Agony consumed him, an all-consuming pain that lanced through every fiber of his being. The fibers that held his body together were shredded. In the heart of his torment, a flickering candle stood. A fragile light, glowing with gentle warmth. Jason crawled toward it, desperate, drawn by the promise of relief just within reach.

  If he just touched that light, this nightmare would end.

  A voice rang out from the past. Stopping him short of the light.

  “Jason, I know you’re scared, but we’re not powerless,” his sister said, holding his hand at their mother’s wake.

  His sister had always been strong, a shield against the storm of his suffering.

  “I’ll always be by your side, just like I know you’ll be there for me.”

  The light pulsed, beckoning him forward. Jason hesitated. The warmth offered release, freedom, yet his sister’s words anchored him. Even in the depths of his suffering, he knew he couldn’t let go.

  Not yet.

  Jason's eyes snapped open.

  A woman knelt beside him, her face etched with relief. Mid-twenties, strikingly beautiful, with an air of quiet determination.

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re awake!” she exclaimed.

  Jason’s throat felt like sandpaper. He forced out a hoarse whisper. “Where... am I?”

  “Not too far from where that Alpha Brierhound tossed you,” she said quickly. “I saw you get launched and ran as fast as I could.”

  Jason winced, shifting his sore body. “How did you beat it? That thing was nasty.”

  She smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Oh, I didn't defeat it. I used my ability, Sacred Sanctuary, to escape. It lets me move myself and up to two others to a safe location within one hundred and fifty meters.”

  Jason blinked. “That’s incredible.”

  Maggius (Forerunner)

  Class: Spirit Warden (Epic)

  Race: Human

  Level: 3

  Grade: F

  Jason raised an eyebrow. “Maggius, huh? That’s, ah... a unique name.”

  A flush of embarrassment crept into her cheeks as she quickly averted her gaze.

  “I... I didn’t think this was real,” she admitted. “When I got a prompt asking what I wanted to be called, I just said my gamer ID. But, uh... just call me Maggy. Please.”

  Jason chuckled, despite the lingering pain. “Maggy it is, then.”

  His amusement faded as he frowned. “Wait, you got a prompt? Weren’t you greeted by an Oracle?”

  “Oracle?” Maggy shook her head. “No. One minute I was at dance practice, went to the restroom, and then... I was here. A few prompts popped up, I made a class selection, and then I got a quest to clear Triumverge Citadel. Killed some skeletons, and well... here we are.”

  Why would I be greeted by an Oracle? What's different about us?

  Jason exhaled slowly. “Well, once I heal up, I need to start hunting,” he said, looking down toward the tattoo running around on his forearm. “Could use the practice with all of this. And I definitely need to get stronger.” He grimaced, feeling a sharp pain lance through his body.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Maggy smiled, kneeling beside him. “I can help with that.”

  She placed her hands gently on his chest, and a soothing warmth spread through him. The pain eased, the bite marks closing into scabs. His breathing became lighter, easier.

  Jason sat up, blinking in surprise. He still felt sore, but the crushing pain had lifted. Looking up, he saw that the sky had deepened into a sea of stars.

  “That... that’s incredible,” he said, raising his arm.

  “Thank you. I should have used it while you were asleep.” Another flush spread across her cheeks. "But I didn't think to."

  “No worries, this is all new still. Once morning comes, I need to get out and push myself,” Jason said. “I didn’t stand a chance against that Alpha, and I plan on changing that.”

  Maggy nodded, but there was hesitation in her eyes. “Do you mind if we, ah... stick together? This place has me a little... unnerved.”

  Jason nodded. “Of course.”

  It was time to address his stats screen.

  He opened his stats screen.

  Unused Stat Points: 15

  Health: 100 / 100

  Mana: 30 / 30

  Tattoo Slots: 1 / 5

  Attributes:

  Strength: 8

  Constitution: 10

  Dexterity: 6

  Willpower: 9

  Intelligence: 5

  Jason paused as he looked over his stats screen.

  My strongest skill is Capture, but it comes at a steep cost to my health. And without any real weapon, I need to move faster, and get more hitpoints.

  With that, he put 10 points into Constitution, bringing it up to 20. He put two into Strength, bringing it to an even 10, and the remaining three into Dexterity.

  Health: 100 to 200

  His body flooded with energy. He felt... stronger.

  Jason clenched his fist, feeling the subtle difference. I’m changing.

  Maggy studied him. “You leveled up, didn’t you?”

  Jason nodded. “Yeah. I feel like I could lift a car...”

  She smiled knowingly. “Looks like you found a new addiction.”

  She was right. This was going to be very addictive.

  Jason exhaled, a grin emerging. His fight with the Alpha Brierhound had nearly killed him. Next time, he wouldn’t just survive. He’d dominate.

  He glanced back at her. “Did you start with that staff? or did you find it somewhere?”

  “Oh, no, I didn't start with this staff." Maggy said, lifting the staff up. "There are these traveling merchant guys walking around. I ran into one back that way,” she said, pointing off in the distance. “That’s where I got this staff.”

  "I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for one of them. Could use something better than a rock and a stick."

  "I don't know about that, sticks and stones can break some bones."

  If that adage were true the whispers couldn't hurt me. Jason thought.

  Maggy stretched. "Well, we probably should get some rest, we have a big day tomorrow."

  Jason nodded, then paused. He glanced toward the tattoo on his arm, the Brierhound running in circles chasing its vines.

  A strange sense of responsibility tightened in his chest. That thing had saved his life.

  "I just have one more thing I need to take care of."

  He summoned the Ink Brierhound. As Jason stared at it the Brierhound tilted its head from side to side.

  “Well, isn't he cute?” Maggy said, with a sly smile. “What's his name?”

  “Huh… I haven't given him a name. I probably should give you a name, shouldn't I?”

  The vines swayed rapidly, reminding Jason of a dog wagging its tail.

  “Um... Let’s think,” Jason said, rubbing the back of his neck. He studied the creature’s swaying form, its vines thrashing with anticipation.

  He smiled. “How about... Scraps?”

  The Brierhound let out a low bark.

  “Scraps it is then.”

  Name accepted.

  Scraps (Brierhound)

  Race: Ink-bound Rootspawn

  Level: 1

  Grade: F

  Blinking in surprise, Jason glanced back at Scraps.

  This place wants to break me, he thought. But maybe... it’s also giving me the tools to fight back.

  He let the stars hold his gaze a moment longer.

  Tomorrow, he would make his claim on this place.