Cold.
That was the first thing Ren felt.
Not the sharp kind of cold, but something heavy and suffocating, wrapping around his body like countless invisible hands dragging him down.
Water filled his ears.
His vision was dark, blurred by swirling shadows and drifting light above him. His limbs felt distant, as if they no longer belonged to him.
I'm… underwater?
Panic surged.
Ren tried to move, but his body refused to respond properly. Every attempt to struggle only burned away the little strength he had left. His chest tightened painfully as his lungs screamed for air.
Then—
A familiar, merciless blue glow appeared before his eyes.
[Emergency Survival Task Initiated]
[Condition: Remain Alive in Hostile Water Environment]
[Time Requirement: 5 Minutes]
[Failure: Death]
Ren's mind went blank.
Five minutes?!
Bubbles escaped his mouth as his heart began to race wildly. His instincts screamed at him to thrash, to fight the water, to swim upward—
But his body was exhausted.
The earlier battle had drained everything. His muscles trembled uselessly, refusing to obey.
So this is it…
Is this how I die?
Memories flashed through his mind.
The classroom.
The sudden light.
The confusion.
The fear.
Being pushed aside.
Being called useless.
Being abandoned.
Ren clenched his teeth.
No.
He had survived being beaten half to death.
He had survived wolves.
He refused to drown like this.
Forcing himself to calm down, Ren stopped struggling.
The river carried him, dragging his body along its violent current. Rocks scraped against his skin, tearing fabric and flesh alike, but he ignored the pain.
Panicking will only kill me faster.
He focused on one thing—breathing control.
Short holds.
Slow releases.
Seconds crawled by like hours.
His lungs burned. His vision darkened further, spots of light dancing at the edges. His heartbeat thundered violently in his ears.
How much time has passed…?
The system answered him coldly.
[Time Remaining: 2 Minutes 41 Seconds]
Ren nearly lost control.
I can't—
His body convulsed as water forced its way into his throat. Pain exploded through his chest, sharp and unbearable. His thoughts scattered, consciousness slipping like sand through his fingers.
He sank deeper.
The river didn't care.
His fingers brushed against something solid—a submerged branch, lodged between rocks. Acting purely on instinct, Ren grabbed it with everything he had.
His arms screamed in protest.
The current tried to rip him free.
Ren held on.
His nails tore. Blood mixed with the water. His grip weakened, but he refused to let go.
I won't die like this.
The timer ticked down mercilessly.
[Time Remaining: 1 Minute 12 Seconds]
Ren's vision faded almost completely.
His body trembled violently as his lungs finally gave out. Water flooded in, cold and crushing. His thoughts slowed, consciousness slipping further away.
So… this is death…
Just as everything began to go dark—
[Warning: Life Signs Critical]
Something snapped.
Deep within Ren's chest, a stubborn will flared to life.
No.
He pulled.
With the last fragment of strength left in his body, Ren used the branch to shift himself upward, letting the current push him instead of fighting it. His body rolled, dragged violently—
Light.
Air.
Ren burst out of the water with a violent gasp.
He coughed uncontrollably, water pouring from his mouth and nose as he was thrown onto a muddy riverbank. His body convulsed again and again, lungs burning as he sucked in air greedily.
He didn't stop coughing.
Didn't stop shaking.
Didn't stop gasping.
Only after several long seconds did he realize—
He was alive.
The system message appeared once more.
[Emergency Survival Task Completed]
[Condition Fulfilled: Survived Hostile Water Environment]
[Points Gained: +15]
Ren lay flat on his back, staring at the gray sky above the towering trees.
"…I survived," he whispered hoarsely.
Rain began to fall lightly, mixing with the river water still clinging to his skin. His entire body felt heavy, broken, barely holding together.
But he was breathing.
Alive.
Another panel appeared.
[Points Available: 15]
[System Shop: Accessible]
Ren forced himself to sit up.
The forest around him was unfamiliar—thick, ancient trees, tangled roots, and wild undergrowth stretching endlessly in every direction. No roads. No buildings. No signs of his classmates.
He was alone.
Again.
Ren laughed weakly.
"So this is how it works…," he muttered. "You throw me into hell and reward me only if I crawl back out."
The system didn't respond.
Instead, a translucent shop interface unfolded before his eyes.
[Beginner Exchange List]
Basic Recovery Potion – 5 Points
Body Refinement Pill – 7 Points
Explosive Power Elixir – 13 Points
Ren stared at the options.
Each one represented survival… at a cost.
He clenched his fists.
He didn't know how long he would last in this forest in his current condition. If another monster appeared, he would die instantly.
"…Basic Recovery Potion," he said quietly.
The points vanished.
[Basic Recovery Potion Acquired]
[Effect Activated]
Warmth spread slowly through his body.
The pain dulled. His breathing stabilized. The dizziness faded just enough for him to think clearly again.
It wasn't a miracle.
But it was enough.
Ren pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly before steadying himself. His clothes were torn, his body bruised and bloodied, but his eyes were clear.
Sharp.
Focused.
He picked up a broken branch nearby, gripping it tightly.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Ren's instincts screamed at him.
Whatever this world was—
Whatever game he had been dragged into—
It wasn't finished testing him yet.
And somewhere in the shadows, something was watching.