Yū’s breath quickened as he gripped the Rustclaw Dagger, its weight more of a burden than a comfort. The dim light from the torches flickered, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and warp with every movement. Five Bloodthirsty Moths hovered in the air, their wings beating slowly in eerie harmony. The buzzing sound echoed in the quiet, unnervingly close.

Each moth’s movement was calculated, their eyes fixed on Yū with a hunger that felt almost personal. They weren’t huge, but the way they moved in unison, as though guided by some malevolent force, made them feel far more dangerous.

Yū’s heart pounded in his chest as he backed away, feeling the weight of his low stats bearing down on him. He could barely keep his hands steady. I have to survive. I don’t have a choice.

The moths swooped in from all directions, their wings creating a buzzing blur of motion. Yū barely dodged the first attack, the wind from the moth’s wings ruffling his hair. His body tensed, but his dagger felt clumsy in his hands. The Rustclaw Dagger wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to counter the overwhelming swarm.

One of the moths lunged forward, sharp claws aiming for his chest. Yū barely had time to react as he swung the dagger in a desperate arc, nicking the creature’s wing. The moth screeched in fury and swerved, but its kin didn’t stop. They attacked again, faster this time, forcing him to defend himself with all he had.

His breath grew shallow as he stumbled back, his body trembling with exhaustion. The moths were fast, too fast for him. One managed to swipe his arm, sending a sharp pain through his body. Blood dripped down his sleeve, staining the ground beneath him.

This is it, isn’t it? I’m going to die here.

Then, he saw it—a nearby torch flickered brightly, its flame dancing in the wind. Fire. He couldn’t fight them head-on, but fire—fire could make them vulnerable.

With all his strength, Yū lunged for the torch. The moths shrieked as they buzzed around him, but he managed to thrust the flame in front of him. The moths recoiled, their delicate wings smoking as they fluttered back. For a split second, they hesitated. That hesitation was all Yū needed.

He thrust the torch forward, sweeping it across the creatures. The moths’ bodies recoiled as the flames touched them, the once-lustrous wings now charred and crumbling. One by one, they dropped to the ground, twitching and screeching until they lay still.

Yū fell to his knees, the torch still clutched in his hand, his heart racing in his chest. He had done it. He had survived.

Post-Battle Rewards and Level Up:

As the last of the moths fell, their bodies disintegrating into ash, Yū’s status screen flickered into view. His chest heaved with exhaustion, but the sight of the rewards lifted his spirits slightly.

• EXP: 50
• Money: 50 gold
• Item Obtained: Moth’s Wing Relic

Suddenly, the screen shifted, and a new message appeared, more prominent than the others:

Congratulations, Yū!
You have reached Level 1!

Yū blinked, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Level 1? He stared at the screen, his mind struggling to process what it was telling him. He’d been Level 0 just moments before, barely able to lift his hand, trembling from fear and weakness. But now—now he was Level 1.

This isn’t possible, he thought. I… I was at zero. I’m really at Level 1 now.

His heart raced, his breath quickening. He felt dizzy, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of realization. He had spent so long thinking of himself as weak, as someone who would never be able to stand up. But this—this was the proof that he could get stronger. That he could change.

Yū’s eyes blurred with tears as the weight of everything hit him all at once. He wasn’t just a nobody anymore. He had leveled up. He could become stronger.

STATS:

• Level: 1
• Strength: 12 → 14 (+2)
• Speed: 22 → 25 (+3)
• Intelligence: 77 → 82 (+5)
• Endurance: 9 → 11 (+2)
• Charisma: 3 → 4 (+1)
• Luck: 27 → 29 (+2)

Tears ran down his face as he stood, overwhelmed by joy and relief. I can become stronger. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. He had leveled up. This was just the beginning.

The Moth’s Wing Relic also appeared in his inventory, its subtle power offering a glimpse into how his journey might shape him.

Moth’s Wing Relic
Effect: Increases agility by 5% when health is below 20%. Useful in tight situations where quick movement is key.

Yū took the Moth’s Wing Relic into his hands, staring at it with reverence. It wasn’t much, but it was his first reward. His first real step forward. It was proof that he could survive, and eventually, that he could thrive.

As the tears slowly subsided, Yū clenched his fists, feeling the strength and determination beginning to grow inside him. He wasn’t going to stop here. He would keep going, no matter how hard it got.

“I can do this,” he whispered to himself, his voice filled with newfound conviction. “I can do this.”