The wind whispered through the trees, brushing against my skin like old memories. The forest was dense, ancient, and filled with the kind of silence that wasn't empty—just watchful.
I sat alone beneath a twisted silverwood tree, the remains of the mana beast I'd just slain still steaming a few paces away.
And for the first time since waking up...
…I really looked at myself.
Kneeling near a pool of water, my reflection stared back—familiar yet alien.
Black hair, longer now, messy but sharp at the ends. My eyes were a piercing light green, glowing faintly like there was magic burning behind them. My features were lean, jaw more angular, skin pale and smooth like untouched marble. I was... younger.
No scars.
No exhaustion in the eyes.
Just raw potential.
"Eighteen?" I muttered. "No way…"
I touched my chest. My heart beat steady. My limbs, even after battle, felt weightless—like they could carry mountains.
Then, as if summoned by my thoughts, a blue screen appeared before me, floating like a hologram.
[Status Window: Hunter of the Boundless Path]
Name: Souta Kael
Age: 18
Class: Boundless Hunter
Level: 1
Rank: SSS
Health: 100%
Mana: 2100 / 2100
Stamina: 980 / 1000
Known Skills:
• Voidstep – Instantly teleport up to 20 meters
• Predator's Sight – See weaknesses and mana flows
Class Trait: Cursed Curiosity
—Your curiosity draws strength and danger in equal measure. High-reward. High-risk.
Passive Trait: Boundless Affinity
—You are not limited to one magic school. All elements can be unlocked through contact and survival.
I exhaled slowly.
This was real.
A new world. A new body. A new power.
No more B-rank mediocrity. No more running from impossible fights.
But…
"System," I spoke, unsure how it worked. "What do I do now?"
[Objective Added]
Explore your surroundings. Unlock your first elemental path.
First Milestone: Discover a source of elemental energy.
Optional: Survive the night.
"...Survive the night?" I looked up.
The moon above was bleeding red.
The trees groaned as the wind thickened. Mana in the air shifted—predatory, like a beast scenting prey.
Then I heard it.
Low growls.
Eyes glinting in the dark.
Not one.
A pack.
[Danger Detected: Mana-Infused Lycans]
Species: Forestborn
Count: 7
Rank: B+
Aggression Level: High
Strategy Tip: Stay moving. Kill the Alpha first.
I cracked my neck and stood, my halberd materializing in my hand again—its weight perfect in my grip.
"Guess the tutorial's over," I muttered.
---
The first lycan lunged. Fast.
Too bad I was faster.
Voidstep.
WHOOSH.
I vanished, reappearing behind it mid-air. My blade slashed across its back in a spiral.
THUD.
It hit the ground, stunned.
"Too slow."
The others circled. Growling. Their fur shimmered with mana. Fangs drooled black mist.
Predator's Sight—ON.
The world slowed. Lines of weakness glowed in their movements—muscle tension, mana surges, overextended limbs.
Left flank first. One stumbles when landing. Alpha in back, commanding silently. Red mark on its eye.
"Got you."
I feinted forward, then blinked right—struck the weak one first.
CLANG!
Two claws clashed against my blade. I rolled beneath and kicked the beast into a tree with bone-crunching force.
"Next."
The Alpha leapt.
Fangs bared.
Eyes locked.
Its body was huge—twice the others, black fur glowing red from deep veins of magic.
But I wasn't afraid.
I'd fought demons before.
And now—I was SSS-rank.
---
I dropped low, avoiding its slash. The Alpha spun, faster than expected, but—
Voidstep.
I reappeared above it.
Mid-air, I twisted my grip.
Falling Fang!
The halberd plunged down, piercing just behind the skull.
CRACK—!
The Alpha collapsed, thrashing once before going still.
The others paused.
Then whimpered... and fled.
[Alpha Defeated. Pack Dispersed.]
You have absorbed ambient elemental mana.
Element Unlocked: Flame
You now have access to Fire Magic.
New Skill Gained:
Blazing Pulse – Emit a wave of fire from your core, knocking back enemies.
I looked down at my hand.
It shimmered—then flickered into fire.
"…Hah."
A wide grin crept across my face.
[System Update: The Boundless Path has begun.]
---
TO BE CONTINUED…