After leaving the Player Association, Damons reached into his pocket and pulled out the communicator — a small black device, given to him along with his player card and the two beginner daggers.
He activated it with a simple gesture, making a floating interface appear. He wanted to check the public gate announcements, hoping to find one that was accessible… and most importantly, profitable.
He spotted several low-level gates, rank F — ideal to start with before taking on greater challenges. These gates were often ignored by guilds, too weak to catch their attention, as they preferred to focus on higher-ranked gates. But that was exactly what he needed.
Before heading out, he went back to his apartment to pick up Misty, who also needed to level up as a royal guard.
They quickly made their way to the gate site.
[GATE: MUTANT BOAR FOREST]
They arrived swiftly at the low-rank gate location. Misty seemed a bit too excited and kept bouncing around Damons. Finally, Damons turned to him.
"Misty, focus. This isn't the time to play."
A security guard approached Damons, observing him with a professional air.
"You're a player, correct?" he asked.
"Yes," Damons replied calmly.
Beneath his slightly open jacket, Misty remained perfectly still. Thanks to his small size and the loose fabric, the guard didn't notice a thing.
"Your player card, please."
Damons handed it over without a word. The guard scanned it with his terminal.
Beep.
"All good, you may proceed. Be careful in there," he advised with a slight nod.
Damons nodded back, a discreet smile on his lips, and stepped through the gate… with Misty still hidden against him.
The gate transported them into a dense and humid forest. The vegetation was thick, almost oppressive.
"This is… way more natural than I expected," remarked Damons.
"Mmmh, it smells nice here…" Misty responded, dashing off at full speed, running between trees and chewing everything he found.
Crunch… munch…
"You're really impossible, you know!"
They continued forward. Suddenly, a heavy sound came from the bushes.
Grrrrrr…
Barely deeper into the forest, they saw ten mutant boars heading straight toward them. Above their heads, a system message appeared, displaying the enemy level:
[MUTANT BOAR – LEVEL 15]
"Ah, finally a fight worthy of me! I was afraid I'd end up like the rabbits in your world…" exclaimed Misty.
"Let's gain some levels," replied Damons with a smile.
They exchanged a determined look, ready to battle.
The boars advanced with heavy, steady steps, sniffing the air, their eyes locked on the two companions.
GROAAAAAR GROAAAAAR
Misty launched himself forward without waiting for Damons. His agile body leaped toward a boar.
FWOOSH
[DING]
[MISTY USES THE MARTIAL ART: CRUSHING LEAP]
In a flash, Misty pounced on one of the boars and struck it with a devastating blow under its jaw, sending the monster flying through the air.
Misty flipped backward, then launched himself into the air and headbutted the boar mid-flight, smashing into its stomach.
BOOOM
The boar vanished instantly, leaving behind a small blue stone. Misty landed nimbly like a feline. He turned around, proud of his performance.
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY HAS KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
Damons observed the scene with a slight smile. He had no intention of staying passive.
[+150XP]
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY HAS LEVELED UP]
LV10 > LV11
"My turn!" shouted Damons.
[SYSTEM]
[YOU ACTIVATE YOUR SKILL: STEALTH]
He activated his Stealth skill, and his body blended into the shadows, invisible to the creatures.
FSSSSHH
He quickly snuck behind a boar… but Misty had already chosen it as his target.
Misty leaped onto the boar, striking it with a powerful blow to the belly. Meanwhile, Damons activated another skill.
[SYSTEM]
[YOU ACTIVATE: SKILL SHARING – TARGET: ROYAL GUARD MISTY]
"What?!" Misty exclaimed.
[SYSTEM]
[YOU TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE MISTY'S SKILL: CRUSHING LEAP]
Damons launched himself with the same agility as Misty and slashed the boar's neck.
SCHLACK
The boar collapsed, leaving behind a precious gem.
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[+150XP]
[+150XP]
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
LV7 > LV9
"Leveling up fast, huh?!" exclaimed Misty, thrilled.
Damons, focused, then used his Mana Charge skill.
