NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Properties Panel
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**Open One's Eyes**
It was pitch dark, with only a sliver of moonlight casting a soft, silvery glow over the snow-covered landscape.
The wind howled.
Snowflakes, carried by gusts, stung Ryuji's face like tiny needles, leaving behind a sharp, biting pain.
The world was eerily silent. Occasionally, a tree groaned under the weight of the snow, producing faint cracks that echoed through the stillness.
In this quiet, even the smallest sound felt ominous, sending shivers down his spine.
The freezing wind cut through the air, gradually clearing Ryuji's muddled mind.
Staring at the unfamiliar surroundings, he felt a wave of confusion wash over him. Just moments ago, he'd been sipping a cold beer, basking in the summer heat.
And now, without warning, he found himself in this icy woodland, enveloped by snow.
"Where… is this?" he muttered, glancing around in a daze.
*Tch… tch… tch…*
The faint sound of footsteps broke the silence, startling Ryuji. Panic momentarily overtook his confusion, and he spun toward the source.
With the dim moonlight as his guide, he could barely make out a hulking figure emerging from the shadows.
It was a massive black bear.
The creature's muscular frame loomed closer, its enormous paws like fans. Ryuji felt his heart race. One swipe from those paws would be fatal.
The bear's bloodshot eyes glistened with hunger, locking onto Ryuji with a predatory glare. To the beast, he was nothing more than prey.
Without a second thought, Ryuji turned and ran, his heart pounding in his chest. A wave of dread washed over him. He had just appeared in this strange place, only to face a bear attack—it was absurd.
But he had no time to question it. The bear moved faster than he could imagine, closing the gap between them in moments. He felt the air shift behind him, and instinctively turned.
The bear was already upon him, a massive paw raised, poised to strike.
Ryuji's mind raced—if that paw connected, he'd be done for.
He tried to move, but the bear's speed was unmatched. The wind from the approaching paw felt like a blade against his face, and he braced himself for the worst.
*Shing!*
Just as the bear's paw descended, a cold flash sliced through the air. In an instant, the bear's paw was severed, blood splattering across Ryuji's face.
For a brief moment, he stood there, stunned. His life had been saved… but by what?
When he came to his senses, he saw it: a spinning axe embedded deep into a nearby tree, the weapon that had saved him.
The bear let out a deafening roar, and Ryuji looked in the direction from which the axe had come.
Through the swirling snow, a figure approached.
The man had long, dark red hair, a slender frame, and a faint scar on his forehead. He wore a dark blue plaid haori with an Ichimatsu pattern, and a pair of distinct Hanafuda earrings dangled from his ears.
The man cast a brief glance at the howling bear before turning to Ryuji.
"You alright?" he asked, his voice calm yet filled with concern.
Ryuji, still in shock, stared at the man. He looked oddly familiar, like someone he had seen before.
Then it struck him—the man bore an uncanny resemblance to Tanjiro Kamado from *Demon Slayer*.
Before he could process it further, the bear, injured but furious, charged again, its massive body barreling toward the man.
The man, though much smaller and seemingly fragile in comparison, stood his ground. Without flinching, he raised a hand and struck the bear.
The impact sounded like cracking bones, echoing through the stillness. The bear's massive form was thrown back, landing in the snow several feet away.
Dumbfounded, Ryuji rubbed his eyes, struggling to believe what he'd seen.
But reality quickly pulled him back. Seeing the bear still twitching, Ryuji grabbed the axe from the tree and rushed forward.
Without hesitation, he swung, severing the bear's head. Leaving a wounded enemy alive was too risky.
As the bear lay motionless, a soft, white light enveloped its body, and a mechanical voice echoed in Ryuji's mind.
"Ding. Congratulations, host. You have slain the black bear and gained 0.1 attribute points."
He felt a strange sensation—a status panel appearing in his mind.
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**Name:** Ryuji
**Physique:** 0.8 (Average adult physique is 1.)
**Dexterity:** 0.9 (Average adult dexterity is 1.)
**Strength:** 0.8 (Average adult strength is 1.)
**Spirit:** 1.2 (Average adult spirit is 1.)
**Attribute points obtained:** 0.1
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Looking at the attribute template in his mind, Ryuji's face darkened slightly. He wasn't surprised by the low stats; his health had been poor, and he rarely exercised.
Still, he focused on the 0.1 attribute point he'd obtained. Thinking back, he realized that the white light from the bear's body must have triggered it.
After a brief hesitation, he allocated the point to Dexterity. Just moments ago, his slow movements had nearly cost him his life. The memory of the bear's paw almost crushing him still lingered.
As he assigned the point, warmth spread from between his eyebrows, flowing through his body. The feeling was brief but intense, and as he shifted his weight, he noticed his steps felt lighter.
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**Name:** Ryuji
**Physique:** 0.8
**Dexterity:** 1.0
**Strength:** 0.8
**Spirit:** 1.2
**Attribute points obtained:** 0
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"Sir… sir…"
A voice pulled Ryuji out of his thoughts. He looked up to see the man who had saved him.
"Thank you," Ryuji said, his voice filled with gratitude. "If you hadn't stepped in, I'd be dead."
"It's nothing," the man replied, shaking his head. "But what are you doing out here in the mountains at this hour? It's dangerous."
"I… I got lost," Ryuji stammered, uncertain of how to explain. He didn't understand it himself, so it was the best answer he could give.
The man looked thoughtful, but he didn't press further.
"By the way," Ryuji said, "what's your name?"
"My name is Kamado Tanjuro. But just call me Tanjuro," he replied with a small smile.
Ryuji's eyes widened in shock. The name was unmistakable. Somehow, he had entered the world of *Demon Slayer.*
Kamado Tanjuro… Ryuji remembered him as Tanjiro's father and one of the few to master the "Transparent World" technique. His family, the Kamados, were heirs to the Sun Breathing technique, passed down from Yoriichi Tsugikuni himself.
Tanjuro had died before the anime's events, only appearing through memories. But here he was, standing right before Ryuji.
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