chapter 5 “The Mission”
He stood at the edge of a forest that pulsed with unnatural energy. The trees were ancient, colossal, their golden veins glowing like rivers of molten power. The air itself carried a charge, a whisper of something old… something watching. The entire place felt alive, not just with beasts but with an intent—as if the forest itself was waiting for him to act.
The luxury of thinking—wasted on a battlefield like this.
Lu Yan knew better than to sit around asking questions. His stats had been reset. His power cut down to nothing. The system had thrown him into this abyss and left him with only one option—fight and survive.
The forest was watching. He could feel it. Every step he took, every breath he exhaled, the ancient trees whispered in response. He had to learn its language, had to become part of it before it decided he was just another intruder to be erased.
So he trained.
ADAPT OR DIE
The first thing he learned? This was nothing like the outside world.
The trees weren't just trees—they moved when you weren't looking. The grass wasn't just grass—it swallowed anything that stood still for too long. Even the wind wasn't just wind—it carried whispers that weren't meant to be heard.
Lu Yan started with the basics.
First, movement.
His old instincts were useless here. The forest was alive, shifting, unpredictable. Every step had to be calculated, every landing had to be silent. He trained his footing on the unstable roots, learning how to walk without making a sound, how to move without the ground betraying him.
Next, vision.
Looking wasn't enough. Seeing was what mattered. The way the leaves rustled unnaturally. The way the shadows stretched just a little too long. The way the air shimmered right before something moved.
He practiced tracking, following the trails of strange creatures without alerting them. He observed the predators, learned their patterns, tested how close he could get before they sensed him. The forest was his enemy, but if he could understand it—it could become his weapon.
And then, combat.
His skills were still weak. Phantom Step could only move him 10 meters. Nether Burst was barely strong enough to dent a tree. Forest Domination could summon plant creatures, but they were so weak they might as well be decorations.
So he pushed them to their limits.
Phantom Step wasn't just for movement—it could be used mid-fall to reposition. It could be used to dodge the moment an attack landed. Nether Burst was weak, but if he concentrated it into a single point instead of a spread attack? It hit harder. And Forest Domination—well, if the plants were weak, then he just had to use them differently.
Vines weren't just for attacking. They were for setting traps. Roots weren't just for summoning—they could be used to break falls, to block attacks, to disrupt an enemy's balance.
He wasn't the strongest in this world. But he could outthink it.
And then—
SYSTEM MISSION: EMERGENCY QUEST!
[Rescue the Two Cats!]
[Two Cats have been kidnapped by an unknown enemy. Follow the trail, defeat the captors, and secure their safety before it's too late.]
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Reward: ???
Lu Yan barely had time to process the message before he heard it—a cry in the distance.
His face twitched. He glanced at the glowing System window again.
He rubbed his eyes. Blinked. Read it again.
Nope. Still the same.
A deep, soul-crushing silence settled in his mind.
Then, he let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Other Systems in novels? They give epic quests like 'Save the World! Defeat the Demon King! Rise to Godhood, Harem!'"
His eye twitched.
"Me? Saving CATS?!"
Reality hit him like a slap. His first emergency mission—his grand debut—wasn't slaying monsters, overthrowing tyrants, or uncovering ancient secrets.
It was a cat rescue mission.
"System, do I look like an animal shelter?!"
The System, as always, ignored his suffering.
His head snapped up. His senses, sharpened by training, locked onto movement far ahead. A rustling in the bushes. A flicker of shadows. The unmistakable scent of something wrong.
He moved.
His body blurred forward, feet barely making a sound as he weaved through the trees. His breath was steady. His heart was pounding. The mission didn't say what had taken them, but if the system cared enough to issue an emergency quest—it wasn't something weak.
Through the dense undergrowth, he spotted them.
Two small figures, fur bristling, struggling against their captors.
Lu Yan's eyes narrowed. What the hell?
They weren't normal cats.
Their fur shimmered like stardust. Their eyes glowed like twin suns. Their very presence sent a ripple through the air, as if reality itself was bending around them.
