My thoughts race, spiraling out of control as I try to process what I just heard. I had been holding onto a shred of hope that, just maybe, I could wait it out—let Athena fix everything, and I would be safe. But now, that illusion has been shattered. I am alone. No one is coming to help, and the only way to survive is to face this nightmare and get stronger.

  My breathing quickens, and I can feel the tightness growing in my chest. My heart pounds so hard I can hear it thudding in my ears. What if I fail? What if I can’t do this? I feel a wave of cold dread rising, my hands trembling. My throat tightens, and my vision blurs slightly. Every thought pulls me deeper into panic.

  I’m going to die here.

  Suddenly, a screen pops up in front of me, interrupting the spiral of fear.

  As the message flashes, a soft tingling sensation runs down my spine. I feel my shoulders loosen, and my breathing begins to slow. It’s like a weight is lifted, just enough for me to catch my breath. The panic that had been clawing at my chest starts to recede, replaced by a strange sense of calm.

  What is a Threshold?

  Curious, I will my status open to check the changes. The panic is not gone, but the system’s interruption has given me just enough space to think clearly again, to plan. Maybe I can do this.

  I notice the asterisks next to a couple of my skills for the first time and try to “select” them with a thought.

  Just for comparison I tried selecting the Stealth skill which did not have an asterisk and was only level 3.

  Well, that is interesting. Following Athena’s brief advice, I spend the next half hour going over all my skills and spells. Nothing stands out, except for the asterisks next to Magical Affinity and Shocking Grasp. I cannot “select” either of them for more information, but I do notice something—Shocking Grasp does more damage than any of my other spells. Weird.

  I also find the notes screen Athena mentioned. The only entry is a transcript of her last message, just as she said. I am about to close it when something catches my eye—some of her words are italicized: Core and Critical. She was talking about getting the Safe Zone, so... elemental cores are weak points, just like in books and games. But how do I guarantee a critical hit? My Stealth skill only increases my chance by 15%.

  I double-check my status, making sure I have not missed anything else, then start planning. The basic plan stays the same, but now I have more mana to work with, which should make things easier. As I glance back at the clearing, another idea pops into my head. I do not say anything aloud, but if there is a bug in the tutorial, no one can fix it unless they notice, right? I do not think Safe Zone Guardians are supposed to stop trying to kill you when you leave their area... I can farm some skill ranks here.

  I move stealthily back toward the clearing, sticking to the outer edge, slowly making my way around the perimeter. So far, nothing from the Guardian—no reaction at all. I keep circling as quietly as I can, spending about half an hour sneaking around without being detected. Still no skill increases. I need to get closer.

  I adjust my path, gradually creeping closer to the pond, keeping a sharp eye out for any movement. When I’m about halfway between the clearing and the pond, I start circling again. This time, I am rewarded with that heavenly ding of the system alerting me to my success.

  A grin spreads across my face as I continue circling the pond, taking full advantage of the situation. What follows are the most mind-numbingly boring few hours I have spent in the tutorial, but the payoff is worth it—I manage to level my Stealth skill all the way to 10. Each time the skill leveled up, I adjusted my path, moving one foot closer to the pond. By the time I hit level 10, I was sneaking along the very edge of the water, completely undetected.

  The notifications rolled in, one after another, but the only ones that really mattered were the breakthroughs at levels 5 and 10.

  I finally stop my endless circling around the pond and focus on the chest I have passed countless times while leveling up my Stealth. I am confident now—I can open it without alerting the Guardian. Taking a deep breath, I approach the chest, my eyes scanning the area. Everything seems quiet. The latch is simple, and it slides open without a sound—no squeak of metal, no click.

  I pause for a moment, glancing around just to be sure. The pond remains still, undisturbed since the Guardian returned beneath its surface. I really hope there’s food and water in here. My throat is dry, and my stomach is starting to cramp from hunger.

  Carefully, I lift the lid, bracing myself for whatever treasures might be inside. And then I see... nothing. The chest is completely empty.

  I stare at it, my mind blank for a second before rage starts bubbling up. I am about to curse the system when suddenly—

  There are Error messages flooding my vision, and then.

  I almost shout in triumph but catch myself just in time, remembering where I am. Quickly glancing around, I retreat to the edge of the clearing, my heart racing with excitement. First things first—I need to check the loot. Then, I will worry about the level-ups.

  I got two pieces of equipment, a consumable, and... a title? I wonder what the title is. Curiosity buzzing in my mind, I focus and call up my inventory. A short list of items appears before me, waiting to be inspected.

