The fresh memory of slimy, gelatinous foes fading behind him, Rai trekked deeper into the forest, his boots sinking slightly into the moist, moss-covered earth. The leaves above rustled, diffusing the afternoon light into a soft, green glow. Having defeated the Gelath Slimes, Rai had gained some decent experience and was now on the brink of Level 2. But as he continued to move deeper into the forest, he started thinking.
"This part of the forest wasn't surveyed by the players this early in the game before, in my previous life... at least not without a full party. And definitely not without a healer."
He surveyed the twisted branches and uneven terrain. The deeper he went, the quieter it became—unnaturally so. The usual chirping of forest birds or buzzing of insects was absent.
"This is dangerous territory, even by early-game standards."
Just then, a low growl reached his ears.
A pack of Duskhound Jackals emerged from behind the trees—slim, gaunt creatures with sinewy bodies and glowing red eyes. Their fur was patchy, almost mangy, and they drooled out thick, dark saliva as they surrounded him. Their names hovered over their heads in red:
[Duskhound Jackal – Lv. 4] x5
A sixth figure stepped forward, larger and more grotesque. Its fur shimmered slightly with a dark sheen, and its eyes burned brighter. A minor boss.
[Jackal Brood Alpha – Lv. 7]
Rai tensed.
"oh..oh... This isn't good. I'm still Level 1, barely about to hit 2. But... if I play this smart, I can take them down, but there are still chances that I might end up dying."
His face tensed but suddenly he calmed down, "Since when did you become such a coward, Rai. Calm down and fight."
He leapt to the side as one of the jackals suddenly lunged at him. With precise timing, he activated [Shadow Rend], his active skill, stabbing straight into the soft underbelly of the closest beast with shadow energy, ignoring some of it's defense. It let out a loud whimper as it collapsed.
The others swarmed him.
"I need to manage my stamina... I will have to take them down one at a time. Circle—strike—retreat."
Minutes passed in intense flurries of blades and dodges. Two more jackals down. His health dipped into the red zone.
The Brood Alpha pounced.
Rai ducked, slashing its flank as he rolled aside. Then activated [Phantom Step], creating some distance. He used the opportunity to finish off the remaining jackals, gaining a critical boost of XP.
[LEVEL UP!]
You have reached Level 2!
His stamina and health recovered slightly. Not wasting a moment, he returned his focus to the Alpha.
Its charge was predictable cause of rai's previous experience in fighting them. Rai sidestepped and delivered a series of quick slashes before ending the fight with a final [Shadow Rend strike] aimed straight into its neck.
The beast slumped.
[LEVEL UP!]
You have reached Level 3!
He fell to one knee, breathing hard.
"Two levels in one go. Worth it... barely."
Evening light began to filter through the trees, casting long shadows. Rai knew it was getting late, but his momentum pushed him onward. With his HP and mana now recovering slowly thanks to the blessing of the forgotten spirits and confidence renewed, he hunted a few more stray beasts—Verdant Rats and Spitebeak Crows—just enough to push his EXP to the very end of lvl 3. He was now about to reach level 4.
He was about to sit and rest when a sharp, feral howl shattered the air.
Rai spun around, his instincts flaring crazily.
From between the trees emerged a towering figure—a hunchbacked, ape-like monster with massive arms, matted black fur, and deep-set amber eyes. Its claws scraped the bark of a nearby tree as it roared again.
[Grimgor Howler – Lv. 15]
Rai's eyes widened.
"A Level 15 beast? Here?! That shouldn't be possible. Every 10 levels mark a major leap in power in Eidolon Realms... I don't stand a chance."
The Grimgor Howler charged. Rai dodged to the side, but even its glancing blow sent him rolling. Pain flared across his ribs.
"Only one hit that didn't even connect properly, nearly took half my health... I have got no choice. I need to escape."
He turned and fled, weaving between trees, using [Phantom Step] to stay ahead. The beast gave chase for a while but then abruptly stopped chasing.
Rai slowed, crouching behind a rock, watching.
The Howler sniffed the air, grunted, then turned and lumbered away toward a rocky outcrop in the distance. Rai's eyes narrowed.
"That formation... looks like a cave."
Carefully, he followed from a distance, using terrain and foliage for cover.
The Grimgor entered the dark cavern, vanishing into the shadows.
"A cave... This area should only spawn enemies up to Level 7 or 8. That Howler doesn't belong here. Something's off."
Rai crouched low and narrowed his gaze at the cave.
"And I'm going to find out what it is."
The cave swallowed the fading light behind Rai as he stepped inside. Cool, damp air clung to his skin, and the scent of moss and animal musk thickened with each step. The deep footprints of the beast he had trailed—the Grimgor Howler—were unmistakable, wide and clawed, each print pressed heavily into the soft stone floor.
But it wasn't the monster alone that troubled him anymore.
Moments ago, Rai had seen something strange—unsettling.
The Grimgor Howler, a level 15 beast capable of tearing through armored men, had bowed. Not to another monster. But to a man.
Rai's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but his curiosity overruled the fear.
"No early-game NPC or mob should be able to command a monster like that… unless it's part of a hidden chain. If I miss this chance, I may never get it again."