[SYSTEM]
[YOU ACTIVATE YOUR SKILL: MANA CHARGE]
He focused mana into one of his daggers, which glowed with a violet light. He threw it at blazing speed. The dagger pierced through one boar's body and exited the other side.
SHHRRRR
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
The boars, confused, started searching around.
[+150XP]
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
LV9 > LV10
Taking advantage of the confusion, Damons sneaked behind another boar.
Misty kept fighting like a true warrior. He leaped onto another boar, knocking it down with a brutal blow.
BAAAM BOOOM
Damons finished the creature with a precise strike to the head using his dagger.
TCHAC
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[+150XP]
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
LV10 > LV11
They were in perfect harmony, synced without even realizing it. They attacked the boars without giving them a chance to fight back.
SCHLACK SCHLACK SCHLACK
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[YOU HAVE KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[YOU HAVE KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[+150XP]
[+150XP]
[+150XP]
[SYSTEM]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
LV11 > LV14
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY HAS KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[MISTY HAS KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[MISTY HAS KILLED A MUTANT BOAR]
[+150XP]
[+150XP]
[+150XP]
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY HAS LEVELED UP]
[MISTY HAS LEVELED UP]
[MISTY HAS LEVELED UP]
LV11 > LV14
The creatures fell one by one, each disappearing in a glowing mist, leaving behind precious stones.
As Misty landed in a stable stance after pulverizing the last boar with a crushing leap, a bluish light pulsed in front of his eyes.
[Dring]
CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR SKILL "CRUSHING LEAP"
HAS REACHED LEVEL 2.
A NEW FORM HAS BEEN UNLOCKED: "CRUSHING LEAP – TRIPLE IMPACT"
"Triple Impact? A new form?" Misty asked, panting, eyes wide.
Images flashed through his mind. When using "Triple Impact", three successive shockwaves are released in a single attack.
"Hehe… this is getting really fun," he grinned fiercely.
Damons thought:
He's progressing fast… Maybe too fast.
DEMONIC SYSTEM :
(LINK)
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU AND YOUR ROYAL GUARD MISTY HAVE ENTERED COMPLETE HARMONY.
AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN IN SYNC, YOU GAIN A TEMPORARY BONUS OF:
+5 TO ALL STATS.
THIS LINK WILL EVOLVE OVER TIME.
Damons widened his eyes, breathless but glowing.
HUF HUF
"We triggered a bonus…"
Misty, cleaning his fur, chuckled:
"Of course. You finally learned to keep up with my pace."
"I'm the one covering your blind spots, show-off bunny."
They looked at each other… then burst out laughing.
The battle had forged an invisible bond between them.
Not a master and his familiar.
A king… and his royal guard.
"That was… awesome! I can't wait to do it again."
"We're not done. Let's keep going."
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
You've earned your first title:
— SWINE SLAYER —
Description:
You've defeated multiple creatures from the swine family. Mutant boars will never forget your scent.
Passive Effects:
– +10% damage against swine-type monsters
– +5% chance to intimidate or scare off lower-rank swine
– Minor reduction of physical damage taken from swine attacks
Damons raised an eyebrow.
"Swine Slayer? Seriously?" he muttered.
Misty chuckled from the shadow of a split trunk.
"You got a title for smashing mutant pigs? That's stupid… but kinda cool."
"Cool or not, I'll take it. If it helps me survive, I'll take fifty."
On the ground, where the mutant boars had fallen, ten blue crystals shimmered — pure and luminous, as if from another world.
He picked one up: it was cold, dense, and lightly resonated with mana.
[Concentrated Mana Crystal – Quality: Low] x10 acquired.
He quickly stored them carefully in his bag.
"Let's move."
"To the boss?" asked Misty.
"Yup," Damons replied calmly.
"We need to beat a boss to clear this, so we'll crush it."
Misty gave a sly grin, then leapt forward.
⸻
[NOTE: The gate will not disappear until its guardian is defeated. You may exit through the entry gate, but each escape strengthens the gate — it absorbs the mana of those who flee, increasing its level and making the monsters inside more powerful.]