Kaito’s lungs burned as he gasped for air, his body crashing onto the cold, damp ground. The scent of earth and fresh leaves filled his nostrils, and his ears rang with a sharp, lingering hum. Groaning, he rolled onto his back, staring up at the sky.

  The sun was high, yet the light filtering through the trees carried an unnatural hue. A soft breeze rustled the dense foliage above, casting shifting patterns of shadow across his vision.

  Where am I?

  The last thing he remembered was the blinding headlights of an oncoming truck, the screech of tires on wet pavement, and the sickening realization that he had no time to react.

  Yet, he was not dead.

  His breath quickened. He pushed himself up on weak arms, his body trembling as a rush of panic flooded his veins.

  "This… this isn't right." His voice cracked as he looked around frantically. "What the hell is going on?"

  Towering trees stretched impossibly high, their dark trunks disappearing into a thick canopy. Their leaves were a deep shade of emerald, unfamiliar, almost unnatural.

  Then, without warning, a voice echoed in his mind.

  Welcome to the World of Eldoria.

  Kaito flinched, his head snapping up. The voice had no source. It was not spoken aloud. It resonated within him, clear yet devoid of emotion.

  User. Kaito Arata.

  Race. Human.

  Level. One.

  Titles. None.

  Abilities. None Acquired.

  Mission. Survive the First Hour.

  Mission Time Remaining. Fifty-Nine Minutes.

  A glowing, translucent screen materialized before him, floating in midair. His heart pounded, his throat dry as he stared at the floating text.

  "What… what the hell does that mean? Survive?" His voice trembled.

  He tried to wave his hands through the screen, but it remained untouched, the words glowing faintly before shifting.

  Fifty-Eight Minutes Remaining.

  Panic clawed at his chest.

  "Survive?! Survive what?!"

  His breathing grew erratic, his mind racing.

  "Is this some kind of joke? A nightmare? A coma-induced hallucination?" His voice was hoarse, rising in pitch. "No… no, this isn't possible."

  He slapped his face hard. The sting jolted his senses. This wasn’t a dream.

  He was awake. He was here.

  "But how?" He ran his fingers through his hair, gripping it tightly. "How did I even get here? What happened to me?"

  His heart pounded in his ears. The words on the screen taunted him.

  Survive the First Hour.

  His stomach twisted.

  Something was coming.

  Then, a rustling noise snapped his attention toward the underbrush.

  Kaito stilled.

  The sound was subtle at first, like shifting leaves. Then it grew. Heavy footsteps. A low growl. A presence lurking just beyond the trees.

  Slowly, red eyes emerged from the darkness.

  A massive, wolf-like creature stepped forward, its fur black as midnight, muscles tensed beneath its thick hide. Its fangs gleamed as drool dripped from its maw, its hungry gaze locking onto Kaito.

  His blood ran cold.

  A game-like screen appeared in his vision.

  Direfang.

  Level. Three.

  Threat Level. Moderate.

  His breath hitched.

  "A wolf?! A freaking giant wolf?!" He stumbled back, his body trembling.

  The beast let out a guttural snarl, the sound vibrating through Kaito’s chest.

  I don’t have a weapon. I don’t have armor. What the hell am I supposed to do?!

  The Direfang crouched, ready to pounce.

  His instincts screamed at him.

  Move!

  His body hesitated, fear rooting him in place.

  The beast lunged.

  Kaito barely managed to roll to the side, dirt flying as the Direfang’s claws tore through the ground where he had been moments ago. His heart pounded as he scrambled to his feet, his breath ragged.

  "I need a weapon!" He frantically scanned the forest floor.

  Amidst the fallen leaves, something caught his eye.

  A rusted sword, half-buried in the dirt.

  He lunged for it, fingers wrapping around the hilt just as the Direfang charged again. With no time to think, he swung wildly.

  The blade connected with the beast’s shoulder, but the rusted edge barely cut into its thick hide. The Direfang snarled and retaliated instantly, swiping its claws at him.

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  Kaito barely dodged, stumbling backward. His hands trembled around the sword.

