The Origin Protocol

The village of Greenglade lay shrouded in uneasy silence. Orin Voss sat on the steps of the apothecary, his sword across his knees, watching the rift pulse in the sky. The violet glow seemed brighter than ever, painting the rooftops and fields in ghostly light. The air was thick with anticipation, as if the world itself was waiting for something to break.

He glanced at the system window hovering at the edge of his vision.

[Quest: Defend Greenglade – Next Wave Imminent]

[Objective: Survive the rift's assault. Protect the villagers.]

[Reward: Skill Upgrade, Reputation Increase]

Orin's thoughts drifted to Mira, to the villagers, to the strange changes he'd seen in the people around him. He remembered Lysa's quick reflexes, Tomas's sharp eyes, even Old Bram's newfound strength. The rift was changing them all, in ways he didn't fully understand. Only he had the system, but the village was not the same as it had been.

A soft footstep broke his reverie. Mira appeared, her hair loose around her shoulders, a lantern in her hand.

"Can't sleep?" she asked, settling beside him.

He shook his head. "Too much on my mind. The rift, the next wave… everything."

She offered a small smile. "You're not alone, Orin. We're all scared. But we're ready."

He nodded, grateful for her presence. They sat in silence, listening to the distant hum of the rift. Somewhere, a dog barked, and a baby cried. The village was alive, holding its breath.

As the hours crept by, Orin made his rounds, checking the barricades and speaking with the lookouts. The villagers were tense but determined. Joren and Lysa stood watch at the north gate, their eyes sharp in the darkness. Tomas patrolled the rooftops, moving with a confidence that surprised Orin.

"Everything quiet?" Orin asked, joining Joren and Lysa.

Joren nodded. "For now. But I don't like it. Feels like the calm before a storm."

Lysa shivered, hugging her arms. "I keep thinking I see things moving in the fields."

Orin peered into the darkness, his system feeding him information—shadows, movement, the faintest hint of danger. He trusted the system, but tonight, even it seemed on edge.

[Warning: Rift energy at critical. Monster wave imminent.]

He returned to the square, where Mira was organizing supplies. She handed him a flask of water and a strip of dried meat.

"Eat," she said. "You'll need your strength."

He took the food, forcing himself to chew. His stomach was tight with nerves, but the simple act of eating grounded him.

The village gathered in the square, weapons in hand. Old Bram addressed the crowd, his voice steady.

"We've done all we can. Now we hold the line. For Greenglade!"

A cheer rose, ragged but fierce. Orin felt a surge of pride. These were his people—scared, yes, but brave.

He moved to his position at the main barricade, Mira at his side. The other defenders spread out, each at their post. The children and elderly were sheltered in the chapel, guarded by Master Harlan and a few of the stronger villagers.

The rift pulsed, brighter and brighter, until it seemed to swallow the stars. Orin's system window flashed.

[Wave Incoming: 2 minutes]

He drew his sword, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. Mira gripped her hammer, her jaw set.

"Whatever happens," she said, "we stand together."

He nodded, his heart pounding.

The first monsters appeared at the edge of the fields—twisted shapes, their eyes glowing with hunger. They moved with unnatural speed, claws flashing in the moonlight.

Orin's system window flickered.

[Skill Activated: Battle Instinct (Passive)]

[-Enhanced awareness in combat.]

He shouted, "Hold the line!"

The monsters charged, crashing against the barricades. The villagers fought with everything they had—spears, axes, even kitchen knives. Orin moved through the chaos, his system feeding him information—attack patterns, weak points, the flow of battle.

He struck down a snarling beast, then another, his blade moving with precision and power. Mira fought at his side, her hammer swinging in wide arcs. Joren and Lysa held the left flank, their teamwork flawless.

A monster broke through the barricade, lunging at a group of children. Orin dashed across the square, sword flashing.

[Skill Activated: Power Slash (Active). Cooldown: 30 seconds.]

He swept the blade in a wide arc, cutting down the creature before it could reach its prey. The children scrambled to safety, their eyes wide with fear and awe.

The battle raged, chaos and courage mingling in the air. Orin's system chimed with each victory.

[Enemy defeated. Exp gained.]

He lost track of time, lost in the rhythm of combat. The monsters seemed endless, but the villagers held firm. For every beast that fell, another took its place, but Orin refused to yield.

A scream cut through the din. Orin spun to see Lysa pinned beneath a monster, its claws digging into her arm. He charged, driving his sword into the creature's back.

Lysa gasped, her face pale. "I'm okay," she managed, pushing herself to her feet. Orin noticed the wound closing faster than it should, the skin knitting together before his eyes.

He blinked, startled, but there was no time to question it. Another wave of monsters crashed against the barricades.

Mira fought like a force of nature, her movements almost too quick to follow. Orin caught a glimpse of her dodging a swipe with uncanny agility, her hammer smashing into a monster's skull.

He wondered, just for a moment, if the rift was changing her too.

The battle dragged on, the moon climbing higher. The villagers grew tired, their movements slowing, but they refused to give up. Orin's system window appeared.

[Warning: Elite monster detected. Prepare for escalation.]

A new shape emerged from the rift—a larger, more menacing creature, its body wreathed in shadow, its eyes burning with malice. The ground trembled with each step.

Orin's heart pounded. "Positions!" he shouted. "This one's different!"

The villagers formed a defensive ring, weapons raised. Orin moved to the front, Mira at his side.

The elite monster roared, charging the barricade. Orin braced himself, his system guiding his movements.

[Skill Activated: Power Slash (Active). Cooldown: 30 seconds.]

He struck, the blade glowing with energy. The monster staggered, but didn't fall. It lashed out, sending Orin sprawling.

Mira leapt forward, her hammer crashing into the creature's leg. The monster howled, turning its fury on her. Orin scrambled to his feet, blood pounding in his ears.

The villagers attacked from all sides, their courage unwavering. Joren and Lysa darted in and out, striking at the monster's flanks. Old Bram hurled a spear, the weapon sinking deep into the creature's side.

Orin's system window flashed.

[Skill Unlocked: Rallying Cry (Active). Cooldown: 5 minutes.]

[-Inspire allies, boosting their strength and morale for a short time.]

He took a deep breath and shouted, "For Greenglade! For our home!"

A surge of energy swept through the villagers. They pressed the attack, their strikes growing stronger, their fear fading.

The elite monster roared, thrashing wildly. Orin dodged a swipe, his system guiding his movements. He saw an opening and lunged, driving his sword into the creature's chest.

Mira followed, her hammer smashing into the monster's skull. The creature staggered backwards , its body slowly dissolving into shadow.

With a final shuddering roar, the elite monster collapsed. Silence fell over the square.

Orin stood over the fallen beast, chest heaving. The system window appeared, triumphant.

[Elite defeated. Wave repelled. Skill upgrade earned.]

The villagers erupted in cheers, their relief palpable. Mira hugged Orin, her eyes shining with pride.

"We did it," she whispered.

He smiled, exhaustion and joy mingling in his chest. "We did."

As the moon set, the village gathered in the square, tending to the wounded and counting the cost. Orin sat with his friends, listening to their laughter, their dreams for the future.

But as dawn approached, the rift still glowed in the sky—a reminder that their fight was not yet over.

Orin's system window appeared one last time.

[New Quest: Investigate the Rift's Changes]

He stared at the message, determination hardening his resolve.

Tomorrow, he would seek answers. But tonight, Greenglade had survived.