Chapter 2: "The First Core"

The streets of Eryndor were a maze of chaos and opportunity. Jack moved through the crowd with purpose, his new dagger tucked into the waistband of his tattered pants. The system hummed in his mind, its presence a constant reminder of the edge he now held.

**[Analyzing Surroundings…]**

**[Population Density: High.]**

**[Potential Threats: Moderate.]**

**[Recommendation: Proceed with Caution.]**

Jack smirked. Caution had never been his style, but he wasn't about to throw away this second chance. He needed resources—food, shelter, and most importantly, information. The system was powerful, but it was only as good as the data it had. And right now, Jack knew next to nothing about this world.

He spotted a market up ahead, its stalls overflowing with goods. Fruits, meats, weapons, and trinkets were on display, their sellers shouting over each other to attract customers. Jack's stomach growled, but he ignored it. Food could wait. First, he needed to understand the rules of this new game.

As he approached a stall selling maps, the system pinged.

**[Item Detected: Regional Map of Eryndor and Surrounding Territories.]**

**[Value: Moderate.]**

**[Recommendation: Acquire for Navigation Purposes.]**

Jack glanced at the merchant, a wiry man with a hooked nose and beady eyes. The man noticed Jack's interest and grinned, revealing a row of yellowed teeth.

"Interested in a map, are ya?" the merchant asked. "Only five silver bits."

Jack's hand instinctively went to his pocket, but he stopped himself. He had no money, no possessions, nothing but the clothes on his back and the dagger at his side. He needed another way.

"I don't have silver," Jack said, his voice calm. "But I can offer something better."

The merchant raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what's that?"

Jack leaned in, lowering his voice. "Information. I know where you can find a Frostfang Wolf den. Their pelts are worth a fortune, aren't they?"

The merchant's eyes widened, but he quickly masked his surprise. "And how do I know you're not lying?"

Jack tapped his temple. "Photographic memory. I saw the den on my way here. It's not far."

The merchant studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. The map's yours. But if you're lying, I'll find you."

Jack took the map, his system immediately scanning it.

**[Map Data Uploaded.]**

**[New Locations Added: Eryndor, Scarred Wastelands, Vermillion Reach.]**

Jack folded the map and slipped it into his pocket. "Pleasure doing business with you."

As he walked away, the system pinged again.

**[New Objective: Acquire Monster Core.]**

**[Recommended Location: Frostfang Wolf Den.]**

Jack's grin returned. The merchant might have thought he was getting the better end of the deal, but Jack had other plans. He didn't just want the map—he wanted the power that came with a monster core.

---

The journey to the Frostfang Wolf den took him to the outskirts of Eryndor, where the city's bustling streets gave way to dense forests and rocky terrain. The air grew colder, and the sounds of civilization faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant howl of wolves.

Jack moved cautiously, his system scanning the environment for threats.

**[Analyzing Terrain…]**

**[Local Wildlife: Frostfang Wolves, Level 2–4.]**

**[Threat Level: Moderate.]**

**[Recommendation: Proceed with Caution.]]

Jack's grip tightened on his dagger. He wasn't a fighter, not yet. But he had his wits, his system, and a plan.

He found the den nestled in a rocky outcrop, its entrance partially hidden by snow and ice. Inside, he could hear the low growls of the wolves. He counted three—no, four—distinct sounds. Too many to take head-on.

Jack crouched behind a boulder, his mind racing. He needed a way to isolate one of the wolves. His eyes fell on a nearby tree, its branches heavy with snow. An idea formed.

He picked up a rock and hurled it at the tree. The impact shook the branches, sending a cascade of snow crashing to the ground. The wolves inside the den stirred, their growls growing louder.

One of them emerged, its fur a shimmering white, its eyes glowing with an icy blue light. It sniffed the air, then turned toward the tree.

Jack's system pinged.

**[Target Identified: Frostfang Wolf, Level 3.]**

**[Weakness: Fire.]**

**[Recommended Action: Lure and Ambush.]]

Jack waited until the wolf was far enough from the den, then struck. He lunged from behind the boulder, his dagger aimed at the wolf's flank. The blade bit into flesh, and the wolf howled in pain.

But it wasn't enough. The wolf turned on him, its jaws snapping. Jack dodged, but the wolf's claws grazed his arm, drawing blood.

**[Health Status: Minor Injury.]**

**[Recommendation: Use Environment to Gain Advantage.]]

Jack's eyes darted to the tree. He grabbed a low-hanging branch and swung himself up, just as the wolf lunged again. Its jaws closed on empty air, and Jack dropped down behind it, driving his dagger into its neck.

The wolf collapsed, its body twitching as it died. Jack stood over it, breathing heavily. His arm throbbed, but he ignored the pain. He had what he came for.

The system pinged.

**[Monster Core Detected.]**

**[Absorbing Core…]**

**[Quantum Core Upgrade: 5% Complete.]]

Jack felt a surge of energy as the core was absorbed. His system hummed, its interface flickering with new data.

**[New Ability Unlocked: Environmental Scan.]**

**[Description: Allows User to Analyze Surroundings for Hidden Threats and Resources.]]

Jack grinned. This was just the beginning. With each core he absorbed, he would grow stronger, smarter, more powerful. The world of Eryndor was dangerous, but Jack was ready to conquer it.

As he turned to leave, the system pinged again.

**[Warning: Multiple Hostiles Detected.]]

Jack froze. Behind him, the remaining wolves emerged from the den, their eyes glowing with fury.

He tightened his grip on the dagger and activated the system.

**[New Objective: Survive.]