He pressed forward, staying close to the jagged wall.
The flicker of firelight caught his eye. A small campfire crackled in a hollow chamber ahead. Seated beside it, his silhouette flickering like a ghost, was a tall man clad in furs and stitched hide. His hair was dark and wild, partially tied with thin cords of bone. A bushy tail was looped around his waist, and long, sharp ears twitched slightly—canine, no doubt.
The man was stroking the massive neck of the Grimgor Howler, whose body lay curled beside the fire like a giant, resting predator.
A Beastkin… So they really are in the game this early. But how?
Before Rai could retreat or even breathe too deeply, the man's voice rolled across the cave like thunder.
"No use hiding. I can smell the sweat on your neck and the blood soaked weapons you are carrying."
Rai froze.
"Come forward, Heaven-Blessed. Or Heaven-Cursed. Whichever kind you are."
Slowly, Rai emerged from the shadows, hands slightly raised—not in surrender, but in caution.
"I'm not here to fight," he said. "I was just… following that beast."
The Beastkin tilted his head. His golden eyes, slitted like a wolf's, gleamed in the firelight.
"You followed the Grimgor Howler alone, without dying?" He let out a low chuckle. "Considering your level, either you're reckless or skilled. Or maybe even both. But I would say you're mostly reckless."
He patted the beast's side as it growled faintly. "Few walk into a predator's den willingly like this. You're not from this land, are you?"
Rai hesitated, unsure how to answer. Then he nodded. "...No. I'm newly arrived."
"A fresh Heaven-Blessed," the man murmured. "Strange ones, your kind. Like stars crashing into the world. Some bring light. Some bring fire."
"Why do you call us that?" Rai asked. Rai had always wondered about this, even in his past life, why the npc's gave them such strange titls.
The Beastkin raised a brow. "Because you shine unnaturally. You speak of things others don't. You heal from wounds that would kill a normal man. You respawn after death like it's a dream. The Elders say it is the mark of the gods. A blessing. Or a curse."
So that's how NPCs perceive players… as divine anomalies. Interesting.
The man stood then—tall, wild, and dangerous. His aura radiated primal power. Even without an interface, Rai could feel it: this man was at least level 200 or higher. At least a saint level being. One wrong thought, and he died.
"I am Kael of the Stormblood Fangs, Warden of the Beast Path, born under the White Moon and the Thunder Sky. One of the wandering sons of the Nomadic Clans of Zeir."
He looked Rai up and down and then smirked. "And you? What are you, Heaven-Blessed?"
"...Just someone trying to survive," Rai answered simply.
Kael chuckled again. "Then you've chosen a dangerous place to do it. This forest is waking. The old wards that kept the deeper beasts in slumber are failing. And not just here."
He turned to the fire and threw in a carved bone, etched with runes that glowed briefly. The fire shimmered.
"I came here seeking something. A treasure buried beneath the blood of an ancient war. One that might change what is to come. It may change the destiny of these lands. But alas, it is not here."
Rai's eyes narrowed.
So this is it. A hidden NPC, a possible quest chain, and treasure…I have to be careful not to anger him. If I play this wrong, I might lose access to something major.
Kael glanced at him and stared into his eyes, as if seeing right through his soul.
"You've got the look of someone heavily burdened by many troubles."
Rai stared right into Kael's eyes, as if saying when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss stare right back. He ignored Kael's last words and directly asked. "What treasure?"
Kael gave a grin filled with sharp teeth. "You are an interesting one. The treasure is something that won't answer to the unworthy."
The Grimgor Howler stood and started shivering as another beast entered the cave.
It also was an ape type beast, but.....
[Unknown Ape Beast]
LVL:Unknown
info:???????
stats:???????
Seeing the beast, he suddenly started shivering and suffocating from the sheer pressure and bloodlust of the beast. Then, suddenly Kael suddenly kept his hand on Rai's shoulder, and then everything went back to normal.
"Leave now, Heaven-Blessed," Kael said. "The earth is shifting, and you attract chaos like flies to fruit. I can see that fate converges around you like no one else. If you stay here you might die. You are not ready to face this challenge just yet."
Rai got shocked hearing this, He understood that Kael was talking about his 'Child of Ruin' title and 'Fatebound Echo' passive skill. While Kael couldn't see the titles or skills he could vaguely feel its effects. At this moment Rai understood that he had underestimated the level of Kael.
Rai hesitated before moving. "If I see you again…"
Kael interrupted, "Then perhaps fate wishes it. But remember—blessings and curses often come in the same breath. Not every Heaven-Blessed walks a noble path."
The beastkin turned, leapt onto the back of the Unknown Ape beast with feline grace, and vanished into the deeper cave, firelight reflecting off his sharp silhouette until he was swallowed by darkness.
Rai stood alone, heart pounding—not in fear, but in exhilaration.
This… this is huge. A Zeir clansman who is this strong, a secret treasure, a quest line not even top guilds discovered in my past life.I just walked into something game-breaking.
He turned to leave, mind racing with possibilities.
But for now, I need to survive. I'll come back with strength next time. I'll earn his recognition… and unlock whatever fate has hidden.