The sensation of falling was disorienting; weightless, yet rushing forward at an impossible speed. Colors swirled around him, blending into a vortex of radiant light, before finally dimming to reveal a dark expanse.

  [Vessel Integration Commencing…]

  A familiar voice, the System, echoed in his mind as a translucent interface appeared before him.

  [Selected Form: White Tiger Cub]

  [Please Select a Name]

  A name? His thoughts were still scattered, his memories fragmented from the transition. Yet something deep within him pushed forward, a desire to embody strength, resilience, and survival.

  "Titan," he said firmly.

  [Name Accepted: Titan]

  A flicker of pride surged through him as the System continued.

  [Would you like to view your status?]

  Titan hesitated, but curiosity won. "Yes. Show me my stats."

  The translucent screen rematerialized in his mind, dispying detailed information.

  [Status Dispying…]

  [Initializing Base Attributes…]

  Level 1:

  HP: 10/10

  Strength: 7

  Defense: 3

  Agility: 7

  Charisma: 6

  Wisdom: 5

  Intelligence: 4

  Perception: 6

  Tenacity: 5

  Endurance: 3

  Vitality: 5

  He frowned, taking in the details. While some were obvious, others left him uncertain. "System, can you expin what each stat does."

  The System obliged.

  -Strength governs raw physical power, allows for greater feats of raw force, and determines how much weight can be carried or moved.

  -Defense governs durability and natural armor, mitigating physical damage

  -Agility governs speed, reflexes, and bance

  -Charisma governs social interactions and charm-based abilities

  -Wisdom governs instinctual decision-making, casting speed and cooldowns

  - Intelligence governs mana capacity and number of known spells; currently at 0

  -Perception governs awareness and insight

  -Tenacity governs resistance to magic damage, pain, and status effects

  -Endurance governs stamina pool, exhaustion, and resistance to status effect's duration

  -Vitality governs your health, resistance to disease, and how quickly you recover from an injury

  Titan absorbed the information, his mind adjusting to his new reality. He wasn’t just alive, he was a new being in an unknown world. If he wanted to survive, he'd need to make the most of these stats and each one looked necessary to have. He remembered he started off with two abilities as well.

  "System, can you show me my abilities?"

  [Innate Abilities]

  Keen Senses: Heightened night vision, exceptional smell, and acute hearing.

  Predatory Roar: A Charisma-based ability that induces fear in enemies. Reduced effectiveness on higher-ranked creatures and humanoids.

  Identify: gives you basic information about something

  The moment he felt his body collide with the soft ground, new sensations crashed into him. His fur bristled as the humid air wrapped around him, his padded paws sinking into damp, moss-covered ground. His limbs felt foreign—short, powerful, yet unrefined. He tried to move, and his instincts kicked in, granting him a natural grace, though his inexperience made him clumsy.

  He lifted his head, ears flicking involuntarily at the chorus of strange sounds around him. The world of Myrastia was nothing like Earth. The trees towered into the sky, their bark a shimmering bck that reflected dim pulses of bioluminescent light. Vines thick as ship ropes coiled around the trunks, some writhing as if they were alive. Giant, petal-like leaves fanned out high above, dripping a glowing amber liquid that smelled both sweet and acrid. The air buzzed with unseen insects, their wings vibrating at frequencies that made his new ears twitch in discomfort.

  He inhaled deeply, overwhelmed by the complexity of scents flooding his brain. The damp earth carried the musk of unseen creatures, some nearby, others distant yet oppressive. His nose wrinkled at the thick, coppery tang of blood—something had died recently. His muscles tensed, his instincts screaming caution.

  [Emergency Mission: Presence of hostile entity detected, Escape! Reward: 1 stat point, 1 attack skill]

  A deep, resonant chuff echoed through the underbrush. His fur bristled, and his head snapped toward the sound. His perception allowed him to pick out a shadow lurking in the tangled foliage. A hulking quadrupedal beast, its glowing red eyes locking onto him. It was covered in dark, bark-like pting, blending into the jungle with terrifying efficiency. He quickly used the innate system ability.

  [Identify]

  [Barkhide Stalker (D+): level 10]

  A creature well above his current level, his instincts screamed at him. Run.

  Even though his agility governed his speed and was one of his highest stats, he was only level 1. His cub-like legs weren’t at their full potential yet, they carried him with surprising swiftness. The jungle became a blur of bckened trunks and pulsing flora as he weaved through the dense foliage, his smaller size allowing him to slip through gaps the rger predator couldn’t follow as easily. However, the big bulk of the creature created its own path.

  A sudden crack of branches behind him sent a jolt of panic through his body. The Barkhide Stalker was gaining. His endurance was waning, it was tied for his lowest stat. His fear spiking as his legs burned, panting heavily trying to replenish his body with enough oxygen to make it just a bit further. He needed an escape—fast.

  His keen senses caught the distant sound of rushing water. A river. If he could reach it, he might be able to lose his pursuer. Pushing his small frame harder, he sprinted toward the sound, his stamina draining rapidly. He swiftly dodged to the side narrowly avoiding the stalkers trample. The stalker was not incredibly agile and has trouble changing directions quickly, it ran right past him.

  The dodge gave him the time he needed, bursting through the underbrush, he spotted the river; a wide, fast-moving current. Without thinking, he leapt. His underdeveloped muscles barely carried him over the edge before he hit the water, the freezing rush stealing his breath. The current grabbed him instantly, dragging him downstream.

  A furious growl sounded from the shore, but the Barkhide Stalker hesitated, it wasn’t built a strong swimmer.

  As he drifted away, he allowed himself a moment of relief. He had survived his first encounter in Myrastia, but only just.

  [Mission Complete!][Awarded +1 stat point, Attack Skill: Rake]

  As he drifted away, he allowed himself a moment of relief. He had survived his first encounter in Myrastia—but only just.

  [Mission Complete!] [Awarded +1 Stat Point, Attack Skill: Rake]

  A notification appeared in his mind, bringing a small sense of satisfaction. Rake: a sshing attack using cws that inflicted bleed damage over time.

  [Stat Point Assigned: +1 Endurance]

  He felt a faint surge of stamina, his body adjusting slightly to the boost. He had won this round, but Myrastia was far from forgiving. Survival was only the beginning.

  _____________________________________________________________________________________

  Level 1:

  Strength: 7Defense: 3 Agility: 7Charisma: 6Wisdom: 5Intelligence: 4Perception: 6Tenacity: 5 Endurance: 4Vitality: 5