---
Kael stirred awake in the old cottage, the morning sun cutting through the broken shutters in slivers of warmth. Dust danced in the air, and the scent of old wood and steel lingered around him.
Wraithfang lay beside him, unmoving, its bluish blade faintly glimmering like embers beneath ice.
His body ached less than yesterday—a sign of recovery. But the weight of what was coming pressed on him harder than the pain.
> [System Synchronization: Stable]
➤ New Functions Unlocked
─ Weapon Synthesis (Available)
─ Echo Archive (Available)
─ Active Quests
─ Daily Quests
─ Status, Inventory, Skill Tree (Locked)
A soft chime echoed in his head.
> Ding! [Daily Quest: Survival Routine – Day 1]
— Hunt 1 hostile beast
— Consume food or water
— Perform 1 Weapon Skill
Reward: +5 Free Stat Points | 10 EXP | Minor Recovery Boost
Failure Penalty: -2% Sync Rate | Temporary Stat Debuff
> "A punishment, huh…?" Kael muttered. "Guess skipping training isn't an option."
---
He rose slowly, joints cracking as he made his way to the rickety shelf where dried food remained. A stale biscuit and a pouch of old water—barely edible, but it would do.
> [Objective Complete: Consume food or water]
➤ Progress: 1 / 3
---
He strapped Wraithfang to his back and stepped outside, letting the cool forest air sting his lungs. The clearing was still, morning fog curling around the treetops. He swung the blade experimentally in a slow arc—then narrowed his eyes.
> "Let's try this… just once."
He inhaled deeply, then focused.
> Activate Skill: [Void Carve]
Description: Slash augmented by concentrated mana. Short-range, medium-speed. Disrupts energy flow in living targets.
Wraithfang pulsed with shadow-blue light as he slashed toward a nearby tree. The edge hissed through bark, leaving a narrow but unnatural black scorch across the trunk.
> [Objective Complete: Perform 1 Weapon Skill]
➤ Progress: 2 / 3
> "Didn't know I could do that," he said under his breath, staring at the damage. "That wasn't just strength… it felt like something deeper."
---
> "Status."
---
[Status Window – Kael]
Level: 2
EXP: 35 / 50
Health: 74 / 100
Mana: 40 / 60
Stamina: 52 / 75
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Endurance: 11
Intellect: 10
Luck: 5
Unspent Points: 0 (+5 Pending)
Talent: Armament Echo
➤ Legendary-grade talent. Stores fragmented memories and latent power from ancient Weapon Wielders. Unlocks passive growth and weapon evolution as Sync increases.
Weapon Bonded: Wraithfang
Weapon Rank: C+
Sync Rate: 7%
Skill Tree: Locked
---
[Weapon Status – Wraithfang]
Type: Sentient Blade
Rank: C+
Sync Level: 7%
Core Trait: Memory Echo (Locked)
Passive: Weapon Skill Efficiency +10%
Elemental Affinity: Shadow / Unknown
Description: A blade born of memory and purpose. Its true nature lies buried beneath forgotten echoes. Resonates with the wielder's will.
---
[Quest Log – Updated]
Main Quest: Reach the Nearest Beacon Outpost
➤ Reward: Unlock Weapon Forge + Echo Core Archive
Daily Quest: Survival Routine – Day 1
➤ Progress: 2 / 3 (Beast hunt remaining)
➤ Reward: +5 Stat Points, EXP, Minor Recovery Boost
➤ Failure Penalty: -2% Sync | Debuff (24h)
Sub-Quest: Analyze a New Beast Type
➤ Status: Incomplete
---
As he sheathed Wraithfang and returned inside to prepare, a sudden system alert chimed again:
> [System Alert: Local Disturbance Detected]
➤ Monster Approaching: Emberfang Ravager (Feral)
➤ Threat Level: Moderate
➤ Estimated Time to Arrival: 16 hours
Kael's fingers tightened around the hilt.
> "I guess I know what beast I'll be hunting today."
---