No.441 stared at the Razorhide Boar's corpse, his body still aching from the fight.
He didn't know how long it would last, but the beast's meat could probably keep him alive for days. Maybe longer. There was only one problem.
He had no idea how to cut it.
He crouched beside the boar, hand on his knee, eyes scanning the thick hide. He could probably break it open with a rock again—but that wouldn't get him anything usable. Not without ruining most of it.
"How am I supposed to do this…"
[Survival Need Detected: Field Dismemberment and Heat Source.]
[Basic Utility System Unlocked.]
He blinked.
"Wait—what?"
A small screen unfolded in the corner of his vision.
[UTILITY SHOP – BASIC TIER]
Spirit-Iron Knife – 1 Credit
Spark Stone – 1 Credit
Crude Campfire Kit – 2 Credits
Note: Utility shop does not offer combat gear.
[Current Balance: 12 Credits]
Earned from: Quest Completion, Beast Kill, Astral Weapon Awakening
His fingers twitched.
"A knife and fire starter…"
He didn't hesitate.
[Purchase confirmed.]
A pulse of light appeared in front of him. Two items dropped lightly into the dirt: a small, gleaming knife—its blade etched with faint lines of spirit-forged metal—and a compact black stone that looked ordinary, but radiated heat when he touched it.
He knelt beside the boar.
Even with the knife, it wasn't easy. The hide was thick, the boar heavy. His hands slipped more than once. Blood soaked his fingers. But eventually, he started making progress—cutting strips of meat from the shoulder, back, and legs. Enough for a few meals.
He dug a shallow pit, surrounded it with stones, and used the Spark Stone.
A small flame jumped to life.
For a second, he just stared at it—his first fire. Not one made by others. Not one he was allowed to look at from behind a fence.
He slowly cooked the meat over the flames. The scent made his stomach tighten. When it was done, he tore a piece off and chewed.
Rich. Hearty. Warm.
And something else—a slight heat inside his veins, like the warmth of cultivation stirring gently in his blood. Nothing major. But enough to make him sit up straighter.
Astral energy lingered in the meat.
This beast was worth more than he realized.
After eating, he leaned back against a tree, watching the smoke drift upward through the leaves.
"I need to get out of this forest," he muttered. "Can't keep doing this forever."
He opened the system.
"Do you have a map?"
[No mapping data available.]
User has never been exposed to navigable regions or system-linked settlements.
"Then I need to find a town or something. A city."
He stood, brushing ash off his arm.
"New quest," he said. "Get somewhere where I can learn. Get answers. And get stronger."
[User-Created Quest Registered:]
Find a Human Settlement
Reward: System Mapping Unlocked, Knowledge Access, Potential Ally Triggers.
He looked into the trees.
The forest no longer felt like a trap.
It felt like a test.
Night came quickly.
The fire burned low. Embers crackled quietly beneath the pit of stones he'd built. No.441 sat nearby, arms resting on his knees, the faint glow of the chain tattoos still visible in the firelight.
He stared into the dark woods beyond the flame.
Every branch snap and rustle made his body tense.
He wasn't safe. Not really. But safer than he had been.
Still… he couldn't afford to just sit here and wait.
He glanced down at his hands, then spoke quietly.
"System. Let's start the training."
[Initiating Virtual Combat Interface.]
Mental environment stabilization…
Anchor point: safe location confirmed.
Syncing consciousness—standby.
No.441 blinked—and the world shifted.
The forest, the fire, the cold night wind—it all vanished.
Now he stood on a barren, flat platform beneath a black sky. Endless space in every direction. No sound but his own breath.
Across from him, a figure appeared.
A man. No face. No color. Just a dull grey form shaped like a human—his height, his size. Empty eyes. A wooden stick in its hand.
[Beginner Combat Mode: Level 1 Opponent Manifested.]
Opponent mimics basic movements and strikes.
Combat damage is non-fatal and resets at end of session.
No.441 summoned Oathlink. The chains materialized instantly, sliding down his arms and hanging at his sides. He took a slow breath.
The figure rushed him.
He panicked. Threw the chain too early. Missed.
The stick caught him in the shoulder—hard enough to make him grunt. The pain was real. Not sharp like a wound, but heavy. Dull. It echoed through his muscles.
