### Chapter 2: A Painful Revelation

The village was bustling with activity as the weary travelers arrived. Adrian, with blood-soaked clothes and a grimace of pain on his face, was greeted by the villagers, who wasted no time in rushing him to receive medical attention. The skilled villagers carefully tended to Adrian's wounds, delicately stitching and bandaging them before administering low-grade potions to hasten his healing. Grateful for the villagers' timely aid, Adrian and his companion, Choi Han, were generously offered one of the rooms at the inn free of charge.

As night fell, Adrian wearily settled into one of the beds, hoping for a moment of respite. However, his hopes were interrupted by an unexpected occurrence. An enthusiastic voice rang out, "Hello, master. I am ready to serve you now." Startled, Adrian looked around to find a large blue screen materializing before him.

"Who's there?" Adrian asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

"I am the system created by the god of death to assist you in this world. I don't have a name yet, so you can give me one," the voice replied.

After a brief moment of consideration, Adrian decided, "I will name you Alex."

"Thank you, master," Alex responded gratefully. "If you ever want to check your funds, review your skills and abilities, or browse the shop, just call it out."

"Shop," Adrian said. Instantly, the blue screen displayed a vast array of items available for purchase, including potions, various types of swords, kits, and many other things. He carefully selected two books on swordsmanship and six body-strengthening potions. Without hesitation, he consumed all the potions and felt his body starting to perspire profusely. Then, he absorbed the knowledge from the swordsmanship books, feeling his mind being inundated with valuable information. Exhaustion quickly overwhelmed him, and he succumbed to a deep slumber.

The next morning, Adrian awoke to searing pain coursing through his body. The stiffness from his injuries coupled with the intense effects of absorbing the books and potions made it feel as if he had been enduring grueling workouts for days. Despite the unbearable discomfort, he knew that the skills and strength he had gained would be indispensable on his upcoming journey.

Noticing Adrian's distress, Choi Han approached him with concern. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Managing a weak smile, Adrian replied, "I'm in pain, but I'll manage. I just need some time to recover."

Choi Han nodded understandingly. "Rest for now. We have a long journey ahead of us. We'll need all the strength we can muster."

As Adrian reclined once more, a sense of anticipation filled him. He knew that as soon as they met Cale, the story would start, and he wouldn't be able to do much at first because of his injuries. "Dammit, what am I gonna do?" he muttered. He couldn't forget about the village either. Should he tell Choi Han, or should he keep it a secret? If he told him, the story would change, and there might be no need for Choi Han to go to the Henituse territory. Later on, when Choi Han eventually figured out about Cale being a transmigrator, he might also realize that Adrian had known about the attack all along. That would undoubtedly make him furious.

"I'll tell him," Adrian decided. He couldn't bear the thought of keeping such a crucial secret from who will be one of his strongest allies in the future.

Adrian took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination as he prepared to tell Choi Han the truth. They had only met two days ago, and he knew it was a lot to reveal so soon, but he couldn't keep these secrets any longer.

"Choi Han, there's something important I need to tell you," Adrian began, his voice wavering slightly with uncertainty. "I wasn't completely honest about why I was in the Dark Forest. I overheard a group called ARM planning an attack on the village."

Choi Han's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

Adrian sighed, feeling the weight of his deception. "I was scared. Scared that if I told you, it would change everything. But there's more. I'm not just an ordinary person. I'm a hybrid, capable of transforming into anything I want."

Choi Han listened intently, his expression unreadable as he processed Adrian's words. "So you've been keeping all of this from me?"

Adrian nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, Choi Han. I didn't know how to tell you. But now that you know, maybe we can work together to protect the village and stop ARM."

Choi Han remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then, he looked Adrian in the eye with a determined expression. "Thank you for telling me, Adrian. We may have just met, but I trust you. Let's figure this out together and make sure no harm comes to anyone."

Choi Han's eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed Adrian's injuries, his expression turning grave. "Your injuries are pretty serious," he remarked, his voice tinged with concern. "We cannot ignore the extent of your injuries or the impact they may have on our plans."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "While your physical abilities may be limited for now, we must find alternative ways for you to contribute. Your knowledge of ARM's intentions and your unique abilities are too valuable to overlook."

Choi Han met Adrian's gaze, his tone firm. "Rest and recover."

"Alright," Adrian said, and then he called out I my, "Shop," to look through the options and see what else he could find. As he browsed, he came across various mounts and started looking through lots of horses, dragons, and wolves until he stumbled upon a beautiful black wolf with green markings. Without hesitation, he decided to buy it. He also purchased a Golden Lasso to store the wolf in. The Lasso hung at his side with the wolf safely inside.

"Hey Choi Han, these injuries are starting to get really painful. If you will allow me, can I go to the Henituse territory to get some medical attention? I have a mount in this ball. It's called a Golden Lasso. It is a dimensional thing that holds and stores animals. I can get there with no problem using Raven, but I don't want to leave you on your own. Are you okay with that?"

Choi Han's expression grew serious as he considered Adrian's request. "Your well-being is important, Adrian," he said thoughtfully. "If getting proper medical attention in the Henituse territory is what you need, then you should go. Your recovery is crucial for what's ahead."

He paused, then added with a hint of resolve, "I'll manage here. We all have our roles to play, and right now, yours is to heal and return to us stronger. Go, and make sure you get the care you need."

"OK, I will. Thank you. After the fight, come to the Henituse territory and find me so we can tell the Henituse family about the attack on the village," Adrian told him.

Choi Han gave a firm nod, his expression unwavering. "OK, I will. Thank you for understanding. After the fight, come to the Henituse territory and find me. We'll need to inform the Henituse family about the attack on the village."

Choi Han's eyes softened slightly. "Take care of yourself, Adrian. Your safety is crucial, and we'll need your strength and knowledge in the days to come. I'll see you soon."

"See you later. Don't get too hurt," Adrian said, limping out of the inn. He released Raven from the Golden Lasso and carefully climbed onto him. With a final wave to Choi Han, Adrian set off toward the Henituse territory gates, determined to get the medical attention he needed.