Soulbound Odyssey: From Zero to Hero

The forest was alive with danger. Every shadow seemed to shift and twist, each rustle of leaves sending Ryan's heart into his throat. His sword felt heavy in his hand as he crept deeper into the woods, every step deliberate and cautious.

The interface hovered in the corner of his vision, displaying his current quest:

Quest: Survive the First DayTime Remaining: 5:57:43

Ryan let out a shaky breath. "Just make it until dawn. Easy, right?"

A low growl answered him from the darkness.

He froze. Slowly turning, he saw two glowing red eyes emerge from the shadows. Then another pair. And another. Three Shadow Wolves padded into view, their matted fur bristling and their teeth bared. Their nameplates appeared above their heads:

Shadow Wolf – Level 2 (HP: 30/30)

Ryan tightened his grip on his sword. "Three on one. Great."

The wolves began to circle, their movements fluid and predatory. Ryan adjusted his stance, his mind racing. "Alright, think. They're just NPCs. Predictable patterns. Exploitable."

The first wolf lunged, its claws swiping through the air. Ryan activated [Dodge], narrowly avoiding the strike as the skill guided his movements. He countered with [Basic Slash], his blade biting into the wolf's side.

-15 HP (Shadow Wolf: 15/30)

The wolf yelped and backed off, but its companions didn't hesitate. The second wolf charged from Ryan's left, while the third darted in from behind. He spun, narrowly evading the third wolf's bite, but the second wolf's claws raked across his arm.

-10 HP (HP: 40/50)

Ryan stumbled back, gritting his teeth. He couldn't let himself get surrounded. Keeping all three wolves in his line of sight, he retreated toward a cluster of trees. "Divide and conquer," he muttered. "Focus on one."

The injured wolf growled and lunged again, and Ryan seized the opportunity. He sidestepped, bringing his sword down in a sharp arc. The blade struck true, cleaving through the wolf's neck. It collapsed into a burst of glowing particles.

+20 EXP (EXP: 20/100)

The remaining wolves hesitated, their glowing eyes narrowing. Ryan took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands. He only had two left to deal with—but his stamina was running low.

The second wolf lunged. Ryan activated [Quick Reflexes], his body reacting instinctively as he ducked under its attack. He countered with a quick strike, the blade grazing its flank.

-10 HP (Shadow Wolf: 20/30)

But the third wolf darted in, its claws tearing into Ryan's shoulder.

-15 HP (HP: 25/50)

He stumbled forward, his breath hitching. The wolves pressed their advantage, circling closer. Desperation clawed at Ryan as he opened his inventory mid-motion, pulling out the single health potion he had looted earlier. He downed it quickly, the warm sensation spreading through his body as his health bar ticked upward.

+15 HP (HP: 40/50)

"Alright," Ryan said, squaring his shoulders. "Your turn."

The second wolf lunged again, but this time Ryan was ready. He sidestepped cleanly and brought his sword down in a decisive slash. The wolf let out a final yelp before dissolving into particles.

+20 EXP (EXP: 40/100)

The final wolf growled, its ears flattening as it bared its teeth. Ryan tightened his grip on his sword. "Come on," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Let's finish this."

The wolf charged. Ryan waited until the last moment, then activated [Dodge], slipping past its snapping jaws. He swung his sword in a wide arc, striking the wolf's exposed side.

-15 HP (Shadow Wolf: 15/30)

The creature stumbled but quickly recovered, snarling as it prepared for another attack. Ryan didn't give it the chance. He surged forward, swinging his sword in a clean, horizontal strike. The wolf's health bar emptied, and it collapsed into light.

+20 EXP (EXP: 60/100)

Panting, Ryan leaned against a tree, his legs trembling. He wasn't at a level-up threshold yet. His interface showed he needed 40 more EXP to hit Level 2.

Panting, Ryan leaned against a tree, his legs trembling. His interface chimed softly:

Ryan's interface chimed softly: EXP: 60/100. "Still a bit to go," he muttered, gripping his sword tighter and preparing for whatever the forest threw at him next.

A faint rush of energy coursed through him, his body feeling slightly stronger and more responsive. Navigating the skill menu, he allocated his new skill point to [Dodge], reducing its cooldown and improving its effectiveness.

"That's more like it," Ryan said, wiping sweat from his brow. But his relief was short-lived. The distant howls reminded him that the forest was far from safe.

He pressed on, his steps cautious as he searched for a safe place to rest. Eventually, he spotted a large hollow tree, its base wide enough to crawl into. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

Ryan settled into the hollow, keeping his sword close. The faint glow of his interface provided some light as he reviewed his inventory. A single health potion, some gold coins, and a scrap of cloth looted from the goblin earlier. It wasn't much.

As he leaned back, his interface blinked with a new notification:

Hidden Quest Discovered: The Whispering Hollow

Objective: Locate the source of the whispers.

Reward: ???

Ryan frowned, glancing around. The forest was eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves. "Whispers?" he muttered. "That's just great."

The quest marker appeared on his map, pointing deeper into the woods. Ryan's stomach churned at the thought of leaving his shelter, but curiosity—and the promise of a reward—spurred him on.

He crawled out of the hollow, gripping his sword tightly as he followed the marker. The trees grew denser, the air colder. A faint sound reached his ears, a chorus of overlapping whispers that seemed to come from all directions. The words were unintelligible, but the tone was unsettling.

The whispers grew louder as Ryan approached a small clearing. In the center stood a stone pedestal, its surface etched with glowing runes. A faint, bluish light emanated from an object resting on top: a jagged crystal, pulsing with energy.

Ryan approached cautiously, his sword at the ready. The whispers intensified, almost deafening as he reached out to touch the crystal.

The moment his fingers brushed it, the forest erupted in motion. Shadows coalesced around him, forming into humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes. His interface flashed:

Shade Construct – Level 3 (HP: 50/50)

Ryan took a deep breath, raising his sword. "Here we go again."