The path to invernia

Nasuke walked through the forest, noticing a light shining ahead. His heart lifted. "Am I finally at the end of this forest?" he wondered, picking up his pace.

When he stepped out of the trees, he found himself on a wide, open grassland. The soft grass swayed in the wind, and birds flew freely in the clear sky. Animals roamed the land peacefully, none of them dangerous.

"Wow," Nasuke said, impressed by the calm beauty around him. But before he could enjoy it, the system appeared.

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System Notification:

Hunger: 79%.

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Nasuke rubbed his stomach. "Yeah, I'm feeling it now. Weird for a game," he muttered.

The system interrupted his thoughts again with a quest.

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System Notification:

Defeat 2 cows, 2 rabbits, and 1 deer to satisfy hunger.

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Nasuke groaned. "No breaks, huh?" He spotted two rabbits nearby and dashed toward them. In one quick move, he took them both down. The other animals scattered, running away in fear as the system chimed.

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System Notification:

2 rabbits defeated. +10 EXP.

Cows defeated: (0/2)

Deer defeated: (0/1)

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Nasuke scanned the area and saw a deer grazing nearby. With his newfound speed, he was in front of it in an instant and defeated it. Turning his attention to a pair of cows, he used a flesh step to appear behind them and knocked them both down.

He stopped for a moment, looking at his hands and smiling. "This is what it feels like to be Level 8."

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System Notification:

2 cows and 1 deer defeated. +30 EXP.

Quest complete: +100 EXP, +20 Silver Coins.

Total Gold Coins: [Add your total here].

EXP: [550/1000]

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System Notification:

Loot Drops:

Cow Skin x2

Cow Meat (20kg)

Rabbit Meat (5kg)

Deer Horn x1

Deer Meat (10kg)

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Wiping sweat from his brow, Nasuke continued walking across the grassy plain. The sky was turning orange as the sun began to set, and everything looked peaceful.

Behind him, he heard the faint sound of hooves. He turned and saw a figure on horseback in the distance. "That's strange… It sounds so close," Nasuke muttered.

As the rider got closer, Nasuke stopped to look. It was a knight in shiny armor, his face hidden behind a helmet that matched his gear.

"Hello there, sir," the knight said in a deep voice, pulling his horse to a stop.

Nasuke nodded slightly. "Hello," he replied, not too interested in the conversation.

The knight looked him over. "Are you an adventurer? That armor looks pretty big on you."

Nasuke glanced at his clothes, realizing they didn't fit as well anymore. "Oh, no. This used to fit me, but I've… changed," he said, scratching his head awkwardly.

"I see. Where are you heading?"

"I'm looking for a place to rest," Nasuke said.

The knight nodded, pulling out a small paper. "If you keep going straight, you'll find the Great Wall of Invernia. Take this—it's a permit to pass through."

Nasuke took the paper and bowed. "Thank you."

"It's my duty to help travelers on this path. Safe travels," the knight said before riding off.

Nasuke watched him leave. "Classic," he muttered with a smirk, turning back to the road.

Hours passed, and the hunger returned, signaled by another system notification.

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System Notification:

Hunger: 82%.

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Nasuke groaned. "I know, I know," he muttered, clutching his stomach.

Finally, he spotted something massive in the distance—a wall so tall it seemed to touch the sky. Nasuke froze in amazement.

"I made it," he whispered, smiling.

Excited, he broke into a run and reached the wall in minutes. Standing at its base, he saw a long line of people waiting to enter the gates.

"Of course, there's a line," he sighed, joining the queue.

As he stood in line, he stared up at the towering wall, wondering what awaited him on the other side.