Axel closed the skill tree with but a thought, the glowing nodes fading into the peripherals of his vision. The forest greeted his vision once more with it's endless towering tree's and foliage.
His body felt lighter, more efficient, when he flexed his fingers, he could feel the faint tension of his tendons working more smoothly, more efficiently. It wasn't much but it was progress. The increase wasn't overwhelming like [Tempered Rage], it felt light, unnoticeable until he really focused. But that didn't mean this skill was bad, no it's just because the strength increase was more... Refined than the former skill.
Then came his second skill,
"Hunter's Intuition," he muttered softly, activating the skill.
It felt like he unlocked his third eye or some shit.
Things that he'd previously ignored suddenly opened up to him, each one telling their own stories.
He crouched low, brushing his fingers lightly across the ground. A faint, uneven pattern of prints led off in a particular direction, half-hidden under scattered leaves. They were wider, heavier than goblin prints, too organized to belong to some beast.
Human
"Alright," he muttered. "Looks like I got a lead."
He adjusted the strap of his satchel, checked the weight of the stolen goblin short sword, then began moving, unlike last time when he wandered aimlessly, this time, he had a destination in mind.
The world around him shifted. Hunter's Intuition didn't just make him see the trail. It guided him with tiny, subtle nudges, like he always knew how to track in the first place.
Axel wasn't a tracker. In his old world, he'd barely camped more than twice in his life. But now, his feet moved like someone who'd been doing it for years. Every step was calculated. Every turn felt deliberate.
The forest slowly began to thin. The density of the trees broke apart, letting more sunlight spill through the canopy. The underbrush lessened, and he could hear a faint, steady tickle somewhere ahead. He followed the sound, walking steady but alert.
After about half an hour of moving, he broke through a tree line and found a narrow river cutting through the plains. A crude wooden bridge arched over it, undoubtedly crafted by human hands. It wasn't fancy, but it was stable.
Axel crouched by the bank and dipped his fingers into the water, cold, clean.
For the first time in this new world, he saw his reflection. His face was still young but hardened, he had red eyes with a defined jaw and short, dark, unkempt hair. his frame was compact, efficient, built for combat, there was no excessive muscles whatsoever, his body was built for speed and power, like a predator.
After he finished washing himself in the river, Axel continued on his path.
"This way, then," he whispered, climbing up onto the bridge.
Hunter's Intuition pulsed faintly again, pulling him towards his destination. He followed.
As the minutes turned into hours, the sounds of the forest began to shift. More birds. Fewer predators. A faint hum of activity and even distant voices? It was so soft at first that he thought it was his imagination. But the closer he got, the clearer it became.
Then he smelled it.
Smoke
Not the thick, choking kind from fire or war. The warm, rich kind that came from hearths and cooking fires.
His chest tightened with a surge of unexpected emotion. Civilization. People. Answers.
He crouched low, slipping behind a row of bushes at the edge of a clearing. His eyes scanned the horizon.
There it was.
A village.
Wooden palisade walls circled around clusters of thatched-roof houses. Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys. He could see small figures moving between buildings—farmers, hunters, villagers. A few men patrolled the perimeter with simple spears in hand, equipped with some hybrid leather-iron armor.
Axel felt his lips curl into a genuine smile.
Finally.
But he didn't walk in blindly. Good thing he cleaned himself off the red blood of the goblins or else he probably would've been attacked on sight.
He tried to make himself look less… threatening. Which, considering he'd just gone berserk on a pack of goblins, was easier said than done.
He stepped out of the treeline, hands raised slightly, showing he wasn't holding any weapons.
The reaction was immediate.
Two of the patrolling villagers noticed him instantly. Their spears lifted in unison, practiced and steady. One of them whispered something to the other before both advanced toward him, their expressions a mix of caution and curiosity.
Axel stopped a few meters from the gate. "Hey," he said evenly, voice steady. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Just looking for people. Guess I found some."
The two men exchanged a quick glance, clearly understanding him. The taller one—broad shoulders, scar across his jaw, raiised his brow. "Where the hell did you come from? Nobody walks out of the west alive."
Axel tried to speak in a honest and respectful tone. "I'm just a lost traveler sir, the trade caravan that I was in got ambushed by goblins."
He decided to be as respectful as possible, he would be royally fucked if they didn't let him in so he wasn't taking any chances by being brash or stupid.
The shorter guard looked at him suspiciously, not putting down his spear. "Any identification?"
He replied, "No sir, it was lost in the chaos of the ambush."
The taller guard's brows furrow, just enough to wrinkle the skin between his eyes. "You're coming in. But don't make any sudden move."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Axel replied.
They escorted him through the wooden gates, and for a moment, Axel just stood there—taking it all in.
The village was alive.
Children darted through the dirt streets with wooden toys. A blacksmith hammered away on an anvil in a half-open shed. Farmers carried baskets of vegetables. Chickens scattered as he passed. There was so much noise, smell, life so different from the crushing emptiness of the void or the cold silence of the forest.
