Wilderness Survival Training [3]

Even before the first rays of sunlight broke through the trees, Alex's eyes fluttered open. The world outside the tent was still veiled in twilight—that hushed moment when night hadn't fully retreated and day hadn't quite arrived.

He exhaled slowly as he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Padding quietly to the tent's entrance, he squinted into the soft glow beyond.

The sun here was different.

Compared to Earth's pale yellow dawns, this one was richer—warmer. The sky burned with shades of orange and amber, as if the sun had been dipped in molten gold. It sat low on the horizon, and somehow… closer. Not oppressive, but present—its light fuller, more vivid. As if this world wanted you to feel the sunrise, not just see it.

'It's beautiful', Alex thought absently, caught in the serenity.

Aurora appeared beside him, her translucent form hovering just above the ground.

"You're up early," she said softly, not wanting to break the stillness. "The sun's not even fully up yet."

"I went to bed early yesterday." He stretched. "Anything happen last night?"

Aurora shook her head. "Nothing worth noting. None of the monsters came close."

He gave a quiet nod, letting the moment linger as he watched the rising sun inch above the tree line.

Then—soft shuffling behind them.

Sherry stepped out of her room, dressed in fresh clothes, her long hair loose around her shoulders. She blinked at the morning light, then offered a small, sleepy smile.

"Morning." she murmured.

Alex nodded. "Morning."

Despite how early it still was, the two of them made quick work of breakfast.

By the time the sun had fully cleared the horizon, they were already stepping back into the Wilderness.

Some time had passed since they'd reentered the Wilderness. Eventually, they came to a stop.

"This should be the spot." Alex said, eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings. "C-rank monsters are concentrated around here."

According to the map on his phone, three types of monsters commonly roamed this sector: Grim Hounds, Killer Ants, and Skyripper Vultures.

Wanting to help and no longer content to stay on the sidelines, Sherry stepped forward."I—I'll help this time too," she said, avoiding direct eye contact. "I don't want to hold you back..."

Alex glanced at her, then gave a small nod of approval.

With a flick of her wrist and a focused pulse of mana, two summoning circles flared into existence beside her—glowing with soft blue and crystalline light.

From the left circle emerged Gleam, a 2.5-meter tall Crystal Golem. Shy by nature, Gleam remained close to Sherry's side, his gem-like eyes quietly observing the terrain.

"Kyuun!?"

From the second circle came something stranger: a plushy, chubby-looking blue whale that hovered midair, carried by a shimmering ribbon of ethereal dark-blue water. The sight was both whimsical and mesmerizing.

The floating whale let out a soft, cheerful squeal as it bobbed excitedly in the air.

"Beliiooo!"

It zipped over to Alex, circling his head like an overexcited pet inviting play.

Alex raised a brow at the display. He'd seen them before, but it still managed to surprise him.

Then his expression shifted. A chill ran down his spine, and the temperature seemed to drop.

A low growl echoed from the shadows ahead.

Emerging from the underbrush came a creature cloaked in darkness—sleek, muscular, and menacing. Its pitch-black fur blended seamlessly into the gloom. Two heads moved independently, both sets of jaws curled into snarls. Glowing red eyes flared like twin embers in the dark.

Alex's eyes sharpened the moment the Grim Hound stepped into view.

Months ago, when he'd still been weak, a Grim Hound had nearly killed him. He remembered the way his body had frozen in fear... how utterly helpless he had felt.

But that was then.

Now, the fear barely even registered. The familiar chill that crawled up his spine vanished in the span of a heartbeat, crushed beneath a will honed by pain and perseverance.

Grim Hounds were notorious for their fear-inducing aura—an instinctual pressure that overwhelmed the weak-minded and paralyzed those of lower strength.

'Fear doesn't affect me anymore.'

Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword in one smooth motion and stepped forward, eyes locked onto the monster like a predator meeting its rival.

The Grim Hound growled, both heads lowering. It could tell.

Alex wasn't prey.

