First Hunt Begins

The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky as Tanuj ventured into the outer region of the forest just outside the town. The trees here were tall and thick, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patches on the forest floor. The air was cool, and a faint breeze rustled the leaves, creating an atmosphere that was both peaceful and unnerving.

"Let the hunt begin," Tanuj whispered to himself, trying to muster some courage. "'Forgotten Eye,' search."

*DING*

**[Detected a group of 'Flame Monkeys' | Level 70 - 80]**

Tanuj's heart skipped a beat as the system relayed the information. "What the heck? Why is there a boss-rank monster here? I need to get out of here before they spot me!"

He quickly turned and bolted in the opposite direction, his heart pounding in his chest. He could almost feel the presence of the powerful monsters lurking in the shadows, their eyes trained on him. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made him flinch, but he didn't dare look back.

After what felt like an eternity of running, he finally slowed down, panting heavily. He found himself in a different part of the forest, quieter and seemingly less threatening.

"Okay… let's try this again. 'Forgotten Eye,' search."

*DING*

**[Detected a 'Moon Ape.' Unable to detect level. Host level is too low.]**

Tanuj's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell is going on here? Why are there so many strong monsters in this area? This is just a starter village… right? System, what's going on?"

The system responded with an uncharacteristic pause before delivering a sobering message.

**[This is not a game, Host. This is a real world. There is no 'Starter Village' or 'Last Destination.' It is up to the Host to decide your path.]**

Tanuj felt a chill run down his spine. "You're telling me… I'm in Hell Mode? I'm so screwed…"

Desperation started to creep into his thoughts as he continued searching, determined to find something he could actually handle. His eyes scanned the forest, his nerves on edge, until finally, after what felt like hours of searching, he found something.

"At last… something I can think about hunting," he muttered, narrowing his eyes as he focused on the small creature ahead.

**[Swift Bunny | Level 4 | Skills: Swift, Tackle, Bite, Cuteness]**

Tanuj blinked in surprise. "What? Cuteness is a skill?"

As he studied the bunny, a memory flashed in his mind. "Oh, now I remember… it's that bunny that attacked me on the first day when I was trying to collect fruits."

He frowned, realizing the challenge ahead. "Its level is only 4, so it's lower than all the other monsters I've seen, but it's still two levels higher than mine. This isn't going to be easy. I'd better prepare first."

With a deep breath, he made his decision. "Let's summon the Lightning Mouse first and try to take it down together."

He raised his hand, feeling a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. "I choose you, Pika… no, Lightning Mouse. Summon 'Lightning Mouse'!"

The system responded instantly.

**[Summoning 'Lightning Mouse'...]**

A familiar magic circle appeared on the ground, and a moment later, the tiny but fierce Lightning Mouse emerged, sparks crackling around its fur.

**[Summoning 'Lightning Mouse' complete.]**

Tanuj nodded, feeling a bit more confident with his small but loyal companion by his side. He then pulled out the stick he had purchased earlier from his inventory. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

"'Inventory,' stick," he said, summoning the unimpressive weapon. "I'm done with the preparations. Now, let's go, Lightning Ra—"

Tanuj didn't get to finish his sentence as the Lightning Mouse's eyes narrowed dangerously, and the air around it crackled with more intense sparks. It glared at him, clearly offended.

"Pika Pika!" the Lightning Mouse squeaked, its tone filled with irritation.

Tanuj's heart skipped a beat as he realized his mistake. "What the f—oh, wait! I'm sorry, I meant Lightning *Mouse*! I swear I didn't mean it!"

The sparks around the Lightning Mouse subsided a bit, but it still seemed wary, watching him closely.

Tanuj sighed in relief, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Whew… Note to self: never call him a rat again. Got it."

With his stick in hand and the Lightning Mouse by his side, Tanuj moved stealthily through the underbrush, his eyes locked on the unsuspecting Swift Bunny. The hunt was on.