The wasteland stretched endlessly beneath a burning sky. Each step Jordan took crunched against the cracked soil, the heat wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket. Sweat rolled down his neck, soaking through his shirt beneath the armor plates .
"System…" he muttered hoarsely. "We've been walking for hours. Where the hell is Morleen Village?"
The familiar blue text flickered before his eyes:
< JUST STRAIGHT AHEAD >
Jordan groaned, dropping to his knees. "Straight ahead? You've been saying that for two hours. I'm gonna die before I even find civilization."
He lay back on the scorched ground, staring at the sky that shimmered like molten glass. His throat burned. For a long moment, he just breathed — heavy, slow, exhausted.
Then he forced himself up. "Come on, Jordan… it's just a game. You can't tap out now."
He pushed forward, step by painful step.
At last, the jagged silhouettes of wooden gates rose in the distance. A message appeared across his vision.
< ENTERING MORLEEN VILLAGE >
Jordan nearly collapsed in relief. "Finally."
The gates creaked open as he stepped into the village — a small, dusty town built of metal and wood, like an old-world settlement trying to survive in a futuristic wasteland. NPCs went about their daily routines — blacksmiths hammering, merchants shouting, guards patrolling.
A faint chime rang as he entered a small apothecary. The air inside smelled of herbs and metal. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged woman with silver hair tied neatly behind her head.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Jordan said, voice dry. "Do you know where I can find… some kind of guild? Maybe a place that offers work?"
She eyed him up and down, noticing his tattered armor and dust-covered face. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Jordan gave a tired laugh. "That obvious, huh?"
"Far too obvious." She reached beneath the counter and pulled out a glowing blue potion. "Here. Drink this. It'll restore your stamina."
Jordan blinked in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"Consider it a welcome gift. You look like you need it more than I do."
He drank it down in one gulp. The potion was cool and minty, spreading energy through his veins. His exhaustion faded instantly.
"Wow… I actually feel alive again. Thank you."
"Head straight past the plaza," she said kindly. "The building with the wolf banner — that's the Hunters Guild. Tell them Selra sent you."
Jordan smiled. "Got it. Thanks again, Miss Selra."
The Hunters Guild towered over the rest of the village — a sprawling building made of stone and steel, its entrance guarded by two enormous wolf statues. Inside, the air buzzed with energy. Warriors in gleaming armor shared drinks and laughter, their weapons gleaming under crystal lights.
As Jordan stepped inside, the room fell briefly quiet.
A few of the veterans glanced at him — a kid with basic starter gear and twin knives strapped to his waist.
Ignoring their smirks, he walked straight to the front desk.
"Hello," he said confidently. "My name's Jordan Lethal. I'm here to apply for a job."
The receptionist, a young woman in a crisp uniform, looked up with a polite smile. "Of course. May I know your current level?"
Jordan hesitated. "Uh… Level 1. But I'm here to gain experience and money. I'll take any quest available."
She paused, surprised by his honesty, then nodded. "Level 1, huh? Ambitious. Alright, Mr. Lethal. I'll register you."
A holographic card materialized on the counter.
< REGISTRATION COMPLETE: JORDAN LETHAL — HUNTERS GUILD (BRONZE DIVISION) >
"Welcome to the Hunters Guild," she said. "For your rank, your first assignment is simple but dangerous — hunt the wild wolves in the Kanju Forest and bring back their fangs. Each fang earns 120 gold coins. Bring as many as you can."
Jordan accepted the card, eyes gleaming. "Understood."
By the time he reached Kanju Forest, dusk had fallen. The air here was colder, the trees dense and crooked, their shadows sharp and restless.
Jordan drew his knives and moved quietly between the roots, every sound amplified — the rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs, the eerie whisper of the wind.
Then he saw them.
A pair of crimson eyes glimmered from the darkness.
His pulse spiked. "Alright… let's see what you've got."
The wolf burst from the shadows, snarling. Its claws sliced through the air — faster than he expected.
Pain exploded across his chest as the beast's claw tore through his armor. He fell backward, choking on blood.
"Holy—!" He coughed, clutching his chest. "That thing hits like a truck!"
