sir. It holds all your information and your rank. Every new member starts at E rank and can move up by completing tasks and deeds."

I took the chain and fastened it around my neck, feeling a sense of belonging. But as I explored the guild, I overheard a conversation that caught my attention.

A little girl was pleading with a man, her voice trembling. "Sir, can you take me to the forest? My family lives there, and I'm too afraid to go alone."

The man shook his head. "No, lady. That place is dangerous. I can't afford to lose my life because of this. Find someone else or wait for the new hero to defeat the magical beasts there."

The girl continued to beg, but everyone seemed to ignore her. My conscience tugged at me, and before I knew it, I was stepping forward.

"Hey, little lady. I'll accompany you to the forest," I said, drawing surprised looks from the guild members.

"We can even get there by today since I use teleportation magic," I added, not realizing the weight of my words.

The guild erupted into murmurs. "Teleportation magic? No way!" one person exclaimed.

"He's obviously lying!" another said.

A group of armed women approached me, their leader stepping forward. "Who are you, and what do you want with that little girl?"

I raised my hands in a placating gesture. "I have no ill intentions. I just want to help her."

The leader narrowed her eyes. "Then prove it. Show us your teleportation magic."

I nodded. "Very well. But we'll need a secluded spot."

We moved to an alley, and with a wave of my hand, I activated the spell. The ground beneath us glowed, and in an instant, we were transported to the forest.

The women were stunned, their scepticism replaced with awe. "We're truly sorry, sir, for doubting you," the leader said.

"It's alright. You were just looking out for her," I replied with a faint smile.

But as we stood there, the little girl's expression changed.

"What happened here? The forest seems… cleansed."

I opened my mouth to explain, but the system's voice interrupted.

System Warning: Do not inform the demon lycan about your actions.

"Demon what?" I muttered, confused.

Before I could react, the leader of the group drew her weapon, her expression darkening.

"The guild said we should watch out for a certain girl that has been going around the guild requesting people to take her to the forest." She said

"making it so obvious what you really are" another said

"We know what you are, demonic beast!"

The tension in the air was palpable, and I realized I had walked into a situation far more dangerous than I had anticipated. The forest, once a place of refuge, had become a battleground, and I was at its center.