Divine Beasts.
And the ones who had taken them?
A unknown Level 3 beast moving through the forest with unnatural speed.
Their bodies were wrapped in darkness, their limbs flickering between solid and mist, like they existed in two places at once.
Lu Yan's mind raced. Too fast to chase, to fight head-on.
He needed a plan.
He inhaled sharply.
Then, he dropped to the ground, vanishing into the forest like a ghost.
Lu Yan didn't attack immediately. He stalked them. Measured the unknown enemy speed.
They weren't talking.
They moved in complete silence.
Coordinated. Efficient.
Their steps left no sound, no footprints.
They weren't just thieves.
They were hunters.
Lu Yan's fingers curled.
He moved.
A single vine slithered from the undergrowth, silent as a whisper, wrapping around the ankle of the last figure in the group.
YANK.
The shadow creature collapsed, body slamming into the earth.
The others barely had time to react before the roots struck next, snapping up from the soil like spears, severing the air where their necks had been seconds ago.
Lu Yan flashed forward.
Phantom Step.
He appeared behind one, blade materializing in his hand as he drove it forward.
The creature dissolved—not blood, not flesh. Smoke.
His eyes widened. What?
A low growl.
The next thing he knew, pain exploded through his side.
Something slammed into him—fast, hard, like getting hit by a battering ram.
Lu Yan's body twisted mid-air before crashing into a tree.
CRACK.
A sharp, white-hot pain shot through his ribs. His breath caught.
His vision blurred for a split second before he forced himself to move, pushing off the tree. What the hell was that?!
He staggered, eyes locking onto the thing standing in the shadows.
It wasn't like the others.
This one was different. Bigger. Its limbs were too long, its head twisted unnaturally, its body flickering at the edges like a mirage.
It stared at him.
Not like prey.
Like it knew.
A realization hit him like ice water.
That weird-looking animal is so damn strong.
The beast lunged, its hooves striking the ground with the force of a storm. Its dragon tail lashed through the air, a whip of destruction aimed at his torso. Lu Yan's eyes narrowed. The beast was fast, but he was faster.
He moved like a shadow, dodging the tail, his footwork precise and effortless. The tail missed by inches, and before the beast could strike again, Lu Yan was already in the air, his body twisting and flipping like a predator closing in on its prey.
Vines shot from the ground, writhing and twisting with deadly intent. They coiled around the beast's legs, pulling it down to the ground. It roared in fury, the sound echoing through the trees, but Lu Yan was relentless. He moved faster than the eye could see, a blur of motion, his blade flashing in the dim light. He struck, but instead of blood, smoke billowed from the creature's body. Illusions. This wasn't the real beast.
Lu Yan's eyes widened for only a moment before the remaining shadows attacked. They twisted, flickered, and multiplied in the blink of an eye, coming from all directions, faster than the mind could comprehend.
His hands sank into the earth, fingers digging deep into the soil. He felt the pulse of the land, the rhythm of the ancient trees, the secrets hidden in the roots. And then—
Boom. The ground exploded.
A massive tree shot from the earth like a titan awakening from a long slumber. Its branches tore through the battlefield, splitting the illusions in half. Roots shot up like serpents, wrapping around the shadows, constricting and pulling them down into the earth. Their forms flickered, changing from smoke to mist to shadow, but it was too late. The forest had them.
The creature's dragon tail thrashed, trying to break free, but the roots held tight. The shadows screeched as they were dragged beneath the earth, their bodies dissolving into the ground, consumed by the ancient power of the land itself.
Silence fell. Lu Yan stood, breath steady, eyes scanning the battlefield. The last shadow struggled, its form fading, but the forest had already claimed it.
the beast weren't talking. he didn't need to. Their movements spoke louder than any words could.
he were a predator. A dangerous unknown breed. his steps left no sound, no trace. Silent as ghosts, yet deadly as storms.
And Lu Yan? He was ready.
