The air in the Low-Level Hunter Zone smelled of damp earth and rotting vegetation. For an F-rank scavenger, this place was usually a graveyard. But as I stepped past the rusted iron gates, my vision flickered with a strange, golden overlay.
[Divine Sight Active.]
[Scanning... Multiple life forms detected.]
The world became a map of data. I could see the pulsating mana veins of the trees and the hidden heat signatures of creatures lurking in the tall grass. A few meters to my left, a Grey-Skinned Goblin was crouched, waiting to ambush a group of novice hunters.
In the past, I would have trembled at the sight of a Goblin. Now, I felt a strange hunger. Not for food, but for the power locked inside its flesh.
I moved. My new body felt like a coiled spring. In a heartbeat, I was behind the creature. Its 'Flaw'—a glowing red spot on its neck—was practically screaming at me to strike.
One punch. That was all it took.
The Goblin's neck snapped with a sickening crack before it could even let out a screech. It slumped to the ground, its life force fading instantly.
[Ding! Kill Confirmed: Grey-Skinned Goblin (Lvl 5).]
[Target detected. Do you wish to Extract?]
"Extract everything," I commanded.
[Ding! Extraction Successful!]
[You have obtained: +15 Agility, +10 Strength.]
[Bonus: You have extracted 'Goblin's Greed' (Passive) — Increases gold drop rate by 5%!]
I felt another jolt of energy. My muscles tightened, becoming even more defined. This was insane. Other hunters spent weeks grinding to increase their stats by a single point. I had just gained twenty-five points in ten seconds.
"More," I whispered. "I need more."
For the next three hours, I became a ghost in the forest. I didn't just hunt; I harvested. Every kill made me faster. Every extraction made me stronger.
[Ding! Level Up! Current Level: 7.]
By the time the moon reached its peak, I was standing over a pile of monster remains. I checked my status. My Strength was already pushing toward the 2,000 mark. I was already stronger than most D-rank hunters.
As I prepared to leave, a loud explosion rocked the nearby clearing. I climbed a thick oak tree and looked down. Below me, a massive Iron-Hide Boar—a Level 15 Elite Monster—was charging toward a group of terrified hunters.
And there they were. Brad and Elena.
Brad's expensive sword was glowing, but it barely scratched the boar's hide. He was pale, sweat dripping down his face. "I can't hold it!" he yelled.
The boar let out a thunderous roar and sent Brad flying into a tree. His sword clattered into the mud—right at my feet.
I dropped down from the tree, landing silently. I picked up the sword, feeling its weight.
"You said I should buy a meal with your coin, Brad," I said, looking at the charging beast. "But I think I'd rather have this boar's heart instead."
Before they could react, I activated Shadow Step. To them, I simply vanished.
The Iron-Hide Boar slowed down, confused, but it was too late. I appeared directly above its head, the sword glowing with the golden radiance of my Dragon-Blood Physique.
"Extract this," I muttered.
The blade plunged through the boar's armored skull like butter. The beast hit the ground with a massive thud, dead.
I tossed the weapon back into the mud next to the stunned Brad.
"Keep your change, Brad," I said, walking away without a second glance. "You're going to need it to pay for your medical bills very soon."
As I walked away, I felt a strange itching sensation under my skin. It wasn't painful; it was the 'Iron-Hide Armor' I had just extracted from the boar beginning to integrate with my cells. I touched my forearm—it felt as supple as usual, but when I tapped it with the hilt of a dagger I found on the ground, there was a dull 'clink' sound, as if I were hitting solid oak.
"Incredible," I whispered. "An A-rank defense skill... and it's already at level one."
[Ding! Integration complete.]
[New Passive Skill: Iron-Hide (Level 1) — Reduces all physical damage taken by 15%. Resistance increases with Host's Level.]
My heart hammered against my ribs. In this world, hunters were glass cannons—they had high attack power but died easily if a monster got too close. With this skill, I was becoming a tank that moved like an assassin.
But the system wasn't done surprising me.
[Warning: Host has reached Level 8. 'Merchant of the Abyss' function is now unlocked.]
[You can now trade extracted items and soul fragments for 'Abyss Coins' to purchase God-tier relics.]
A dark, holographic interface appeared before my eyes. It looked like a black market from the underworld, filled with artifacts that made my breath hitch. 'Heart of the Eternal Flame,' 'Scythe of the Reaper,' 'Eye of Truth'... things that only existed in legends were now available for a price.
"I need coins," I realized. "And to get coins, I need to kill things that actually matter."
I looked back at the Hunter Zone's exit. The neon lights of the city were visible in the distance, but my gaze shifted toward the deeper, darker part of the forest—the 'Forbidden Sector.' That was where the real monsters lived. That was where the A-rank and S-rank beasts ruled.
"One day," I promised myself, "I'll extract the soul of a God."
As I stepped out of the hunting grounds, I noticed a group of cloaked figures standing near the gate. They weren't like Brad's crowd of spoiled brats. They carried a heavy, murderous aura. They were members of the 'Crimson Fang,' the city's most ruthless guild.
One of them, a woman with a scar running across her eye, looked at me as I passed. Her eyes narrowed, landing on the blood-stained sleeve of my shirt.
"Hey, kid," she called out, her voice cold. "Where did you get that Boar's tusk hanging from your belt? That's an Elite mark."
I didn't stop. I didn't even look back. "I found it," I lied smoothly. "The beast died of old age."
Her laughter followed me into the night, sharp and dangerous. "Funny kid. I hope your luck lasts until tomorrow's tournament."
Tournament?
I gripped my fist. The City Hunter Tournament was in three days. The prize wasn't just money—it was a ticket to the Imperial Academy.
"I'm not going there for a ticket," I thought, a cold smile playing on my lips. "I'm going there to take everything."