The gauntlet on my wrist pulsed with a faint, golden light. My first ability: "Essence Absorption." It wasn't flashy like the fiery blasts or razor-sharp winds that many hunters craved. Instead, it was a subtle, tactical power that allowed me to absorb the essence of a monster three times my current level—an impossible feat for any other hunter wielding a Common Gauntlet. This ability was my first secret, my first advantage in this new life.
I slipped out of the dark alley, the stench of decay and human despair clinging to my clothes. My brother was still asleep, a peaceful, unsuspecting pawn in a game he didn't even know he was playing. The thought of him filled me not with hatred, but with a cold indifference. He was a variable I needed to control, nothing more.
My destination was the city's outskirts, where the low-level monsters dwelled. Most hunters my age would be heading there, hoping to find a Common-rank monster to kill and absorb its essence. But I wasn't most hunters. My goal was higher, and my path was different.
I knew of a hidden den, a place where a powerful monster was rumored to reside, a creature that no low-level hunter would dare to face. It was a Rare-rank monster, a Carrion Crawler, that fed on the city's refuse and was known for its hardened carapace and venomous fangs. In my past life, I had seen a seasoned hunter barely survive a fight with one of these creatures, and they had to use a powerful Epic-rank card to do so. For a child with a Common Gauntlet, facing it was suicide.
But I had a plan, a strategy no one would ever think to use.
The plan was simple. I would find a dozen of the weakest Common-rank monsters, absorb their essences, and use their cards to level up my gauntlet and my new ability. The plan was not to defeat the Carrion Crawler with brute force, but with a unique combination of cards that would be useless to any other hunter.
The first monster I found was a Slime, a gelatinous blob that was the lowest of the low. It moved slowly and had no defenses. I killed it with a single rock and watched as its body dissipated, leaving behind a small, shimmering Slime Essence and a translucent, shimmering card.
Slime Card (Common Rank)
Uses: Can be used to create a small, sticky puddle on the ground, slowing down enemies.
Benefits: This card is primarily used for utility and is worthless in a direct fight. It's often discarded by hunters.
I absorbed the Slime Essence into my gauntlet, and a faint, satisfying warmth spread through my arm. The gauntlet's light brightened slightly. A few more of these and I would be ready.
I spent the next hour hunting, my movements silent and efficient. I killed Sewer Rats, Giant Spiders, and even a few Poisonous Mites. Each time, I collected their Common Cards and absorbed their essences. My gauntlet grew warmer with each absorption, its light growing from a faint shimmer to a steady glow.
My collection grew:
Sewer Rat Card (Common Rank):
Uses: Can be used to create a small, distracting squeak that can draw a monster's attention.
Benefits: Useless in combat, but can be a good tool for misdirection.
Giant Spider Card (Common Rank):
Uses: Can be used to create a small, non-sticky web that can be used to set a trap.
Benefits: Can be used to slow down a monster or a hunter.
Poisonous Mite Card (Common Rank):
Uses: Can be used to create a small, irritating cloud of dust.
Benefits: Causes a minor, non-lethal itching sensation.
After collecting a dozen of these useless cards, I had the perfect combination. My gauntlet was now Level 1, and my "Essence Absorption" ability was now active. I felt a surge of energy, a fraction of the power I once had, and it was glorious.
I then went for the Carrion Crawler.
The lair of the monster was a large, rotting dumpster behind an abandoned factory. The air was thick with the smell of decay. I heard a low, raspy sound from inside, and I knew it was there. I took a deep breath, and I slipped inside.
The Carrion Crawler was a large, monstrous insect with a thick, chitinous shell and eight sharp legs. It was gnawing on a pile of garbage, its mandibles dripping with slime. Its presence filled the dumpster with a foul stench and an aura of danger.
I knew I couldn't face it head-on. But I didn't need to. I had a different set of cards, cards that no one would ever think to combine.
I placed the Sewer Rat Card into my gauntlet first, and the gauntlet hummed with a low, rumbling sound. Then, I placed the Slime Card into the gauntlet. The gauntlet's energy pulsed, and the sound of a thousand rats squeaked in my ear. I knew it was working.
Finally, I placed the Poisonous Mite Card into the gauntlet. The combined energy of these three useless cards created a unique effect, a new ability that only a Common Gauntlet could create: "Scavenger's Deluge."
A wave of phantom rats, covered in slime and irritating dust, burst from my gauntlet. They weren't real, but their noise was deafening, and their sheer numbers overwhelmed the monster's senses. The Carrion Crawler shrieked in pain and frustration, its mandibles snapping at the air as it tried to swat away the invisible swarm.
This was my chance. I rushed forward, my gauntlet glowing with the golden light of my "Essence Absorption" ability. The Carrion Crawler was thrashing around, its attention completely focused on the phantom rats. It didn't even notice me as I plunged my gauntlet into its chest.
The golden light flared, and the gauntlet began to pulse violently. I felt a powerful, overwhelming force trying to push me away, to reject my absorption. But my gauntlet held firm, and I held on, my eyes fixed on the monster's heart.
The Carrion Crawler shrieked, a sound of agony and fury. Its body began to glow, and then, with a pop, it disintegrated. A large, shimmering Carrion Crawler Essence floated in the air, a symbol of my victory.
I had done it. I had killed a Rare-rank monster with a Common Gauntlet and a few useless cards. No one would believe me if I told them. But I didn't need to. The knowledge was mine, and that was all that mattered.
I absorbed the Carrion Crawler Essence into my gauntlet. The process was painful, a searing heat that almost made me pass out. My "Essence Absorption" ability was a powerful tool, but it came with a price. My body was wracked with pain, and my mind was on the brink of collapse. But I held on.
When the pain subsided, my gauntlet's light had changed. It was no longer a golden light. It was a dark, obsidian black, and it hummed with a low, menacing energy. My Common Gauntlet was now a Rare-rank Artifact, and with it, my "Essence Absorption" ability had evolved into a more powerful, more dangerous form. I now had the capacity to absorb the essence of monsters that were a full six ranks above me.
I also received a Rare-rank card from the Carrion Crawler.
Carrion Crawler Card (Rare Rank)
Uses: Can be used to create a hardened, spiky carapace on your body for a brief period.
Benefits: Offers a high level of defense against physical attacks.
I looked at the card, a rare treasure that any hunter would kill to possess. But it wasn't the most valuable thing I had. The most valuable thing was my knowledge, my ability to turn worthless junk into a treasure.
The game had just begun, and I was already several steps ahead. Now, with a Rare-rank artifact and a new, powerful card in my possession, it was time to leave this slum behind and start my true climb to power. This time, I would not only conquer the world, but I would burn it to the ground.