Chapter 4: The first trial
703 Words
▸ Endurance
▸ Instinct
A familiar pull behind his eyes. The waiting system. A decision.
He recalled the last battle—he had the power, but lacked the agility to respond fast enough at the time when it mattered. He did not hesitate.
At first light the next morning, Caleb was standing alone in a hidden glade a mile back into the woods, far beyond the traveled roads of Blackwood. Dead leaves and snapped branches carpeted the earth, and already, Kael was waiting, arms crossed, by an ancient weapons rack long unused.
"This is where I trained, where I bled. You want control? It begins here."
Caleb curled and uncurled his fingers. His body wasn't quite right yet. Not unbalanced, but poised. As though waiting to be set off again.
He stepped forward, handing him a smooth wooden practice staff. "First lesson--don't rely on the system. Learn to control your body first. You won't last if you can't fight without it."
Caleb caught the staff, nearly dropping it. His strength was there, only his coordination was not. His balance was slightly off.
“Let’s begin
Kael attacked without warning.
The initial blow landed on the shoulder of Caleb before the staff could be raised. A searing burning pain passed through him and he stumbled backward.
"Too slow," Kael replied. "Trust your instincts."
Again, Kael entered—this time Caleb blocked, barely. The energy shuddered through his wrists.
System Prompt – Tip: Basic motion support enabled at 6% sync. Disabled by default. Manual activation available.
Do you want to enable partial support?
He gritted his teeth. "No. Not yet."
He backed away, turning low as Kael struck his head. He dodged and counterattacked, and was able to deliver a light blow to Kael’s side—but the older man hardly even noticed.
"Good," Kael said, inclining his head once. "You're learning to read me.”
They circled.
Caleb's arms ached, and his back throbbed where the blow had landed. But a strange lucidity was gaining strength. The forest was louder, the air was cooler.
He could almost hear the rhythm of Kael's movements—a tune that he was starting to interpret.
"Again," snapped Kael.
They clashed, and Caleb did not simply block this time—he shifted position, whipped the staff around at low level, and struck Kael's thigh with enough force that Kael grunted.
He stepped back, smiling. "There it is."
[Lunar Ascendant System Alert]
Sync Progress: 7%
Physical Alignment Attained: Body Calibration +2%
+5 LP
+1 Stat Points Earned
Stat Points not allocated: 2
Select one:
▸ Strength
▸ Agility
He placed a point in Agility. A point in Instinct.
Stat assignment confirmed.
Agility: 10
Instinct: 6
Threshold for skill unlock reached
New Skill Added: Instinct Surge - Tier I
Description: Boosts the user's reaction speed by 40% in 10 seconds. Cooldown period: 60 seconds. Cost: 15 LP.
LP Needed: 15 / On Hand: 15
Kael lowered his staff. "That will do."
Caleb panted, sweat beads streaming off his brow. His hands, though, didn't shake. He was concentrated.
"Did you feel anything?" Kael inquired.
"When my body eventually caught up," said Caleb. "And for an instant. .. I didn't have to think."
Kael nodded. "That's what matters. Instinct will kick in. But that system, well, let's just say it is something else entirely. As a tool—not a crutch."
He looked at the injuries on his arms. Bruises had already begun forming.
He smiled nonetheless.
"I want to go again.”
Kael nodded with narrowed eyes. "Good. We’ll double the speed tomorrow."
That evening, the system updated again, quietly, without fanfare.
[System Sync Update]
Current Sync: 8%
Tier 1 Skill Acquired: Instinct Surge – Tier I
Next Unlock at 10%
Status Overview Complete + Lunar Trait Identification
BLOOD LUST
Status: Stable Growth
Caleb looked at the system window hovering in his head.
His body was changing. His awareness was sharper. The system wasn't in command—it was learning with him.
Maybe this was the first step towards being more than human.
Internally, though, he knew that the strength would be insufficient.
Not if the world that he was entering was inhabited by monsters like that ghoul, or even worse.
- Writer
