How much we take something for granted until it's gone—getting used to its presence, only to be suddenly deprived of it, and then surprise and outrage swell within us like a tidal wave, washing away rational thought and logic, leaving behind only an emotional, childish protest against an unjust world that has wronged us so deeply.

  In my case, it was air—or rather, the lack of it. I was already drifting into the void of fading consciousness, only partially aware of the struggle my body was fighting and the injuries caused by crashing against the rocks as the river's current tossed me around.

  A fight I was losing.

  And that would probably have been the end of my story if I hadn’t suddenly been thrown to the surface by that same merciless, rushing current. It was in that moment that I truly understood how much I wanted to live—clutching desperately at my last chance, that thin thread of hope, and inhaling deep, gasping breaths of air. With the last of my strength, I managed to steer toward the riverbank, dragging my wet, aching, and numbing body onto the sandy shore with slow, clumsy movements. Every step was a battle for survival, each next one an impossible peak to climb. But despite all the odds, with a titanic effort, I lay on the cool, damp sand, completely exhausted, and slipped into unconsciousness.

  I don’t know how long I remained like that.

  But I do know that when I woke up, I savored every breath. And even though my body was sore and chilled, I was happy. Happy in a way only a person who has lost a precious treasure, only to unexpectedly regain it, can be. And that thought made me smile. No matter what the future holds, this experience has taught me that I will always fight to the very end, grinning widely at a cruel fate.

  After all, that's how one should greet Lady Death—with a pure, unwavering smile of a madman and a glint of insanity in their eyes.

  So, filled with determination and hope, I decided to make an almost superhuman effort and sit up, taking in my surroundings. There would be time for standing and walking later, but I figured my muscles deserved a little more rest. I had no desire to rise, only to collapse face-first into the sand.

  And then, a sudden impulse shot through my body, freezing me in place. It was a strange, unnatural sensation, yet painless. Though I felt it throughout my entire being, it seemed to flow over me like a cool, brisk wave, altering my muscles and nerves. I remained still, waiting for something to happen. But nothing did.

  And when, after a few moments of waiting, I was sure the unexpected change had passed, I opened my status screen, convinced that this fuckery was the system’s fault.

  And I wasn’t wrong.

  Name: Eryk

  Race: Human

  Rank: Common

  Body: Lesser

  Mind: Lesser

  Soul: Lesser

  Mana Core: None

  Aura Veins: None

  Traits:

  [Instinctive Fighter]

  Skills:

  [Alerted] (Basic)

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  No.

  I refuse to believe this.

  Now?! Seriously, NOW I get a skill and trait that would have helped me survive in the wild?! Where the hell were these advantages when I desperately needed them?! For fuck’s sake!

  Calm down. I am a pillar of serenity.

  Deep breaths.

  It took me a moment to regain my composure, but in my defense, anyone would be at least a little irritated by the situation.

  Alright, let’s see what our gracious system, in its infinite wisdom, has bestowed upon me. Though, honestly, I already felt like a humble servant begging for scraps from a lord’s table, bowing and thanking his lordship for his generosity and mercy. Yes, I was convinced the system was a dick.

  A massive, arrogant dick.

  So, I wasn’t even surprised when my attempts to identify [Instinctive Fighter] were met with deafening silence. Meaning, I couldn’t expect any additional information. Wonderful. Not like that’s anything new. At least from the name alone, I could deduce that this trait was related to my fighting style—or rather, my lack of one. I’d have to find out for myself once I started combat training. Until then, I had to trust that this was a positive change. Though, for a fleeting moment, the thought crossed my mind that negative traits might exist—or even ones that masquerade as beneficial but are actually traps.

  But surely, not even the system would be such a bastard as to do that to me... right? Especially since I couldn’t refuse the skill and trait in the first place.

  A shiver ran down my spine, and I decided I was deeply grateful for the wonderful gifts of the glorious system—may it last forever in its benevolence. Yes, I was the system’s greatest admirer and would defend its good name against anyone who dared to tarnish it with slander.

  Definitely.

  Which is why I looked at my only skill with gratitude and immediately knew it was exactly what I needed. Because, of course, [Alerted] would grant me increased awareness of my surroundings and warn me of danger—something I needed now more than anything.

  Though I was a bit confused about what "Basic" meant in the description, I assumed it was the skill's rank. Or maybe not?

  Either way, it all made sense of course.

  Praise the system!

  With that settled, I returned my focus to reality.

  A quick scan of my surroundings gave me much to think about. I began to wonder if my desperate last stand—cut short by goblin cowardice and what I initially took for cruel fate—was actually a blessing in disguise. Because around me stretched a vast cavern filled with strange, multicolored luminescent mushrooms? I had never seen anything like that, so I wasn’t sure how to describe them. The riverbanks were lined with wet rocks, and in the bends where the water spread out, sandy beaches had formed. Vines bearing strange fruits and glowing flowers hung from the walls, and thick moss covered every possible surface.

  But that wasn’t the strangest thing.

  Because everything was filled with mana—so dense that it was actually hard to breathe, as if the air were both thinned and incredibly heated at the same time. And, most intriguingly, the highest concentration of mana was around the blue crystals protruding from the rock.

  Had I stumbled upon a cavern adjacent to a mana vein?

  I could hardly believe what I was seeing. This was the perfect place for my training, and any aspiring mage or enforcer would kill for even the faintest chance of discovering such a natural treasure. And best of all, I was probably alone here—no need to share this vast mana resource with anyone.

  Now, nothing stood in the way of dedicating myself entirely to training and potentially forming a mana core. Well, almost nothing. I still had to secure food and shelter, though water wouldn’t be an issue. But maybe calling it "shelter" was an overstatement—there was no rain or wind to worry about, the cavern was strangely warm, and the soft moss invited me to lay down my exhausted body and simply rest.

  Not that I had forgotten my irreplaceable backpack and beloved hunting knife. Damn, how little it takes to satisfy a man who once had nothing—and how quickly he grows attached to it. Oh well, I’d have to manage without those marvelous gifts of civilization.

  And though the cost had been high, as I looked around, I was satisfied with the trade.

  So, I smiled, knowing that, for once, fate had been kind to me.