The Dark Forests—five years ago, this place was said to be the most dangerous area that manifested in the world. Lives equivalent to thousands were swept away with just a single step within this horrific environment. Monsters spawned as soon as you killed their kin. They were strong, intelligent, and lastly—tactical.
These monsters developed a high level of intelligence comparable to the Guardians. That was the case until all of these powers were removed upon the destruction of the Orb of Catastrophe.
[System: The Orb of Catastrophe has been destroyed by the great alchemist Ernest Quelt, known for his great achievements. This relic is of unknown origins. To this day, the only thing that the Guardians know is that it empowers monsters within its range of effect. Even with its destruction, the monsters' ranks were lowered from extinction-rank to measly high-ranking monsters. Nonetheless, they are not an enemy a Guardian easily belittles.]
"Looks like I'll have to regain some of my strength... I'm surprised there doesn't seem to be a single irregularity in my condition. Now that I think about it... Didn't the programming on my test subjects get destroyed easily? Wait a moment—if my greatest creation merged with my body, it must have simply repaired it, right?"
He quickly tried to recall his knowledge and failed attempts from over the years. His first project, the creation of a "Second Chance," had been kept secret from the world and even his comrades.
"Once a week had passed, the function for recreating muscle memory would've disappeared. That's why the homunculus would take a long time before entering the final phase. Most of the requirements within my most successful sample only needed a few more days... Until it could finally bloom—and become the first of many failures to transform into a living individual. But instead of gaining sentience by consuming my rotting flesh, it saw my body as the missing piece to complete itself... Which led to my resurrection and fusion with the experiment."
[System: You've chosen a skill to be returned to your body. The skill has now been engraved into your newly created vessel. Your body is now fully integrated with the system. You can now level up.]
"My bag... it isn't here. Who would've guessed—those bastards not only stabbed me to death, they also dared to take what's rightfully mine? Well, the system told me I was resurrected, which means all my previous contracts with my weapons have been relinquished... Looks like I'll have to make do with this rusted blade. Quite ironic that I'm using the blade that killed me."
Without anything left of his belongings, he decided to leave for the outside world.
When he finally climbed up the gorge that became his burial ground, he brought the knife and placed it into his inventory. Though its effects and abilities had already been used, it could still serve as a tool to fend off the monsters lurking in the environment.
"Light! Finally, I've found the exit!"
After circling for more than half an hour, he reached the mouth of the cave. He gazed into the moonlight with a dagger in hand, and a long, raggedy cloth covering his privates. He ventured into the Dark Forest, seeking out lower-rank monsters—while the abilities embedded in his new body began to awaken.
[System: The Golden Eyes of the Abyssal Tiger have been activated. You can now see even when your surroundings are untouched by light. Apart from night vision, your senses have been enhanced.]
"Kieeek!!!!"
If his abilities had activated even a millisecond later, he would've lost his head right then and there.
He read the situation quickly—it was the territory of one of the lowest monsters: a Demonic Hog. The large beast thrust its long, pointed horns toward his skull, but his body's instincts refused to die. Though he couldn't dodge, his response was to block and redirect the attack. The horn pierced his flesh—but he didn't feel a thing.
"You'll have to try harder than that."
He used his strength to pull his right arm off the horn, then threw his powdered poison—created from the mushrooms growing at the edge of his cocoon.
He had anticipated the rusted blade wouldn't be enough. However, the Demonic Hog flailed him wildly before the poison could take effect. Blood gushed, but pain remained a stranger to his body.
As he realized this, he repositioned himself, clutching his knife and aiming it at his prey.
[System: The Scales of the Nightmarish Behemoth have manifested to provide the Guardian with better defense. This will activate only once the host enters a life-threatening state. It is a last resort to preserve the host's body.]
[System: The skill [Unparalleled Alchemical Knowledge] has increased the effectiveness of Powdered Poison. Infection rate and dosage increased. Status effect [Weakening] has lowered the stats of the afflicted target.]
Anyone else would've fled this desolate place. It was the logical choice when the only inhabitants were monsters in all shapes and sizes.
But Ernest wasn't just any Guardian. His greatest weapon wasn't his class, gear, or items—it was experience.
"Demonic Hogs... known for charging their victims with immense force. The best way to kill one is to avoid its headbutt—ride it. But its skull is its most durable part. You might as well drug it via mouth or nostril."
As a seasoned Guardian, Ernest was known for his vigor. With the scales manifesting to prevent blood loss, he made drugging the monster his top priority.
[System: We disagree with the Guardian's strategy of continuing to apply Powdered Poison. You're not doing any significant damage to the overdose target. The only result is a minor drop in its defense and stamina~]
[System: You've temporarily muted the system. It will become active again after the appointed time has passed.]
"Shut up... I know what I'm doing."
His body held together even as he was flailed about. He kept his focus, avoiding threats with the help of his enhanced vision. When the Hog finally showed signs of collapse, Ernest opened his inventory, retrieved his only weapon, and slashed into the beast.
[System: You've killed a high-level Demonic Hog. Experience has been granted. You leveled up. All wounds and stamina restored.]
[System: You've gained a new title: First Blood. Because your first kill was a high-level demon, you've gained +5 to every stat. You've achieved an incredible feat at Level 0. The system wishes to grant you a skill.]
"Whew... I would've undoubtedly lost if it weren't for the abilities I attached to the homunculus. The laws were strict and annoying—I couldn't care less. But I couldn't ruin the Guardians' good name, so I didn't use human body parts. That was off-limits. Instead, I used drops from the monsters I hunted, and combined them with my life's work. If I'm right... I still have that."
He closed his eyes and imagined a figure—it manifested from within him.
[System: You've called upon the Devouring Leech to prey on the flesh that resides in the corpses of your enemies. Devouring Leech's hunger has been satisfied. The host has gained +1 to Attack, Defense, and Health.]
"This is only the beginning. Demonic Hogs are the weakest monsters in this forest. If I want to escape this hell, I'll have to make full use of the system. And I need better control over my body. I just realized—I didn't apply any nerves to the sample. I can't feel pain like normal people do."
"For now... let's use it. I would've panicked if I could feel pain in this damned place."