The world flickered back into existence around Jordan the instant he logged in. The air of KANJU Forest was thick with the scent of damp soil and moss, and the distant howl of unseen creatures echoed through the towering trees. Each beam of light that pierced the canopy fell like a spotlight on the uneven ground, illuminating twisted roots that jutted from the earth like jagged teeth.
He flexed his fingers around the hilt of his katana, feeling the familiar weight. The metal hummed faintly as if aware of his touch. Time to see how far I can push this thing today.
From the shadows, a pair of wild wolves leapt into view, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger. Jordan narrowed his eyes. Easy.
He shifted his stance with a fluid motion, stepping forward as the first wolf lunged. A clean slash ended the threat before it could even yelp, the blade whispering through the air. The second wolf came from behind, fangs bared. Jordan twisted, letting the wolf overshoot him, and countered with a horizontal slice that sent it crashing into the underbrush.
< 2+ WILD WOLVES DEFEATED >
< LEVEL UP LV.9 —> LV.10 >
< STRENGTH 10 + / AGILITY 10 + / STAMINA 10 + / INTELLIGENCE 10 + >
"Not bad," he muttered, wiping his blade on a patch of moss. "Feels even better than I imagined."
Another wolf appeared, moving faster than the rest, low to the ground. Jordan crouched, letting the beast's momentum carry it past him, then pivoted and sliced upward, severing the creature's head in one smooth motion.
< 1+ WILD WOLF DEFEATED >
< 750 XP + GAINED >
He knelt briefly to detach its fangs, storing them for crafting, then continued deeper into the forest. Every step carried him further from the path and closer to unknown danger. He felt it in his bones: the forest was alive, and it was watching.
Then came a scream—a raw, desperate sound that tore through the trees.
"Help! Somebody!"
Jordan's head snapped toward the sound. A girl burst into view, dirt smeared across her cheeks, clothes torn, eyes wide with terror. She froze when she saw him.
"You… you're one of them?" she whispered.
"I'm not your enemy," Jordan said calmly, sheathing his katana with a snap.
Branches cracked around them. Eight bandits emerged from the shadows, crude weapons raised, faces twisted in malice. Their leader stepped forward, a cruel smile stretching across his scarred face.
"Give us the girl, or you'll die right here."
The system flickered across Jordan's vision:
< 8 ENEMIES DETECTED. KILL THEM ALL >
He exhaled slowly. "Stand behind me." The girl hesitated, fear freezing her feet, but finally obeyed, staying just beyond his reach. Jordan's eyes scanned the bandits, every movement measured, every opening memorized.
The first bandit lunged, swinging a heavy cleaver. Jordan twisted smoothly, the blade grazing past his shoulder. He countered with a precise downward slash, ending the man's assault instantly.
< 1 + BANDIT KILLED >
Two more attacked simultaneously. Jordan blocked and parried with fluid precision, then delivered a series of rapid strikes that left them both staggering. One collapsed; the other fell to his knees before Jordan ended him with a clean thrust.
< 2 + BANDITS KILLED >
< LEVEL UP LV.10 —> LV.11 >
< STRENGTH 11 + / AGILITY 11 + / STAMINA 11 + / INTELLIGENCE 11 + >
A trembling bandit spoke through his fear. "Who… who are you?"
Jordan stepped forward, voice calm but commanding. "Call me… the Shadow Tyrant."
He stabbed forward, ending the man's fear as quickly as possible.
< 1 + BANDIT KILLED >
< 750 XP + GAINED >
"Go!" Jordan shouted to the girl. "Get out of here!"
She hesitated only a moment, then bolted into the trees, crouching behind a fallen log, eyes wide and anxious as she watched him.
The remaining four bandits surged at him together. Steel rang against steel in a deadly rhythm. Jordan ducked, spun, and countered, each strike met with an instinctive dodge or block. He pivoted, his katana flashing in arcs that cut through limbs and armor, the force behind every movement precise and deliberate.
One bandit lunged with a curved sword. Jordan sidestepped and swept low, knocking him off his feet. Another came from behind; Jordan twisted mid-air, striking him down with a swift, horizontal slash.
The third swung a club; he parried, spun, and stabbed cleanly through his side. The last hurled a dagger—Jordan's eyes followed its path, catching it on the flat of his katana and deflecting it away, before ending the man with a spinning thrust.
< 4 + BANDITS KILLED >
< 750 XP + GAINED >
< LEVEL UP LV.11 —> LV.12 >
< STRENGTH 12 + / AGILITY 12 + / STAMINA 12 + / INTELLIGENCE 12 + >
Only the leader remained. His hands glowed with energy, summoning a fireball that crackled and twisted with heat. Jordan felt the wave of danger and quickly ducked, the blast scorching a nearby tree. Smoke and embers drifted through the air, turning the clearing into a glowing, chaotic battlefield.
Jordan's heart pounded, but his voice remained calm. Focus. Predict. Exploit.
The leader sent another fireball, this one faster, aiming for his chest. Jordan dove to the side, rolling across the leaf-strewn ground, feeling the heat bite at his sleeve. He sprang to his feet, katana ready. He's leaving himself open between attacks.
Jordan feinted, drawing the leader into another spell. He rolled again, striking low at the man's leg. The leader twisted, spinning away, throwing another fireball that Jordan barely avoided, the blast setting a cluster of trees aflame. Sparks fell around him like fiery rain.
Timing. Breath. Strike.
Jordan lunged forward, dodging another fireball mid-run, sliding across the scorched earth. His katana traced arcs faster than thought, forcing the leader backward, each strike deliberate, each movement a step closer to victory. The leader conjured a final, desperate fireball. Jordan leapt sideways, twisting midair, and drove the katana straight into the man's chest.
The leader fell, groaning, smoke curling from the scorched battlefield around him. The forest exhaled with the echoes of their battle.
< BANDIT LEADER DEFEATED. OBJECTIVE COMPLETED >
< LEVEL UP LV.12 —> LV.13 >
< STRENGTH 13 + / AGILITY 13 + / STAMINA 13 + / INTELLIGENCE 13 + >
< REWARD: 2 BOTTLES OF RECOVERY POTIONS / 2 DIAMONDS / 680 GOLD COINS / TELEPORTATION STONE >
Jordan's chest rose and fell with controlled breaths. His katana glinted in the faint light, still dripping with digital blood. Then, movement caught his attention.
The girl emerged from behind a tree, cautious but curious. She walked forward slowly, her gaze fixed on him. "Th-thank you…" she whispered. Her voice trembled, heavy with exhaustion and grief.
Jordan sheathed his katana fully, kneeling slightly to meet her eyes. "Who are you?"
"I… I'm Loria, from the hidden village of Midrig," she said, voice cracking. "Our village… it was attacked. Everyone… everyone I knew… they're gone."
He studied her, seeing the quiet strength beneath her fear, the tension of someone who had survived horrors alone. He extended a hand.
"Then come with me. You don't have to be alone anymore."
Loria blinked, stunned, before slowly placing her hand in his. The system notification flickered before him:
< NEW COMPANION ADDED: LORIA — FOLLOWER OF THE SHADOW TYRANT >
A faint smile appeared on her lips, fragile but real. Jordan gave a slight nod, adjusting his grip on his katana. "Let's move. There's more ahead, and we won't survive if we stay here."
For the first time, the forest didn't feel so empty. Together, they stepped forward, shadows stretching endlessly around them, but neither felt afraid anymore.