'Hmm... A status window. This is pretty fascinating. It's way better looking than anything I saw in those anime marathons back home. The interface feels so real, like it's part of me now. I can almost feel it pulsing in my mind.'
'The owner of this body shares my first name, Ashan. That's a weird coincidence, or maybe not.. He's a D-rank mage, which is low-tier. His strength, stamina, and other stats are pretty average for this world's standards. In other words, weak. No wonder he ended up in this mess. But that Ultimate Battle sense ability? It's a total jackpot. From the memories flooding my brain, I know it's incredibly rare here, something only legends talk about. It lets you predict moves, sense everything around you like a sixth sense. How did the previous Ashan die with this power? Probably never even knew he had it. Maybe he was ambushed or something. The info shows he was a mage who relied on spells, not raw instinct. Poor guy.'
Ashan shifted his gaze to the health window, wincing as a fresh wave of pain from his stomach reminded him of his battered state.
'Ugh... If this window is telling the truth, my body's a complete wreck. Light and deep wounds all over—stomach, hands, neck, legs. Heavy damages too: skull cracked, internal injuries in the stomach area. Blood loss at 10%, and my mana core is only at 20% capacity. Forget about fighting that beast out there, I can barely stand without feeling like I'm going to keel over. My mental state is listed as shocked and confused, which is an understatement. Hormone levels are average, whatever that means. I need to heal somehow, but with no mana left, that's a pipe dream.'
He eyed the status window again, curiosity overriding the throbbing in his head.
"Hey, system, what are these system points?"
[They are the points that the system will reward you as rewards for your deeds and achievements. Using those, you can buy things from the system store that will appear after you complete your first mission.]
"Achievements and deeds? What did I even do to gain my current points? I mean, I just died and woke up here."
[It was your sacrifice. Your noble deed was the reason why you earned them.]
"Is that so? But isn't this too little? Is my life that cheap? A thousand points for dying to save my friend?"
[Please don't misunderstand. It might look like a small number, but it is worth a lot. In this world, points like these can buy rare items, skills, or even boosts that could turn the tide in battles.]
Hoo…
Ashan stared at the beast, still frozen in time, its massive form a looming threat. Its red fur glistened under the light, and those yellow eyes, even paused, sent chills down his spine.
'I must think of something to survive in this situation. That's a D-rank hellhound, right from the memories. My current self can't overcome that thing with strength alone. It's fast, fiery, and deadly. If it has a weakness… Yes, that's it. Hellhounds are vulnerable to light-based attacks or mana disruptions. Their eyes are sensitive, and their mana core is exposed if you get close. I need to exploit that.'
[Dear host, do you have any other questions?]
Ashan was about to nod but suddenly stopped, a pang of worry hitting him harder than the physical pain.
"I have one last question. If it's possible to give an answer, please answer my question."
[What is it?]
"Kilsoo, I mean my comrade. Is he alive? Back home, I pushed him to safety before I fell. Did he make it?"
[...Yes. Fortunately, he survived. He was rescued and is recovering.]
Ashan gave a smile that was filled with happiness and a deep, lingering sadness. Relief washed over him, easing some of the tension in his chest.
'Kilsoo was like a brother. Always teasing, always there. Knowing he's okay gives me strength. But it also reminds me of what I left behind. The fire station, the city, all gone in an instant. Now, this new world.'
He looked at the system window.
"I'm done here. Thank you very much."
As soon as he spoke, the system window started to disappear, fading like mist in the morning sun.
[After this window disappears, you will get thirty seconds before time starts to flow again. So prepare yourself.]
[Good luck.]
.....
The window vanished completely. A small screen appeared in front of Ashan, displaying a thirty-second countdown. His heart raced, each tick amplifying the pressure. The cavern felt smaller, the air thicker. He could almost hear his own pulse echoing off the walls.
Then another screen materialized.
—--------------------------------------------------------------
..First Mission - Kill the hellhound..
Kill the hellhound by using any means. Rewards will be decided according to your performance.
Time duration - None
Rewards - ???
—---------------------------------------------------------------
Ashan gritted his teeth, forcing his body to move despite the searing pain radiating through him.
'There is no time to think about the pain. I have to execute my plan immediately.'
His gaze dropped to the long stick beneath his feet—a magic wand, once wielded by the previous owner. Ashan snatched it up, prying off the shiny white crystal embedded at its tip. He gripped the crystal in one hand and the wand's sharpest fragment in the other.
Closing his eyes, he activated his skill.
[Ultimate Battle sense - A]
Duration: 5 minutes
As he reopened his eyes, the entire battlefield came into sharp focus. He sensed every mana stone, every shift in the air, every potential threat. The hellhound, poised to leap, was laid bare—every muscle twitch, every possible trajectory calculated in his mind.
'Yes, I feel it. I can kill it. If I infuse mana into this crystal and explode it, blinding the beast, then stab its belly with this shard to destroy its core.'
'But for everything, I get only one shot. Let's put faith in my own judgment.'
He channeled mana into both the crystal and the wand shard.
30s...
25...
10...
0...
Roarrr... The hellhound lunged as time resumed.
Ashan stood firm, hurling the crystal with precision. "Take it, you bastard!"
He shielded his eyes. Boom... The crystal detonated in a blinding flash, searing the hound's vision and causing it to miss its mark, crashing elsewhere.
'This is my chance!'
Ashan charged, driving the shard into the hound's belly. It pierced the mana core, shattering it.
Roarrr...
The beast howled in agony, but in its death throes, it raked Ashan with its claws, carving a deep gash into his right arm.
Aaahhh...
Ashan staggered back, blood pouring from the wound. He collapsed, rolling in pain.
'Damn fucker, in the end, you managed to strike back. Those reflexes are terrifying. I'm out of mana, so I can't even use my healing spells. What should I do?'
A system screen materialized before him.
—------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations...
You managed to kill the hellhound in the most efficient way and fulfilled your first mission.
Rewards decided.
Would you like to accept?
Yes / No
—-------------------------------------------------------------