Chapter 06 ~ Edge of Stonefield.
The apple was gone—vanished in a flicker of light.
To the three standing before him, the sight was ordinary, almost expected. But as they looked back toward Hikari, they found him staring straight at them, calm and composed.
His golden hair shimmered slightly beneath the soft sunlight filtering through the trees, his ocean-blue eyes carrying the same lazy calm that never quite gave away what he was thinking.
"So," he said quietly, "is there something I can help you with?"
The boy in blue—Kazuki—grinned and took a step forward, his hands casually tucked into the sash around his waist.
"Actually, we're here to help you. Saw you standing there alone."
The girl in white added with a warm smile—Miryana, her golden eyes sparkling beneath short blonde hair, the long red scarf around her neck drifting behind her with each subtle breeze.
"We came across a beginner like you and figured… why not offer a chance to see the world through a party's eyes? Just like Petra said—you could form a temporary team."
Hikari blinked slowly. "I don't think I need that right now. I'm planning to explore this world solo."
Asaka stepped in smoothly—his arm slipped around Hikari's shoulders in mock camaraderie, pulling him slightly closer like an old friend.
"C'mon, man. What's your real name?"
Hikari gave a half-smirk. "Still Hikari."
The trio chuckled.
Miryana tilted her head. "We don't need to introduce ourselves, do we? You can already read it, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Kinda obvious."
Matching Asaka's gesture, Hikari looped his own arm lazily over the taller guy's shoulder.
Asaka smirked, voice low but persuasive. "Look, the three elixirs you've got now? Useless. When I first started, I thought I could just rush past this village and dive into the world. Guess what? I burned through my elixirs in one fight—and hit a wall."
Kazuki stepped forward, arms folded. "You can leave anytime, if that's what you're worried about."
Hikari narrowed his eyes slightly. "What I don't get is… what do you get out of this?"
Miryana tapped the pouch at her waist lightly. "We only came back to buy some basic elixirs. They're not powerful, but they've got unique traits. We figured—while we're here, why not help a fresh player?"
Asaka nodded. "Every ten levels, there's a wall. A boss that's stronger than you. We're planning for the level twenty one already. If you come with us, we'll pass on tips, tricks—you'll level up faster."
Miryana turned to the others, her voice playful. "Honestly, wouldn't it be better to keep him?"
Asaka paused, hand to chin, studying Hikari with a thoughtful squint.
"Hmm… He does look like the missing piece we've been looking for. All we need is to get him some yellow or gold ninja gear."
Kazuki chuckled. "I like that idea."
Hikari looked at them, reading their body language, their tone. I thought they were setting me up to steal from me or scam me, he thought. But… no. They're just reckless. Eager. This kind of energy—my gut says they're not the type to betray me.
He exhaled softly.
"Fine. I'll join you for now. We'll move forward together—and after that, I'll decide."
The three of them broke into excited grins.
"We're the Shadow Ninjas," Asaka declared. "If you show us some skill out there, we'll keep you on—help you level up, share gear, even hand you loot if you earn it."
Hikari raised his gloved hand, palm turned downward, forming a backward-facing fist.
Asaka looked at it for a beat, then grinned and returned the gesture—fist bump meeting fist, sealing the temporary alliance.
Hikari's gaze remained steady.
"Petra explained a lot," he said. "But she never told me what my first mission was."
The group began walking through the town, their pace easy, casual.
Vendors called out over the market, hawking roasted nuts and flavored bread. Steam rose from open pots. The blacksmith's hammer rang in steady beats. In the background, people moved—laughing, shouting, negotiating—but whenever their eyes landed on the group, their expressions shifted.
Whispers followed their path.
Hikari noticed it—people glancing and quickly looking away. A mother ushering her child aside. An old merchant pulling his cart away from their lane.
They're avoiding them, he realized. Even in a game world, reputation casts a shadow.
He said nothing.
Between the murmurs, Kazuki spoke.
"That's because you haven't entered the story yet. They don't assign missions until you get past your first combat scenario."
Miryana added, her scarf dancing slightly as she turned her head, her short blonde hair fluttering at her jawline.
"This isn't a story-driven RPG in the traditional sense. It's open-world. No one's ever finished the main questline. Not even close. Let alone the side stories. It's… kind of addictive."
"Speaking of which…" Hikari muttered. "Feels like it's been half an hour already."
"You thinking of logging out?" Asaka asked.
Hikari shook his head. "Not yet."
The Shadow Ninjas exchanged smiles.
"Then let's cross this gate," Asaka said. "Time to introduce you to your first taste of combat in Royal Fantasy Elixir."
Absolutely. This is an epic cinematic moment that blends calm exploration with the sudden shift into tactical, high-stakes combat. Here's the scene crafted with full immersion, rhythm, and style—your LitRPG world at its finest:
Accompanied by Asaka, Kazuki, and Miryana, Hikari walked calmly through the waving grass that rippled with the wind's soft rhythm. His outfit still looked like something from a humble adventurer's tale—simple leather gloves, a modest tunic, and no visible weapon.
By contrast, his companions looked like they stepped out of a stealth legend.
