"How are we going to do this? Charging straight in doesn't seem like a smart move—especially when we don't even know what we're dealing with" I questioned, my deep voice echoing off the damp cave walls. My eyes stayed fixed on the cave entrance, alert for any sign of movement, while a silent shiver ran down the back of my neck at the darkness ahead.
Hearing my words, Oliver took on a thoughtful look. His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully, as if searching every detail for a weak spot, and the expression on his face showed he was already starting to form a plan. I stayed quiet, waiting for what he'd say next.
A few moments later, his voice rang out, firm but with a slight hint of doubt: "You two said you have similar abilities, right? If I remember correctly, you've got an instant kill power... as long as the monster doesn't notice you first. Do you think a single hit like that would be enough to take this thing down?"
Hearing Oliver's question, I paused to think it over. As he said, my [Precise Strike] ability lets me eliminate monsters instantly—as long as I can attack without being detected first. But honestly, that skill is far from perfect. It has a lot of limitations.
The first and most obvious one is that the description doesn't specify the power level at which it works. Honestly, I doubt an ability rated (Common) would be strong enough to kill any monster in one hit. That'd be naive to think. On the other hand, I don't consider it weak either. It's useful, especially in the right circumstances.
In the end, I thought about it a lot, but my answer to Oliver sounded more like a question than a conclusion: "I guess not? Honestly, I'm not sure. For monsters at my level or below, I think it works like that. But if this thing's way higher level than we think... then, honestly, I don't know how it'll behave"
Oliver nodded silently when he heard that. Right after, his expression grew even more thoughtful. His eyes carefully scanned the area again, taking in every detail, before finally settling on the dark cave entrance. Then he looked up at the tall trees around us and finally at the steep slope rising above the cave.
"Maybe it could work" Oliver murmured, slowly shifting his gaze toward me.
"I've got an idea" Oliver started, his eyes flickering between my male and female forms with a thoughtful expression: "I'm not sure if it'll work, but... if we do everything right, we might get a huge advantage over whatever's hiding inside the cave"
In the next moment, Oliver laid out the plan in a few words. He would hide at the top of a tree, while Noa would position herself on the steep slope above the cave. My male body would go inside the cave and lure the monster out.
The choice to use my male body instead of the female one was simple: Oliver thought that, physically, I could handle the task better. After all, he said, Noa was a woman and shouldn't risk herself that much.
Of course, I didn't take offense. After all, we couldn't afford mistakes, especially when considering who would have more stamina in that situation. It's true that this probably wouldn't matter much soon as the tutorial participants' stats increased.
It was very possible some women would end up surpassing men in strength and speed. But, of course, Oliver had no idea my male and female bodies share exactly the same stats. Technically, that means my speed and endurance are identical, no matter which body I'm using.
Anyway, a few minutes later, we finally decided to put the plan into action. Through my right eye—the only one I could see through as Justin—I watched the imposing cave entrance.
The rocky walls seemed to swallow the light around them, and the inside was covered in thick darkness, making it almost impossible to see what was inside. I took a deep breath, feeling the slightly damp, cold air, and then took my first steps into the cave, leaving the light behind.
The first steps inside the cave were slow and carefully measured. The wet ground, covered with a thin layer of slippery mud, made every movement feel like a silent challenge, while the heavy, dense air muffled even my own breathing, making each breath a conscious effort.
Even with [Silent Steps] active, I had a disturbing feeling of stepping over old bones creaking under my boots, as if the cave itself was protesting my presence.
To sharpen my senses even more, I activated [Basic Enhanced Senses] and was immediately flooded with intense sensations: the constant distant dripping of water, echoing like tiny crystal drops; the sharp smell of dried blood mixed with the earthy scent of soaked moss; and finally, a heavy, deep breath reverberating off the damp walls.
It was there. The thing. Huge. Much bigger than any monster we'd faced so far—a presence that seemed to crush the very air around it. A low, hoarse growl erupted from the darkness, echoing like a muffled thunder rolling through the entire tunnel, making the walls vibrate slightly.
My heart sped up. Instinctively, I triggered [Detect Presences]. Immediately, a colossal aura appeared before me, still but pulsing with oppressive energy—as if the shadow itself was alive, watching my every move with invisible, alert eyes.
I swallowed hard, feeling my throat dry completely. It was now or never. I spun on my heel and bolted, running with everything I had, while my heart pounded so hard it felt like it wanted to jump out of my chest.
Behind me, the monster let out a deafening roar—a howl so powerful it shook the ground beneath my feet. The surrounding forest shook, trees violently swaying as the creature burst out of the cave entrance, destroying everything with brutal, savage force.
A gigantic, imposing, threatening bear stood over six meters tall, its dark, thick fur seeming to absorb the little light around it like a cloak of living shadows. Its eyes, glowing with wild fury and sharp intelligence, fixed the surroundings with a piercing, almost defiant gaze.