His fingers curled into a fist, the soil beneath his touch responding with a quiet hum. The fight was here.
A massive, hulking creature emerged from the depths of the undergrowth—its body like a horse, its face an angry, primate visage, and from its spine, a twisting dragon's tail whipped through the air. It towered over him, its eyes burning with animal fury. The forest trembled at its presence.
Lu Yan's heart pounded in his chest.
Fine, let's see who the real predator is.
A strange beast with the face of a gorilla, the body of a horse, and a dragon's tail flicking behind it.
With a swift, silent motion, a single vine shot from the ground, wrapping around the beast's clawed foot, yanking hard. The creature stumbled. But it was fast, too fast, its dragon tail snapping like a whip in retaliation. Before Lu Yan could react, the tail struck—CRACK.
His leg broke with a sickening sound, pain coursing through him like wildfire. He collapsed, gritting his teeth, but the pain didn't break him. Not yet. Not when victory was so close.
The creature loomed over him, its massive foot lifted to crush him, but Lu Yan's eyes glinted with the resolve of a thousand battles. His breath, shallow but steady, found its rhythm again.
His hand plunged into the earth. And the forest responded.
A deafening roar filled the air as the ground trembled. Roots erupted from the earth like jagged spears, shooting upward and crashing into the beast with brutal force. It screeched, twisting its body, trying to pull free, but the roots held fast, wrapping around its limbs like iron chains.
The beast howled, thrashing with its dragon tail, but the earth had claimed it now. Lu Yan's will was the forest's. And the forest would not let it go.
The beast's primal rage was no match for the ancient power that had rooted itself deep in the land. Roots constricted, snapping its limbs with sickening cracks, forcing it to the ground. Its gorilla-like face twisted in desperation, but it was too late. The shadows faded, its body dissolving into smoke and ash.
Lu Yan, though bloodied and broken, forced himself to stand. His leg screamed in agony with every movement, but he didn't falter. Victory was his.
The two divine cats stood there, staring at him with glowing, unreadable eyes.
Then—
One of them floated.
Not jumped. Floated.
Lu Yan stared. What kind of cats are these?
Then, the System chimed.
[Mission Complete!]
[Hidden Reward Unlocked!]
His pulse quickened.
Then, the second notification.
[You have gained the Favor of the Divine Cats.]
|Level Up!|
(Level 3 XP 19/500)
New Ability Unlocked: [Growth of Plants]
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Description: Instantly accelerate the growth of nearby plants, allowing vines, roots, or foliage to expand and strengthen at will. Can be used to create barriers, ensnare enemies, or form defensive cover. Growth speed and durability scale with Intelligence and Nature Affinity stats.
A shimmering figure appeared before him. It was a cat, but not like any he had ever seen. One had eyes as deep and beautiful as an oceanic planet, a swirling blue that pulled you in. Its fur gleamed with an ethereal glow, almost as if the very stars danced on its sleek body.
The other was a golden cat, its eyes gleaming with the brilliance of pure gold. The glow from its fur was warm, radiant, and pulsed with an inner power. As it gazed at Lu Yan, he felt a surge of energy flow through him.
His wounds, once searing with pain, began to fade as though they had never been. The sharp ache in his leg, the burning gash across his side—all of it melted away, like mist dissolving under the heat of the morning sun. The raw agony that had almost consumed him was now replaced with a deep, soothing tranquility.
He couldn't help but stare at the golden cat, the light from its fur so dazzling it made his eyes squint, yet he couldn't tear his gaze away. It was the kind of healing that went deeper than just physical. His muscles felt renewed, his bones strong again, as if he'd never been hurt at all. The glow from the cat seemed to seep into him, invigorating him in ways he didn't even understand.
The two cats (Unknown Status) moved gracefully together, their eyes locking with his. Without a word, they began to move, beckoning him to follow.
Lu Yan hesitated for a moment, but the irresistible pull of their presence was undeniable. A part of him knew he was meant to follow. The cats had chosen him, and their guidance was a gift he could not refuse.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
And another.
