Hunnt wandered through the village, his small feet crunching against the dirt paths. The morning air smelled of wood smoke, fresh herbs, and baked bread. He nodded politely to the villagers he passed — some returning his greeting with a warm smile, others offering him fruits or small treats. Hunnt accepted them with quiet gratitude, his curiosity leading him from one corner of the village to another.
A few children spotted him and ran over, chattering excitedly.
"Come play with us!" one shouted, holding out a handmade toy.
Hunnt shook his head politely, his voice soft. "Not now… maybe later."
The children shrugged and scampered off, leaving him alone again. His eyes wandered toward the outskirts of the village, where the forest loomed in dark green shadows.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the village square. Shouts and hurried footsteps echoed as the villagers gathered. Hunnt's curiosity pulled him closer.
The village chief hurried through the crowd, speaking with urgent gestures. Behind him, a group of hunters carried something massive, dragging it carefully along the dirt path.
Hunnt's eyes widened as he caught sight of it — a creature unlike anything he had seen in real life. Sleek, scaly, and towering, with sharp claws and a raptor-like stance. Its scales glimmered in the sunlight, a mix of blues and greens, and its muscular form radiated raw power. The hunters had killed the Velocidrome, and now the defeated monster lay motionless before the village chief.
The villagers erupted in cheers, clapping and shouting in celebration. Relief and excitement painted every face. Some pointed at the fallen monster, others whispered to each other about how dangerous it had been, how brave the hunters were, how lucky they were to survive.
Hunnt froze, his small hands gripping the strap of the basket he carried. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead. His breath caught in his chest.
*No, this can't be*
The monster's eyes were now dull, but its form, even in death, struck him with awe. Hunnt's pulse quickened. Every detail — the jagged crest on its head, the movement of its limbs when it had fought, even the rhythm of its breathing as he had imagined it — matched perfectly with the Velocidrome from the game.
*It's… real. I'm really seeing it…*
A wave of excitement surged through him, mingled with awe and a touch of nervousness. He felt the adrenaline prickling his skin, his senses sharpening without conscious thought. His heart raced, and he noticed how his body — small, young, and untrained — instinctively adjusted, preparing to react even if he didn't know how yet.
"This is…the Monster Hunter world"
Awe rooted him to the spot, but so did fear. Every instinct screamed at him to hide, to run, but the villagers barely flinched.
That's when the truth hit him.
This wasn't a game.
This wasn't safe.
He glances back at the hunters, who moved with confidence, their weapons reflecting sunlight as they coordinated seamlessly. Hunnt felt a strange familiarity stir deep in his mind, like a memory tugging at him. Every motion of the hunters, every weapon they carried, even the roar of the Velocidrome before it fell — it all resonated, like echoes of a life he had only ever experienced from behind a screen.
"I… I could learn this. I could do that…"
A nervous smile tugged at his lips. He knew, somehow, that he had been given a second chance in this world — a chance to survive, to grow, and to master what others wielded naturally. But for now, he just stood there, frozen between disbelief and exhilaration, watching a real monster from his favorite game lie defeated before his eyes.
Hunnt clenched his small fists, the excitement bubbling inside him. Every muscle, every nerve, every thought was telling him: this world was alive, dangerous, and full of possibilities. And he would need to be ready — for the hunts, for the monsters, and for the adventures that awaited him beyond the village.