Kei lounged on a sun-bleached boulder, his silver-grey hair falling messily over his eyes as he listened to the gentle rhythm of the waves. His headphones pumped his favorite playlist into his ears, blending with the natural symphony around him.
The sun warmed his skin, and for a moment, the world felt perfect—simple and unbroken.
And then everything shattered.
A World Turned Inside Out
A low hum cut through the air, growing louder until it drowned out the waves. Kei sat up, pulling his headphones off. The hum wasn’t coming from the music or his surroundings—it was coming from everywhere.
The sky rippled, colors bleeding into each other like spilled ink on water. The warm sun dimmed as jagged lines carved themselves into the heavens, forming an intricate, glowing lattice. Kei stared, frozen.
Then came the voice.
<blockquote>
System Announcement: "Earth has been integrated into the greater multiverse. Welcome, inhabitants, to the Fractured Zone. Survival is mandatory."
</blockquote>
Kei blinked. "What?"
The ground beneath him shifted. His serene boulder suddenly felt unstable as cracks spread through the sand and stone. He scrambled to his feet just as the earth split open, swallowing the shoreline in an instant.
Around him, reality bent and warped. Familiar shapes dissolved into jagged fragments, rearranging themselves into alien landscapes. Towering cliffs jutted out of nowhere, rivers carved paths through the sky, and shards of broken buildings floated aimlessly.
"This can’t be real," Kei muttered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
A translucent screen popped into his field of vision, startling him:
<blockquote>
System Notification: "You have been assigned to Zone 17: Coastal Shardlands. Objectives will be provided. Stat and skill screens are now active."
</blockquote>
First Contact with the System
Kei waved his hand experimentally, and the notification vanished. In its place, a simple menu appeared:
<blockquote>
Status Screen:
Name: Kei Level: 0 Class: None Health: 100/100 Stamina: 50/50 Stats:
<ul>
<li>
Strength: 4
</li>
<li>
Agility: 5
</li>
<li>
Intelligence: 6
</li>
<li>
Endurance: 5
</li>
<li>
Perception: 7
</li>
</ul>
Skills: None Affinity: UnknownThe tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
</blockquote>
"Affinity?" Kei murmured, his gaze lingering on the word. He didn’t have time to ponder it as the voice returned:
<blockquote>
System Announcement: "Zone Event Initialized: Trial of the Shardlands."
</blockquote>
The Trial Begins
Before Kei could process the message, the ground shuddered violently. A jagged formation of black stone erupted from the sand, its surface glistening with veins of molten orange. The air grew hot, and a sense of dread washed over him.
"This isn’t a trial," Kei said, stepping back. "This is a death trap."
The System seemed to disagree. Another notification appeared:
<blockquote>
Objective: "Survive the Trial of the Shardlands. Time Remaining: 24:00:00"
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Reward: "Basic Class Selection"
</blockquote>
"Survive for a day? That’s it?" Kei let out a nervous laugh. "Okay, not so bad. Just stay out of trouble."
His confidence wavered when the first creature emerged. A hulking, reptilian beast with glowing orange eyes crawled out of the fissure in the ground. Its skin was blackened and cracked like cooling lava, and steam hissed from its nostrils.
The creature’s gaze locked onto Kei.
<blockquote>
System Notification: "Beast Encounter: Lava Stalker. Level: 5."
</blockquote>
Kei’s blood ran cold. "I take it back. This is definitely a death trap."
Instinct Over Strategy
The Lava Stalker snarled and lunged. Kei barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as the beast’s claws gouged deep furrows in the sand where he’d been standing. He scrambled to his feet, heart pounding.
"Alright, think!" he muttered, backing away as the creature turned to face him again. "No weapons, no skills, no clue what I’m doing. Great start."
The beast lunged again, and Kei ran. He ducked behind a jagged rock formation, panting as he tried to gather his thoughts. His mind raced, searching for anything he could use to his advantage.
The System had said this was a trial. Trials weren’t meant to be impossible… right?
Another notification blinked into view:
<blockquote>
System Tip: "Environmental objects can be used to gain an advantage. Experiment and adapt."
</blockquote>
Kei peeked out from behind the rocks, spotting the Lava Stalker prowling through the sand. His gaze darted to the terrain around him—sharp rocks, loose boulders, and a narrow ravine leading away from the beach.
"Adapt, huh?" Kei grabbed a loose stone and weighed it in his hand. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
"Alright, ugly," he called, stepping out from his hiding spot. "Let’s see how you like this!"
He hurled the rock with all his strength. It struck the creature’s flank with a dull thud, barely earning a reaction. Kei’s confidence faltered as the beast turned its glowing eyes on him.
"Okay, Plan B," he muttered, turning and sprinting toward the ravine. The beast roared, giving chase.
The Edge of Survival
Kei’s lungs burned as he pushed himself to keep running. The uneven ground of the ravine slowed him, but it also forced the Lava Stalker to navigate carefully. He spotted a cluster of loose rocks perched precariously above the narrow path.
"If I can…" Kei’s words trailed off as he glanced back. The beast was closing in fast.
With no time to think, Kei grabbed another rock and hurled it at the cluster. The impact sent the loose stones tumbling down, creating a small landslide that caught the Lava Stalker off guard. The creature stumbled, momentarily pinned under the debris.
A notification flashed:
<blockquote>
System Notification: "Trap Triggered: Landslide. Lava Stalker Stunned (-5 seconds)."
</blockquote>
Kei didn’t hesitate. He scrambled up the side of the ravine, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the creature. When he finally collapsed onto a flat ledge, gasping for air, another notification appeared:
<blockquote>
System Notification: Zone Survival Progress: 2%.
</blockquote>
Kei let out a weak laugh. "Only 98% to go."
He stared up at the fractured sky, the jagged patterns glowing faintly above. The world had changed, and so had his life. But for now, all he could do was survive.