A turquoise arrow flew from my back at high speed, ready to strike a monster resembling a giant spider. It had ten jet-black legs attached to a dark red, oval body, yellowish fur like pollen, and a head with deep, seemingly empty holes that appeared to be its means of vision.
The arrow traveled until it entered one of its six holes, burying itself firmly. The arrowhead emerged from the back of the giant arachnid's head, and an instant later, it vanished after drinking the monster's black blood. Its body fell alongside its five sisters that lay nearby.
Thanks to the accuracy of the shot, I was able to lower my sword and rest after a long day of hunting.
—Well done, Jess.
Jess stood a few meters behind, holding a simple bow made of light, flexible wood. It had small gold engravings along its length and a blue gem at each end of the bow; it was a magic bow.
Jess was different too. The beautiful girl with snow-white skin and glossy black hair was no longer wearing her usual clothes. She wore a form-fitting outfit in light colors that accentuated her agile figure. A gray corset with asymmetrical lines hugged her torso, protected on one shoulder by an angular metal plate. The dark brown leather pants were fastened with crisscrossing laces at the front and reinforced with straps and buckles that suggested both style and practicality in combat.
Her high boots, with sturdy heels and metal toes, reached almost to her thighs, joined by decorative plates and gold details that glittered with every step. Above all, a long white cloak fell from her shoulders, divided into two pieces that opened like wings as she moved, contrasting with the rest of her attire and giving her an almost spectral air, and of course, an archery glove on her right hand.
That shy girl had just eliminated a monster called the Night Spider.
{Name: Night Spider}
{Level: 4}
{Attribute: Darkness}
{Health: 0/25}
{Magic: 0/20}
{Resistance: 0/45}
{Strength: 30}
{Speed: 35}
{Defense: 20}
{Perception: 30}
{Abilities: [Poison] [Evasive Leap] [Fear] [Webbing] [Poisonous Blood]}
A gray-haired boy to my right rejoined us with a mocking smile on his face.
—Phew, that was a piece of cake, wasn't it? Hahaha.
The one who had said that was Kris, who was next to me wearing armor that reflected the light like a steel mirror. Each plate fit precisely over the next, forming a breastplate that combined elegance and strength. The molded breastplate followed the lines of his torso, reinforced by dark leather straps that fastened tightly around his waist. The finely crafted bracers and shoulder guards displayed subtle engravings reminiscent of wind ripples or dragon scales.
Under the metal, he wore a thick black garment that protected his skin from the chafing of the steel and further accentuated the silvery gleam of his armor. The ensemble wasn't ostentatious, but it commanded respect, a balance between the sobriety of a soldier and the presence of a knight. His legs were still bare, just boots and steel kneepads that matched the silver of his armor over his old school pants.
—Well, we're done here, let's head back to camp.
After surviving the great Troll, we realized how fragile the situation was for humans on this planet. We needed to grow fast, much faster. That day, Jess carried Kris's body and then mine, since I'd lost consciousness shortly after killing the Troll due to blood loss. If it hadn't been for her, we might have been monster food.
When we recovered, our strength had skyrocketed. Each level granted more stats than the last, and after the third level, all stats increased without exception, including magic and perception. The second system also underwent some changes; at the third level, we received a new notification.
{Congratulations ¢#>/4€É2 ©! Ō©4 You have unlocked the shop}
At the third level, the system enabled a shop where we could buy simple items like clothing, small amounts of water, and little else.
Things got interesting when we reached the fifth level. The shop unlocked options for specialized weapons and clothing, and that's where Jess and Kris got their new outfits.
Jess focused on mobility, and Kris on defense. The currency in this shop was quite simple: each experience point earned was worth one point. So, by the time someone reached the fifth level, they had accumulated a total of 150 points (in increments of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50).
Jess spent 100 points on clothing that improved her speed and 50 on a special bow that increased her magic and allowed her to use her magic ability obtained from a skill stone in the forest [Magic Arrow]. This rare ability granted her 12 magic points and the ability to create a magic arrow, provided she had a bow capable of accumulating magic.
Kris spent all 100 points on his superior armor set, which boosted his defense. This turned out to be quite expensive. He also spent 50 points on a light, round shield with a curve to deflect attacks. Because of this, he didn't have the best lower armor and continued using his starting sword, which now had quite a few chips.
I, on the other hand, kept my original outfit. My black pants and boots were still in perfect condition, while my shirt was torn in several places and even missing one of its sleeves.
This was because I spent my 150 points on something else: 120 points on a sword that increased my strength. It had a curved blade approximately one meter long, similar to a Japanese nodachi, but thicker and heavier than a conventional sword. The edge, forged from dark steel with a silver rim, was designed to both cut and withstand direct impacts. The hilt, wrapped in white cloth, allowed for a firm two-handed grip. Right at the base of the blade, a white steel plate acted as a guard. The guard was minimal, favoring mobility, and the red pommel was claw-shaped. Its black leather sheath kept the whole thing understated and practical.
I spent the last 30 points on black leather gloves that allowed for a strong grip. They also had tiny silver steel plates on the knuckles and back of the hand, perfect for striking or receiving a blow without putting too much strain on the hands.
These decisions weren't made randomly. Due to my tracking ability with [Pulse], which had now been upgraded to [Greater Pulse], I took the front line. Kris adopted a defensive stance after feeling very fragile from the time the Troll almost killed him by crushing him in its grip. Meanwhile, Jess, who had acquired [Magic Arrow] shortly after those events, became the best option to take the rear and support us with her ranged attacks.
We became a perfect three-person squad, as far as our circumstances allowed. Together, we went hunting several times, returning victorious dozens of times.
Currently, we find ourselves deep within the endless forest. Even after advancing eastward for almost three months—or at least to what we call the east, the direction of the rising sun—we haven't left this vast forest. It's as if it has no end. However, the monsters have been changing recently.
At first, we kept seeing goblins, wolves, and some similar creatures. Recently, we started seeing night spiders, which gives us the impression that we've reached a different region.
We move every two days, eating pieces of the monsters we hunt that we deem edible. We drink water if there's a nearby source; otherwise, we have to buy a bottle of water from the system for 10 points, quite expensive for a beginner, so we try to avoid it.
But we're not the same as before. We've leveled up, literally.
The last hunt we did gave us a significant level and points boost. Kris and Jess reached level 6, and I managed to reach level 7 thanks to the number of spider monsters we hunted.
We were finally at our makeshift campsite. We had some blankets and a tent for the three of us, which we bought from the system for a modest price, and it was time to buy something else.
"Open Shop"
{Shop ¢#>/4€É2 ©! Ō©4} {Current Points: 68}
It was time to buy something.