For someone who'd been alone for what felt like forever, it almost felt surreal.
Whispers followed him as he was led deeper inside. A few villagers pointed. Others stared. Suspicion, curiosity, a touch of fear, but that was natural, considering he was an outsider.
They brought him to a long wooden hall at the center of the settlement. Inside, the air smelled of herbs, parchment, and smoke. Seated behind a sturdy table covered with ledgers and maps was a woman with sharp eyes and an air of quiet authority.
She was a woman in her late forties, with a steady way of carrying herself. Her frame was lean and strong from years of work, not training. Her face was oval-shaped, her eyes were hazel colored, firm and scrutinizing, her hair was cut short, colored black with streaks of grey.
She didn't bother hiding her thoughts. "Outsider."
Axel tilted his head. "Guilty as charged."
"You're either lucky or dangerous," she said flatly. "West of here's crawling with goblins and worse. How did you make it through?"
Axel shrugged lightly. "I'm a guard ma'am, I was travelling with a trade caravan until we were ambushed by bandits."
For a moment, silence filled the room. One of the guards shifted uneasily, like he wasn't sure whether to feel bad or stay cautious.
The woman's lips twitched, quickly spotting a hole in his story. "Guarding a caravan, with that quality of gear?"
She pointed at his rusted, worn short sword and rugged leather vest.
"My equipment broke on the way here," Axel said dryly, "I'm just looking for some information. A place to rest. Maybe food that isn't dried meat and rock-hard bread."
The woman finally relented, leaned back in her chair, arms crossing, "Name?"
"Axel Thorne."
She nodded once, "You'll find a inn near the east gate. Food, water, and a bed. Don't cause trouble, and the village won't cause any for you, clear enough?"
"Crystal."
They let him walk out on his own this time. No spears at his back. That was a good sign.
Outside, the sky was beginning to burn orange with the late afternoon sun. The sounds of the village buzzed around him, hammering, laughter, the creak of wagon wheels. His chest felt tight, in a way he wasn't used to.
Relief, maybe.
He found the traveler's post easily: a modest wooden inn with a carved boar's head over the door. The owner, a burly man with a thick beard, squinted at him, then nodded toward a stool at the counter.
"Traveler?" the man grunted.
"Something like that," Axel said.
"A night's stay for 300 valis, meals are included" The owner confirmed.
Axel reached into the pouch he'd woken up with. Valis huh? So that's what the currency in his pouch was. He brought out some coins from his bag, giving them to the owner.
The innkeeper examined it, then pointed inside the inn, "Sit."
Axel sat down. For the first time since stepping into this new world, he had something resembling normalcy. A mug of ale, actual medieval ale. A slab of meat of unknown origin that's probably not seasoned but it was leagues better than the dried meat he put up with in the forest.
Then the system notification materialized in front of his vision accompanied with a ding.
[New Location Discovered: Faln Village]
[Hidden Route to Major City: Orario Unlocked]
His fingers tightened slightly around the mug. Orario. That name... It felt important—heavy, like something important was happening there.
"Hey," Axel said to the innkeeper between bites. "This "Orario" place. What is it?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "You've never heard of Orario?"
Everyone's heard of Orario before, even the most secluded hermits that lived off of wild mushrooms in the mountains knew about the world-famous Labyrinth City.
Axel shook his head.
"It's the beating heart of this damn continent," the man said, setting down a jug. "Biggest city in the region. Familias. Adventurers. Trade routes. If you've got strength, skill, or just want a fresh start, that's where you go. Course, it's not a walk in the park gettin' there."
Axel leaned back, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"That sounds perfect."
Night crept in slowly as Axel finished his meal. Lanterns flickered to life around the village, painting the gravel roads in light.
Axel sat by the firepit outside the inn, letting the warmth seep into his bones. He opened the system again, his eyes scanning the interface.
[Skill Interface]
[Tempered Rage Tier 1] (Active) (Unlocked)
Increases overall physical strength, speed, and reflexes by 30% for a short duration, surpassing the duration will lead to inverse effects on user's body.
[Hardened Frame Tier 1] (Passive) (Locked) - (Unlocked)
A low-level physical enhancement that strengthens the body's natural structure through forced adaptation. The muscles become slightly denser, joints stabilize, and bones become more resistant to strain. It doesn't turn the user into a tank just yet but it makes the body a good base for future enhancement and upgrades.
Hunter's Intuition Tier 1] (Active) (Locked) - (Unlocked)
Gives the user a primal awareness that heightens the user's senses and ability to read their surroundings. Alongside heightened perception, this skill feeds the user basic tracking knowledge.
...
This was his foundation. Not much, but enough to build from.
He looked up at the night sky. For the first time since waking in this world, he felt like he knew what to do next. He had a direction now, and a city to find.
"Orario huh?" he murmured, a dangerous little smirk forming on his face. "I guess we'll see what kind of hell waits for me there."