Alex left Oakha under the moonlight. The night air was fresh and the stars shone with an intensity he had never seen in his previous world.
His equipment was rudimentary: the clothes he had reincarnated in, and in his inventory, the Minor Health Potion, the Basic Antidote, and the newly acquired Silver Necklace and Silk Scarf (though the latter would be of no use in combat).
Elara's Gathering Skill and Passive Ability: Keen Sense of Smell were active.
He entered the forest to the east, following the system's prompts. The sounds of the night were more pronounced here: the wind rustling through the leaves, the crunching of branches beneath his feet, and the distant howl of some wild creature.
His 2600 Intelligence allowed him to process these sounds with astonishing clarity, and his keen sense of smell picked up nuances of scents: damp earth, pine resin, and sometimes, an animal scent.
He looked for a clearing, the place where the Moongrasses supposedly flourished. After about half an hour of walking, the forest opened slightly, revealing a space where the moonlight fell most intensely.
And there they were: small plants that emitted a soft silvery glow, as if made of solidified moonlight.
"Here they are," Alex murmured to himself, crouching down.
He activated his Harvesting Skill. His hands moved with innate precision, identifying the right stems and detaching them without damaging the parent plant. He was efficient, as if he'd been doing this all his life.
[You have harvested Moongrass (1/10).]
[You have harvested Moongrass (2/10).]
As he concentrated, an unmistakable smell reached his nostrils, strong and unpleasant, like rancid meat and wet earth. It was unlike any animal scent he'd detected before.
His keen sense of smell warned him immediately.
Then, a sound. A deep, low growl that shook the ground, followed by the crack of thick branches breaking.
It was too big for a wolf, too heavy for a bear.
Alex bolted upright, his eyes scanning the darkness. He didn't need the system to know something large and dangerous was approaching. His Danger Intuition (Sayaka's ability) kicked in, a cold sting on the back of his neck.
A colossal shadow emerged from the trees, blocking out the moonlight. It was an Orc. A muscular creature with greenish skin, fangs protruding from its lower jaw, a snub nose, and red eyes filled with savage brutality. It wore makeshift armor of leather and bone, and wielded a massive wooden club spiked with stone.
[¡Alert! Enemy Detected: Orc (Level 8)
[Warning: Threat Level: CRITICAL. Evasion Recommended!]
Alex's heart stopped. An Orc? Level 8! He was Level 4. And while his multiplier made him much stronger than an average Level 4, a Level 8 in this world was a huge leap. The system's warning was clear: flee!
The Orc growled, a sound that chilled Alex's blood, and raised its club. Alex knew he couldn't face it directly.
The Orc's club came down with terrifying force, pulverizing the ground where Alex had been standing a moment before. His 2600 Agility allowed him to roll, dodging the impact.
"Damn!" Alex got up and ran. His plan of a quiet foraging had gone down the drain.
He ran through the trees, dodging the Orc's attacks, which, despite its size, was surprisingly fast. Pure fear fueled him. He knew that with his 2600 Toughness, he could take a few hits, but a level 8 Orc could kill him in one or two if he wasn't careful.
As he ran, Alex remembered the Pheromone Potion. Could it work? It was crazy, but it was his only non-combat "skill." Would it work on an Orc? Or would it make things worse?
He had to think fast. He couldn't run away forever. If he kept running, sooner or later he'd stumble or the Orc would corner him. He needed a distraction.
The system's warning echoed in Alex's mind: Evade! But the Orc was relentless, its massive form cutting a path through the forest, relentlessly pursuing him.
Alex ran, his 2600 agility barely enough to dodge the devastating club the Orc brandished with each stride. The beast's guttural roar raised the hairs on the back of his neck. It was clear: if it caught up with him, it would be the end.
Alex had no combat weapons. He had no spells. Only his fists, his cunning, and a vial of pheromones. It was a crazy bet, but desperation sharpened his mind. He remembered the weaknesses of the monsters in the mangas: they were often sensitive to certain influences, even non-physical ones.
