First Position

Emerging from the murky depths of darkness, the young man, Ren Xiaosu, wiped the sweat from his brow and turned his gaze to the boy standing at the doorway, no older than thirteen or fourteen.“Liuyuan, is something the matter?” Ren Xiaosu asked. The boy, whose full name was Yan Liuyuan, looked innocent and unassuming, his features soft and harmless. Yet in his hand, he clutched a bone knife, standing guard at the door. Though deep into the night, and clearly exhausted, he had not once shut his eyes—for he was keeping watch. Liuyuan shook his head. “No. But what exactly is wrong with your head? Even the town’s doctors can’t figure it out?” “There’s nothing for you to worry about. This isn’t an illness,” Ren Xiaosu replied firmly. “Dawn is near. I’m heading out to hunt. You should sleep for a while and make it to class on time.” “Oh,” Yan Liuyuan murmured, nodding gloomily. “What’s the point of studying in this wasteland anyway…” “If I say it matters, then it does,” Ren Xiaosu replied with an unquestionable tone. “I want to come hunting too,” Liuyuan muttered, pouting. “If something happens to you, who’ll keep watch? Me, unconscious on the floor?” Ren Xiaosu rose, preparing to fetch water from the center of the settlement. By daylight, the town would be less dangerous. The nights here were lawless. … Above, a bleak sky churned with dark clouds. From the stormy heavens, a drop of acid rain tumbled down, swaying violently in the wind before striking the ground before Ren Xiaosu with a sharp splat. He lay prone in the wilderness, brow furrowed. Today’s luck was rotten—he hadn’t seen a single trace of prey, only the cursed rain. Some said one must beware of beasts when treading the wasteland. But Ren Xiaosu knew the truth was far crueler: there were many things here that could take a life—and acid rain was just one of them. Still, he didn’t move. If he returned without prey, they would starve before the sickness of the rain even took hold. Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings stirred the air. Ren Xiaosu’s eyes flew open, though his breathing remained steady and controlled. Not far ahead sat a blackened iron pot, propped up by a stick. Beneath it were scattered crumbs of stale, dark bread. A large bird alighted beside the pot, scanning its surroundings with fierce, wary eyes. It was nearly the size of the pot itself. It spent a long while grooming its feathers. Ren Xiaosu remained still, a statue of patience. At last, the bird inched cautiously toward the pot, each step tentative, like a thief creeping in the dark. As it bent its head to peck at the crumbs, Ren Xiaosu yanked the rope in his hand with sudden force and lunged. Like a wild, unchained beast, he sprang forward, slamming his body against the pot before the bird could topple it over. “Whew!” Ren Xiaosu exhaled a long breath. He had waited the entire night for this one sparrow. But the effort had not been in vain—such opportunities were rare. From beneath the pot came the thrashing sounds of the trapped bird, its wings scraping sharply against the iron. In the distance, the time-bell from the refuge fortress rang out in sonorous chimes. Ren Xiaosu glanced back, wondering when he might finally bring Yan Liuyuan into that sanctuary. To him, the people within the walls were blessed. They did not face the perils of the wasteland. But not just anyone could enter. The pot began to quiet. Ren Xiaosu sighed, ensuring the tattered cloth around his hand was tight, then carefully pried open a narrow gap beneath the pot. Reaching through, he tried to seize the bird’s leg— But life is rarely so smooth. “Agh!” he yelped, pulling his hand back. Blood welled from the crook of his thumb—clearly, the rag hadn’t shielded him from the sparrow’s sharp beak. Angered, he tore off his ragged coat, wrapped it around his hand, and thrust it back inside. This time, he caught the bird’s neck in a single, decisive grip. Without hesitation, he yanked the sparrow out, tucked it under his arm, and twisted its neck. With a dry c***k, the bird went still. Only then did Ren Xiaosu wince—the sparrow’s claws had torn several holes in his coat. Suddenly, a loud toll rang in his mind like a bronze bell. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. Darkness enveloped him. Damn—it usually happened at midnight. Why had it come early this time? This wasn’t his first episode. The entire town knew he had… issues. Periodic, inexplicable fits. But Ren Xiaosu understood—this wasn’t pain. It was pure, unrelenting chaos. Wait—this time was different. The black fog in his mind had parted… revealing a palace within. His eyes snapped open. Staggering upright, he muttered in disbelief, “Why did I wake up so quickly this time?” He’d wanted to examine the palace more closely, but there was no time. Passing out here was the same as dying. He had to return to the settlement outside Refuge Fortress No. 113—before the acid rain truly fell. Tying the sparrow’s legs together and slinging it over his shoulder, he lifted the pot and dropped it over his head like a makeshift helmet. Rain pinged against it in a relentless rhythm as he dashed off. The pot became his umbrella. But before he got far, a figure blocked his path, raising a bone knife. “Hand over the prey.” The man hadn’t even finished his sentence before a massive iron pot smashed into his face from nowhere. “s**t!” The would-be thief toppled backward, stunned by Ren Xiaosu’s swift, brutal strike. With practiced precision, Ren Xiaosu shed the pot, swung it, and donned it again—all in one seamless motion—and bolted down the road. Before the thief even hit the ground, Ren Xiaosu had vanished into the distance. Staring up at the rain-pelted sky, the thief squirmed in the mud, face stinging where the acid had begun to bite. Something didn’t make sense. Usually, there’d be at least a little conversation. How many times had that kid been through this to react so instinctively? Wait—the footsteps were returning. Panicked, the thief sat up and turned. The boy had doubled back. Ren Xiaosu hadn’t meant to return, but a voice had echoed from the palace in his mind: “Task: Offer the prey to another.” Who was speaking? He approached the thief with suspicion. “You want the sparrow?” The man’s eyes lit up. “I do!” “Take it,” Ren Xiaosu said flatly, stuffing it into the man’s arms. Then came the voice again: “Task complete. Reward: Basic Skill Acquisition Map. Allows absorption of others' abilities.” Ren Xiaosu froze. In his mind, a new parchment page had appeared—genuine, tangible. Skill Acquisition Map. Could this allow him to copy the abilities of others? Hunting? Survival? Or perhaps something else entirely? The thief clutched the sparrow tightly, moved to speak. “You’re a good—” But before he could finish, Ren Xiaosu yanked the sparrow back and strode off. The thief: “…???” He stared after the retreating figure, bewildered. What kind of person… does that?