The wolf lunged again. This time, Jordan rolled aside just in time, dirt spraying in all directions. He slashed upward with his knives, grazing its flank. The creature howled and spun, eyes burning brighter.
Jordan stumbled to his feet, body trembling.
< HP: 55% >
The numbers blinked angrily in front of him.
"Damn it…" He tightened his grip. "Not this time."
The wolf charged again. Jordan stepped sideways, pivoted on his heel, and drove his knife straight into its skull.
The impact shuddered through his arm. Hot, black blood splattered across his face. The beast convulsed once, then fell limp.
< WILD WOLF DEFEATED +750 XP >
Jordan gasped for breath, heart pounding so hard it hurt. "That… was way too close."
But before he could relax, glowing red eyes began to appear — one, then two, then ten — surrounding him.
A low growl rippled through the dark.
"Ah, shit." He straightened, lifting his blades. "Guess word spreads fast."
The first wolf leaped at him. He sidestepped and slashed its neck, spinning around as another came from behind. He ducked low, dragging his knife across its belly.
Blood sprayed. The air filled with snarls and screams.
Jordan fought like a madman — instinct taking over. Every dodge, every strike felt sharper, faster. He could feel his body adapting.
< 2 WILD WOLVES DEFEATED +750 XP >
< LEVEL UP: 1 —> 2 >
< STRENGTH +1 /AGILITY +1 /INTELLIGENCE +1 / STAMINA +1 >
A rush of power surged through his veins. His arms felt lighter. His vision sharpened.
"So that's what leveling up feels like…"
The wolves growled, circling him, but Jordan grinned. "Alright, let's dance."
He moved — faster than before. His knives flashed silver in the darkness, slicing through fur and flesh. He leaped, spun, stabbed, ducked — a blur of motion under the moonlight.
One wolf lunged; he sidestepped and drove both blades through its eyes. Another charged; he rolled under its leap and slit its throat.
< 4 WILD WOLVES DEFEATED +750 XP >
< LEVEL UP: 2 —> 3 >
The last wolf stood trembling, its hackles raised. Jordan exhaled and dashed forward, sliding low before thrusting both knives into its chest.
It whimpered once before collapsing. Silence filled the forest again — broken only by Jordan's ragged breathing.
< 7 WILD WOLVES DEFEATED +750 XP >
< LEVEL UP: 3 —> 4 >
< STRENGTH +4 / AGILITY +4 / INTELLIGENCE +4 / STAMINA +4 >
He stood there for a long time, panting. "So that's what it takes to survive here…"
After a moment, he sheathed his knives and crouched beside the corpses, prying out their sharp white fangs.
"Sorry, buddies," he murmured. "But rent's not gonna pay itself."
He collected fourteen fangs before making his way out of the forest, his body aching but his spirit blazing.
Back at the village, the Guild Hall was quieter now. Jordan walked to the counter and dropped a bloodstained sack on the desk.
"Fourteen fangs," he said.
The receptionist's eyes widened. "You… you collected fourteen? In one day?"
Jordan just smiled. "Guess I got lucky."
She handed him a pouch filled with coins. "That's 1,680 gold. Impressive work, Mr. Lethal."
"Thanks," he said, pocketing the money.
He left the guild and checked into a nearby inn — a cozy guesthouse glowing with warm light. As soon as he entered his rented room, he fell onto the bed, sighing in relief.
"Time to log out."
His body shimmered — and then he was back in reality, lying in his bedroom, drenched in sweat. He removed his VR suit and grabbed his phone.
The screen read 7:40 AM.
"Shit!" he yelled. "I've been playing all night! I'm late for school!"
He rushed into the bathroom, brushed his teeth at lightning speed, threw on his uniform, and bolted out the door.
By the time he reached the subway, he was panting.
Minutes later, he stumbled through the school gates and burst into his classroom.
"Sorry I'm late!" he said, hands on his knees. "Had… some trouble on the way."
His classmates stared. His best friend Ethan smirked. "Let me guess — Nexus trouble?"
Jordan dropped into his seat, a grin tugging at his lips. "You could say that."