Chapter 4: A New Skill and Where’s This Place?

Jin sat near his fire, gnawing on the last piece of roasted rabbit. It was satisfying, but not enough. He needed a stable food source. Hunting was unpredictable, and he couldn't rely on luck forever. He needed to explore deeper into the forest.

Determined, he ventured further in, pushing past the dense foliage. The air grew heavier, filled with a strange warmth, and then he saw it—a massive, ancient tree towering above the rest. Its sheer size left him breathless. The bark radiated a soft glow, and the roots twisted like the veins of the earth itself. There was something alive about it, something beyond normal nature.

Curious, he decided to climb. If he could get high enough, he might get a better sense of his surroundings. Gripping the rough bark, he ascended carefully, his arms and legs burning with effort. When he finally pulled himself onto a sturdy branch, the sight stole his breath away.

The forest stretched endlessly, its green expanse rolling like waves toward distant mountains. The sky above was a shade of blue more vivid than anything he had ever seen on Earth. The air was crisp, filling his lungs with a freshness that felt almost… rejuvenating.

A rare moment of peace washed over him.

Then his foot slipped.

Panic surged as he plummeted. Instinctively, his mind screamed for something—anything—to stop his fall. At that moment, his mana surged, and wind howled around him. His descent slowed just before impact, sending him rolling onto the forest floor rather than crashing into it.

Gasping, he sat up, his breath unsteady.

"That was close... I could have died." Then it hit him—"Wind? Did I just... use wind magic?"

He held out his palm, focusing on the sensation from before. A small gust swirled around his fingers.

Skill Acquired: Basic Wind (Magic)

Effect: Create a gust of wind. Sometime it's sharp so be careful.

A grin spread across his face. Another element—another step toward mastering his power.

But before he could celebrate further, his eyes caught something unusual through the trees. Half-buried in the earth, covered in vines and moss, were ancient ruins. Weathered stone structures jutted out at odd angles, whispering of a forgotten age. He stepped closer, and suddenly, his Appraisal skill activated.

—

[??? Ruins]

An ancient structure lost to time. Information unavailable. Warning: Presence detected.

—

Jin frowned.

"Presence detected? What do you—"

The ground trembled.

A deep, grinding sound echoed through the clearing as the earth itself seemed to shift. Then, from the rubble, something moved.

Dust and debris cascaded from its massive stone frame as it stood, towering over him. The shape was unmistakable—a humanoid figure, its height could be over a few meters, carved of ancient rock, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. And above its head, glowing letters burned into his vision.

[Ancient Guardian Golem – Level 89]

Jin froze.

His mind went blank. His body refused to move. Every instinct screamed at him, louder than ever before.

RUN.

He didn't need to be told twice. Spinning on his heel, he bolted into the trees, his heart hammering. The ground shook with every step the golem took, but… it didn't chase him. It simply watched, as if acknowledging his presence—but nothing more.

Jin didn't stop running until he was far, far away.

Gasping for breath, he collapsed onto a nearby rock. His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, sweat dripping from his forehead. His legs trembled—not just from exhaustion, but from the lingering fear.

"That thing… I would've died if it even moved toward me."

The reality of it all weighed down on him. He couldn't afford to get careless. He had to stay sharp, had to keep growing. Never let your guard down. Never.

Just then, a flicker of light drew his attention. His status screen appeared.

—

New Skill Acquired!

[Survivor's Instinct] – Enhances reaction speed and perception in life-threatening situations.

—

Jin frowned. So that's why he had reacted so quickly back there. It wasn't just fear—his body had adapted, sharpening itself in the face of danger.

Then, another notification popped up.

—

Skill Upgraded!

[Major Element Magic] – Increases efficiency and control over elemental magic. Reduces mana consumption and improves elemental transitions.

—

Jin blinked.

"Wait… does this mean I can use magic more smoothly now?"

Testing it out, he raised his palm and summoned a small flame. Immediately, he noticed something—the fire felt stable, more responsive. He willed it to fade, then shifted to wind magic. The transition was seamless, effortless. There was no wasted mana, no sluggish delay between spells.

His lips curled into a smirk.

This world was terrifying, but it was also full of possibilities. And he was just getting started.