Chapter 2: Hunting Grounds..
Before they knew it, noon had arrived. The air grew hotter, the sun beating down from directly above. The forest around them shimmered faintly, cicadas buzzing in the distance, and even the shade of the tall trees couldn't completely block the heat. What fascinated Sebastian most, however, was Ruby's glow—it no longer remained purely white. Under the harsh sun, it shifted faintly, tinted with the softest shade of red, as if she herself absorbed and reflected the day's warmth.
After that, he decided they needed to go hunting. Luckily, a clear fountain gushed not far from where they stood. The crystal water sparkled, running over moss-covered stones, so he didn't need to worry about water for now. What he needed instead was food and shelter.
Before leaving, he asked cautiously if monsters roamed nearby. Ruby answered calmly, "Since it's the beginner period, only monsters below level 50 will appear later. For now, you won't encounter the powerful ones."
That gave him some relief. Together, they set off into the forest.
The trees grew denser as they walked, branches interlocking to filter the sunlight into shifting golden rays. After a while, they discovered a tree bearing strange fruit. The fruits glistened like polished gems, their translucent skins reflecting shades of pink and gold. Their shape, however, was nothing like any fruit from Earth. Sebastian hesitated, unsure if they were edible.
Ruby noticed his caution. "I can test it first," she offered.
He frowned. "But what if it's poisonous? Won't you die?"
Ruby shook her head with a small smile. "Check my panel again—I have energy manipulation. If poison enters my body, it will be converted into energy. It won't harm me."
Only then did he relax. She climbed the tree with effortless grace, leaves rustling as sunlight bounced off her glowing figure.
Unbeknownst to them, a black snake had been silently watching, its body coiled in the tall grass. Its tongue flicked in and out, waiting for its moment. When Ruby was up in the branches and Sebastian was left alone below, it struck.
But before the serpent's fangs could pierce, a flash of light cut through the air. A glowing sword slashed past him. His hair stood on end, his instincts screaming.
"Duck!" Ruby shouted.
Sebastian instantly lowered his head, heart hammering. When he turned, the snake's massive body already lay split, blood pooling across the roots. The metallic scent of it filled the air.
At that moment, a notification rang in his ears:
[ Congratulations. Your hero unit has slain a Level 5 Black Mamba Snake. ]
Another message followed:
[ You have gained a blueprint.
Want to draw it?
Yes or No. ]
He pressed Yes.
[ You have obtained Blueprint: Sleeping Bag (Blue). ×1
Note: this blueprint can only be used once. ]
Then another notification chimed:
[ You haven't set your experience ratio with your hero unit.
Would you like to set it now?
Yes or No. ]
He selected Yes.
[ Player : Hero Unit
Ratio : 0:0 (unset) ]
He adjusted it to 3:7. He didn't need to level up quickly—he had Ruby, a powerful hero unit, to protect him.
Immediately, two panels opened before his eyes: one displaying his own attributes, and the other Ruby's. Both looked the same as before, but with two new additions.
---
[ Name: Sebastian ]
Status: Player (Alive)
Level: 1
Strength: 10
Mana: 10
Agility: 10
Mental Acuity: 13
Health: 8 (New)
Talent: A Thief of Ten Times
Grade: EX
Experience: 3/100 (New)
[ Hero Unit: Glowing Valkyrie ]
Grade: S (???)
Level: 1
Strength: 50
Mana: 100
Agility: 50
Mental Acuity: 50 (excluding battle IQ)
Health: 200 (New)
Experience: 1/1000 (New)
Talent: SS (Broken) – Energy Manipulation
(Can manipulate energy with proficiency. All attacks gain additional energy damage.
Effective on energy-related skills or equipment.
Note: Energy damage affects the soul directly, making it extremely dangerous.)
Skills:
1. Glowing Slash (Black)
2. Light Speed (Golden)
3. Light Heal (Golden)
For the first time, Sebastian also noticed a glowing red bar above Ruby's head. He reached out instinctively to touch it, but his fingers grasped nothing but air.
Ruby tilted her head. "What are you doing?"
"There's… a blood bar above you," he admitted.
She blinked, then explained, "That's my health bar. Only the summoner—the player—can see it. I can't, and neither can other players."
Satisfied, Sebastian let it go.
Ruby tested the fruits. They weren't poisonous, so she handed them down. Hungry, Sebastian devoured two and stored the rest in his player backpack, where they shimmered faintly in their slots.
After lunch, Sebastian examined the sleeping bag blueprint Ruby had earned from slaying the snake. It required fur.
He sighed. "Too bad snakes don't have fur."
Ruby simply nodded. "Then we'll hunt something that does."
They pushed deeper into the forest. The shadows grew darker, and distant howls echoed through the trees. Before long, they stumbled across a pack of wolves. Each beast's fur bristled, sharp fangs bared. Their glowing eyes locked onto Sebastian. Their levels floated above their heads—8 and 9. Much stronger than the snake.
He swallowed nervously. "They're… way stronger."
Ruby's hand rested on her sword. "It's fine. Leave them to me."
He stepped aside.
Ruby dashed forward, a streak of white light against the dark forest floor. One wolf noticed too late—the glowing blade cut it down in a single strike. Blood sprayed across the grass. The air filled with snarls and yelps as the pack launched at her, but none could touch her. She moved like a goddess of death, her sword singing through the air.
When the survivors tried to surround her, she raised her blade and unleashed a circular wave of blinding energy. A glowing ring expanded outward, slicing through every wolf. The forest fell silent except for the drip of blood staining the earth.
Ruby stood tall in the aftermath, not a speck of blood staining her clothes, though crimson drenched the ground. Her focus and composure were terrifying.
Sebastian, trembling slightly, stepped forward to collect the furs. But he quickly realized he had no idea how. He turned to Ruby helplessly.
Without a word, she reached to her thigh and unsheathed a slim knife from her legband. The motion made Sebastian's face flush crimson—he had never seen such a sight before and was utterly flustered. Ruby, unfazed, crouched and with practiced hands, skillfully skinned a wolf. She held up a flawless pelt.
Sebastian stammered, "I only need five… for the blueprint."
Ruby smiled faintly. "Then store the rest of the meat. Wolf meat is delicious."
Following her advice, Sebastian gathered all the pelts and packed the fresh wolf meat into his inventory.
Curious, he asked, "Ruby, don't monsters have grades?"
"They do," she answered. "But only after they reach Level 30. At that point, they undergo gen evolution. If successful, they'll gain a grade—and sometimes powerful talents."
Sebastian nodded to himself. So that's how it works.
The sun was already dipping lower, golden rays bleeding through the canopy. The smell of iron and blood lingered heavily in the clearing, but Sebastian felt something stir inside him—a sense of progress.
For the first time, he was beginning to adapt to this world.