  "This thing is stronger than me…" His voice was hoarse, his body screaming in protest.

  The Direfang growled, circling him, waiting for another opening.

  Kaito swallowed hard.

  This isn’t like a game. I don’t have skills. I don’t have stats to rely on. If I die here… I really die.

  The Direfang lunged again, faster this time.

  Kaito tried to sidestep, but the beast was too quick. Claws raked across his side, burning pain erupting through his ribs. He cried out, stumbling to his knees.

  His vision blurred. Blood seeped into his torn shirt.

  Pain. It was real. Too real.

  The Direfang didn’t stop. It lunged again.

  Kaito barely managed to raise his sword in time. The blade scraped against the beast’s fangs, stopping it inches from his throat.

  His arms trembled under the pressure. The Direfang snapped its jaws, forcing him lower, its breath hot against his face.

  "No! Get off me!" He roared, kicking at its stomach.

  The blow did little, but it gave him just enough space to roll away.

  Gasping, Kaito pushed himself up. His grip on the sword tightened.

  "I’m not dying here," he growled, wiping blood from his lip.

  The Direfang lunged again. This time, Kaito didn’t dodge.

  He stepped into the attack.

  Twisting his body, he drove the rusted sword forward with everything he had.

  The blade plunged into the Direfang’s neck.

  The beast let out a strangled yelp, blood spurting from the wound. It crashed onto the ground, its momentum sending Kaito stumbling backward.

  Panting, Kaito stared at the lifeless body, his hands shaking.

  Direfang Defeated.

  Experience Gained. One Hundred.

  Level Up. One to Two.

  His body felt lighter, a strange warmth coursing through him. Was this what leveling up felt like?

  Before he could process it, another notification followed.

  Additional Mission Objective. Kill the Direfang Alpha.

  Reward. Predation. Unique Skill.

  Kaito’s breath hitched.

  The rustling in the bushes returned.

  More glowing red eyes.

  Then, from the darkness, a massive figure emerged.

  Direfang Alpha.

  Level. Five.

  Threat Level. High.

  A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the clearing, sending a shiver down his spine.

  The Direfang Alpha stepped forward.

  Kaito’s body ached. His wounds stung. His lungs burned.

  But there was no escaping this.

  Kaito’s legs locked in place, his body trembling as he stared at the Direfang Alpha. It was massive, nearly twice the size of the other wolves, its thick battle-worn hide covered in scars. Its glowing crimson eyes burned into him, filled with a terrifying predatory hunger.

  A sick, cold sensation clawed at his gut.

  This was no ordinary beast. It had survived countless battles. It knew exactly how to kill.

  His fingers tightened around the rusted sword, but his hands would not stop shaking.

  "This… This isn’t happening," he whispered, his voice cracking.

  The Alpha took a slow, deliberate step forward, its claws sinking into the dirt. The air grew heavy, thick with tension.

  Kaito’s breath came in short, frantic gasps.

  He could not win. He could not run.

  His chest rose and fell unevenly as panic gripped him.

  The Alpha lunged.

  A blur of muscle and fur.

  Kaito barely had time to react before a massive claw slammed into his side.

  Pain exploded through his ribs as he was sent flying, his body crashing onto the dirt. He tumbled over sharp rocks and roots before colliding with a tree.

  A scream tore from his throat.

  His vision blurred, the world tilting as he struggled to move.

  The Alpha did not hesitate.

  Before Kaito could react, it pounced again, its massive paw crushing his chest into the dirt.

  His lungs burned, unable to draw breath under the weight of the beast.

  The Alpha’s fangs lowered, its hot breath washing over him as drool dripped onto his face.

  Kaito struggled, clawed at the ground, but it was useless.

  This was it.

  His vision blurred. His body refused to move.

  The Alpha’s fangs descended.

  At the last second, Kaito thrust his sword upward, aiming blindly.

  The rusted blade scraped against the Alpha’s jaw, cutting shallowly, but it was not enough. The beast snarled, unfazed by the weak attack.

