Lucas leaned against the tree, plucking the last of the berries and popping them into his mouth. "It's yummy!" he said, smacking his lips, feeling the sweet juice trickle down. The system's regeneration had fully healed him—no blood, no cuts, no bruises, nothing. It was like the fight with the goblin had never happened.
"I really thought I was going to die… and now, this thing heals me faster than any medic ever could," Lucas muttered, marveling at the sensation. "It really feels like I'm in a game… but… this feels too real to be a game."
[Regeneration completed. As the player has fulfilled the assigned task, your wounds have been restored automatically. Consider it a basic system command.]
Soon it hit Lucas that before he was unconscious, he saw something as his reward "Uhh... what was that again? Whisperfang?" then his eyes caught something floating in the air.
A dagger materialized before him, hovering for a brief second before falling into his outstretched hand. It was heavier than it looked. He turned it over, inspecting every curve of the weapon.
A curved dagger with a claw-like hilt. Its blade featured a serrated edge, and the golden guard gleamed faintly in the sunlight.
"It… looks so cool," Lucas whispered, marveling at the craftsmanship. He held it up to the light and examined it closely. "Let's see… dagger stats."
____________________________________
[Name: Whisperfang]
Type: Weapon – Dagger
Rarity: Uncommon
Base Damage: 5
Bonus Stats: Agility +2
Durability: 100/100
Special Effects:
• Mana Resonance – Slightly enhances the flow of mana, allowing smoother spellcasting.
• Precision Strike – Attacks gain a subtle bonus to accuracy.
____________________________________
"Base damage 5!? That's… pretty solid," Lucas said, flexing his fingers around the hilt. "And the accuracy bonus… okay, that'll be useful. But what's this 'Mana Resonance' thing? Mana flow… spell casting? Huh…" He tilted the dagger back and forth, examining the faint glow along its blade. "Maybe I'll know if I try it."
After finishing the last berries, he stood, planting his feet firmly on the ground. "Alright… time to see what this thing can really do." He lifted Whisperfang high, preparing to swing with as much momentum as he could muster.
As he slashed downward, a streak of white light shot out from the blade, forming a clean, arcing trail in the air before smacking into a nearby tree. A shallow cut appeared on the trunk, just a few inches across, glowing faintly with residual energy.
Lucas stepped back, eyes wide. "Whoa… wait… that was me? Did I just do that?" He shook his head in disbelief.
He spotted an apple dangling from a nearby branch and pointed the dagger at it. "Okay… let's see this again."
Swinging with precision, another arc of mana shot from the blade. It traveled upward in a perfect curve, slicing through the branch holding the apple. The fruit tumbled down and landed softly on the forest floor.
"As I expected… this thing is really great," Lucas muttered, twirling Whisperfang with a wide grin. "I guess now I get what Headmaster Beatrice meant when she said points would be given based on performance. Basically… the more mana beasts I kill, the higher my score." He laughed under his breath, feeling the thrill of power surge through him. "Alright… time to go hunting for real now."
Hours passed as he ventured deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser, shadows thickened, and the forest floor became littered with roots and fallen branches. Lucas crouched behind a cluster of ferns, whispering, "System, how many of them do you think are around here?"
[Calculating… Approximately 20–25 goblins within a 200m radius.]
"Twenty!? But where— No, got it, I think," Lucas said, spotting two goblins roasting a rotten mana beast over a small fire. As one stepped away to collect sticks, Lucas silently crept toward the lone goblin, careful not to make a sound. He raised Whisperfang and whispered to himself, "Okay… slow and steady."
He swung. A sharp arc of white mana shot from the blade, striking the goblin's back. It let out a pained groan, stumbling slightly as blood trickled down its shoulders.
"What!? It still isn't dead?" Lucas panicked for a moment, adrenaline spiking. He slashed again, and the second mana arc hit with precision, finally toppling the goblin. Lucas exhaled, relief washing over him. "Two hits… not bad. Not bad at all."
A growl echoed from the distance. Another goblin had witnessed its companion fall, eyes burning with fury as it charged toward Lucas, leaping into the air with claws extended. Lucas smirked, instincts kicking in. He swung Whisperfang twice in a sharp cross, sending intersecting mana arcs slicing through the goblin mid-air. The creature landed with a heavy thud, defeated.
"Yeah… now I'm getting the hang of this," he said, excitement creeping into his voice. "Let's go for more."
This time, when he stabbed a goblin with the dagger, the physical impact was just as satisfying as the mana slash. Whisperfang's serrated blade cut deep, and as he twisted the hilt, the creature's momentum carried it into the air for another clean mana-infused strike. "Even the stabbing… this feels insane," Lucas murmured, grinning.
The forest soon became a chaotic battlefield. Lucas moved like a storm, slicing through dozens of goblins with fluid swings, thrusts, and spinning arcs. The fear that had gripped him during his first encounter vanished, replaced with a strange exhilaration. Each kill made him stronger, faster, sharper. Soon, a single strike—mana or physical—was enough to fell any goblin in his path. Blood soaked the ground, and Lucas pressed on mercilessly, feeling both dread and pure joy surge within him.
Three days passed since the start of the exam. Lucas jerked Whisperfang clean, wiping blood from its blade. "I've… really lost count of how many I've killed." He glanced at the system window.
_____________________________________
[SYSTEM]
_____________________________________
[Player – Lucas Ironhart]
[Level – 4]
[Health – 100]
[Mana – 60]
[Strength – 11]
[Agility – 9]
[Defense – 10]
[Stamina – 13]
[Unallocated Stat – 5]
[Magic – Not Awakened Yet]
[Skills – 1: Mana Perception]
[Weapon – Dagger: Whisperfang]
_____________________________________
"I've improved… a lot," Lucas said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Even I can feel it." He stared at the unallocated stats. "Hmm… which one should I upgrade?"
Suddenly, a deep vibration shook the ground beneath him, sending leaves fluttering. Lucas froze, peering through the underbrush. His eyes widened. There, moving with terrifying grace, was a gigantic fox—or maybe a wolf—its fur smoldering like embers, tail leaving trails of fire with every swing.
Lucas let out a tired, exasperated smirk. "That thing wouldn't even notice me and would crush me just by walking if I attacked now…" He slowly turned, considering escape. "Maybe… leaving silently is my best option."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Task – Defeat the Gigantic Fox]
Lucas' jaw dropped. "Are you… fucking kidding me!?"