Chapter Two - The First Test

Catherine awoke to the sensation of damp earth beneath her fingertips and the distant rustle of leaves in the wind. Her first breath was sharp, the air rich with the unfamiliar tang of this new plain. She blinked against the soft, filtered light breaking through the thick canopy above her, the glow of violet leaves painting the forest in an otherworldly hue. This was not the realm she knew, but neither was it wholly foreign. Each breath, each sound, each flicker of movement carried a faint resonance of something alive, balanced—something she could not yet name.

Rising to her feet, Catherine instinctively surveyed her surroundings. Towering trees, their roots twisting into gnarled networks, dominated the landscape. She felt the pulse of the plain’s energy in her bones—a hum that resonated faintly with the System’s ever-present touch on her consciousness.

She turned her gaze to herself, her brows knitting together in quiet contemplation. Her body was younger, fitter, her auburn hair spilling over her shoulders in silken waves. Her muscles carried the memory of countless battles, yet her movements lacked the weariness that once weighed her down. She stretched her fingers, inspecting the calloused palms of her hands. **This form is unfamiliar, yet mine.**

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft chime of the System. A translucent panel flickered into view, its presence disorienting yet oddly comforting.

---

**SYSTEM ACTIVATED. INITIALIZING INTERFACE...**

**NAME:** Catherine

**CLASS:** Ranker - Redemption System

**RANK:** Initiate

**HP:** 100%

**MP:** 60%

**REWARDS AVAILABLE:** None

[**STATUS:** LOCKED]

[**TASKS:** PENDING]

---

She frowned at the incomplete profile. It was functional, efficient—but stripped down, as if reflecting her diminished state. **So, this is what my life has come to?** she thought bitterly. Yet, the System’s quiet hum in her mind wasn’t mocking; it was simply there, existing as her new reality.

The faint chime sounded again, and her eyes darted to the **Tasks** section. A single notification blinked:

**TASK 1: Seek Out the Injured.**

---

An arrow materialized in her vision, pointing deeper into the forest. Without hesitation, Catherine began walking. She moved silently, her footsteps absorbed by the soft earth. For a brief moment, the simplicity of this task felt almost absurd. She had once commanded powers capable of leveling entire plains, and now she was following arrows through an alien forest like a novice adventurer.

Yet, the weight of her past actions lingered in her chest, a reminder that this was no ordinary journey. This wasn’t about power—it was about redemption. **Or at least, that’s what they want me to believe,** she mused, her lips curling into a wry smile.

As she moved, the forest seemed to shift subtly, its vibrant hues dimming and the air growing heavier. The distant sounds of wildlife faded until silence enveloped her. Then she saw it: a clearing, bathed in an eerie green glow.

In the center lay a creature—a massive wolf, its silver fur marred by blood. Its side rose and fell in shallow breaths, and its golden eyes, clouded with pain, met hers.

Catherine froze. She recognized this kind of beast; she’d slain its kind before in her long and bloody past. Wolves like this were formidable, their strength rivaling that of lesser deities in some plains. Yet now, stripped of power and purpose, she felt something else stir within her: a flicker of empathy.

The System chimed again, and a new panel opened in her vision:

---

**CHOICE:**

**End the creature’s suffering.**

Consequence: Neutral Outcome.

**Offer it aid.**

Consequence: Unlock Profile & Stats Panel.

---

Her lips thinned as she read the options. **Of course, it’s never just about mercy. They always want something more.** The first choice was simple, clean—remove the beast’s pain and move on. The second, however, carried weight. The promise of unlocking her profile hinted at a tangible benefit, but the act itself would require vulnerability.

She crouched beside the wolf, studying its injuries. Deep claw marks raked its flank, and its foreleg was twisted at an unnatural angle. Its growl was weak but defiant, a low rumble vibrating through its chest.

“You’re stubborn,” Catherine muttered, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “I can respect that.”

Extending her hand cautiously, she summoned the faint energy within her. It was a meager fragment of what she once wielded, but it responded to her will, glowing faintly in her palm. The wolf’s growl softened as she pressed her hand against its side, the warmth of her power seeping into its wounds.

The process was slow, painstaking. As her energy flowed, Catherine felt something shift within her—a quiet hum that wasn’t entirely hers. The System’s presence seemed to amplify, synchronizing with her actions. When she finally withdrew her hand, the wolf stirred, its wounds sealed, its breathing steady. It stood on shaky legs, regarding her with a silent intensity before disappearing into the forest without a sound.

A new chime echoed in her mind, and the System interface expanded.

---

**TASK COMPLETE: REWARD UNLOCKED.**

**PROFILE AND STATS PANEL ACTIVATED.**

---

The translucent screen flickered, revealing an updated display. Catherine’s eyes scanned the new information.

---

**PROFILE:**

**NAME:** Catherine

**CLASS:** Ranker - Redemption System

**RANK:** Initiate

**LEVEL:** 1

**HP:** 100%

**MP:** 50%

**ATTRIBUTES:**

- Strength: 12

- Dexterity: 14

- Intelligence: 15

- Willpower: 18

**ABILITIES:**

- Passive: System Synchronization (Lvl 1)

- Active: Restoration Pulse (Lvl 1)

**WEAPONS:**

- None

---

The display was both overwhelming and underwhelming. For all her past accomplishments, this bare-bones profile felt like an insult—a reminder of how far she’d fallen. Yet, it was something, a foundation to rebuild upon.

Her musings were interrupted by a faint rustle in the bushes. Catherine turned, hand instinctively reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there. Instead, she straightened, her sharp gaze scanning the forest.

“Let’s see what else you have in store for me,” she muttered, her voice carrying a quiet determination.

---

Meanwhile, back in the prison cell, Reynolds leaned against the wall, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. “So, the great Catherine managed to complete her first task. I’m almost impressed.”

Halstead sipped his drink, his expression unreadable. “The Redemption System has a way of testing even the most stubborn souls. Whether she bends or breaks is yet to be seen.”

Reynolds chuckled. “Bends, breaks… either way, it’ll be entertaining.”

The two men turned their attention back to the shimmering display before them, watching as Catherine ventured deeper into the unknown. Unseen and unspoken, the System pulsed between worlds, its silent purpose unraveling in ways even they could not fully comprehend.

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