The animal's bulky muscles, rigid and defined as if carved from living stone, contracted with every deep breath, making it clear the strength it carried was immense. The exact moment it emerged from the trees, breaking the silence with a low, threatening growl, Oliver, hidden in his high spot, pulled his bow tight.
The first arrow sliced through the air with a precise cut, letting out a sharp whistle that seemed to tear through the forest's silence. As it flew forward, the arrowhead began to glow intensely and vibrantly, reflecting the sunlight like a shooting star about to collide with its target.
But the monster was surprisingly agile — too fast for its colossal size. With a deafening roar, it spun its entire body in a fierce motion and, with a claw as sharp as a blade, deflected the arrow.
At the moment of impact, a blinding flash exploded, followed by a brutal shockwave that shook the ground, snapping trees around like dry twigs and violently throwing me backward, making my body slam hard against the earth.
"He dodged?!" I shouted, heart racing, as Noa's voice echoed anxiously from high up on the cliff, cutting through the tense silence of the forest. At the same time, Justin's voice reverberated closer, almost beside the bear.
The bear roared again, a deep sound that echoed through the forest, and this time it charged straight at Justin. Each heavy step made the ground tremble, as if the earth itself protested under its colossal weight.
I felt the air vibrate with its approach, and at the last second, I rolled to the side, feeling the cutting wind of its claws passing where my head had been seconds before — a shiver ran down my spine.
Wasting no time, I leapt up and activated [Precision Strike]. The dagger in my hand shone brightly, surrounded by a contained and pulsating energy. Heart pounding, I ran toward the beast's flank, looking for an opening. I quickly aimed at the base of its neck, trying to land a quick, precise attack.
But the giant bear spun with almost superhuman reflexes, its movement as fast as thunder, and struck me with the back of its paw. I felt my body launch into the air like a ragdoll, flying several meters before crashing against the rough, cold bark of a tree trunk.
Pain exploded in my ribs, sharp and cutting, making every breath difficult. I tried to draw in air, but a metallic, bitter, and hot taste filled my mouth, mixing with the flavor of blood.
A quick glance at my health status revealed the harsh truth: Health: 29/136. There was no denying it — coming here without healing first was undoubtedly reckless. But no one knew exactly how long it would take to fully recover.
And, to be honest, we were all injured, exhausted, desperately needing a safe refuge, a place where we could rest, even if only for a brief moment.
Anyway, Oliver didn't waste time. With steady hands and a determined look, he quickly readied his bow once more: "Second arrow!" he shouted firmly, drawing the string and firing the projectile with precision.
This time, he hit dead center. The impact was devastating — a purple explosion erupted, consuming part of the creature's shoulder with a fierce glow that lit up the surrounding shadows. The flesh beneath the skin dissolved, revealing exposed veins and muscles as the bear staggered, disoriented.
But despite the burned chest and the blood streaming down, the beast didn't fall. A guttural roar, filled with pain and rage, echoed through the trees, growing louder and reverberating in the air like thunder. Its fury was now pure and absolute — a wild, untamable force about to erupt again.
But that was the opportunity I'd been waiting for. Without hesitation, I threw my female body down the slope, plunging like a stone toward the bear. The wind cut across my face as I gripped my dagger's hilt tightly, feeling the cold blade against my palm.
Mid-fall, I aligned the blade precisely, aiming directly at the open wound on the animal's flank. The blades glinted under the dim light, digging deep into the tough flesh. But before I could pull back, the bear twisted its massive body with surprising speed and delivered a brutal blow with the inside of its paw, striking me hard.
I felt the brutal impact reverberate through my entire body as I was thrown against a rough rock. My tired body, marked by open wounds and throbbing pain, collapsed heavily to the ground, completely helpless. It was as if my female body had lost all strength — every muscle seemed paralyzed, immobilized by an invisible pressure.
A suffocating sensation, like a giant stone resting on my chest, crushed me against the cold, relentless earth. That immobilizing weight made it clear that even with identical status — at least health-wise — endurance and limits were deeply personal.
"Shit!" I shouted, my voice echoing around me as I struggled to get up, heavy and aching.
Oliver climbed down swiftly from the tree and dashed toward the monster, determined to distract the creature. With bow in hand, he shot ordinary arrows as he zigzagged, his quick steps kicking up small dust clouds on the ground.
Some arrows pierced the beast's face and eyes, causing pained growls, but the monster kept advancing, relentless and furious, like a living storm about to devour everything in its path.
I wasted no time and activated [Precision Strike]. My dagger glowed intensely, taking on a metallic reddish hue that seemed to pulse with energy. Then, silently, I triggered [Silent Steps], feeling my footsteps become nearly imperceptible. I combined the skills, taking a deep breath to control my body's rhythm.
The world around me seemed to slow down — every muffled sound, every sharp movement — as I dashed again toward the creature's flank. I dodged loose stones, broken logs, and sharp claws tearing through the air toward me with agility. The monster, however, turned toward Oliver, completely ignoring my approach. The perfect moment to strike.