The morning after the Velocidrome hunted, Hunnt awoke to the village bathed in golden light once again. The sounds of life — villagers chatting, carts creaking, and distant hammering — reached his ears like music. Today, he felt a restless energy tugging at him, a curiosity he could no longer ignore.
After a quick breakfast, he padded outside and wandered through the village streets, greeting villagers politely. Some smiled warmly, offering him small fruits or baked treats. Hunnt accepted each one with quiet gratitude, careful to observe the subtle details of village life: how the hunters inspected their weapons, how the blacksmith's hammer moved rhythmically, how the children ran and played with ease.
A group of children noticed him and waved excitedly.
"Hunnt, come play!" one called.
He shook his head politely, still preoccupied. "Maybe later," he replied softly.
Hunnt's eyes drifted back toward the outskirts of the village, toward where the hunters often ventured. His mind buzzed with questions. How did they manage to kill the Velocidrome so efficiently? How did their weapons move with such precision? Something deep inside him stirred, a feeling of recognition, a spark of understanding he couldn't yet name.
As he watched, one of the hunters approached him, a tall man with a massive hammer slung across his back.
Hunnt looked up at him, eyes shining with excitement, clutching both hands in front of his chest. "I… I want to be a hunter too!"
The hunter's expression shifted to a serious tone. "Being a hunter is a very dangerous job, kid. If you really want to be a hunter, you have to be strong, and you have to know every monster — their strengths, their weaknesses, everything about them."
He glanced at Hunnt's eager face, noticing the glitter in his eyes, and sighed. "You're still young, kid. Enjoy your life more… hahaha."
The hunter laughed, a deep, warm laugh that made Hunnt smile nervously.
Even from a distance, Hunnt felt a strange tingle in his hands and legs — a sensation he couldn't explain. His body reacted subtly, as if it were aware of things he didn't yet understand. He frowned, puzzled by the unfamiliar feeling.
*Why… do I feel… like this?*
Later, Hunnt wandered to the village square again, where villagers were discussing the aftermath of the hunt. He overheard mentions of tactics, weapon types, and monster behaviors. Each word sparked a strange resonance inside him, though he didn't understand why.
Hunnt's heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement. He didn't understand why his body felt different — lighter, quicker, more alert — and he had no idea what it meant. The idea of special powers, secret skills, or hidden potential had never crossed his mind. Yet, deep inside, something felt… unusual, as if he could sense a part of himself that he didn't fully understand.
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 and explore the unknown. But for now, he just stood there, observing the village, the hunters, and the distant forest, feeling a strange thrill he couldn't yet explain.
Hunnt clenched his small fists, determination flickering in his sharp eyes. If this world is as dangerous as it looks… I need to be ready.
With that thought, he ran a little toward the outskirts of the village, testing his instincts and taking in every detail. The wind on his face, the sounds of the forest, and the distant calls of hunters and monsters filled him with exhilaration unlike anything he had felt before.
This was more than a game now. This was reality. And Hunnt felt the first faint stirrings of something within him — a subtle awareness, a spark — though he didn't yet know what it was or what it could become.