2 Return

As he stood in the cube he started to reorganize his thoughts, he was hoping to change the events that would happen in the near future.

As he were thinking about those, a crack opened in the sky and a figure clad in white and gray cloths appears came inside from the crack.

"Damn spectator, so I'm really back in the past huh" I think that to myself.

Those who are in a panic saw that and some of them started to pray, they were telling about how the god descent into the earth to save them.

But none of them knew that these damn spectator is nothing like those gods, he is merely an onlooker send by those who are above hierarchy of universe.

That being started to talk cryptically, as they heard the voice everyone started to have severe headache, it then smiled and adjusted speaking manner.

< I'm here to explain about the tutorial world to you >

As the being, known to me only as a Spectator, began its explanation, the tension in the air grew palpable. Its adjusted speaking manner made the words clearer, but the knowledge it imparted weighed heavily on us all.

< The realm you now find yourselves in," it began, its voice echoing strangely as if from everywhere and nowhere at once, "is a crucible. Here, you will be tested, challenged beyond the limits of your current understanding. Not all of you will emerge victorious. Indeed, many will fall. But those who prevail will find themselves imbued with strength and abilities far beyond those of ordinary mortals.>

Its words sent a ripple of murmurings through the crowd. Some faces turned pale, others set in determined lines. The Spectator's eyes—though it was hard to tell if it had eyes in the conventional sense—seemed to scan the crowd, as if assessing each individual's worth.

< You will face trials," it continued. "Monsters, puzzles, and perhaps the most dangerous of all, the darkness within your own hearts. Greed, envy, fear... these can be just as lethal as the most ferocious beast.>

I listened, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and resolve. This was my second chance, a redo of the terrifying ordeal that had led to my death and the betrayal by those I had considered allies.

< As you venture forth," the Spectator's voice snapped me back to the present, "remember, the choices you make will not only determine your fate but the fate of this world. The power to change the course of history lies within each of you. Choose wisely. >

< Now to see your attributes say Panel out loud, with the panel you can see your attributes and achievements in this tutorial world. The more you gain the more you get after the tutorial.>

As everyone was in a state of panic, he was still composed, "Panel? Huh this brings back old memories." He thought to himself.

"PANEL" he shouted, As he voiced the command, the space before him shimmered, and the Panel materialized with a quiet hum of energy. It hovered in the air, a slate of light and data that seemed both alien and familiar to him. The Panel was crisp, its display clear, showing a detailed list of attributes and potential for growth. It was a direct line to understanding his current capabilities and a map for what he might become.

[ Name: Azriel

Class: None

Level: 1

Experience: 0/100

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Stamina: 10

Endurance: 10

Achievements: None

Skills: None ]

As his panel opened, he heard others shouting the same things as him. As everyone confirmed their panel that spectator waved its hand and another display appears infront of everyone.

The new display that appeared before everyone was a vast array of weapons, each glowing softly with an inner light that suggested they were no ordinary arms. This arsenal floated before the crowd.

[ Select Your Weapon for the Tutorial World ]

The weapons varied widely in shape, size, and apparent purpose. Swords that gleamed with razor-sharp edges, bows with strings that hummed with potential energy, staffs adorned with crystals pulsing with arcane power, and even more exotic weapons that defied easy classification. Each weapon seemed to call to those best suited to wield it, resonating with the very soul of the would-be warrior.

Azriel scanned the array thoughtfully. His past experience had taught him the importance of choosing the right tool for the job. More than just a matter of preference, this choice would likely set the tone for his entire journey through the tutorial world.

He remembered the pitfalls and challenges he'd faced previously, the encounters that had cost him dearly. With that hard-earned wisdom guiding him, he reached out towards a weapon that was like his soul in the previous life, a sleek double-edged sword.

He selected that sword and swing it, feeling the weight of it in his hand, the balance just right. The sword hummed with a faint energy, resonating with his own inner strength. As he gripped it firmly, a sense of determination washed over him, steeling his resolve for the trials ahead.

With his weapon chosen, Azriel turned his attention back to others, everyone was choosing their weapons in hurry.

After everyone chose their weapons the spectator once again spoke, <May the weapons you chose serve well in challenges to come.>

As the Spectator finished talking, the crack in the sky began to close, the figure clad in white and gray slowly fading from view.

Everyone was even more panicked in this situation, some guys take advantage of this and try to become the leader of the group.

while others huddled together, seeking solace in numbers. Azriel watched the chaos unfold with a mixture of apprehension and determination. He knew that in this new world, alliances would be crucial, but he also understood the dangers of blindly following a self-appointed leader.

Moreover he knew that if he blindly trust anyone he will be backstabbed by them like his previous life.

As chaos unfolded, a giant screen appeared on the sky, Azriel looked at it and said while smiling. "if my memories were right the first mission would be to survive against the Tier one monster hoard."

As Azriel was thinking about that the transparent screen on the sky was filled with the mission details, to confirm if his memories were right he looked at it again.

[ Mission: Survive Against the Tier One Monster Hoard

Objective: Withstand the relentless onslaught of Tier one monsters and emerge victorious or escape to the safe zone.

Time Limit: 8 hours

Rewards: Successful completion of the mission will grant valuable experience points. ]

As he confirmed the mission matching to his memory he decided to make this first mission worthwhile.