With explosive speed, Alex launched into a frantic run, gaining a few meters on the Orc. Then, he abruptly stopped behind an ancient tree, pulled the Pheromone Potion from his inventory, and, with a swift, bold movement, threw it directly into the Orc's face as the creature peeked around the flank of the tree.
The vial shattered with a soft clink, releasing a sweet, reddish vapor that mingled with the forest air. The Orc stopped. His roar died away into a confused growl. His eyes, once filled with murderous fury, dilated slightly. The scent was thick, potent, and affected something primal in his brain.
The Orc shook his head, disoriented, and a strange moan escaped his throat. It wasn't a battle roar, but a sound of bewilderment and... attraction?
[The Orc (Level 8) has been affected by the pheromones.]
[Condition: Confusion and Aggression Inhibition. Duration: 15 seconds.
It worked! Alex wasted no time. Those fifteen seconds were his only chance.
He couldn't kill him with his fists. But he could exhaust the Orc, weaken him, perhaps find a way to knock him out.
The Orc staggered, his blows erratic and weak. Alex took the opportunity to move quickly, avoiding danger. But he couldn't run away; he had to finish this.
A crazy idea came to him. His Strength of 2600 and Agility of 2600. The forest environment.
"System, I want to throw that log!" Alex thought, pointing to a fallen, thick, half-rotten log nearby.
[Calculating… Chance of Success: High. Cost: 10 MP.]
The Orc continued to groan, shaking his head. Alex charged his strength. He crouched down, grabbing the massive log with both hands. His muscles tensed, and with a roar of his own, driven by desperation and fury, Alex lifted it and threw it with all his might.
The log, though heavy, flew through the air like a missile, propelled by Alex's colossal strength. It slammed into the Orc's head with a wet, dull thud. The sound echoed through the forest. The Orc stopped. His red eyes widened. He staggered backward, the club falling from his hands.
Then, with a final, muffled grunt, the Orc's gigantic body collapsed like a felled oak, hitting the ground with an earth-shaking vibration.
[You have defeated an Orc (Level 8)!]
[You have gained 8,000 EXP (base 80).]
[You have reached Level 5.]
[You gain +50 Attribute Points.
[You have reached Level 6.]
[You gain +50 Attribute Points.]
[You have reached Level 7.]
[You gain +50 Attribute Points.]
[You have reached Level 8.]
[You gain +50 Attribute Points.]
[Congratulations, Host! You have defeated a Higher Level enemy (4 levels higher). Additional Reward: Higher Level Combat Bonus.]
[You gain +1000 HP (base 10) from the defeated Orc.]
[You gain +5000 HP (base 50) from the Higher Level Combat Bonus.]
Alex fell to his knees, panting, cold sweat soaking his clothes. The Orc's body lay inert a few feet away. He had won. Not only had he won, but he'd jumped four levels at once, and gained a massive amount of HP.
His 2600 Luck and Intelligence had combined to give him the idea for pheromones, and his 2600 Strength had done the rest.
He checked his status screen, his heart pounding with euphoria.
[Name: Alex]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 8]
[Class: No Class Assigned]
[HP: 100/100 (Restored by Level Up)]
[MP: 40/50]
[Available Attribute Points: 200]
[Available Skill Points: 0]
[Strength (STR): 26 (Effective: 2600)]
[Agility (AGI): 26 (Effective: 2600)]
[Intelligence (INT): 26 (Effective: 2600)]
[Stamina (END): 26 (Effective: 2600)]
[Luck (LUK): 26 (Effective: 2600)]
[HP Balance: 6498 HP]
200 Attribute Points Available! And over 6,000 HP. Defeating an Orc had been a brutal turning point. The Moongrass quest had taken a backseat. He had to decide how to spend those points and what to buy from the shop. He wasn't just a rookie anymore. He'd tasted victory and the true power of his SSS skill.