  I’m still parched, and my throat feels like sandpaper, but the katana... I focus on it, pulling it from my inventory. The blade appears in my hand, and for a second, I swear I hear thunder in the distance.

  As I lift the katana, I am struck by how perfectly balanced it is—crafted with a precision that borders on perfection. Stormcaller. The hilt is wrapped in deep midnight blue silk, interwoven with threads of shimmering silver that catch the moonlight. The wrapping fits my grip perfectly, soft but firm. The tsuba, a dark metal swirling in a storm-like pattern, pulses faintly, as if it is absorbing the katana’s latent energy. At the base, the pommel is set with a polished stone, like a bolt of lightning encased in glass. It glows softly, reminding me of the power this blade holds.

  The sheath, made of smooth, lacquered wood, is equally stunning. Silver inlays of clouds and lightning bolts dance along its surface, the storm imagery flowing together like it is alive. When I draw the blade, the sound is almost musical—a sharp, clear note that rings out, as if the sword is eager for action. The bluish-silver blade gleams in the moonlight, etched with intricate arcs of lightning that seem to pulse with energy.

  This thing is amazing! The weight is perfect, the design flawless. I have never seen anything like it. Is Legendary the highest rarity? Athena wasn’t kidding about the loot table being maxed out. I slide the katana back into the sheath and loop it through my jeans—it fits perfectly, not even touching the ground.

  Time to look at the cloak. It is lower rarity, but still, I have to check it out. I will it into existence, and it appears in my hands—a deep, inky black that seems to drink in the light around it. At first, it looks like simple fabric, but under the moonlight, I catch the intricate silver and gray threads woven into the fabric, swirling like smoke, or shifting shadows. It is like holding a piece of the night sky itself, flickering and alive.

  I drape the cloak over my shoulders, feeling the fabric mold to my form. It is impossibly light, barely noticeable, but it feels like a second skin. As it settles, I can feel the stat boosts flowing through me—my Dexterity surging as the magic seeps into my body. I pull the hood up, and the world dims, as if the cloak is shielding me from the moon’s glow. I glance down at my hands—they blur and fade into the fabric’s folds, blending into the darkness.

  Cautiously, I step out of the moonlight and into the shadows of a nearby tree. The effect is immediate—I disappear. Completely. The cloak makes me vanish into the shadows, leaving nothing behind but a vague impression. This is so cool!

  One more item to go before I check out the title. I carefully pull the small vial from my inventory. The glass is almost translucent, and inside, a shimmering liquid swirls lazily, catching the moonlight and refracting it into tiny rainbows.

  I turn the vial in my hand. The liquid inside is a deep, mesmerizing blue, streaked with silver and gold, like threads of stardust swirling and shifting, never settling. The energy inside is palpable, a subtle hum of arcane power contained within the delicate container.

  The stopper is polished silver, and the glass is etched with faint runes I don’t fully recognize, but their significance is clear—this is no ordinary potion. I uncork it, and a cool, crisp scent wafts up—like the air after a lightning storm, with a hint of something sweet and floral. Just breathing it in gives me a sense of clarity and focus.

  This is it. The sword is incredible, but I’ll need this potion to fully capitalize on the Elemental’s weakness. I will need to use every edge I can get.

  I stand up, still in awe of the gear, and call out, "Titles." My voice startles me after hours of silence, but the new screen flashes into view at my command.

  Wait, wait, wait! This is perfect! A chance to instantly kill—this could be exactly what I need. Sure, it's a super small chance, but with the Stealth Mastery effect boosting my critical strike, I am sitting at a 60% chance to land a critical hit. That’s massive. And if I land it, we are talking about 55 times the normal damage. I might not even need to fight the guardian head-on!

  Granted, I am a glass cannon—if it lands even one solid hit, I’m done for. A glancing blow nearly broke my arm before. Still, I can’t shake the feeling this is what Athena was guiding me toward. There is even a little smiley face at the end of the description, like she knows something I don’t. It might still fail, but at least now I feel like I have a real shot.

  I have checked all my gear and equipped myself with everything useful. I need to take down this guardian while I’ve still got some strength left. I am starting to feel the effects of dehydration and hunger—I must have been here for 18 hours. I need to sleep too, but that is not happening until I clear this Safe Zone.

  I stand up, uncork the potion, and drink it slowly, feeling the power course through me. With one last breath, I start walking toward the edge of the pond.