Primordial System Awakening

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: First Kill's Gift

I stood there in the dark tunnel, my heart hammering against my ribs. The black stone still burned in my palm like a live coal. Those floating blue words would not go away no matter how many times I blinked.

Warning. Stronger essence detected nearby. Prepare.

The growl grew louder. It shook dust from the ceiling and made my teeth rattle. The two glowing red eyes moved closer. They were set in a massive head covered with thick scales. A long snout pushed out from the shadows, dripping with sticky saliva. This was no ordinary beast. It looked like something the old stories warned children about — a ruin guardian, half lizard, half nightmare.

I took a slow step back. My legs felt different now. Stronger. The power from those three men still hummed in my blood. But facing this thing alone made my mouth go dry.

The creature roared and charged.

I barely had time to think. My body moved on its own. I jumped to the side just as its jaws snapped shut where my head had been a second ago. Stone chips flew everywhere. I rolled across the ground and came up fast. My fist flew out before I could stop it.

Primordial Strike activated.

My knuckles slammed into the side of its head. The impact made a loud crack. The beast staggered sideways and shook its head, stunned for a moment. Black blood trickled from a cut above its eye.

I stared at my hand. It did not even hurt. The System words flashed again.

You have injured a level 7 ruin guardian.

Essence leak detected. Absorb to grow.

The hunger came back, sharper this time. It pulled at me from inside, whispering that I needed to finish this. I wanted to run, but my feet stayed planted. Part of me knew the truth — if I ran now, it would chase me down and tear me apart.

The guardian recovered and swung its heavy tail. I ducked low. The tail smashed into the wall behind me and brought down more rocks. I saw my chance. I jumped onto its back and drove my elbow into the soft spot behind its head.

It screamed. The sound was so loud it hurt my ears.

I kept hitting. Each strike felt easier than the last. Warm energy started flowing into me with every blow. The blue words kept updating.

Strength +1

Agility +1

New skill progress: Primordial Strike 12%

The beast bucked wildly and threw me off. I hit the ground hard, but I got up faster than I ever could before. My ribs ached, yet the pain felt far away. The guardian turned to face me again, breathing heavy. Its red eyes looked smaller now, less sure.

I did not wait. I ran straight at it and leaped. My hands grabbed its throat. Power surged through my arms as I squeezed. The scales cut into my skin, but I did not let go. The hunger grew until it drowned out everything else.

Devour.

The word echoed in my head like a command I could not ignore.

I pressed harder. The guardian thrashed and clawed at my arms, but its strength faded fast. With one final twist, its neck broke. Hot energy rushed into my body like a river breaking its banks. It felt so good it scared me.

You have slain a level 7 ruin guardian.

Major essence absorbed.

Level up! You are now level 3.

All stats +2

New skill unlocked: Scale Armor (Passive)

Primordial System grows stronger with every life taken.

I dropped to my knees beside the dead beast. My breathing came fast and rough. The floating words danced in front of me, showing new numbers that looked much better than before.

Host: Zephyr Kaelith

Level: 3

Strength: 11

Agility: 10

Vitality: 8

I touched the black stone again. It felt cooler now, almost satisfied. But deep down I knew this was only the start. The System wanted more. It always would.

Then I heard it — footsteps. Many of them. Voices shouted from the tunnel entrance behind me.

"Over here! The guardian is dead!"

"Someone got to the inner chamber first!"

I stood up slowly. My hands were covered in blood, and the dead beast lay at my feet like a trophy. These new arrivals sounded like a full scavenging team, maybe twenty men or more. They carried torches and weapons. If they saw what I had done, they would not ask questions. They would kill me for the relic and the loot.

I looked at the dark path ahead that led deeper into the ruins. The System words appeared once more, glowing softly.

New quest available: Escape the hunters or face them.

Reward: Hidden primordial shard.

The voices grew louder. Torchlight flickered on the walls.

I had seconds to decide.

My legs tensed, ready to run, but part of me wondered how strong I could become if I stayed and fought them all.

What should I do?