The moment I opened my eyes, I was engulfed by total darkness—the only thing my vision could perceive. For a few seconds, my mind was submerged in confusion, thoughts scattered, jumbled like loose pieces of a puzzle.
However, just as quickly as this mental fog appeared, it cleared. In a snap, everything came rushing back: every detail, every word, every face. Memories of the previous day flooded my consciousness with surprising force. Yes... all of that had really happened. And in just one single day.
The fact that I had killed people and monsters, gotten so badly injured that I seriously believed even a simple cold could kill me—all of that happened in just one day.
Still with my eyes sunk in absolute darkness, I took a deep breath and, with a thought, opened my status window related to the tutorial. Within seconds, a translucent screen with that characteristic glow appeared before me, softly lighting up the darkness around me.
[Tutorial Progress]
Tutorial Duration: 89 days remaining.
Completion Criteria: [Survive the tutorial and accumulate tutorial points]
Tutorial Information: [Starting points vary for each beginner depending on where they began the tutorial—whether in forests, deserts, or even seas. Wild beasts roam these biomes. Defeat them to earn tutorial points and grow stronger.]
Tutorial Point Rules: [Earn tutorial points by defeating beasts roaming the area. Points are shared among contributors. If you eliminate another newbie, their tutorial points transfer to you.]
Final tutorial rewards are determined by the total Tutorial Points and the number of survivors.
Remaining survivors total: [3683/5900]
Total TP earned: 2,257
The first thing that caught my eye on the screen was the countdown: the duration had dropped from 90 to 89 days. In other words, we really had to spend another full three months in that hellish place before we could go home.
However, what truly shook me wasn't the time left, but the number of survivors still remaining. That cold, silent figure on the screen said more than any word: we were losing survivors—and fast.
The last time I checked, the number was between 4,800 and 4,900. But in just one night, it plummeted dramatically. It was a shock. From that moment, I seriously doubted if even a thousand people would survive until the end of the tutorial.
The most disturbing part, though, wasn't just the sharp drop—it was that we didn't know exactly what caused so many deaths. I mean, sure, the monsters seemed the obvious explanation…but something didn't fit. It was as if there was something else, something invisible, silent, and even more deadly lurking in the shadows.
I couldn't understand how so many people were being careless and dying like that—easy prey to monsters. Somehow, it felt like there was something else behind it all, something hunting them actively, as if choosing its victims precisely. The most unsettling thing was that I had no idea whether this "something" was human… or a monster. And honestly, I didn't know which possibility scared me more.
In the end, all I could do was sigh, resigned to my current situation. However, in that simple gesture, I noticed something unexpected: the sigh sounded softer, almost ethereal, very different from the heavy, frustration-laden sighs I used to let out. Calmly, I raised my hand into the air. Even surrounded by darkness, I could clearly make out its contours.
The skin, once rough and marked, now seemed delicate, almost translucent, soft to the point of seeming unreal. A thin ring with a subtle sparkle glittered on my finger, standing out in the dimness like a fragment of light in the void. The feeling of strangeness deepened. That hand... was definitely not the one I knew.
Then I noticed something unexpected: my vision wasn't divided like usual. For the first time in a long while, I saw clearly within a single field of view, as if my mind had finally aligned. A strange silence surrounded me. Slowly, I stood up, feeling every movement with an almost supernatural clarity.
As I stood, I looked around cautiously. Alice, Oliver, and Ethan were sleeping deeply, their calm, measured breathing filling the room with a sense of peace. Justin was there too—my male body—lying serenely, as if everything was exactly where it should be.
In short, at that moment, I was only controlling Noa. When that thought came, I was caught off guard—I had no idea how to react. It was a strange, unsettling feeling. Even though theoretically I should be a man, at least for now, I wasn't anymore. There was a considerable weight on my chest, something impossible to ignore.
Below, on the other hand, there was nothing anymore… And, strangely, the weirdest thing was that it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. It was odd, no doubt, but wanting a logical explanation in the middle of all this bizarreness seemed like asking too much.
"Well, I guess the simple fact that I'm not freaking out is already a good sign" I murmured, my voice so low that even I was surprised by the whisper.
It was a strangely feminine voice—not as deep as Justin's, but delicate and melodic, almost like a whisper floating in the air. There was something unsettling about it, a feeling of strangeness mixed with familiarity, like hearing my own voice but at the same time not exactly mine.
Still, I figured I'd get used to this weirdness soon enough; after all, what really surprised me was that I didn't feel bothered by it. My body, now completely female, was living proof of this unexpected adaptation.
Anyway, my next move was to get up slowly, as if my body still resisted fully waking up. I stayed there for a few seconds, watching the sleepy faces of my companions, marked by exhaustion and the uncertainty of what was coming next. The cave we called "Home" — at least for now — seemed to swallow everything around us, wrapping us in a silent and cozy gloom.
