Alexander's room was spinning. One second he was staring at the faintly glowing symbols on the mysterious disk, the next… he wasn't.
The world around him had dissolved into a swirling vortex of light and sound. Colors he couldn't name bled together in a nauseating blur, and a cold wind whipped against his skin as though the air itself were alive. He tried to scream, but his voice was swallowed by the storm of sensations. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to hide, to wake up—but there was no waking.
And then, suddenly, he hit solid ground.
Pain shot through his shoulder and ribs as he rolled to his side, coughing, trying to orient himself. His hands scraped against dirt, and when he lifted his head, the world that met his eyes was nothing he had ever seen before. Jagged cliffs rose on all sides, blackened forests stretched into the distance, and a blood-red sky hung low, casting long, eerie shadows across the land. Strange, howling creatures moved just at the edge of his vision, their eyes glowing faintly in the gloom.
Alexander froze. His heart pounded like a drum in his chest. Every hair on his body stood on end. He had never felt fear like this—not from bullies, not from his uncle's scolding, not even from the accidents that had taken his parents. This… this was primal. Survival instinct screaming through him.
"What… what is this?" he whispered, his voice shaking.
No answer came except the low growl of some unseen predator. He scrambled to his feet, his legs trembling, and took a few unsteady steps. Each crack of a branch underfoot made him flinch. Every shadow seemed to move. He didn't know the rules here, didn't know what could kill him, or how. All he knew was that he was terrified, and that terror rooted him in place.
Instinct finally kicked in. He ran.
Through the underbrush, over uneven terrain, he stumbled and fell, scratching his hands and knees on rocks and brambles. The world was merciless—there was no gentle introduction, no tutorial. It was survival, raw and immediate. Every sense screamed danger. He dared not breathe too loudly, dared not move too quickly.
After what felt like hours, but could have been minutes—he found a small cave tucked behind a cliff, the entrance barely visible from the trail. He crawled inside, shivering, pressing his back against the cold stone. His chest heaved as he tried to slow his breathing.
"I… I just want to go home," he whispered, his voice cracking. Tears stung his eyes.
The darkness of the cave offered him little comfort, but it was shelter. He sat, hugging his knees, eyes darting to every shadow outside the entrance, expecting something to burst through at any second. And then… a soft, calm voice echoed in his mind.
"Alexander Carson," it said.
He jumped, heart thudding. "Who… who's there?"
"I am your system," the voice continued, calm, measured, almost unnervingly patient. "You have been chosen to awaken in this world. It is dangerous. Survival will be difficult. Your skills are minimal. Your understanding, nonexistent. That is expected."
Alexander's knees shook as he pressed himself further into the corner. "I… I don't understand. What is this? Why me?"
"You are here because your world will not protect you, and you possess a power unique among those who awaken. Your journey begins now. Learn, survive, and grow, or perish. That is the law of this world."
Alexander's mind raced. Power? Journey? Perish? He had spent his whole life hiding, surviving, being powerless. And now, this voice was telling him that he might have… a chance?
"I… I can't fight," he said shakily. "I… I'm not strong! I'm—"
"Your fear is justified," the system interrupted gently. "You are weak now. That will not change immediately. Strength must be earned. You will be guided. Equipment, knowledge, and survival will be offered through points earned by completing tasks. You are not alone, but danger surrounds you always. Act carefully."
Alexander swallowed hard. His hands shook as he pressed them against his knees. "Tasks… points… what does that even mean?"
The system continued: "Actions have consequences. Defeat enemies, protect the innocent, explore the land, and you will gain the resources necessary to survive. Avoid recklessness. Your power—Blood Manipulation—is rare and requires control. You will awaken it gradually."
Alexander blinked, trying to take in the strange words. Blood manipulation? Control? I can't even control myself when I panic, he thought miserably.
A sudden movement near the cave entrance made him flinch. Two glowing eyes reflected in the darkness—small, low creatures, maybe the size of a wolf, sniffing the air. His heart leapt into his throat. He could either fight or run—but his body froze.
"Hide," the system whispered. "Patience is as important as courage."
Alexander pressed himself further into the shadows. The creatures circled the cave entrance, growling low, sniffing the air. He didn't breathe, didn't move, didn't think—just listened. Eventually, they wandered off, distracted by something else in the forest.
He exhaled slowly, the first real breath he had taken since being transported. His hands were raw from gripping rocks, his legs trembling. He felt… small, insignificant, utterly human.
The system spoke again, gentle but firm: "Survival begins with awareness. Observe. Plan. Adapt. You will be tested, and every choice matters. This is your first lesson: the world is more dangerous than your own, and only those who endure may grow."
Alexander pressed his face into his knees, shivering. He didn't feel heroic. He didn't feel strong. He felt fear, pure and sharp, cutting to the bone. But… for the first time, he also felt something else—a tiny spark in the pit of his chest. A faint, unnameable determination. Not courage yet. Not hope. But the first seed of survival.
The forest outside howled, and the red sky loomed, threatening, unforgiving. Alexander Carson, terrified, alone, and utterly unprepared, realized with a sinking sense of dread: he was not in a game. This was real.
And if he wanted to see another sunrise… he would have to survive. Even if for his sister's sake.