Asaka, clad in full black ninja gear, walked ahead with quiet confidence. The fabric of his uniform shifted lightly with every step, absorbing sunlight like a shadow come to life. His short brown hair matched the tone of his skin, and his eyes were focused, unwavering.
Kazuki wore blue—his ninja attire looser, more casual, accented by a soft cap that tilted slightly with the breeze. His dark hair peeked beneath it, eyes calm and calculating.
Miryana was at the far end of the line, her white ninja garb glowing faintly in the morning light. A bright red scarf wrapped around her neck and trailed behind her like a crimson ribbon caught in a dream. Each gust of wind sent it fluttering, dancing around her frame. Her short blonde hair shimmered faintly as it moved with the breeze.
In the center of them walked Hikari.
His golden hair moved gently with the wind, and his blue eyes reflected the vast, open world before him. The OST playing in his head—a soft melody of discovery, low piano notes and ambient hums—fit perfectly with the open terrain around them.
He lifted his head, not up to the sky, but slightly forward—just enough to see the faint shimmer of words appear in front of him:
Edge of Stonefield
The letters faded into sparkles within seconds.
The area ahead was vast. No trees. Just endless green fields covered in tall grass that brushed up to his knees. Scattered throughout the field were massive stones—some half a man's size, others as tall as one. Their surfaces were cracked, rough and gray, etched by time. Morning sunlight poured down, soft and golden, adding a dreamlike warmth to the scene.
A single pink-winged butterfly floated in front of Hikari's face, fluttering slowly. His eyes followed it, catching its reflection in his watery-blue irises.
"It's… really peaceful," he murmured, then turned toward the others. "Are you sure this is where the fighting happens?"
Miryana smiled brightly from the far side, her voice playful. "The battle already started, Rising Star… the moment the zone name appeared."
That's when the rocks began to shake.
A strange trembling passed through the ground—subtle at first, like a heartbeat under the earth. Hikari's eyes narrowed, darting across the field. The others remained still.
Only Hikari showed any visible reaction—mild, but clear. Compared to them, he looked unprepared.
The shaking intensified.
Suddenly, cracks burst through the stone surfaces.
One after another, the boulders fractured—stone shells crumbling apart with small, dusty explosions. Gray powder clouded the air as dozens of these rocky forms broke open like hatching eggs. The sound echoed across the field like a rhythm of crumbling bones.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Each explosion triggered the next, until the entire field seemed alive with shaking stone and thick dust.
As the gray haze began to clear, Hikari caught glimpses—flashes of red.
Not fire.
Eyes.
Behind each lingering dust cloud shimmered small, angular eyes—red, glowing, some square, others triangular, all sharp.
The OST in his head shifted.
The soft exploration theme fell silent… replaced by a heavier, more urgent rhythm. Drums. Rising strings. A beat that stung the air like adrenaline.
"This music…" Hikari said under his breath. "It's combat time."
The fog lifted.
The creatures were revealed in full:
Stone Monkeys.
Not tall—barely reaching his waist. Their bodies were made entirely of polished, cracked stone. Long, blunt tails dragged behind them, scraping the ground. Their claws looked chipped but sharp. And their faces—those snarling, rocky muzzles—held eyes like glowing rubies. Their teeth glistened like razors carved from granite.
Above each one floated its level.
Lv. 5
Lv. 6
Lv. 8
Lv. 7
A translucent interface popped into view before Hikari, showing one of the monsters.
Name: Stone Monkey
Type: D-Class Beast
Info: Packs of stone-bodied monkeys that conceal themselves inside boulder husks, luring prey into a false sense of safety. Cowardly alone. Dangerous in groups. Low intelligence. High aggression when swarming.
He watched as the panel flickered and vanished.
All around them, the Stone Monkeys began to move—not attacking, but circling. They formed a wide ring around the four players, pacing side to side, shifting in rhythm… but not daring to strike.
Hikari frowned.
"Their level is way beyond mine," he said. "I'm just level one…"
Kazuki placed a calm hand on his shoulder.
"That's because you're with us. The system scales enemy levels based on our team average. If the three of us came alone, we'd be facing level fifteens or worse. But if you were alone? These monkeys would be level one. So don't worry."
Miryana added with a wink, "Just use your elixirs and have fun. We're right behind you if anything goes south."
Asaka, the tallest, crossed his arms. His brown eyes glinted under his black hood.
"Look around you, Hikari. They're not attacking you because you're under our protection. Even these beasts can recognize threat levels. They know they don't stand a chance. That gives you a perfect opportunity to show us what you've got. Impress us, Rising Star."
Hikari raised his hand slightly, fingers twitching with anticipation.
"Amber Stamina."
A flicker of blue light danced through his fingertips—then, between his fingers, a long vial appeared, shimmering into view through crackling neon sparks.
Inside it swirled a golden-orange liquid, thick and slow-moving, glowing faintly like trapped sunlight.
He popped the wooden cork with a flick of his thumb.
His face stayed calm. Void of panic.
"Alright..." he murmured.
"Let's see just how well stone monkeys can dance."