  With a deep growl, it clamped its jaws down.

  Kaito barely yanked his arm away before the beast’s fangs could snap his wrist in two. His sword flew from his grip, landing several feet away.

  No weapon. No strength. No hope.

  Terror gripped him as the Alpha loomed over him, fully prepared to finish him off.

  His mind raced.

  Think. Think. There had to be a way.

  His gaze darted frantically. His body screamed in agony. His vision swam.

  Then he saw it.

  A large, jagged rock jutting from the ground near his fallen sword.

  It was risky, but there was no choice.

  Just as the Alpha lunged again, Kaito rolled to the side, grabbing a handful of dirt and hurling it into the beast’s eyes.

  The Alpha howled, momentarily blinded.

  Kaito scrambled toward the jagged rock, his arms shaking from exhaustion.

  The Alpha recovered instantly, its snarl ripping through the air as it charged at him.

  No time to think. No time to hesitate.

  Kaito threw himself toward the ground, gripping the rock with both hands.

  And as the Alpha lunged, Kaito dropped onto his back and drove the rock straight into the beast’s exposed throat.

  The impact sent a sickening crunch through his fingers.

  The Alpha’s momentum carried it forward, forcing the rock deeper into its windpipe.

  The beast’s roar turned into a choked gurgle.

  Blood gushed from its throat, splattering across Kaito’s face.

  The Alpha thrashed violently, paws clawing at the ground as it stumbled away, struggling to breathe.

  Kaito, covered in blood and shaking uncontrollably, watched as the Alpha staggered, wheezing, its powerful body failing.

  It was not dead yet.

  His gaze snapped to the rusted sword lying a few feet away.

  Without thinking, he bolted toward it, every muscle screaming in protest.

  The Alpha struggled to lift itself, its body trembling, its breaths turning ragged.

  Kaito grabbed the sword and spun on his heel, running back toward the beast.

  The Alpha’s eyes snapped to him, its pupils shrinking in pain and fury.

  Kaito let out a desperate roar as he swung the sword down with all his strength, aiming for its shoulder.

  The blade sliced into flesh, barely deep enough to wound, but it did not matter.

  He pulled it back and stabbed again.

  Again.

  Again.

  The Alpha howled, but Kaito did not stop.

  His arms burned, his body weak, but he could not let it recover.

  He slashed at its legs, cutting tendons, forcing it to collapse onto its side.

  He stabbed at its neck, his hands slick with blood, his breaths uneven.

  The Alpha thrashed, trying to resist, but it was too weak now.

  Kaito drove the sword into its chest, his teeth clenched so tightly his jaw ached.

  "Die already!" He screamed, his voice raw.

  One last strike to the throat.

  The Alpha shuddered.

  Its massive frame hit the ground, motionless.

  Kaito stumbled back, his arms trembling, the sword slipping from his hands.

  He could barely breathe.

  His limbs refused to move. His vision swam. His body was numb, drenched in sweat and blood.

  Then, finally, a notification appeared.

  Direfang Alpha Defeated.

  Experience Gained. Five Hundred.

  Level Up. Two to Four.

  His body trembled as a strange warmth spread through his limbs.

  He had won.

  A new notification flashed before his eyes.

  Mission Objective Completed.

  Reward Acquired. Predation. Unique Skill.

  Another message followed.

  New Passive Skill Acquired. Adaptive Combat.

  Effect. The more battles the user experiences, the more instinctively efficient their fighting becomes.

  His body had been adjusting throughout the fight. The way the Alpha moved, its attack patterns, the brief openings. He had been reacting faster, his strikes more precise, his dodges more effective.

  The battle itself had forged him into something deadlier.

  Kaito let out a weak, breathless laugh.

  "Predation…?" His voice was hoarse.

  He barely had time to process the words before the adrenaline wore off.

  His body finally gave out.

  His muscles failed, his mind fading into darkness as he collapsed beside the Alpha’s corpse.

  As he drifted into unconsciousness, one final thought crossed his mind.

  He had survived.

  But for how long?