Chapter 2: The Wolf system
I sat on my bed "A bad dream…?" It really shook me But something felt… off "Wait… I took off my necklace last night" Yet—it was still around my neck I was just about to get up when— Plop A strange glowing screen appeared in front of me floating in the air I jumped back "What the hell is thisss?!" Then a message appeared at the top of the screen Hello Player 'Wolf' You're new here aren't you This is your starter guide to achieving your dream Calculating your status… Current Level 1 Equivalent Rank Sal -1 Mike stared at the screen wide-eyed "W-What?! No… please not that!" He kept reading Don't worry Your current status can change Just keep going Wolf – Level 1 EXP needed to level up 100 Then a button appeared "Daily Missions (3) – View?" Mike hesitantly tapped OK with his finger Daily Missions (3) Answer this question Is it your life's goal to become the strongest Complete today's training – Open Go to Lasa's potion shop Mike blinked "WHAT… IS THIS?!" Mike tapped the first question There were only two simple answers Yes or No He chose Yes System is adjusting… please wait Begin Awakening? "Awakening?!" Mike looked around confused "How can I decide that What even is this 'Player Wolf'… is that supposed to be me?" Still unsure he reached out and tapped Awaken Suddenly— a powerful aura exploded around him Blue… then red… then—fire It burned He screamed in pain and dropped to the ground It felt like his whole body was being torn apart From the floor barely conscious he looked up at the floating screen Awakening complete Welcome Player Wolf +20 EXP Level 1 | 80 EXP to Level Up Status None Mike gasped for air He turned to the screen again "Stats?" He tapped it Stats Health 100 Stamina 50 Strength 20 Magic 10 Wolf 0 Aura -0 "What… are these even supposed to mean?" It was all too much Mike closed the system window with a swipe and stepped outside 6 AM He started running to clear his head But the thoughts wouldn't stop "What the hell is all this Is this good… or really really bad?" And then— that one thought returned "What is 'Wolf'…? And… is that knight coming back?" If he was— then Mike had only one hour left Mike got ready He stood waiting in front of Lasa's shop Thirty minutes left He took a deep breath and said quietly "Wolf System" The interface appeared in front of him He looked at the menu Stats — available Daily — available Level — available Shop — locked Wolf — locked Aura — locked That's when he realized— this wasn't just some game He was part of something much bigger than he had imagined He checked the time 7 00 AM Then suddenly— a loud rumble shook the street The portal reopened Right there Mike froze as a cold wind swept past him "No… it's really happening again" He stared at the swirling light in the sky "Can I fight him Am I even ready for this?" The knight stepped out of the portal — but this time it was only him The wolf with the two different colored eyes was gone Suddenly the system popped up Quest Defeat the Knight — 50 EXP Starting in 3… 2… 1… The quest started automatically Mike couldn't choose anything this time The knight charged toward him again He threw his sword It must not pierce me this time Mike dodged to the side I'll throw his sword back— I have a plan He grabbed the sword It was heavy Mike felt his strength surge — plus 20 points or something He threw the knight's sword back at him The knight blocked the sword Who will block first — the knight or the sword The knight blocked That was Mike's chance He struck him Mike jumped into the air swung hard and rammed the knight into the ground Above the knight a text popped up Ordinary Shadow Knight — 10 EXP And just like that— The quest was completed 50 EXP gained Mike now had a total of 80 EXP He needed only 20 more to level up for the first time Mike stood up The knight lay motionless buried in the ground He was dead Mike had actually done it Was it thanks to the system Lasa hadn't seen anything — luckily she had run away The portal closed But then Mike noticed five Sals approaching on the road behind him He didn't know their ranks and he didn't want to know He had to get away quickly before they asked questions He started running But one Sal shouted "Stop! What happened?" Mike looked the Sal in the eyes "I don't know I was with my friend then a portal appeared and after that… I don't remember" The Sal asked "Where is your friend?" Mike pointed toward the potion shop The Sal let him go Mike acted dumb but he really understood very little Who was the man with the scar What did he want with my father Who was he at all And what was the system Mike went home He opened the system again A training plan popped up for today 20 push-ups and stare at the moon for 5 minutes Mike found the moon part strange 1 PM Mike had laid down until 1 PM When he woke up he did the 20 push-ups He wondered what would happen at level 2 He could hardly wait To pass the time he started exploring the system He looked at everything carefully Hours passed 3 PM 5 PM 6 PM He kept himself busy by watching TV training and eating At around 9 PM he looked outside There was the moon He stared at it for five minutes Then the system popped up again Daily Quest Completed — 20 EXP Level 1 completed Level 2 100 EXP to level up Two rewards appeared Claim Yes / No Claim Yes / No Mike pressed Yes on both Reward 1 20 Level Points Reward 2 A message The wolf is a powerful animal It fights in a pack Therefore here is your pack Attack learned Pack Bite Pack bite Mike wondered what kind of attack that was He looked out the window The moonlight streamed in "I don't know what the future holds" Mike said quietly Then he went to his bed and fell asleep Suddenly there was a knock at the door It was a Sal—rank A A general Had Mike's abilities been discovered No it was the Sal Military The A-rank Sal stood at Mike's door holding a letter in his hand "Welcome Mike Tyl You will be trained as a Sal over the next three years— from age 14 to 15 15 to 16 and 16 to 17 Let me explain how this works Today on your first day we will test your strength and knowledge After that you'll be assigned a room get a full tour of the facility— and finally there will be a small tournament Understood?" "Understood" Mike replied "Good Come with me" the A-rank said Mike got into the car They drove for hours Five hours later they arrived They had to take a boat to an island Mike looked around At least thirty other kids were already there One immediately caught his attention— a girl with silver hair Her eyes met his instantly The A-rank Sal raised his voice "Silence!" "You are here to be trained for the next three years—on that island" "It is hidden Ordinary humans are not allowed to set foot there" "But you… you're not ordinary You want to use your powers You've made a smart choice You're not lazy You're active That's a good start" "Now everyone on the ship You may call me Commander Zeil You'll meet the other commanders later today" Mike boarded the ship found a seat and sat down Then a boy approached him "Hey What's your name?"