It responded not with instinct, but desperation—its shadowed paws digging into the earth as dark mana crackled between its jaws. The air grew heavy, thick with pressure as a swirling black orb formed—Shadow Burst, the Grim Hound's most lethal attack.

But Alex had no intention of letting it finish.

A jet-black projectile ripped through the air, slamming into the monster mid-charge. The unstable energy between its mouths cracked with a violent screech before detonating prematurely. A burst of raw mana tore through the clearing, and the Grim Hound staggered in pain.

In the same instant, Alex appeared beside it—his figure a blur of motion.

The hound barely had time to register the attack before his blade sliced through one of its necks in a clean, lethal arc.

The remaining head twisted in pain and fury, snapping toward him—

—but he was faster.

Alex spun his sword, reversing the grip in a flash, and drove it straight into the base of the skull. The blade plunged deep, severing life in an instant.

The creature let out a strangled snarl... then collapsed.

Silence returned.

Sherry blinked, stunned. 'He killed it… already?'

Sherry stared at the dead Grim Hound, stunned, before slowly turning to Alex.

With practiced ease, he knelt beside the corpse, plunged a knife into its torso, and pried out a glimmering dark sphere bigger than the size of his fist—its monster core.

He gave it a quick glance, then slipped it into his storage ring without breaking stride. "Let's keep moving."

Sherry nodded, falling into step beside him. Bello floated overhead with a cheerful hum, while Gleam followed behind, each heavy step thudding softly into the earth.

They hadn't gone far when the ground began to tremble beneath their feet—subtle at first, but quickly growing into a steady rhythm.

A swarm of monstrous insectoid creatures appeared on the path ahead, cresting a shallow hill as they marched in perfect formation.

Each one stood between 1.5 and 1.8 meters tall, their segmented bodies encased in glistening crimson-black exoskeletons that shimmered like blood-soaked obsidian. Mandibles clacked hungrily, and the grinding scrape of their movements echoed like a swarm of metal blades being drawn all at once.

"Killer Ants." Alex spoke calmly.

Faint white text floated just above the monster's heads—visible only to him: [Killer Ant]

A feature of his recently acquired D-rank skill—Monster Insight.

Just a thought brought up their description.

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[Killer Ants]

[Rank: C]

[Description: Aggressive insectoid swarm monsters with a durable chitinous exoskeleton that grants high resistance to both physical and magical attacks. Known for their toxic bites and relentless group tactics.]

[Abilities: Venomous Bite, Blood Scent, Hive Mind, Hardened Carapace]

[Weaknesses: Weak to Fire and Lightning magic attacks. Disoriented if the Queen is killed.]

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Skill: Monster Insight (Passive)

Rank: D

Description:

 - Grants the ability to analyze monsters, revealing basic information such as species, threat level, and behavioral tendencies.

 - Provides insight into a monster's known abilities and typical attack patterns.

 - Reveals general weaknesses and resistances, allowing the user to effectively exploit the monster's vulnerabilities.

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The swarm advanced, forming a tight semicircle that cut off their escape from the front and sides. Their synchronized movements were unnerving—too precise, too unified. Like a single mind guiding countless limbs.

Alex's gaze sharpened. "They're trying to surround us..."

Instinctively, he stepped forward, placing himself between Sherry and the encroaching threat. "Stay back."

But she didn't move.

"I want to help," she said. Her voice was soft, but steady—resolved. "You said you've never seen a Monster Tamer fight before, right?"

Alex blinked, caught off guard by her conviction. He gave a small nod.

Sherry inhaled deeply, then lifted her hand with purpose. "Gleam—frontline. Smash through them. Bello—flank them from the rear and protect me."

With a low, rumbling groan, Gleam surged forward. Despite its bulky frame and gentle nature, the Crystal Golem moved with startling speed.

The insectoid's exoskeleton shattered on impact—splinters of crimson and black scattering like glass across the forest floor.

Above, Bello chirped brightly—"Beeelliiio~!"—and looped through the air in an elegant arc, shimmering with condensed water mana.

Alex watched for a beat—"Not bad," he muttered, unsheathing his blade with a low hum. "My turn."