Abyssborn Journey

Astrea stood amidst the towering trees of the dense forest, the golden light of the fading sun filtering through the foliage. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, an undeniable hum of something far beyond his old world's monotony.

"What kind of world is this?" he muttered.

As if in answer, a system notification popped up before his eyes:

[Status Window Opened]

A translucent screen materialized in his vision, listing his stats:

Name: Astrea

HP: 100

MP: 200

Strength: 150

Agility: 150

Intelligence: 150

Luck: 350

Skills:

Divine Protection

Abysswalker

Fire Trailblazer

___ 

The system chimed softly in Astrea's mind:

[Reminder: Host has been granted unique abilities that amplify growth through challenges. You must evolve through experience]

Astrea sighed, his fingers brushing against the edge of his flaming greatsword. "So, I'm weak now, but I'll get stronger the harder I push myself," he muttered, his tone laced with dry amusement. "I guess this is what I get for signing up without reading the fine print."

He stood in the shadows of a narrow alley, his Abyssal armor blending seamlessly into the darkness. Around him, the city of Trifas buzzed with life. It was a place of contrasts—modern touches interwoven with medieval architecture, a juxtaposition of familiarity and strangeness.

Astrea clenched his fist. He knew he couldn't afford to act rashly. His strength was still limited, and his knowledge of this world was even more so. One wrong move could spell disaster.

"First things first," he muttered, glancing toward the street. "Information."

•

Astrea had spent seven days lurking in the shadows of Trifas, surviving on scraps, careful observation, and his newfound powers. Though the city bore a surface resemblance to the towns of his old world, it was clear that Trifas held secrets far beyond anything he'd knowncontinue

Through careful reconnaissance, he learned the basics:

1. The city was steeped in magical energy, its very air alive with mana.

2. Trifas was a focal point for something called the Holy Grail War—a clash between powerful mages known as Masters, who summoned legendary heroes as Servants to fight on their behalf.

3. Beneath the surface of the seemingly mundane streets, magi, supernatural creatures, and hidden alliances vied for control. 

Despite his newfound knowledge, Astrea's progress felt slow. The magi of this world operated in secrecy, their dealings carefully hidden from ordinary humans. Worse, his Abyssal aura seemed to draw suspicion from the few magically attuned individuals he had encountered. 

•

"Damn it!" Astrea growled, collapsing onto his knees as he panted heavily. Sweat dripped from his brow, pooling on the dirt below.

The system's cold, mechanical voice chimed in his head, a constant reminder of his predicament.

[Side Quest Progress:]

Push-ups: 30/100

Sit-ups: 35/100

Squats: 45/100

Running: 7 KM remaining

[Warning: You must complete today, failure will get you punishment]

Astrea glared at the translucent screen floating in front of him. "Shut up! I get it already!" he snapped, throwing his arms into the air. "This is insane! I didn't sign up for some boot camp nightmare!"

He flopped onto his back, staring up at the sky with a groan. "I never exercised back in my old world, and now this stupid system thinks it can turn me into some fitness freak overnight? What kind of sadistic AI are you?"

The system remained silent, but the glowing quest reminder hovered persistently, as if mocking him.

Astrea let out a resigned sigh, dragging himself upright. "Fine, fine. I'll do it. But you better not mess with me when I'm finished!"

He dropped back into position, gritting his teeth as he pushed through the exercises.

•

By the time Astrea finished, his arms and legs felt like jelly, and every breath burned in his chest. He collapsed onto the ground, too exhausted to even curse the system.

[Congratulations: Side Quest Complete!]

[Reward: +2 to Strength, +2 to Agility]

Astrea groaned. "Great. Two points. Totally worth dying over," he muttered sarcastically, rolling onto his side.

As the system chimed again, it added:

[Reminder: Growth comes from struggle. Continue pushing forward to reach your true potential]

Astrea closed his eyes, letting out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, yeah, struggle makes you stronger. Just don't kill me before I get there."

He lay there in the dirt, staring up at the stars, silently vowing to one day turn the tables on the system—or at least convince it to ease up on the torture.

•

Astrea moved through the city like a phantom, his Abysswalker armor shrouding him in unnatural stillness. He had memorized the system's map, using the labyrinthine alleys and rooftops to avoid detection.

As he passed through a quieter district, his keen senses picked up whispers from a nearby gathering. Slipping closer, he perched atop a ledge overlooking a dimly lit courtyard. Below, a group of cloaked magi huddled together, their voices low but urgent.

"...the forest... unnatural activity..."

"...Servants are being summoned... irregularities in the Grail War..."

"...a shadow we cannot explain..."

Astrea's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward, straining to catch every word.

"...we suspect interference from an outside force... perhaps a rogue magus..."

One of the magi glanced over his shoulder, and Astrea froze. His Abyssal armor absorbed the faint light, rendering him almost invisible.

The magus turned back to the group. "Keep this quiet. If the Association learns of this, we'll lose our advantage."

Astrea smirked. "Interesting," he murmured under his breath.

When the group finally dispersed, he slipped down from his vantage point and into the shadows of the street. The forest they mentioned aligned with other whispers he'd heard during his time in Trifas. Something was stirring beyond the city, something tied to the Grail War yet separate from it.

As Astrea walked the quieter streets of Trifas, he took in his surroundings with a critical eye. Despite the city's charm, the people seemed wary, as though they sensed the tension building beneath the surface.

He passed by an old church, its silhouette stark against the moonlit sky. His system chimed softly:

[Warning: High-density mana detected nearby]

Astrea's eyes narrowed. "That's the strongest reading yet."

He moved closer, careful to stay in the shadows. From his position, he could see two figures standing in front of the church.

"A Servant," Astrea realized, his heart pounding.

The air grew heavy, the mana suffocating in its intensity. Astrea knew better than to engage—not yet. His current strength was no match for a Heroic Spirit.

He backed away, retreating to the safety of the alleys.

Later that night, Astrea sat atop a rooftop, overlooking the city as its lights flickered in the distance. The week had been grueling, but it had given him something invaluable: clarity.

This world wasn't all that different from his own—greed, ambition, and power ruled here, just as they did back home. The only difference was the scale. Here, it wasn't just humans vying for control. It was legends, gods, and monsters.

Astrea smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "Disappointing, maybe. But also... exciting."

He glanced toward the forest on the horizon, the whispers of danger and opportunity echoing in his mind.

"If this world wants to throw challenges at me," he said, his voice was low and determined, "then I'll rise to meet them. After all, I didn't come here to be a bystander."

The Abyss pulsed faintly within him, a reminder of the power that awaited if he had the will to claim it. Astrea stood, his silhouette blending into the night as he prepared for the next step in his journey.

To be continued.