Mission complete?

Kyren pushed his speed and power to the limit, circling the wounded panther like a shadow before darting behind it. His dagger flashed as he slashed at its hind leg. A sharp yelp tore through the air as his blade found its mark. The panther, despite its injuries, mustered the last of its strength and leapt forward in desperation.

But Kyren was faster.

Something inside him clicked—an understanding, a connection to the power he had only begun to grasp. With blinding speed, he appeared in front of the beast. He pivoted sharply, ducking beneath its exposed neck. His fingers tightened around the dagger's hilt as he thrust upward, carving through flesh. In a single fluid motion, he dashed to the other side, leaving the panther staggering. Blood poured from the deep gash in its throat. With a final, shuddering breath, the great beast collapsed.

Inside his mind, a voice echoed: "Mission complete."

Kyren tensed. The voice was his own—but robotic, unnatural.

"Level 2 reached."

Before he could process what was happening, a glowing screen materialized before him. Words and numbers flickered across it.

Kyren Warhammer

Stats:

Physical fitness: C

Strength: C+

Speed: B

Stamina: C+

Mana Pool: D+

Hero Ranking: 1000 (Last in Epsilon)

Mission: Slay The Panther (Survive)

Mission Rewards:

Unlock Natural Abilities

Unlock Inventory

Unlock Stats Window

+25 Stat Points

Unlock Passive Skill: Catlike Reflexes

Unlock Skill: Momentum Slash

Claim Rewards? [Yes/No]

Kyren reached out instinctively, but his hand passed through the screen. His brow furrowed. Think it, maybe?

"Yes," he thought.

The moment he accepted, a wave of sensation surged through his body. His musles tensed, his senses sharpened—his reflexes heightened like never before. A strange awareness settled over him, as if the world around him had slowed slightly.

He willed the Stats Window open and allocated his points:

+10 to Mana Pool (D+ → C-)

+10 to Stamina (C+ → B-)

+5 to Strength (C+ → almost B-)

Kyren exhaled. He felt stronger—lighter. Faster.

A second screen blinked into existence.

Level-Up Rewards:

Basic Shirt

Basic Pants

Basic Shoes

Basic Tent & Bedroll

5x Basic Health Potions

5x Basic Mana Potions

Claim Rewards? [Yes/No]

He thought yes, and the items instantly shifted into his Inventory. Another thought—open inventory—and the screen changed. His new gear appeared, each with an Equip button. The moment he selected them, a black shirt, pants, and shoes materialized onto his body. The faint gold threading shimmered under the fading sunlight.

Kyren flexed his hands. The clothes fit perfectly, but more importantly, he felt prepared. His eyes drifted to the sky—it was getting late.

Survival instincts kicked in. Before leaving, he crouched by the panther's body, using his dagger to cut away strips of meat and sections of hide. He packed them quickly into his bag before stowing it in his inventory. If the system worked the way he hoped, it would keep the scent contained and stop predators from tracking him.

With one last glance at the fallen panther, Kyren turned and disappeared down the road, searching for a safe place to rest.