Chapter 2: The bloodstained Night
A Hunter's Desperation
The scent of iron was thick in the air.
Ezren's eyes narrowed as the wounded hunter stumbled toward him, his breaths ragged and desperate. Blood soaked his tattered armor, a deep gash running along his shoulder. But it wasn't the man that held Ezren's focus—it was what followed him.
A monstrous figure emerged from the darkened forest, its crimson eyes glowing like embers. It was a twisted beast, its form resembling a primeval nightmare—scaled black and red, its body massive yet eerily agile. Two curved horns jutted from its skull, and its elongated claws gleamed under the faint moonlight. A row of serrated teeth, sharp enough to tear steel, lined its powerful jaws.
Ezren felt a shiver of instinctual fear crawl up his spine.
Then, the system responded.
[D-rank monster detected: Rakaroth, the Ravager]
Another screen followed.
[Urgent Quest: Eliminate the Rakaroth]
Rewards:
500 EXP
D-rank Crystal (x1)
Random Surprise Box (x1)
Ezren exhaled slowly, his grip tightening around the hilt of his dagger. The blade was of B-rank quality—far superior to most beginner weapons—but he was still inexperienced.
The injured hunter collapsed onto the dirt, his strength failing him. He turned his bloodied face toward Ezren, eyes filled with desperate plea.
There was no choice.
Ezren dashed forward.
The Hunt Begins
The Rakaroth let out a guttural snarl and lunged.
Ezren barely evaded, rolling to the side as claws carved deep into the earth where he stood a second ago. He slashed out with his dagger, the blade cutting into the monster's thick hide—but it barely left more than a shallow wound.
Too shallow.
The beast roared, swinging its massive tail. Ezren barely had time to react before the impact sent him skidding across the dirt, his body colliding against a tree. Pain exploded through his ribs, but he forced himself back onto his feet.
The Rakaroth charged again.
This time, Ezren didn't retreat. He sidestepped at the last second, ducking beneath its claws, and drove his dagger deep into its side. The monster howled in agony, its blood splattering against him—hot, viscous, and oddly luminescent.
He twisted the blade and yanked it free, a spray of dark ichor bursting into the air.
The Rakaroth staggered. Its movements grew sluggish.
Ezren didn't let it recover.
He surged forward, blade flashing. A precise strike to the throat. The B-rank dagger cut deep, severing flesh and veins. The monster let out one final, ear-piercing screech before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.
The system chimed.
[Quest Completed!]
Rewards Acquired:
500 EXP
D-rank Crystal (x1)
Random Surprise Box (x1)
Another notification appeared.
[You have leveled up: Level 2 reached.]
Ezren exhaled, feeling a subtle shift in his body. His movements felt slightly lighter, his senses sharper. But he pushed the thought aside.
The hunter was still injured.
The Glow of Life
Ezren crouched beside the wounded man, pulling out a vial of healing potion from his system inventory.
"Hold still," he muttered.
The hunter weakly nodded, barely conscious. Ezren uncorked the bottle and poured the shimmering liquid over his wounds.
A golden glow spread across the injured flesh, forming intricate, radiant patterns—like the branches of a divine tree. The hunter's breathing stabilized, his wounds beginning to close.
Ezren watched in fascination. This world's magic was unlike anything he had ever known.
Moments later, the hunter's eyes fluttered open, his expression dazed yet filled with gratitude. Before Ezren could speak, the man weakly whispered, "Thank you…"
Then, exhaustion overtook him, and he slipped into unconsciousness.
Ezren stood up. His work here was done. He needed to move on.
A Mysterious Message
As Ezren ventured deeper into the forest, a sudden realization struck him.
His map.
He had left it at the battle site.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he retraced his steps, weaving through the underbrush. Yet when he arrived…
The hunter was gone.
The body of the Rakaroth had vanished as well—likely retrieved by scavengers or other hunters.
However, something unusual remained.
A single parchment floated in the air, pulsating with an eerie, golden glow. As Ezren reached out, the letter unraveled before him.
"Thank you for rescuing the hunter. I have taken your map. You may retrieve it from the Awakener Association."
The moment he finished reading, the letter disintegrated into light, fading into the night.
Ezren's brows furrowed.
Who had left it?
And why?
He didn't like mysteries that he had no control over. But for now, there was nothing to be done.
With a sigh, he turned back into the forest. He still needed to level up.
The Empty Hunt
Ezren roamed the hunting grounds, searching for another beast to kill.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
The deeper zones were strangely quiet, the usual sounds of night predators absent.
It was unsettling.
Ezren had a bad feeling, but without evidence, he couldn't act on it. The only choice left was to return to the outer zone.
Night had fallen completely by now. The cold air carried the scent of damp earth and distant mana traces.
His body ached from exhaustion. His movements slowed.
Rest. He needed rest.
Then, in the distance—he saw it.
A lone wooden house stood amidst the dense forest, bathed in the flickering glow of candlelight. A small farm stretched beside it, its crops swaying gently in the night breeze.
Old, yet modern. Isolated, yet strangely inviting.
Ezren approached.
He called out. "Is anyone there?"
Silence.
A minute passed. Then another.
Cautiously, he pushed the door open.
The warmth of the interior greeted him—rustic furniture, a fireplace with dying embers, shelves lined with books and peculiar artifacts. The house seemed lived in, yet no one was present.
Strange.
He stepped inside.
And then—
Cold steel pressed against his throat.
A blade.
Ezren's instincts flared, his muscles tensing.
A voice followed.
"You have three seconds to tell me who you are," a woman's voice whispered, sharp and unyielding.
"And why you've entered my home uninvited."