He backed up and whipped the chain again. Wild. Desperate.
It smacked the figure's side, but it didn't slow down.
He twisted his body, pulled the chain back—and it curved behind the figure, catching the leg just before it turned. He yanked.
The figure stumbled.
His heart jumped. He stepped in and tried to swing again—but it was already up, blocking him with the stick.
The fight continued like that.
Clumsy swings. Hesitant movements. The chain got tangled twice. He tripped once. Got smacked hard in the ribs.
But he didn't stop.
By the fourth round, he started seeing moments.
A twitch in the figure's shoulder meant a strike was coming.
A sidestep gave him a clean angle for a wrap.
He used the chain to trip the figure once, then caught its arm on the next round. Momentum. Distance. Pressure. These things started to click.
Eventually—
[Simulation Complete.]
Session duration: 1 hour, 14 minutes
Combat Grade: D
Strength: C-
Control: D
Instinct: C
Technique: F
He panted. Sweat beaded down his face, though none of it was real. His heart still raced.
System Analysis:
"You rely on reaction, not intent. Your attacks are too emotional. Train to understand the weapon—not just use it."
He nodded, wiping his face even though there was no sweat.
"Again," he said.
[Restarting simulation.]
No.441 didn't sleep.
Not really.
He stayed seated against the tree with Oathlink resting beside him. But his mind was somewhere else—locked in battle, again and again.
[Simulation Complete.]
Combat Grade: D+
Strength: C
Control: D
Instinct: C-
Technique: D
System Analysis:
"You favor reaction. Anticipate instead."
"Again."
[Simulation Complete.]
Combat Grade: C-
Strength: C
Control: C
Instinct: C
Technique: D+
System Analysis:
"Improvement detected. Still wasting too much movement."
"Again."
[Simulation Complete.]
Combat Grade: C+
Strength: C+
Control: C
Instinct: C+
Technique: C
System Analysis:
"You're finally starting to fight with rhythm."
"Again."
The feedback got shorter. Tighter. The simulation opponents didn't change, but his timing did. He stopped swinging wildly. Started predicting. Started controlling the fight.
He breathed slower.
Moved smarter.
By the final round, he baited the opponent with a feint, caught the wrist, wrapped the chain around the forearm mid-swing, and yanked—hard. The opponent stumbled. He turned, kicked, and swept the legs in a single motion, then his fist came, firm in the center of its chest.
[Simulation Complete.]
Combat Grade: B
Strength: C+
Control: B
Instinct: B-
Technique: C+
System Analysis:
"Well done. Your intent finally matches your motion."
He stood there, panting in the virtual space—Oathlink wrapped loosely in his hand.
Then—
[Threshold Surpassed: Beginner Combat Mode Complete.]
+2 Talent Points Earned.
[Bonus Unlocked: Virtual Combat Mastery Token – Tier I]
Use to unlock Intermediate Combat Mode.
He stared at the token glowing in his mind's eye. His hand trembled slightly from the rush of progress.
"…I want more," he muttered.
[Use Virtual Combat Mastery Token?]
Warning: Difficulty will increase substantially.
"Yes."
The simulation shifted.
The air changed. It felt heavier. Darker.
The opponent that formed in front of him was taller. Calm. Armed with a short spear. It stood with perfect balance—like it knew exactly how the fight would go.
No.441 moved first.
The chain shot forward—fast, tighter, more focused.
The figure dodged without effort. Sidestepped. Closed distance. The spear flashed forward.
He blocked once. Got cut on the return.
He moved left—got kicked in the stomach.
He tried to wrap the leg—got flipped and slammed into the floor.
Everything was faster. Cleaner. Colder.
He didn't land a single hit.
He sat up, groaning, blinking at the black simulation floor as the system calmly displayed:
[Simulation Complete.]
Combat Grade: F
Strength: C
Control: C+
Instinct: C
Technique: C
System Analysis:
"You are not ready."
No.441 chuckled quietly.
"Yeah… no kidding."
He leaned back, hands behind him, and looked at the sky above the training floor.
A grin tugged at his face.
"Well," he said, "now I know my next goal."