The Rising Underdog
702 Words
The square was still hushed. No one could quite grasp what they had witnessed. The Forsaken—the boy who was supposed to have no core, no future—had floored Kael, the chief’s pride.
Ethan stood at the center, shoulders rising and falling with each breath. His knuckles were raw, but his spirit blazed brighter than ever.
[Skill Integrated: Beginner’s Combat Technique. Efficiency of strikes increased by 20%.]
The panel’s glow lingered in his vision before fading. He clenched his fists, marveling at how natural his movements felt. Every step, every breath carried a new rhythm, a new power.
“Impossible…” one villager muttered.
“He cheated, didn’t he?” another whispered.
“No one without a Spirit Core could—”
“ENOUGH!”
Kael’s furious roar silenced them all. Blood still trickled from his split lip, his pride shattered more than his body. His crimson flames sputtered weakly, but his voice carried venom.
“He’s nothing but Forsaken filth! This was a trick! Do not be deceived!”
Yet even as he shouted, doubt flickered in the villagers’ eyes. They had seen the blow. They had seen Kael fall.
The elder cleared his throat, his face pale. “The Awakening has concluded. Return to your homes.” His tone carried a tremor. It was clear he too struggled to process what had happened.
Slowly, the crowd dispersed, whispers trailing in the air like shadows. Some still sneered at Ethan. Others, however, cast uncertain glances, as though afraid to speak their thoughts aloud.
Ethan turned away, ignoring Kael’s seething glare. The system pulsed softly in his mind.
[Quest: Survive the Day – Completed.]
[Reward: Inventory Unlocked.]
A small icon appeared before him, glowing faintly. With a thought, Ethan opened it.
[Inventory: Empty. Capacity: 10 slots.]
His heart raced. He could now store items—food, weapons, treasures—things that could change his survival forever.
But the system wasn’t finished.
[Main Quest Unlocked: Rise Above Rivermoor.]
[Objective: Achieve power beyond the village level. Establish yourself as a cultivator of rank.]
[Reward: Skill – Spirit Sense Expansion.]
Ethan’s breath caught. Beyond the village? Beyond Rivermoor? He had never dared dream of leaving. But now, the system had set his path.
“Beyond…” he whispered. His fists clenched tighter. “Then beyond I will go.”
That night, under the pale moonlight, Ethan sat alone by the riverbank. The voices of the villagers still echoed faintly in his mind.
Forsaken. Worthless. Nothing.
He let the words wash over him, then exhaled slowly. They no longer pierced him. Instead, they fueled the fire in his chest.
The system’s panel flickered again.
[Daily Training Routine Available.]
[Push-ups: 0/50 | Running: 0/2 miles | Meditation: 0/30 minutes.]
[Completion Reward: Random Stat +1.]
Ethan grinned faintly. Even the smallest efforts would not be wasted. He dropped to the ground and began pushing his body until sweat streamed down his back, his arms trembling with strain.
By the time he collapsed, gasping, the panel chimed.
[Task Completed. Reward: Agility +1.]
Warmth spread through his limbs again. He could feel himself sharpening, piece by piece.
But while Ethan trained, shadows stirred elsewhere.
Kael sat in his chamber, fists clenched so tightly his nails drew blood. His humiliation replayed over and over—the gasp of the crowd, Ethan’s fist crashing into his jaw, the whispers of doubt.
“No…” Kael growled. “I won’t let this stand.”
His father, the village chief, stood nearby, eyes cold. “Forsaken or not, the boy embarrassed you. Our family’s reputation cannot afford such shame.”
“What should I do, father?”
The chief’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “What we always do with mistakes. Erase them.”
Back by the river, Ethan opened his eyes, chest heaving from meditation. His reflection in the water was no longer that of a broken, beaten boy. His gaze burned with purpose.
He whispered into the night, “I will rise… and no one will ever call me Forsaken again.”
Above him, the stars shimmered, as though the heavens themselves bore witness to his vow.
And far away, the path to power awaited.
End of Chapter 3
- Writer