*Creak.....Creak*, with a creaking notice the barriers of the cube began to tremble, causing a fresh wave of panic to sweep through the crowd. Some participants screamed in terror, while others clutched their weapons tightly, their knuckles turning white with fear.

Azriel felt the adrenaline surge through his veins, his senses sharpening as he prepared for the imminent onslaught. He knew that the Tier One Monster Hoard would test their strength, their courage,

As the barriers of the cube began to crumble, Azriel took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He glanced around at his fellow participants, seeing the fear and uncertainty reflected in their eyes.

As the barriers lifted, he quickly ran out from the cube, he looked back and saw many people were still planning to stay at that place thinking that it might be the safe zone.

As he ran to the forest he saw a humanoid figure with Ash blue colour skin coming towards him while holding a wooden mace, he quickly knew what kind of monster was that.

It was a Grulock, a Tier One monster known for its brute strength and relatively simple attack patterns. Despite its basic tactics, a Grulock could easily overwhelm the unprepared or the unwary with sheer physical power.

Azriel's heart raced as the Grulock spotted him and let out a guttural roar, charging towards him with surprising speed for its size. He tightened his grip on his double-edged sword, recalling every detail from his previous encounter with such a creature.

He remembered the key to defeating a Grulock was agility and precision. Brute force alone wouldn't be enough; he needed to outmaneuver it and strike at its vulnerabilities.

As the Grulock swung its massive wooden mace, Azriel darted to the side, avoiding the blow by mere inches. He could feel the rush of air as the weapon passed, a reminder of the narrow margin for error.

He countered, slashing at the Grulock's arm, aiming for the tendons to impair its ability to wield the mace effectively. The sword cut through the creature's thick skin, leaving a deep wound. The Grulock howled in pain and rage, swinging wildly in its agony.

Azriel didn't give it a chance to recover. He moved behind it, avoiding another clumsy swing of its mace, and struck again, this time targeting the back of its knees to hamper its mobility. With the Grulock now slowed, he could see the fear in its eyes a wild, animalistic fear of death.

Taking advantage of its reduced mobility and distracted state, Azriel delivered a final, decisive blow to the nape of its neck, severing its spinal cord. The Grulock collapsed, lifeless, to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Azriel stood over the creature, his heart still pounding in his chest.

As he panted after finishing of grulock he recieved experience points for defeating it and was halfway through the Level 2.

As he was resting he remembered how powerless is he right now, he didn't want only to survive and face the traitors and dragon lord without anything, he wanted to obtain knights mark this time. Then he heard a Wolf's howling and cries coming from the direction of the cube.

He looked back and then decided to venture further into the forest, he was hoping to reach a higher level quickly as possible.

As he moved cautiously through the forest, Azriel kept his senses alert for any signs of danger or opportunity. He remembered from his previous life that certain areas of the forest were home to creatures with valuable experience points. Defeating these creatures could expedite his leveling up, getting him closer to obtaining the Knight's Mark.

Suddenly, a rustling to his left caught his attention. Azriel tensed, readying his sword as he turned to face the new threat. Out of the shadows emerged a pack of Dire Wolves, their eyes glowing with a menacing light. He knew these creatures were more formidable than the Grulock, working together with terrifying efficiency to take down their prey.

Azriel's mind raced as he assessed his situation. Fighting a pack would be risky; even with his skills, the odds were against him. He needed a strategy that could thin their numbers quickly or dissuade them from attacking.

He remembered a trick that one of his allies in the previous life told him about how to deal with a Wolf's pack or any enemies with numbers.

Azriel recalled the strategy, isolating and dealing with enemies one by one, using the environment to his advantage, and exploiting any weaknesses in the pack's coordination. Dire Wolves, though fierce, relied heavily on pack tactics. Disrupting their coordination could throw them into disarray, providing opportunities for him to strike.

With this plan in mind, Azriel began to move, positioning himself so that the trees and terrain would funnel the wolves into approaching him one or two at a time, rather than all at once. He used his agility to dodge the first few lunges, leading the wolves into a narrow passage between two large trees where their numbers wouldn't give them an advantage.

As the first Dire Wolf leapt towards him in the confined space, Azriel met it with his sword, the blade slicing through the air and finding its mark. The wolf yelped in pain and fell, momentarily blocking the path for the others. Azriel didn't pause, immediately turning to face the next wolf.

He kept moving, always aware of his surroundings, using the terrain to his advantage. Whenever possible, he struck at the wolves' legs to impair their movement or aimed for more lethal blows if he found an opening. Slowly but surely, the pack's numbers began to dwindle.

As the fight went on, Azriel found himself relying on more than just his physical skills; he was tapping into the strategic mindset he'd honed in his past life. He predicted the wolves' movements, dodged with minimal effort, and struck with precision. The fight was a brutal dance, and Azriel was leading.

Finally, as the last of the Dire Wolves lay defeated, Azriel took a moment to catch his breath, surveying the aftermath. His strategy had worked. He was tired, yes, and he had sustained a few minor injuries, but he was alive. More importantly, he had gained a significant amount of experience from the encounter.

As he checked his Panel, he saw his experience points had increased dramatically, bringing him close to reaching Level 4.

Even though his increased stats, he was still tired the sword was heavy and he felt like the exhaustion is catching upto him, his eyes started to close automatically. Yet he was struggling to be stay up.

He didn't have the years worth of physical strength anymore, so he needed to be stronger to catch up to his previous self more likely to surpass his previous self.