Each step felt like a promise.
The forest around them seemed to fall into stillness, as though it too was holding its breath. The wind no longer rustled the leaves, the birds were silent, and even the faint whispers of distant creatures paused, leaving only the soft padding of paws and the rhythmic thud of Lu Yan's own footsteps.
They led him deeper into the woods, far from where he had fought his battles, away from the ravaged clearing where the shadows had tried to take him. The further they traveled, the denser the forest grew. Towering trees arched overhead like giant pillars, their roots twisting in serpentine patterns, creating a labyrinth beneath their feet.
As they walked, the atmosphere shifted. The air was charged, dense with a subtle energy, like the atmosphere before a thunderstorm. It was as if the forest itself had changed, as if the land was bracing for something monumental. Lu Yan could feel the hair on the back of his neck standing on end, an uneasy anticipation gnawing at his gut.
The golden cat glanced over its shoulder, its eyes gleaming like the sun, and Lu Yan felt his pace quicken, his heart racing as if it understood that whatever lay ahead was something he couldn't yet comprehend.
The deeper they ventured, the darker it became. The trees grew closer together, their thick trunks blocking out the last remnants of the setting sun, casting the world into twilight. It felt like they were entering another realm—one that was neither the world he knew nor the land of his enemies. It felt… ancient. Timeless.
And then, they stopped.
Lu Yan barely noticed the moment the two cats paused. He had been so absorbed in their movements, so focused on keeping up with their grace, that it took him a moment to realize they had arrived at their destination.
He looked up.
There, emerging from the earth as if it had always been part of the land, was a towering stone archway, jagged and ancient. Its surface was covered in moss and vines, but despite the passage of time, the symbols carved into its sides were still sharp and clear. Glowing runes pulsed faintly in the dark, shifting colors like waves in the ocean—blue, gold, and green.
His eyes drifted to the massive stone archway before him. On its surface, delicate carvings caught the dim light. The intricate symbols, etched in Old Chinese, seemed to glow with an ancient energy. As he stepped closer, he could almost hear a faint hum vibrating from the stone itself.
A set of characters sprawled across the arch, their meaning clear despite their age: Inheritance Entrance.
The words burned into his mind, each stroke of the characters seeming to pulse with an undeniable power, an invitation, or perhaps a challenge. It was as if the entrance itself was alive, beckoning him forward.
Lu Yan's heart raced, his mind whirling with questions. He couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Inheritance Entrance… What the hell is this place? Why did you two bring me here?"
The two cat turned to face him silently, its golden eyes shimmering like molten metal. It sat, its posture regal, and looked directly into Lu Yan's eyes as if waiting for something.
He approached the archway slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. His hands trembled, not from fear, but from anticipation. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but there was something in his soul that urged him forward. The cats had healed him, guided him, and now they had brought him here. To this entrance. To whatever lay beyond.
"Go," the golden cat seemed to say, its gaze piercing him with its unspoken command. The air around him crackled with energy as if the very earth was waiting for him to make his move. It was as though the universe itself had paused, holding its breath, and the only thing left was his choice.
Lu Yan stepped forward.
As he reached out toward the stone archway, a surge of energy swept through him. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and for a moment, he thought he might be swallowed whole by the very earth. The golden cat's eyes flashed, and the blue cat's serene gaze softened, as if to reassure him.
He stepped through the archway.
The world seemed to blur around him, a swirling vortex of energy pulling him forward. His vision spun, the light around him shifting like liquid, as if he were traveling through time and space itself.
Then, just as quickly, it stopped.
Lu Yan found himself standing at the threshold of something vast. A place filled with shadows, darkness, and a sense of forgotten history. The dungeon stretched before him, an endless maze of stone corridors and winding paths, some lit by torches, others by eerie, pulsing runes.
And there, at the entrance, the golden and blue cats stood side by side, watching him with their knowing eyes.
"You have arrived… as the heavens have foreseen," he seemed to say, his gaze Overwhelming.
The air hummed with energy.