Travis awoke to the harsh scent of earth and the distant sounds of rustling leaves. The forest around him was dense and foreign, its towering trees casting an eerie stillness over the landscape. His body ached, and his head throbbed as if the weight of his memories had somehow become tangible. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through the canopy, confusion washed over him. He scanned his surroundings, the forest an endless maze of shadows and towering trunks. Why was he here? How had he ended up in this strange place?


    But then, the memories came crashing back—flashes of betrayal, of his classmates'' cruel laughter, their mocking words, the way they had torn him down, broken him. The pain surged through him like a raging fire, and with it, an inferno of anger. His fists clenched, and his breath hitched as fury overwhelmed him. Revenge. That was the only thing that mattered now.


    His heart pounded with a burning desire for retribution. He would make them pay for every moment of suffering, every ounce of humiliation. No one would escape the wrath that had been kindled inside him. No mercy. No forgiveness. He swore it to himself as he gritted his teeth, his blood boiling with the need to hunt down each of them and make them regret crossing him.


    With determination, Travis pushed himself to his feet, the forest floor feeling unstable beneath him. He steadied himself, his mind set on the vengeance that awaited. The world around him might have changed, but his purpose was clear. His strength was his only ally now.


    Reaching into his thoughts, he tapped into the energy he had learned to harness. His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the weight of the decision ahead. He called forth his stats—his power, his abilities, his potential. A glowing screen materialized in his mind’s eye, displaying his current status.


    『 Name: Travis Blackthorn


    Age: 17


    Level:


    Stats:


    Strength: 3/10


    Speed: 2/10


    Flexibility: 5/10


    Mana: 5/10


    Stamina: 2/10


    Luck: 1/10 』


    The cold reality of his new situation hit Travis like a punch to the gut. "I no longer have any ability," he thought bitterly, his chest tightening with frustration.


    "That kind of sucks, but that doesn''t matter now. I''ll just have to grow stronger. Until I can fucken get revenge on those fuckers. And I mean all of them." The fire inside him burned hot as ever, fueling the drive to rise above his current weakness.


    He wasn’t the same boy who had once been discarded by his peers—too soft, too unremarkable. He was someone new now, someone dangerous. His eyes narrowed as the raw potential within him surged, just waiting to be unleashed. The past had shaped him, but now, revenge was the only thing that mattered. The thought of what he would do when he got his hands on those who’d betrayed him twisted his lips into a grim, knowing smile. They would pay.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    The forest around him was eerily silent, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves. As he glanced down at the ground, his gaze landed on a sword half-buried in the underbrush, its blade dull but promising. Beside it, a weathered leather bag lay forgotten. Travis wasted no time.


    He reached for the sword first, his fingers brushing the hilt with a strange sense of familiarity. The weight of it felt solid, grounding. He unsheathed it, running his fingers along the rusted edge, feeling a flicker of hope. It was crude, but it would do. For now, it would be enough.


    He opened the bag, fingers trembling slightly as he sifted through its contents. There was food—some dried meat, a few scraps of bread, and a handful of berries. Not much. His stomach growled, but he quickly realized that what he had wouldn’t last long.


    Maybe two days, if he was lucky. He gritted his teeth. He’d ration it. Every bite would count. The hunger gnawed at him, but he refused to let it weaken him. He stuffed the food into the bag and slung it over his shoulder, the sword held firmly in his hand.


    "I should find a way out of here," he thought, scanning the dense, suffocating trees.


    For hours, he trudged through the forest, each step heavy with the weight of uncertainty. The path was endless, winding and treacherous. He thought he’d catch a glimpse of an opening, maybe even a clearing, but it never came. His legs burned from the constant movement, but the thought of revenge pushed him forward, relentless.


    By the time exhaustion set in, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the forest bathed in an ominous twilight. Travis leaned against a tree, breathing heavily as he took a much-needed break. He glanced around cautiously, eyes darting from shadow to shadow, heart pounding in his chest.


    He had no idea what else lurked in this dark, unfamiliar place. It wasn’t just the forest he had to fear—he was alone. Weak. Vulnerable.


    The idea of being caught off guard sent a shiver down his spine. He stayed still, his senses sharpened, listening for any sound that might betray the presence of something—or someone—nearby. His grip tightened on the sword, his only means of defense.


    The forest had become his enemy, and every step, every breath, was now a reminder that survival would come at a cost.


    Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed from behind him, sharp and sudden, snapping through the stillness of the forest. Travis whipped around, instinctively drawing his sword in a fluid motion, his eyes darting across the shadows that clung to the trees. His breath hitched, heart racing, as the sound grew louder, more pronounced. Every instinct screamed for him to be ready, to fight whatever was lurking in the dark.


    Even though he was armed, a tremor shot through his body. The sword felt heavier in his grip, his hand slick with sweat as he tried to steady it. He was shaking uncontrollably, his mind racing. Was this it? Was this how it ended? He barely knew where he was or what he was up against, and the thought of facing something in this alien, hostile environment made his stomach churn.


    "Fuck, fuck!!! This was a bad idea," he thought, the regret sinking in with the weight of his fear. The forest, once a mere backdrop to his thoughts of vengeance, now felt like a maze of danger closing in on him.


    The ruffling grew louder, a crackling noise that sent a jolt of panic through his chest. He stood frozen, eyes wide, trying to pinpoint the source, but it was like the shadows themselves were shifting, closing in around him.


    His pulse thundered in his ears as he clenched the sword tighter, waiting for whatever was about to emerge.


    Then, out of the dense underbrush, a small, harmless figure hopped into view. A cute, fluffy bunny, its soft white fur shining faintly in the dim light, stopped and stared up at him with wide, innocent eyes. It twitched its nose curiously, seemingly unaware of the tension in the air.


    Travis blinked in disbelief, his heart still hammering in his chest. His sword trembled in his hand, and he exhaled a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding. He sheathed his blade with a nervous laugh, his hands still shaking as he wiped the sweat from his brow.


    “It’s just a bunny,” he muttered to himself, trying to suppress the rush of embarrassment.


    "Damn, I got scared there." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I need to fix that... but honestly, it’s not surprising. For all I know, that could’ve been a Goblin or some kind of gremlin."


    But before he could gather himself, a sharp whoosh split the air, followed by a thud that reverberated through the trees. An arrow lodged itself into the bark of the tree just beside Travis, barely an inch from his face. His entire body froze, blood running cold as the dread washed over him like a tidal wave. His eyes locked onto the arrow, still vibrating slightly from the force of its impact.


    He couldn’t move. His chest tightened, as if the weight of the moment was pressing down on him, trapping him in place. His mouth went dry, and for a split second, it felt like his heart had stopped beating altogether.


    "That almost killed me..." Travis thought, the realization sinking in with the terrifying clarity of a nightmare. His breath came in shallow gasps, and his muscles refused to obey, still locked in the paralyzing grip of fear.


    TO BE CONTINUED