Two hours had passed quickly. Arsen sat in the corner, drenched in sweat. Beside him were two empty energy drink cans evidence that he had relied on them to push through his training.
Despite his effort, a look of disappointment lingered on his face as he stared at the screen displaying the results of today's session.
Stab [Lvl 1 80%]
Dash [Lvl 1 92%]
Although he was close to leveling up, Arsen still wasn't satisfied with the outcome. He had used the skill repeatedly, but for some reason, its proficiency refused to improve any further.
"It seems this is the limit of how much I can increase their proficiency in this training ground," he muttered to himself.
One of the guards approached him. "It's been two hours, Velnar. If you want to keep training for the rest of the day, just hand over a bronze coin."
The guard had clearly been observing Arsen watching him push himself to the limit, burning through his stamina by relentlessly activating the same skill over and over again.
Arsen shook his head, though the offer wasn't a bad one. Still, he knew he couldn't continue improving the same skills here he had already reached their growth limit in this training ground. At best, he could use it to enhance different skills next time.
"Can I take you up on that offer another time?"
The guard chuckled. "You're a funny one, adventurer! I can't promise the same deal later, but I'll give you a good discount when you come back," he replied with a grin.
He smiled, then pushed himself up to his feet. "Yeah, I'll definitely take you up on that. Thanks!"
Just as he reached the exit and was about to leave, the guard called out, "What's your name, adventurer?"
"I'm Velnar. And you?"
"I'm Rigus, Rank 2 Soldier from Grook's Town," he replied with a touch of pride. His tone shifted slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Are you planning to hunt monsters, like the others?"
Arsen nodded hunting monsters was exactly his plan. "Yeah, I am. Why do you ask?"
Rigus shrugged. "Nothing, really. It's just... you look like a new adventurer."
He gave a half-smile before continuing. "If you want my advice, head to Grook's Forest. It's not far from here. I used to train there myself when I was younger nothing too dangerous, so I'm sure you can handle the monsters."
"I'll go. But can you tell me what kind of monsters are in the forest?"
"Just the usual ones," Rigus replied with a shrug. "But it's a forest, so I can't say exactly what you'll run into."
After training, hunting monsters was Arsen's next objective. With no set destination and limited options available to him, taking Rigus's advice seemed like a smart choice.
Without looking back, Arsen raised his hand in farewell to Rigus. Despite knowing the man was just an NPC, he couldn't help but be impressed. Rigus held a natural, human-like conversation something Arsen hadn't expected. More than that, there was a distinct pressure coming from him, a quiet strength that made it clear: in this world, even NPCs weren't to be taken lightly.
-
Grook Forest
The area was surrounded by tall trees, their leaves whispering in the night breeze. Above, the stars sparkled brightly in the clear sky, while fireflies drifted lazily through the air. Moonlight poured through the canopy, casting a soft glow that lit up the forest floor.
Arsen arrived at the destination Rigus had recommended without any trouble, thanks to the map displayed on the game interface. It had only taken about twenty minutes on foot from the training grounds just outside the town.
"It feels like a monster could appear at any moment," Arsen muttered under his breath.
The moment he stepped into the forest, he drew his ordinary dagger. It was better to stay cautious no one could predict when or where a monster might strike. The night added an extra layer of tension; the moonlight barely reached the darker parts of the forest, casting long shadows that made it difficult to see anything clearly. To make things worse, there weren't any other players around—he was completely alone.
This wasn't Arsen's first time playing an online game. He had experience with countless titles and knew how to handle different situations with quick thinking and solid instincts. Even so, he couldn't ignore the way his heart pounded in his chest or how his hand trembled as he gripped his weapon.
The atmosphere felt too real. Arsen couldn't shake the sensation that someone was watching him, waiting for the moment he dropped his guard to strike.
What am I thinking? Am I actually afraid?
The thought of dying lingered in his mind. He had just logged into the game and hadn't accomplished anything yet. If he died now, it would set him back, possibly making it hard to recover. The consequences of death in this world were more than just a simple respawn they could cost him precious time and progress.
Yes, it had been a bad idea to come here alone, especially without knowing what kind of monsters lurked in the forest. But what else could he do? There was no one else to team up with. He had asked Rigus and the other NPCs he encountered, but for some reason, none of them could provide any details about the monsters here.
Shaking his head, Arsen almost let regret take over, but he pushed the thought aside.
Kreek!
After walking deeper into the forest for about six minutes, a sharp, malicious sound pierced the silence, grabbing Arsen's attention. His eyes darted to the source of the noise.
