A girl screamed as the first enemy landed—an armored brute wielding a massive cleaver, his skin stitched together like patchwork. His body pulsed with something sinister, a mix of cursed energy and Titan regeneration.
"GET BACK!" someone yelled. It was Minako, the student council vice president. Her system had already activated—wings of blue flame bursting from her back. "I picked Endeavor!"
She shot forward, fire trailing behind her like a comet.
The villain raised his cleaver—but Minako slammed into him, engulfing them both in a wall of flame.
Dozens more enemies emerged from the mist—some sprinting with beast-like speed, others floating and casting spells straight out of a fantasy world.
Ray didn't move.
His system screen continued to update.
Primary Trait Unlocked: Dragon Core
Abilities Gained: Draconic Strength, Crimson Burst, Scaled Regeneration
...
Class Skill: Sovereign's Roar – Intimidate All Below Your Tier
His screen flashed red again.
And then—his body moved on its own.
One of the villains—a snake-like shadow beast—slithered toward a student too slow to react. Ray appeared beside it in a blink. His hand—now clawed and blackened—slashed through the creature's chest, tearing it apart in a single swipe.
The student stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Who... what the hell are you?!"
Ray looked down at his own hand. He could feel it. The power. The system's influence crawling over his skin like embers.
"I don't know," he whispered. "But I think I was meant for this."
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed through the sky.
"Welcome, Chosen of the Anime System."
"You've entered the Tutorial Phase. Survive until dawn."
"Only the strong will reach the next arc."
A counter appeared above them:
TUTORIAL RAID: Time Remaining — 6:44:18
The cave trembled again as another boss stepped into view—twenty feet tall, red skin, and a sword made of screaming shadows.
Ray narrowed his eyes. The heat of his dragon core burned brighter.
So this is how our story starts, he thought.
With blood. With choices. With power.
And maybe... with revenge.
He took one step forward.
The fight for survival had begun.