The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
I sat on a flat rock, slowly regulating my breathing. My body still ached from yesterday's training, but the pain felt… familiar. Acceptable.
I opened the status screen.
Name: Arin
Level: 1
Strength: 7.1
Agility: 6.8
Intelligence: 7
The daily mission reward had gone to strength.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
"This pace…" I whispered. "It's terrifying."
A sudden rustle came from the bushes.
My smile vanished.
I stood up, every muscle tensing.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
A grey wolf stepped out.
Its eyes glowed faintly red, saliva dripping from its sharp fangs. It was larger than any normal wolf I had ever seen.
A monster.
My heart pounded.
I was only twelve. Unarmed. And facing a beast.
Run?
No.
If I ran now, fear would follow me forever.
[Threat Detected.]
[Combat Situation Identified.]
The system's voice was calm.
Too calm.
[Optional Mission Generated.]
Mission: Survive or defeat the Grey Fang Wolf
Reward: +3 Random Stats
My breath caught.
"Three stats…"
I clenched my fists.
"I'll take it."
The wolf growled and lunged.
I rolled to the side, barely avoiding its claws. The ground where I had been standing shattered slightly.
"So fast!"
My instincts screamed danger.
I focused.
I remembered my training.
When the wolf attacked again, I moved—not thinking, just reacting.
My body felt lighter.
[Agility +0.1]
I ducked under its bite and slammed my fist into its ribs.
The impact sent pain shooting through my arm.
But the wolf yelped and staggered.
It worked.
The wolf circled me, anger flashing in its eyes.
Blood trickled from its mouth.
So did mine.
"This isn't about strength," I muttered. "It's about endurance."
When it charged again, I waited.
At the last second, I stepped forward.
My fist struck its jaw.
Crack.
The wolf collapsed, twitching.
I fell to my knees, breathing heavily.
I was alive.
[Optional Mission Completed.]
[Reward Granted: +3 Random Stats.]
Warm energy flooded my body.
Strength +1.2
Agility +1.0
Intelligence +0.8
I laughed softly.
"First kill… first step."
As I stood up, a shadow moved between the trees.
Not a monster.
A human.
An old man, wearing a long cloak, stared at the dead wolf—then at me.
His eyes narrowed.
"A child… killed a Grey Fang Wolf alone?"
His gaze sharpened.
"This boy…" he murmured, "is not normal."
💥 End of Chapter 3 💥