The rain didn't follow him.
One second it had soaked him to the bone, the next he was standing on a hilltop under a clear, silvered sky. The moon hung low, enormous and pale, cutting sharp shadows across the forest clearing beneath him. Pine trees swayed in a wind that smelled of wet earth and distant ocean. Somewhere far off, a wolf howled. Not digitally simulated. Not imagined. Real.
Ethan blinked. His hoodie, dripping wet moments ago, had dried and clung to him perfectly. His soaked sneakers had been replaced by lightweight boots, clean and sturdy. He ran a hand over his arms, flexing. The strength capsule he had taken back in the bus stop… it pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat, still alive in his veins.
The panel floated before him, semi-transparent against the moonlight, humming gently. Its blue glow reflected off the puddles scattered in the clearing.
—————— PANEL STATUS ——————
Current Location: Teen Wolf World (Beacon Falls)
Panel Points: 100 PP
Current Mission: "Awakening Night" — Stage 1
Available Actions: Item Extraction, Skill Extraction, Trait Extraction, Mission Board
Notes: NPCs nearby detected.
——————————————
NPCs.
He remembered the list from his pre-mission notes: in this world, some of the first characters he would meet were essential — guides, allies, and soon, potential partners. He knew this panel would reward not just PP, but experiences, abilities, and relationships.
From the underbrush came a rustle, faint but deliberate. Ethan tensed. The forest was quiet now, yet alive — and something was moving toward him.
---
First Encounter — Maya Park
A figure emerged from behind a cluster of pine trees.
She was young, probably sixteen, small, with dark hair plastered to her face from the night's mist. Her eyes were wide, panicked. She stumbled, gripping her arms around herself as if the cold could shield her from whatever was chasing her.
Ethan's instincts screamed: help.
"Hey! Are you okay?" he called, stepping forward.
The girl froze, looking up at him. Her pupils dilated, reflecting the moonlight.
"I… I didn't mean to—" she stammered, voice trembling. "I just… I just can't control it."
A low growl interrupted her.
Ethan turned sharply. Two shadows slipped between the trees — humanoid shapes, but with elongated limbs, glowing eyes, and movements that were too fast for ordinary humans.
She shivered, backing against a tree.
"Stay back!" Ethan shouted, though he had no idea if his voice would matter.
---
First Combat — Activating Strength
The smaller shadow lunged. Ethan reacted before thinking.
He swung his arms instinctively. A blur of motion — faster, stronger than he had ever been. The Minor Strength Capsule worked. His fist connected solidly with the creature's chest. It staggered backward with a distorted howl.
Maya gasped. "You… you're like me?"
"I… I don't know. Maybe?" Ethan's heart pounded. Another creature approached. He grabbed a fallen branch, flexing his enhanced strength, and held it like a staff.
The shadows advanced cautiously now, wary of the strange human with unusual reflexes. Ethan felt alive — more alive than he had ever been. This was the taste of power, raw and immediate.
The panel pinged.
MISSION PROGRESS UPDATE
Objective: Protect Maya Park
Reward: 50 PP ×10 Talent = 500 PP
Extraction Available: Basic Combat Instinct Chip (20 PP)
He tapped the extraction option. A small pulse ran through him as the skill integrated — subtle, but he felt more precise, more agile. Every movement sharpened.
The creatures hesitated, then melted back into the shadows.
Maya's eyes were wide. She looked at Ethan with awe, maybe relief, maybe a hint of fear.
"You… saved me," she whispered.
Ethan nodded, chest heaving. "Yeah. Let's get out of the trees before more show up."
---
First Mission Complete — Stage 1
The clearing seemed quiet again. The panel glowed with confirmation:
MISSION STAGE 1 COMPLETE
PP Reward: 50 ×10 = 500 PP
Current PP: 600
Next Objective: Escort Maya Park to safe location
New Extraction Options Available:
- Minor Combat Instinct Chip (20 PP)
- Enhanced Tracking Sense (40 PP)
- Pack Awareness Protocol (60 PP)
Ethan's mind raced. Tracking sense could help find threats. Pack awareness could give him insight into others like Maya, maybe allies. Combat chip was immediate power.
He swallowed, adrenaline buzzing through his veins. Decisions mattered now — and all of them multiplied tenfold.
He gestured to Maya. "Come on. Stick close. Don't run."
She nodded, stepping cautiously beside him, still trembling but trusting.
They moved through the forest together, a pair of fledgling predators navigating a world that had suddenly grown enormous, dangerous, and alive.
---
The First Choice — Skill vs. Awareness
The panel pulsed gently before Ethan's eyes.
Extractable Skills Ready:
1 • Minor Combat Instinct Chip (Immediate Attack + Defense Boost)
2 • Enhanced Tracking Sense (Locate Threats, Animals, People)
3 • Pack Awareness Protocol (Detect Allies, Rivals, Social Dynamics)
Every option would be multiplied ×10. The wrong choice could slow him down; the right one could accelerate his survival, earning PP and influence faster.
Ethan felt the weight of potential. The panel didn't dictate morality. It didn't care about consequences. Only opportunity — amplified.
He looked at Maya. She looked at him, hope flickering in her eyes.
Ethan clenched his fists. The Minor Strength Capsule had awakened something in him, but this would be the real test — skill extraction or awareness, power or guidance, aggression or insight.
He tapped the option he felt would give them the best chance…