The last thing Captain Mark Vance remembered was the sound of the explosion.99Please respect copyright.PENANAiEUlU3tc7d
A rescue operation in the mountains had gone wrong. His Special Forces team was close to securing the zone when a suicide bomber showed up and blew himself up along with his unit. Mark barely had a moment to react.99Please respect copyright.PENANAS6TraKDlRR
He pushed forward, knowing that if he stopped, the bomber would take everyone down with him.99Please respect copyright.PENANACZ8MlpnItB
The explosion consumed Mark before he could process what just happened.99Please respect copyright.PENANAa1sMjSrcAC
He was weightless.99Please respect copyright.PENANAXXm8q5ZGj9
There was no pain, no sensation that told him Mark was still alive. Only an all-consuming darkness. And then,99Please respect copyright.PENANAdmr9vtlS39
voices began to whisper. A soft, lulling sound filled his mind.
Initializing Soul Transfer...99Please respect copyright.PENANA5veZETwlSq
Origin: Earth99Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2DwvaG6lm
Soul Classification: Human99Please respect copyright.PENANAgM26BIJGQi
Dominant Traits Detected: Courage, Discipline,99Please respect copyright.PENANAVAmf6f3HKL
Self-Sacrifice...99Please respect copyright.PENANAIX3hwBOi8i
Destination: Aethelgard.
The words faded away as Mark felt himself being crushed, as if his soul was sucked into a infinitely small point and then, unceremoniously, spat out somewhere else. With a jolt, he found himself gasping for air.99Please respect copyright.PENANASIE6U2rAZE
Cold air.99Please respect copyright.PENANAFOD2514Dsp
Mark opened his eyes to the rough surface of the cavern roof. Gone was the dry and frigid desert that typically came with the area. Instead, sticky dampness clung to his skin. The air smelled of wet earth and metal, the combination not unlike the scent of blood.99Please respect copyright.PENANAWVtXcT7kJt
Mark pushed himself up, groaning as his spine protested. He took a deep breath, his fingers brushing the damp stone floor. Looking around, Mark took in his surroundings. Massive cracks split the ceiling, letting in a sickly green light from outside. Pale blue spots of some mineral speckled the walls and ceiling, creating enough light to see the enormous underground chamber.99Please respect copyright.PENANAB6u3cE7DOC
Mark instinctively took stock of his surroundings as his military training screamed for him to do. No friendlies. No obvious escape routes.99Please respect copyright.PENANAvfvW8moxZp
He was in an unknown location with unknown dangers. Still, he had survived something similar before.99Please respect copyright.PENANAh37t5d0Z2x
"Assessment," he muttered. A translucent blue circle appeared before him with glowing letters that said
Character Profile.99Please respect copyright.PENANAwxlPT8pDsK
Name:99Please respect copyright.PENANAzPd9LVO0hA
Mark Vance99Please respect copyright.PENANAu8cwZP5zum
Class:99Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ93QOrNPO
Unassigned99Please respect copyright.PENANA3oweHGZHH0
Title:99Please respect copyright.PENANA3uyBSm3Okk
The Fallen Guardian99Please respect copyright.PENANAmnrEXHYrWz
Level:99Please respect copyright.PENANAtuPTB4Xfyb
199Please respect copyright.PENANAvTdlvYnFsj
Attributes99Please respect copyright.PENANAzw6cRhX8kV
Strength: 1499Please respect copyright.PENANAA3PATAlc1W
Agility: 1299Please respect copyright.PENANAM3lmPMGjXm
Vitality: 1599Please respect copyright.PENANAAfyTghSEmm
Intelligence: 1099Please respect copyright.PENANAxxPwXr6g2j
Wisdom: 1399Please respect copyright.PENANARPwPEekJ9Z
Willpower: 1899Please respect copyright.PENANAR9l4lxR0qk
Available Attribute Points: 099Please respect copyright.PENANAHwCMMKI95K
Abilities99Please respect copyright.PENANAYOiWv83lJY
Danger Sense: Passive ability that allows the user to sense incoming attacks.99Please respect copyright.PENANA1effVwbo0i
Iron Resolve: Passive ability that grants massive resistance to fear effects.99Please respect copyright.PENANAj8X4uLfIvF
Active Skills: N/A99Please respect copyright.PENANAyRNVIz3Qgl
Reward Available99Please respect copyright.PENANAcyDU2LWYLj
Your valiant sacrifice has earned you a99Please respect copyright.PENANAjHQojOQCbe
Beginner's Supply Cache!99Please respect copyright.PENANAoLzSIOoElW
Open reward?
99Please respect copyright.PENANAgfiIw10nfe
Mark stared at the floating words. He had heard tales from his young soldiers about these so-called 'games'. He never thought he would see something so ridiculous in real life. With a grunt, he waved his hand over the words.99Please respect copyright.PENANApWqZzMEf7E
Open.99Please respect copyright.PENANAZIlwwK8d3m
The blue circle blinked once before vanishing. In its place, three silhouettes appeared on the cavern floor, made of thin streaks of blue light.
Rewards Claimed99Please respect copyright.PENANAqnwONjs0vw
Iron Longsword (Common)99Please respect copyright.PENANAynynLFd4hj
Leather Jerkin (Common)99Please respect copyright.PENANAkQiWE2ZZ19
Minor Healing Potion x1
Mark took the leather vest and pulled it on over his shirt. Hefting the longsword in his hands, he tested the weight. Good. Not as good as his old rifles, but steel was steel. Taking a deep breath, he stared at the three items in his hands.99Please respect copyright.PENANAYn4tyPaIwq
"Unknown location. Limited supplies. No friends around. Survival is the objective," he said grimly. He took a step forward, keeping low to the ground. Dripping water echoed from somewhere deeper in the cavern. The sound of swiping, slow movements came next. Mark stopped dead.99Please respect copyright.PENANAdVtCxAZys9
His muscles tensed up as he silently cursed. Something was out there.99Please respect copyright.PENANA9pdNQrGOnV
It was the size of a wolf, but moved more like a snake. Its body was covered in black scales that took the place of fur and rows of thin teeth barred from its maw.
Cavern Stalker99Please respect copyright.PENANAsifKg4Iq2u
Level 2.
The creature sniffed the air, locking onto Mark's scent. Its body tensed up, and with a lunge, it was upon him. Mark barely rolled to the side in time, avoiding the creature's snapping jaws. With a powerful swing, he brought his longsword across the creature's side. A jet of black blood spattered onto the ground as the beast howled in pain.99Please respect copyright.PENANAY3yhnKukoD
It was up and at him again, but instead of rolling away, Mark met it head-on. He caught the creature with his reinforced armor on its side, feeling its fangs graze against his skin. In one smooth motion, he drove his blade up and under the creature's ribs. With a gurgling screech, the creature's body went limp. Magic tingled in his veins as he watched the beast's body twitched before lying still.
Enemy Defeated99Please respect copyright.PENANADmJY8Lu3ZI
Experience Gained: +45
99Please respect copyright.PENANApG00GyF764
Mark was surprised to find that his arm was bleeding. He withdrew a minor healing potion from his inventory and tossed the vial into his mouth, watching in amazement as the wound healed itself. Magic. He grinned for the first time since waking up.99Please respect copyright.PENANAkzvAQdm4fS
At least, it was magic. Whatever this place was, it followed different rules. People here grew stronger. Their skills improved. Experience mattered. And for those willing to fight and survive, there would be more of it.99Please respect copyright.PENANAnCHlhNII5j
Mark took another look at the longsword in his hands before stepping deeper into the cavern, heading toward the unknown dangers that lay in wait.