In the darkness, two glowing red eyes pierced through the shadows. Arsen couldn't make out the shape of the creature, but he knew one thing for sure: a fight was imminent. He took two cautious steps back, uncertain of what would happen next.
Swoosh!
The sound of bushes scraping against each other filled the air as the creature in the darkness began to move. Arsen's eyes widened in shock when he finally saw it—a monster standing about four feet tall. Its right arm was a massive blade, gleaming with sharp edges, and Arsen realized with a jolt that a single swing could easily decapitate him.
[Rabbier Lvl 1]
It had the same general appearance as a rabbit, but the differences were glaring. Its towering height, sharp shark-like fangs, and an aggressive posture set it apart from any normal rabbit. The muscles rippling beneath its fur hinted at extraordinary strength, making it clear that this creature was far more dangerous than its appearance suggested.
Swish!
-5
A wind-blade slashed through the air, leaving a deep scratch across his face. If he hadn't moved in time, his head might have already been flying through the air.
"Argh!"
Pain exploded across his face, and his expression shifted as he gritted his teeth. The pain was all too real it was as if the wound had been inflicted in the real world.
"This is unbelievable," he muttered, still reeling from the shock.
Two things raced through Arsen's mind in that moment. First, the pain. He hadn't expected the game to make him feel such intense pain—it was as if the system had designed it specifically to break a player's focus, to prevent them from staying calm in the face of danger. Second, the monster. He was only Level 1, still at the early stages of the game, yet the strength of this creature far exceeded what he had anticipated.
The pain, however, served as a brutal wake-up call. It forced him to snap back to his senses. Drawing on his training, he activated his Dash skill, blending into the shadows of the forest. Like an assassin, concealing his presence and preparing for a surprise attack was the best way to deal damage.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dust swirled in the air as the Rabbier began slashing through the trees that blocked its path. Arsen watched in awe—its movements were so effortless, it was like the monster was cutting through paper.
There was no one around to help him, no allies to call for assistance. If he didn't survive this and take down the monster, he knew there would be no way to continue playing this game alone. The only things he had were his wits and the knowledge he'd gained from countless hours spent in other games.
Arsen gritted his teeth in frustration, but this time, his eyes burned with determination. He knew that if he didn't land a blow on the monster, it would be the end. In his mind, the outcome was clear: if the monster caught him, he would die; if he failed to kill it, he would die. It was better to die trying than to not try at all.
After two minutes, the Rabbier paused, its senses faltering as it lost track of its target. The creature began to sniff the air, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, using its heightened senses to hunt down Arsen's location.
Swish!
Grughh!
Suddenly, green blood splashed through the air as a man jumped down from the tree, stabbing the monster's shoulder. The 8-inch dagger drove deep, delivering a heavy blow
A broad smile spread across his face as he landed a successful strike on the monster. However, that smile quickly faded when he tried to pull the dagger out. The monster's muscles contracted, hindering his movement and making it difficult to remove the weapon.
Thud!
Because of the resistance, the monster managed to swing its arm, sending him flying through the air. His body slammed into a nearby rock, the impact forcing him to cough up blood and causing his vision to blur.
-20
In a single counterattack, the monster had nearly depleted his HP and left his legs trembling with weakness. Despite the pain, Arsen knew he couldn't afford to stay in that position for long. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself to his feet and dashed deeper into the forest.
"T-this damn monster," he cursed, wincing as the extreme pain shot through his body with every step.
At first, Arsen had thought the players were exaggerating when they complained about the monster's power, but now he understood their fear.
The monster's attacks had slowed his movements, and he could now feel its presence closing in behind him, along with its relentless hunger to kill.
"I'm going to die if this keeps up."
Arsen quickly drank one of his HP potions, watching his health fully restore to 100%. He tossed the empty bottle aside, then forced himself to keep running.
This is frustrating!
The monster was only a meter away now. In a desperate move, Arsen spun around and swung his dagger with all the strength he could muster.
Swish!
His attack missed, slicing through the air, and for a brief moment, the Rabbier paused. Arsen hadn't made the reckless strike out of desperation it was a calculated move. He spotted another monster not far from his location. Fighting one had already been difficult enough, but drawing the attention of more would be disastrous.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as Arsen desperately tried to block the monster's blade. The impact sent cracks forming beneath his feet, and he felt a wave of numbness spread through his arms from the sheer force of the blow.
Bam!
Once again, the monster's blade swiped across Arsen, sending him tumbling to the ground. He rolled several times before finally coming to a halt when he collided with a tree.
The sharp scent of iron filled his nose as blood dripped down into his eyes, blurring his vision.
"I-I need to run... I can't fight this monster."