Gasp...
Cold air filled my lungs as I jolted awake, feeling the rough bed sheet beneath my trembling fingers.
"What's going on...?"
Grabbing my throbbing head, I winced in pain.
"And where am I?"
My eyes traveled from the unfamiliar bed I was lying in to the dimly lit room, surrounded by four wooden walls with many holes and cracks within them.
In the corner of the room, I also noticed a broken mirror lying on the floor, its shattered fragnts spread everywhere nearby.
Without even hesitating, I approached the broken furniture and carefully picked up one of the larger shards, holding it up to examine my reflection.
"Huh?"
I flinched.
This appearance...
This is Ash Morningstar!
As I touched my new face in disbelief, a sudden window appeared before my eyes.
⌜Tutorial⌝
◈ Survive!
Scanning the interface, I quickly realized the gravity of my situation.
This was Ash Morningstar's tutorial quest!
Adrenaline began to rush into my head.
Sohow, in so inexplicable way I had been transported into the world of the ga, into the body of a character I've played for more than 10 years.
Just to double check, I reached into my pocket and took out a small, broken watch with a cracked screen.
Yeah, I was definitely transmigrated into the body of the Ash Morningstar. This was a watch his character always carried around throughout the story.
⌜Broken Watch⌝
» Item Tier - Common
◈ Description - A broken wristwatch... It doesn't seem to serve any purpose.
Looking at its description, I sighed.
With a slight push, I stuck my fingernail into the side of the watch and pried it open.
As the broken screen tilted, a small piece of paper fluttered out, and I quickly snatched it from the air.
⌜Starfall Academy - Entrance Certificate⌝
» Item Tier - Common
◈ Description - This certificate confirms the holder's acceptance into the prestigious Starfall Academy.
"..."
Looking at the docunt, I felt a frantic fear rise within .
'Wait! If my mory serves right...'
Pocketing the certificate, I frantically threw myself to one of the cracks in the wooden walls and peered outside.
"Where did that damn kid run off!?"
Just as expected, a group of gruff-looking n were scavenging the area with their weapons drawn.
Suddenly, one of them noticed the hut I was currently hiding in.
"Go search that cab over there!"
Hearing his command, I felt my heart sink to my stomach.
'What now?'
There was no way I could try to hide in this desolate and half-empty shack, running away was also not an option, as they would easily catch up to . I couldn't fight them either - I possessed no weapon.
'What am I supposed to do...?'
I bit my lip until I felt the tallic taste of blood.
Tick...
Suddenly, another system window appeared before .
⌜Notification⌝
◈ You are now able to use『 Shadow Manipulation 』!
For a mont, I froze.
'I can use『 Shadow Manipulation 』!?'
If that is the case, this changes everything...
Being a person with no Magic, Ash Morningstar has only had『 Shadow Manipulation 』throughout the entire story of the ga. It is also a spell that I had practiced for the whole ten years.
'What a deadly combo...'
Muttering underneath my breath, I glanced at the spell's description.
⌜Shadow Manipulation⌝
» Spell Tier - ★☆☆☆☆
» Mastery - Lv. 1
» Cooldown - 5 Seconds
Thud...
As I was making sure everything was in order, the sound of doors being kicked open echoed through the shack.
'Damn, they're already here!?'
I cursed internally.
There was no ti left!
Quickly running toward one of the cracks in the wooden walls, I took a deep breath and took a glance outside, into the snow covered landscape.
『 Shadow Step 』
One mont I was standing in the dimly lit hut and the next, I appeared in the shadow of a nearby tree, on the edge of the snowy forest.
It was one of the basic abilities of『 Shadow Manipulation 』, allowing to teleport into any shadow within a certain range.
"He's there! Chase him!"
Unfortunately, I didn't have ti to celebrate as one of the n instantly spotted and shouted, making the entire group aware of my presence.
I bolted through the snowy mountains, the icy wind biting at my face as I sprinted away from the pursuing n. The harsh crunch of snow under their boots was a constant reminder of how close they were.
My breaths ca out in sharp, cold puffs as my heart pounded in my chest.
Every five seconds, I felt a surge of relief as I activated『 Shadow Step 』, appearing in shadows several yards ahead. Each ti I reappeared, I would stumble slightly, my legs struggling to find their footing in the deep snow, but it gave a crucial head start.
"He's using so kind of magic! Don't lose him!"
One of the n shouted, his voice growing more distant for a brief mont before drawing closer again.
I pressed on, my legs burning from the effort.
As the cooldown ticked away, I prepared myself for another teleport. Just as I was about to use『 Shadow Step 』again, I caught a glint of tal out of the corner of my eye. Instinctively, I threw myself to the side, vanishing mid-dodge.
A knife whizzed past where my head had been just a mont before and embedded itself in the trunk of a nearby tree with a solid thud.
I reappeared a few feet away, snow spraying up around as I landed hard.
Without wasting a second, I ran to the tree, yanking the knife out and gripping it tightly in my hand.
The cold tal felt reassuring despite the danger pressing in around . I continued running, the knife now my only ans of defense.
"He's ard now! Be careful!"
Another voice called out, but I didn't dare look back.
Suddenly, I heard a strange sizzling sound behind .
Twisting my head just enough to see, I noticed one of the n raising his hand, a bright light forming at his fingertips. My eyes widened in horror as a magic missile ford and hurtled through the air toward .
『 Shadow Step 』
I disappeared just as the missile streaked past, reappearing several feet away, in a shadow of a nearby bush, as it exploded into the snow where I had been.
The force of the blast sent a shockwave through the ground, causing to stumble but not fall.
Panting heavily, I forced myself to keep moving, my breaths ragged and my vision blurring slightly from the exertion. The terrain was getting steeper, making each step more challenging. The n were relentless, their shouts and footsteps ever-present behind .
Just when I thought my body might give out, I saw the outline of a dense forest ahead. If I could reach it, I might be able to lose them among the trees. With renewed determination, I pushed onward, the cooldown for『 Shadow Step 』ticking away in my mind.
"Almost there..."
I muttered to myself, the trees getting closer with each step. I just needed to hold on a little longer.
As I neared the edge of the forest, another knife flew past , missing by inches. I used『 Shadow Step 』one last ti, reappearing within the cover of the trees.
I crouched down behind a large tree, trying to steady my breathing. My pursuers entered the forest monts later, their shouts growing frustrated as they searched for .
Holding the knife tightly, I prepared myself for whatever ca next. I wasn't out of danger yet, but for now, I had a mont to gather my thoughts and plan my next move.
I had two options:
Try to fight or try to lose them in the forest.
'What to do...'
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