Sora k on the cold stone floor, breathing heavily as adrenaline coursed through his veins. The remnants of the battle still echoed in his mind, but his focus shifted back to the figure emerging from the shadows—the short boy cloaked in dark fabric, standing silently before him. The air felt charged, and Sora remained instinctively wary.

  “Well, you survived,” the boy said, his voice low and smooth, almost melodiot bad, sidering where you started.”

  Sora ched his fists, gripping the jagged cw tightly. He had not fotten this boy, who had appeared mysteriously before the battle, and preteo know everything about him. “Who are you?” Sora demanded. “You cim to know about me, yet I don’t know the first thing about you. What do you want from me?”

  The barded him with an intense, uling gaze. “I am your Innate Skill. I told you, I am part of you, as much as your memories or your soul” He paused, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. “Your performance was… refreshing.”

  A soft glow interrupted them as a status panel materialized before Sora, its words catg his attention.

  [Quest plete: “Survive the Shadows” - Difficulty: E][Experience Gained][LEVEL UP! 1 ? 2]

  [LEVEL UP! 2 ? 3]

  [Dodging Skill Level: 1 ? 2][Critical Strike Skill Level: 1 ? 2]

  Sora narrowed his eyes at the boy, still wary. “You’re my Innate Skill? And you found this little trial refreshing?” He exhaled, trying to keep his posure. “What’s your real goal here? You’re puttihrough these battles—why?”

  “You were so cautious and cowardly before.” The boy stepped closer, shadows shifting around him like a living cloak. “But today, you fought bravely. You didn’t rely oation, and you took risks. That’s a start. Yet this is only the beginning. Bigger troubles await, and you must keep showing yhting spirit.” He paused, his gaze hardening. “What drives you now, Sora?”

  Sora thought of his renewed resolve but kept his ao himself, only tightening his grip on the cw. “And what are you supposed to be in this? Some kind of guide, my personal tormentor?” He scoffed, gring at the boy. “What’s your name?”

  “My name is irrelevant.” The boy dismissed his question with a wave of his hand. “What matters is your journey. You’ve been granted a rare opportunity—a ce to grow strohan most and realize your potential. But the path ahead will demand sacrifices.”

  Sora steadied his breath, his suspi growing. “Sacrifices? What kind are we talking about?”

  “Your uanding of strength is limited,” the boy tinued, ign the question. “To attain real power, you’ll o risk everything, to front your deepest fears, and to abandon any illusions you still g to.”

  “Is this a game to you?” Sora’s tone sharpened as he eyed the boy. “You show up, force me to fight, theure me about sacrifice? Why should I even listen to you?”

  The boy chuckled softly. “So, this is the new Sora? Someone who refuses to trust, determio rejeyone who gets close? Or should I call you Ralph now?”

  A flicker of uainty crossed Sora’s face. He had already lost so much—his friends, his life as he k. He couldn’t afford to let fear dictate his choices, but he o make the right ones. “If I’m going to tihis path, I o know what I’m getting into. I won’t be betrayed again, and I won’t let anyone hold me back. In this life, I won't expose my back to anyone”

  The figure stepped back. “The world is ging, and with it, hreats will emerge. Don’t think you’re invincible just because of one innate skill. What you’ve been given is only a glimmer of hope in the face of what lies ahead.”

  Sripped the cw, feeling his resolve solidify. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll succeed, no matter what.”

  “Very well,” the figure said, a slight shift in his tone aowledging the fire within Sora. “A word of advice, then. You’re wrong. You will need allies. Seek those who help you, who share your vision. Many before you have tried to rise with my power alone, only to die alone.”

  With that, the boy turned, retreating into the shadows, his fradually fading. Sora felt a mix of relief and frustration. He had hoped for answers, but it seemed he’d have to find them on his own.

  Turning his focus back to the room, Sora noticed the corpses of the falleures around him. The quest was plete, but there were still rewards to collect.

  [Looting Avaible: Touch the Bodies to Loot]He approached the body, a grotesque beast with jagged teeth and bed scales. As he reached out, a notification appeared.

  [Loot Acquired: Monster Scale (on Item)][Loot Acquired: Fiendish Fang (Unohe items flowed into his iory. He kheir value; they were low-level items, with the scale being almost worthless.

  He moved to the corpse, a smaller yet equally menag beast. Wheouched it, another notification appeared.

  [Loot Acquired: Venom Sac (Rare Item)][Loot Acquired: Shadow Shard (Unon Item)]With each touch, Sora felt a growing sense of aplishment. He was not just a survivor; he was ba his world—a world where humans had bee pyers.

  After equipping the Fiendish Fang, he tossed the remaining items into his iory and headed to the caverrance.

  “Status,” he said.

  He g his status panel, marveling at the progress he’d made since waking in this strange world. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and surprise as he absorbed the ges dispyed before him.

  [Status Update]

  Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)Status: Alive (Prestige 1)Css: None (Level 3)Title: I

  Power Level: 18Energy Level: FBody Level: FTalent Level: 2 Growth Factor : 2 (

  Skills:? Sword Mastery (Level 1)? Shield Block (Level 1)? Critical Strike (Level 2)? Dodge (Level 2)? Mana Regeion (Locked)Innate Skill:? PrestigeA swell of satisfa filled him as he he level increases. His [Dodge] skill had improved, and he remembered the moments he’d evaded the beasts’ savage attacks. Relearning the basics of bat was almost effortless now, the muscle memory returning more naturally than before.

  Refleg on his [Critical Strike] skill, he remembered the risks he’d taken during the fight. Targeting oints had been effective, and with each successful strike. It was as if he was beginning to uand bat all ain.

  His [Power Level] had nearly doubled, going from 10 to 18, marking a signifit leap in strength. This wasn't just about gaining experie was about redisc his edge.

  Emerging from the cavern, Sora’s thoughts turned darker. Rachel’s betrayal still burned in his chest, festering like an open wound that refused to heal.

  How foolish he had been.

  Sora ched his fists, anger rising as he recalled her face—the cold, emotionless gaze as she pluhe bde into him.

  And then, a darker thought emerged. 'What about my parents? Rachel knew how important they were to him. Could she have goo them after his death? Twisted the truth to suit her agenda?'

  The thought sent a chill down his spine.

  His parents were Is, not pyers. They were defenseless. Rachel could have maniputed them, toyed with their emotions, made them believe he had abahem—or worse, that his death was his own doing.

  No. He dismissed the thought. His parents were perceptive, but even if they saw through her deceit, what damage could she have done by simply beihem?

  He ched his fists, nails digging into his palms. “I swear,” he muttered, “I’ll kill her for what she’s done.”

  But he couldn’t go to them yet. Not until he was stronger. Is were safe within city walls, but he couldn’t risk fag Rachel without the power to protect them.

  “I’ll join them when I’m ready,” Sora vowed. “When I’m strong enough.”

  With a determiride, Sora pressed forward, his mi oh ahead. He wouldn’t be reckless, but he wouldn’t be a coward, either. He had to grow, and fast.