Crossing the inner perimeter for the second time, Luke moved through the forest, heading toward the eastern stretch where hunting opportunities were better.
As for Dart, he had gone beyond the second perimeter and ventured into the true wilderness.
That was just how he was. Fearless. Strong.
He earlier mentioned that his father had trained him since he was six years old. By now, surviving in the wild was second nature to him.
Good for him.
Luke was not ready to cross the security line yet.
He was still new to hunting. Rushing beyond his limits would be foolish. He preferred to build experience step by step before taking that kind of risk.
'System, how many points do I need to level up?' he asked inwardly.
[The host requires 800G to level up.]
[However, the system recommends increasing all physical attributes to twenty, excluding Gamma, before proceeding.]
[Level up rewards are calculated based on the host's physical stats and total Gamma usage.]
Luke gave a slight nod.
That made sense.
The special eye he had received from the system after his previous level up was proof enough that better preparation meant better rewards.
Even though he already had sufficient points to advance, he decided to focus on strengthening his physical attributes first.
A stronger foundation meant a greater return later.
Scruff.
The bushes behind him rustled.
Luke spun on his heel instantly, knife raised, senses sharpened.
From the undergrowth emerged a small creature resembling a squirrel, though larger, nearly the size of a hare. Its teeth were sharp and slightly elongated, glinting as it bared them.
'Appraise.'
[Name: Ground Quilla]
[Str: 5]
[Spd: 12]
[Def: 5]
[Int: 11]
Luke narrowed his eyes.
'Decent hunt.'
He shifted the knife into a reverse grip and lowered his stance.
The creature planted its tiny claws into the soil, body coiling like a spring.
Then it sprinted.
Luke did not panic. He stepped back calmly, preparing to thrust the blade forward the moment it leapt for his torso.
But it did not leap.
It went low.
Straight for his ankle.
"Shit!"
He jerked his leg upward just as the creature snapped its jaws where his foot had been. In the same motion, he brought the knife down to stab it.
The Quilla reacted instantly.
Its instincts flared, and it darted forward instead of retreating, claws digging into bark as it scrambled up the nearest tree in seconds.
Luke exhaled through his nose.
He adjusted his footing, twirled the knife once in his palm, and raised his gaze toward the branches.
Round two.
The creature suddenly leapt again.
Midair, it spread its tiny forelimbs, thin flaps stretching between them. Its body glided toward him in a straight line.
Luke had not expected that.
Still, his heightened senses reacted in time. He twisted his torso just enough for the creature to miss him by inches.
It struck another tree trunk instead, claws digging in. In one smooth motion, it climbed higher and launched again.
Luke let out a low snicker.
He tossed his knife upward.
The Ground Quilla's eyes followed the spinning blade, assuming it had been thrown at it.
That was the opening.
'Channel all my speed and defense stat into strength,' Luke commanded internally.
In the next instant, he stepped forward and drove his fist straight into the creature's body before it could adjust midair.
BOOOOM
A burst of force erupted on impact.
The Quilla exploded into blood and shredded flesh, scattering across bark and leaves.
Luke slowly retracted his fist.
He blinked.
"...Ah."
[Host, please remember that you are significantly stronger than an average human.]
[Adjust your output according to your intended result.]
Luke exhaled and rolled his shoulders, calming himself.
Then a notification flashed before his eyes.
[Quest: Hunt four five hundred kilograms worth of animal meat]
[Time limit: 6 hours]
[Reward: 100G]
A grin spread across his face.
'Now that is motivating.'
He shifted his allocated strength back into speed and defense and sprinted deeper into the eastern stretch, senses alert for his next target.
While moving through the forest, another notification appeared.
[Quest achieved!]
[Quest: Explore the eastern region]
[The reward has been transferred to the Inventory.]
Luke slowed slightly.
He had not even realized he completed a quest.
But then something in the distance made him freeze.
A Toctile.
A five-foot-tall bird with grey feathers and an unnatural anatomy. Its long neck split into three separate branches, each ending in a sharp-beaked head. Its legs were tall and powerful.
And its meat was considered premium.
'It should not be inside the perimeter.'
Toctiles were aggressive and dangerous. If one had wandered this far in, it meant surveillance had failed somewhere.
Luke quietly slipped behind a thick tree trunk.
The creature had caught a hare and was feeding on it, tearing flesh apart with one head while the other two scanned their surroundings.
'Appraise.'
[Name: Toctile]
[Str: 14]
[Spd: 21]
[Def: 20]
[Int: 11]
Luke narrowed his eyes.
'High defense. Fast. And those beaks are lethal.'
He inhaled slowly.
'System, what is its weak point?'
[The host must spend 10G to obtain target weakness data.]
Luke stared blankly at the interface.
This was the first time the system demanded Gamma instead of offering it.
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
Information was worth more than pride.
'Take it.'
He felt the balance decrease, which did not feel pleasant. But the next message made it worthwhile.
[Toctile weakness: The base of its neck. The junction where the three necks branch.]
Luke nodded faintly.
That was precise.
He reached into his inventory and pulled out the throwable knife he had just received as a reward.
It was sleek and balanced, the blade far sharper and more refined than his previous one.
Perfect for a clean strike.
'Alright… shift my speed stats back into strength.'
Luke drew his arm back slowly, eyes locked onto the junction where the three necks branched. He steadied his breathing and released.
Swish.
The knife cut through the air like a launched missile.
Even Luke was startled by the force behind it.
The Toctile's heads snapped up at the sound, but it was already too late to dodge.
The blade streaked forward—
And flew right past the creature.
A split second later, it buried itself into the tree behind it and tore straight through the trunk, splitting it clean down the middle creating a long slit
Luke stared.
"..."
The power was there.
The aim was not.
The Toctile slowly turned toward him, all three heads locking onto his position. Its feathers flared outward, body lowering in a defensive stance.
It had found him.
Luke let out a slow breath and pulled out his old knife.
'Fine.'
He tightened his grip.
'We will do this the old way.'
••••
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