Raindirk continued his training for several more hours, but soon he felt his progress come to a halt. Something was missing — a barrier he couldn't break through with repetition alone. His instincts told him that staying longer would only waste the precious time he had left in the training room.
He decided to rest and let his tense muscles recover before deciding his next move. After about seven or eight hours of deep sleep, the familiar chime rang inside his head.
Ding! Body recovered and undergone strengthening.
Strength +1
Agility +1
Vitality +1
Raindirk's eyes shot open. A comfortable wave of energy spread through him, washing away fatigue as warmth surged through every fiber of his body.
"Ha! My talent is just Tier 1, but this is already overpowered!" he exclaimed, grinning at the invisible air above him.
He quickly opened his status panel to confirm what he felt.
Name: Raindirk De Selvera
Bloodline: Heaven Devourer
Ability Type: Dual – Auxiliary and Mystic
Realm: Neo Apprentice Awakener
Kill Points: 0
Status:
Strength – 7
Agility – 7
Vitality – 5
Mind – 4
Mana – 5
(Average adult male: 5)
Abilities:
Trainer (Tier 1 – Auxiliary): Training self or others increases growth rate by 2× during sessions.
Serpent Devour (Mystic): Devour the body of a defeated enemy to inherit one of their characteristics.
Skills:
Basic Fist Mastery (Lvl 4 – 99%) – When using punches as an attack method, damage output increases by 25%.
Art: Basic Fist Art (Master)
Seeing the solid improvement in his stats brought a spark of delight to Raindirk's tired face.
"Hm… with my strength and agility already forty percent higher than an average adult male, maybe it's time I venture into the wilderness," he muttered, determination glinting in his eyes.
His confidence had grown, and with it, his resolve. He was finally ready to step beyond the safety of the walls.
With no equipment or weapon to rely on, he tore a strip of cloth and wrapped it around his fists — a simple, almost futile attempt to protect his only weapons. "Good enough," he muttered, flexing his hands.
After a brief preparation, Raindirk made his way to the massive gates of the city fortress. He approached one of the stationed guards and showed his identification card.
"First time heading out into the wilds, huh?" The guard's tone carried both amusement and concern. "You reek of a newbie, kid. Just a reminder — all spoils you bring back are taxed ten percent. The rest you can sell at the Awakeners' Hall."
Raindirk nodded deeply. "Thank you for the reminder."
Before he could step past the gate, the guard called out again.
"Wait up, kid!" The man rummaged through his storage ring, then flicked his finger. A worn set of leather armor and a pair of old combat boots materialized in the air between them. "Here, take these. They've been collecting dust for years. Seeing you… you're about the same size I was back in my rookie days."
Raindirk blinked, speechless for a moment, then accepted the gift with both hands. The armor was scuffed and patched in places, but sturdy enough to offer real protection. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, sir. Why are you helping me?"
The man chuckled softly, though there was a shadow in his eyes. "Heh… you remind me of my son. He'd be about your age now, if he were still around. He dreamed of becoming a hunter too."
Raindirk fell silent, sensing the ache beneath the man's calm smile.
"The name's Borr," the guard added, patting the boy's shoulder. "Captain of the 32nd guard team, West Gate."
"I'll remember that," Raindirk said quietly. "Thank you, Captain Borr."
He bowed once more, then stepped through the massive gates — out into the wilderness.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the air felt different. The faint metallic tang of the city was gone, replaced by the wild scent of soil, grass, and danger. The dense forest loomed ahead, its trees thick and ancient, the sunlight filtering through in narrow beams.
Barely fifteen minutes into his walk, Raindirk froze. A faint rustling came from the bushes ahead. Instinctively, he hid behind the nearest large tree, holding his breath.
A few seconds later, a grey rabbit — nearly a meter tall, with a sharp horn protruding from its forehead — hopped out into view.
Ding! Unicorn Rabbit detected.
Realm: Early Tier 1
Skills: Jump Dash, Horn Pierce
Note: A monster known for its powerful legs and sharp horn, though it has poor eyesight. Considered above average among monsters of the same realm.
Raindirk's lips curled into a grin. "Heh… another convenient feature of this system. I'm starting to like you more and more," he thought.
Now that he knew the creature's weaknesses, he began planning. He crouched low, picking up a smooth stone. When the unicorn rabbit drew near — about a meter and a half away — Raindirk threw the stone sharply to his left.
The sound made the rabbit turn its head.
That was all the opening he needed.
He lunged forward in a single stride, planting his foot on the rabbit's hind leg to pin it down. The creature tried to kick off the ground, but his weight held firm. As it twisted to see what had caught it, Raindirk's right arm shot forward.
His fist slammed into the rabbit's stomach with a solid thud, the force rippling through its small frame. The creature wheezed and collapsed, dazed but not yet dead. Raindirk didn't hesitate — he threw another punch, then another, each hit more precise and brutal than the last until the chime echoed once more.
Ding!
Killed a Low Tier 1 Monster.
Gained 1 Kill Point.
Talent usage available. Do you wish to devour the Unicorn Rabbit?
Raindirk stared at the fading light in the creature's eyes, his breathing heavy but steady. A strange thrill coursed through him — part fear, part exhilaration.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Devour," he whispered.
"Author here! Hi guys, this is my first novel. I've been trying to release my own work for years, but doubt always got the better of me. This time, I finally gathered the courage to publish my work. It might be a bit rough, but please bear with me — I'm hoping for your support!"