The forest was quiet by nightfall. Crickets sang, and the wind whispered through the leaves like an old lullaby. Aric leaned back against the trunk of a tall oak, perched on the crude platform he had lashed together from rope and branches. It wasn't much, but it kept him above prowling beasts and gave him a place to breathe.
He pulled a strip of dried meat from his pouch, chewing slowly as he stared out into the dark. His sword lay across his lap, still nicked from the day's hunts.
Eight horned rabbits. Three boars. His muscles ached from the effort, his shirt torn in two places, but he was still here. Still standing.
I did it…
[Correction: barely. You almost tripped over your own sword during the second rabbit.]
Aric smirked faintly. You never miss a chance to mock me, do you?
[Motivation through sarcasm, Host. Works wonders.]
He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. Then his thoughts shifted, replaying each fight—the boar's charging tusks, the rabbits' darting speed. He replayed his swings, his dodges, every mistake that cost him breath or blood.
"Tomorrow will be better," he murmured, finishing his rations and tucking his pack close.
The System purred in the back of his mind.[Keep saying that, and one day it might even be true.]
Aric ignored it, lying down on the makeshift platform, eyes heavy. Sleep came fast, filled with restless flickers of memory and battle.
Morning light broke through the canopy, sharp and golden. Aric climbed down, stretched sore muscles, and tightened his belt. A message lingered in the corner of his vision:
[Level Up! → Lv. 3]
He blinked but didn't open his panel yet. Later. He wanted to earn more before looking.
With quick steps, he moved deeper into the woods. The air grew cooler, the shadows heavier. That was when he heard it—low growls, a ripple in the silence.
Wolves.
Five of them padded into view, fur bristling, horns curling from their skulls like twisted branches. Their eyes gleamed yellow in the half-light.
Aric's grip tightened on his sword. "Alright," he whispered. "Let's see what I've got."
The first wolf lunged, jaws snapping. Aric sidestepped, Quickstep flaring under his feet. The world blurred for a moment, his body moving sharper, faster. His blade cut a shallow line across the beast's flank.
The second wolf came from the side. He twisted, Arcane Slash flashing as mana surged. The blade glowed blue, cutting through fur and hide. The wolf yelped, collapsing in a heap.
[Skill Efficiency: Arcane Slash → 89%]
"Not bad," Aric muttered, rolling his shoulders.
The rest came as a pack. He fought hard, blood pounding in his ears. Teeth scraped his arm once, claws grazed his leg, but by the end of it, all five wolves lay still. His breath came ragged, his mana gone.
[Experience Gained: 5 × 30 = 150]
He wiped his blade on the grass.
[You look like a scarecrow after harvest, Host. But hey, still alive. Well done.]
He grinned despite the ache. Real combat's different. The dummies never fought back.
[Sharp observation. Should I award you another gold star?]
The rest of the day blurred into a rhythm of hunts and survival. Ten wolves. Five boars. Ten rabbits. Each fight a little smoother, each step a little faster.
By the time the sun dipped low, his shirt clung to him with sweat, his arms ached, but his heart beat with a thrill he hadn't felt before.