While some thoughts wandered through my mind, trying to make sense of the moment, a sudden flash broke the silence, lighting up my face with an almost painful intensity. Instinctively, I raised my hand in a quick, reflexive gesture to shield my eyes from that unexpected brightness.
As the light finally appeared, I caught a glimpse of what was ahead: the same forest as before, but now wetter and colder, probably because of the recent rain. There was still a thin mist hanging between the trees, but much less dense than the day before. At least it seemed unlikely that I'd get lost, even walking alone along those silent, wet trails.
I gently moved my eyes sideways, still half asleep, while the faint morning light began to filter through the forest. Some golden tufts managed to pass through the dry leaves, hanging like fragile curtains, and the thin mist hovered in the air, touching the cave entrance with an almost magical glow.
For some unexplained reason, a strange feeling took over me — it was like camping, but not an ordinary camp. Here, the difference was the threatening presence of animals, huge creatures nearly a fifth of my size, watching me like hungry predators, ready to attack at any moment.
As I let out a resigned sigh, I slowly moved my feet, feeling the heavy, cold mud — a result of the rain that had fallen all night — stick to my boots. But honestly, at that moment, I barely cared.
My mind could only focus on one thing: washing my face and shaking off the annoying drowsiness that stubbornly lingered. After a few minutes of walking, I finally reached a clear stream, lazily winding through the woods.
Just as I suspected, that monster from yesterday — an enormous creature resembling a bear — had chosen to make its home nearby. Or maybe it had found the cave I was looking for. Either way, there was enough water there for me to rinse my face and regain some clarity.
With these thoughts crossing my mind, I crouched slowly and cupped my hands to catch the clear water. The next moment, I felt the cold water splash against my face, causing a shiver that made me close my eyes immediately.
The icy shock seemed to awaken every fiber of my body. When I finally opened them, my eyes met the reflection trembling on the water's surface — a distorted yet fascinating image.
Jet-black hair fell softly, framing a finely sculpted, delicate face. My brown eyes, strangely tinged with a subtle red, stared back at me intensely.
In a curious gesture, I raised my hand and pinched my own cheek — the reflection on the surface mimicked the move, like a perfect replica. I knew it was me, but there was still something unsettling about that image. I stood still for a few seconds, fixing my gaze on that strange duet between reality and reflection.
Suddenly, a sound cut the silence: the muffled snap of a leaf being crushed behind me. Instinctively, my reflexes took over — I spun around quickly, dagger already firm in my hand, ready for whatever was lurking.
But the next moment, as I recognized who was in front of me, a sigh of relief naturally escaped my lips: "You scared me" I murmured, my voice feminine and melodious as I slid the dagger back into its sheath with a swift, delicate movement.
"Haha, sorry about that" Oliver said with a playful smile, raising his hands in surrender: "When I woke up and saw you were gone, I admit I got worried. That's why I came looking for you. I'm really relieved and happy to see you're okay"
In the next moment, Oliver came closer silently, stopping right beside me before crouching naturally. He imitated the same gesture I had made moments before, but instead of splashing water on his face, he brought his hand to his mouth and drank slowly, as if savoring every fresh drop.
After a moment, while his eyes still rested on the stream's clear surface, he commented with a calm smile: "We got lucky finding this stream nearby. At least we won't have to worry about water, not when we have an almost endless source so close to our camp"
I just nodded at his words, but a new doubt quickly came to my mind. Slowly, I raised an eyebrow, fixing my gaze on him with curiosity and a slight touch of distrust. Then I asked, in a low, careful voice: "How did you find me? I was very careful not to leave exposed footprints, especially knowing someone might follow them to the cave"
Hearing my words, Oliver furrowed his brow, confusion spreading over his face. But soon his eyes lit up, as if a sudden memory had come to mind. With a slight smile, he said: "Oh! Right, I haven't told you yet. It's my Unique Skill. From what I understand, with it I can track the members of my group. The only condition for it to work is that both sides consider each other allies, or something close to that. At least, that's what I've figured out so far"
Honestly, I was momentarily surprised by the revelation. Oliver's ability was undoubtedly impressive — something way beyond ordinary. Leaving aside the more complex parts, the capacity to know in real time where each member of the group was located was essential for crafting effective strategies.
Besides, even if we got lost during a mission, we could easily regroup thanks to Oliver's unique skill, which worked like a true lifeline for our team. Honestly, the fact that Oliver trusted me with his Unique Skill made me reconsider telling him about mine.
But my situation is way more complicated than his — at least for now. I think it's best to keep this a secret. I don't plan on revealing this ability to anyone I don't fully trust. After all, having two bodies isn't just an advantage... it's the very core of my strength.
"Interesting ability, at least that way we don't risk getting lost in the dark of night" I said, my feminine voice taking on a light, humorous tone.
Hearing my words, Oliver let out a light laugh, full of fun and camaraderie: "Can't deny that" he said, with a mischievous smile that lit up his eyes.