The echoes of Red Lotus's departure still lingered when Suzy tugged at Tony's sleeve, her eyes wide and brimming with curiosity.
"Big brother… how did you find her from so far away? I couldn't sense anything at all! I thought magical classes had higher awareness, but you caught her like it was nothing."
Tony gave a small chuckle, his humming blade slung lazily across his shoulder. "That's because you're treating Ancient Myth like it's just another game. But it isn't." He slowed his steps, his gaze sweeping across the trees as the forest grew thicker around them. "This world is built on a fidelity rate of 100%. That means your five senses aren't limited by the system—they're sharpened by it. The game doesn't hold your hand. It gives you the tools of reality."
He stopped walking and crouched, brushing his fingers across the soil. The ground was damp, carrying the faint aroma of moss. "Try this. Concentrate. Feel the air. Smell the scents carried by the wind."
The sisters blinked, skeptical at first. But when they followed his advice, their eyes widened in disbelief.
Maya stiffened. "The wind… it's cooler on the left side."
"And the smell," Suzy whispered, her little nose twitching, "there's something bitter… like wet bark."
Tony smiled faintly. "That's right. You weren't playing wrong. You just weren't awake yet. Once you start using every sense, this world changes. You'll start to see things no one else notices."
Both sisters glanced around with newfound awe. For the first time, Ancient Myth felt less like code and more like reality.
By then, they had reached the edge of the forest where five villagers waited nervously with baskets. Their task was simple—escort them as they gathered herbs. But Tony turned the quest into something else: a battlefield classroom.
"This forest only has monsters up to level three," he explained, his voice calm but firm. "That makes it perfect for training. Plenty of enemies, but not so strong that you'll die instantly. From here on, you two will fight. Protect the villagers. Learn. I'll step in if necessary—but don't expect me to carry you."
The sisters nodded, determination flickering in their eyes.
As they moved deeper into the forest, they passed groups of other players. Some solo, some in parties. Many glanced curiously at Tony's party, whispering about his reputation. A few tried to probe, asking what quest they were doing, but Tony's cold glare chased them away. The path soon cleared, leaving only the three players and their villagers.
The real test began when the bushes rustled ahead. Suzy suddenly raised her hand.
"Stop!" she ordered the villagers, her voice trembling but steady enough.
Tony arched a brow, impressed. He hadn't given the signal yet. Suzy had sensed something herself. Maya's reaction was slower, but she too spotted the faint shift of shadows.
"Big brother," Suzy whispered, "there are two monsters ahead… right?"
Tony's smile was approving. "Exactly. But Suzy—have more confidence. You're a mage. Calm mind, steady aim. Confidence is as much a weapon as fire."
Maya ruffled her sister's hair, encouraging. "See? You noticed two. I only thought there was one. You're sharper than me this time."
The encouragement lit a spark in Suzy's chest. She squared her shoulders just as two creatures lumbered into view.
They were monstrous things, humanoid in shape but grotesque in detail. Their skin resembled bark, thick and gnarled. Dark hair sprouted in patches across their limbs. Branch-like horns extended from their heads, framing feral muzzles filled with jagged teeth. Each had four arms ending in clawed hands, and their long, forked tails lashed the ground like whips.
"Ugh," Suzy grimaced, forgetting herself. "What an ugly creature!"
Her words carried farther than she expected. Both monsters snapped their heads toward the party, eyes burning with primal fury.
"Oh no!" Suzy squeaked as they charged.
Tony's voice cut through her panic like steel. "Stay calm. These are Humanoid Plants. Savage hunters. They attack on sight. I'll handle one. The other is yours. Suzy, you kite it—don't stay still, keep moving, use the terrain. Watch your mana. Maya, heal her if she gets hit more than twice."
His authority steadied them like an anchor in a storm.
He activated [Hawkeye], scanning the enemy.
[Name: Humanoid Plant]
Type: Common
Level: 3
HP: 450
Attacks: Claws, branch whip
Skill: Gravity Pull
Tony frowned slightly. A caster-type. No wonder this area was empty.
He sent the information to the sisters before leaping at his target. His sword clashed against bark-like flesh, sparks flying. Though his stats were higher, he didn't finish it quickly. Instead, he danced around the creature, his movements deliberate, controlled.
On the other side, chaos reigned.
Suzy's first spell missed. Her second clipped a branch. The monster lunged, claws raking her arm. Her HP bar dipped dangerously.
"Suzy!" Maya cried, rushing forward with a healing spell. Green light bathed her sister, restoring the damage. But the monster pressed harder.
Suzy's breaths came in ragged gasps. Half her attacks missed. Every time she hit, the damage was negligible. Worse—the monster regenerated two HP per second. At this rate, they'd never kill it.
Despair crept into her chest. I'm not talented enough. I'll just drag everyone down.
Then, in the corner of her vision, she saw Tony.
He moved like water. Every step flowed into the next. When a claw could be blocked, he parried. When it couldn't, he evaded with effortless grace. Rocks, trees, even the monster's own limbs became tools in his hands. He vaulted off a root to strike from above, slid beneath a branch to slash its legs, spun away like a whirlwind.
It wasn't just combat. It was art.
Suzy's heart skipped. So… fighting can be like this?
She remembered his words: Use the terrain. Trust your senses.
Her eyes sharpened. This time, she ducked behind a tree, letting the monster crash into the bark. She darted to the side, loosing a spell. It struck true. Then another. And another. Her accuracy soared.
Maya, inspired, began weaving in small attacks of her own, disrupting the monster's rhythm while healing Suzy. Together, their performance transformed from flailing panic to coordinated survival.
Tony's fight escalated. When his monster's HP dipped below 200, it screeched and unleashed [Gravity Pull], dragging everything toward its center.
The sisters gasped—but Tony merely smirked. He leapt high, planted his foot on the monster's shoulder, and flipped backward out of the range. His blade gleamed as he landed.
Then came the storm.
[Sword Light]
[Double Slash]
[Wind Rush]
His body blurred, circling the monster in a hurricane of strikes. Finally, his blade crackled with energy.
[Lightning Strike]!
Thunder split the air. The monster fell in smoking pieces.
The sisters froze, breathless. Tony's mastery wasn't just skill—it was domination.
Their fight dragged on, but Suzy was no longer the same girl who had panicked minutes earlier. Her kiting was smoother, her fireballs precise.
At last, when the monster tried to cast [Gravity Pull], Suzy's eyes lit with resolve. She launched a fireball at the exact moment it began casting.
-150!
The monster shrieked, engulfed in flames. Maya and Suzy seized the opening, unleashing everything they had. With Tony lending a final strike, the creature collapsed.
Suzy dropped to the ground, panting, but her face was radiant. "It's been so long since I had this much fun…"
Maya watched her sister laugh through exhaustion, tears pricking her eyes. If this joy is what she's been missing… then I'll make sure her life is never sad again.
Her silent oath burned in her chest.
Tony sheathed his sword and approached, kneeling beside Suzy. His hand gently ruffled her hair.
"From now on, you'll have plenty of fun fights. Because I believe you can make it into the top 100 players of this game."
The words crashed over the sisters like thunder.
Top 100. Out of twenty billion players.
Suzy's jaw dropped. Maya's breath caught.
For Tony, it was a simple truth. For them, it was a glimpse of an impossible dream.