Chapter 1: The Awakening

Chapter 1: The Awakening

Eric slowly opened his eyes, a soft ding resonating in his mind. Blinking away the fog, he found himself staring at a floating system panel, translucent and shimmering with faint light.

"What's this?" Eric muttered, bewildered by the sight.

[Integrating the Heavenly Successor System 3...2...]

[Successfully Integrated the Heavenly Successor System!]

[Choose a Faction...]

[1. Holy - Gains 10% Resistance to Dark Magic, Gains Affinity to Holy Magic, -100% Reputation to the Darkness Faction]

[2. Darkness - Gains 10% Resistance to Holy Magic, Gains Affinity to Dark Magic, -100% Reputation to the Holy Faction]

[3. Neutral - Gains 5% Resistance to all Magic, Gains Affinity to 1 Chosen Basic Element (Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water), -10% Reputation to the Holy and Darkness Faction]

Although Eric didn't know what was happening, his gaming instinct kicked in. Years of navigating complex game mechanics had taught him to analyze and choose quickly.

"Hmm... I choose the third option," Eric said, confident in his decision. "5% resistance to all magic is better than 10% resistance to a single element."

[Ding*]

[The Host Picked the 3rd Option...]

[You Can Pick 1 Basic Element (Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water)]

Eric didn't hesitate. "Lightning," he said, thinking back to his favorite element in games.

[Ding*]

[Are you sure you want to pick the Lightning Element as your affinity?]

"Yes."

[Ding*]

[Randomly Choosing a Race in the World of Eldoria for the Host...]

[Dire Wolf - Common Monster]

"I don't get to pick my race? That's stupid," Eric grumbled, feeling a mix of frustration and curiosity. A new status panel appeared before him, displaying his new attributes.

-----STATUS-----

[Race: Dire Wolf] [Common]

[Level: 1/20] [Exp: 0/100]

[HP: 100%] [MP: 10/10]

[Strength: 10] [Defense: 8]

[Agility: 10] [Intelligence: 5]

[Racial Skills:

1. Pack Coordination: Works well with other dire wolves to hunt prey efficiently.

2. Heightened Senses: Enhanced smell and hearing for tracking.]

"Although it's a bit weak, there's still room for improvement," Eric muttered, trying to stay positive despite his unexpected transformation.

[Ding!]

[Choose 1 Unique Skill...]

[1. Devour - The ability to plunder Skills from others by eating them.]

(Requirement: You need to have Higher Mana than the Target or The Target must be incapacitated, severely weakened, or willing to be devoured)

[2. Ultraspeed Regeneration - Grants rapid healing and regeneration capabilities]

(Requirement: It needs Mana to work)

[3. All Seeing Eye - Grants the user omniscient perception, allowing them to see through illusions, detect hidden objects and entities, and gain comprehensive knowledge of their surroundings.]

Eric pondered his choices for a few minutes. Each skill had its merits, but ultimately, he chose Devour, seeing its potential for growth and versatility.

[Ding!]

[Finalizing the Host Status Board...]

[Ding!]

-----STATUS-----

[Name: None]

[Title: None]

[Job Class: None]

[Race: Dire Wolf] [Common]

[Level: 1/20] [Exp: 0/100]

[HP: 100%] [MP: 10/10]

[Strength: 10] [Defense: 7]

[Agility: 10] [Intelligence: 5]

[Vitality: 8]

[Element Affinity: Lightning]

-----SKILLS-----

[Racial Skills: Pack Coordination, Heightened Senses]

[Unique Skill: Devour]

-----END-----

[Ding!]

[Sending the Host to the World of Eldoria in 10...9...3...2...1]

Eric's vision blurred as he felt a strange sensation, like being pulled through a tunnel. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself surrounded by towering trees, the sounds of a forest filling his ears.

He glanced around, trying to make sense of his new surroundings. "So this is Eldoria," he said to himself, taking a deep breath. The air was fresh, and the environment felt vibrant and alive.

As a dire wolf, his senses were sharper. He could smell the damp earth and hear the rustling of leaves far more acutely than before. "Alright, time to figure out what to do next," Eric thought, his gaming instincts kicking in.

Instinctively, he opened his status panel again, familiarizing himself with his new form and abilities. He noticed that his intelligence was lower than he'd like, but his agility and strength were decent starting points.

Suddenly, Eric's ears perked up at the faint rustling nearby. His heart quickened as he crouched low, his body instinctively attuning to the sounds and scents of the forest. Moving cautiously, he crept through the underbrush, his heightened senses guiding him like an invisible thread. As he approached, the scent of fresh grass and the sound of soft nibbling grew stronger.

Peering through the foliage, he spotted a small group of rabbits, their noses twitching as they munched on the tender shoots. His stomach growled, a sharp reminder of the gnawing hunger he had been ignoring since... well, before all this had happened.

Relying on his natural hunting instincts and memories of gaming strategies, Eric positioned himself for an ambush. Every muscle tensed, his eyes locked onto his target. With a swift, powerful leap, he pounced, his body a blur of motion. He landed with precision, capturing one of the rabbits in his jaws. It struggled briefly, a flurry of fur and panic, before going still.

"Guess this is my first meal," Eric thought, a strange mix of satisfaction and reluctance washing over him. The taste of fresh blood was unfamiliar, yet strangely invigorating. As he devoured the rabbit, savoring the warmth and sustenance it provided, a familiar sound interrupted his thoughts.

[Ding!]

[Experience gained: 5 EXP]

"Well, it's not much, but it's a start," he muttered, cleaning his muzzle with a paw. He glanced around the forest, the vast expanse of towering trees and dappled sunlight making him acutely aware of the world he had been thrust into. The realization hit him, he would need to adapt quickly, relying on both his instincts and newfound abilities if he wanted to survive and thrive here.

Eric stood up, a renewed sense of determination igniting within him. The forest around him felt alive, brimming with hidden dangers and undiscovered secrets. "Time to level up and figure out what this world has in store for me," he said aloud, his voice a quiet declaration of resolve. With a deep breath, he set off deeper into the forest, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.