The Ashwood Forest blurred past him.
GrayWolf's blades gleamed with every strike, silver arcs slicing through fur and hide. Wolves dropped like chickens before slaughter, their snarls cut short by flashing steel. Boars charged and collapsed mid-step, crits tearing through them like thunderbolts.
[Critical Hit!][-82 HP]
Another wolf dissolved into motes of ash.
Kenji's movements were clean, efficient—footwork sharp, positioning flawless. Where others stumbled and panicked, his body flowed with precision born of years of raids and boss fights.
All around him, players gaped.
"Did you see that?!""He one-shotted that wolf—ALONE!""I needed a whole party for that…"
Some didn't just watch. They recorded.
By the time he left the clearing, three separate clips of GrayWolf's solo massacres were already climbing social media feeds and MMO forums. His name spread faster than fire.
"The #1 Ranked Player in Ashwood Frontier. GrayWolf the Duel Blades."
His pack grew heavier with trash gear and cracked armor, the kind worth barely a bronze. Alongside it, three new cards shimmered in his inventory.
4♦ (+2 Loot Chance, +1 Craft Speed)
6♥ (+15 HP, +2 Regen)
7♣ (+8 Armor, +2 Block)
All useful—but none for him. His path was Spades. Precision, speed, death.
Still, they might have value. If Osamu was right, NPCs coveted these cards more than gold.
The air shifted as he reached deeper into the woods.
Branches snapped. The undergrowth stirred.
An Elite.
The beast emerged—a massive, black-furred Direwolf, eyes glowing crimson. Its fangs dripped with venom, muscles rippling as it prowled forward.
[Elite Monster: Direfang Wolf — Lv 8][HP: 2,400]
Kenji drew his Twin Fangs.
The fight began.
The Direfang lunged, claws flashing. Kenji sidestepped, his blades biting into its flank. Blood sprayed, numbers flaring.
[Critical Hit! -122 HP]
The wolf howled, body bulking with rage. Venom spat from its maw, sizzling into the soil.
Kenji ducked under the spray, rolling across the dirt, striking upward in a clean arc. His swords cut along the wolf's throat, then back again.
[Crit Chain!][-148 HP][-167 HP]
The beast staggered, but its power was relentless. Each swipe forced Kenji back, stamina draining as he evaded and countered.
At last, the Direfang lunged for his throat. Kenji dropped low, pivoting. His Twin Slash struck, both blades burying deep into its heart.
[Critical Hit! Fatal Strike!][-231 HP]
The monster collapsed, dissolving into ash.
[Elite Monster Defeated!][EXP +2,100][Level Up: Lv 7][Card Drop: 9♣ (Tier 0)][Loot: Direfang Pelt, Fang, Elite Core]
Kenji exhaled, sweat glistening.
The card shimmered in his hand.
9♣ — Tier 0.+18 Armor. +6 Block.
His lips curved faintly. Perfect. Exactly what the Captain would want.
The forest parted into a clearing.
Ahead, wooden palisades loomed, the Guard Outpost. Soldiers patrolled the walls, banners snapping above them. This wasn't a humble village. It was military order incarnate.
At the gate, guards stiffened as he approached. One saluted and opened the way.
Inside, a large tent stood at the center.
Kenji entered.
The City Guard Captain awaited him, armored and stern. His eyes immediately tracked Kenji, lingering on the faint glow of the cards at his belt.
But the Captain wasn't alone.
Beside him stood another figure—cloaked in finer garments, bearing the crest of the regional capital. His aura was heavier, colder, different.
[Regional NPC: Tier 1 Envoy — Ashwood City Representative]
Kenji's pulse quickened.
This was bigger than just a Captain.
His next choices would echo far beyond Hollowbrook.
✦ GrayWolf — Status Panel (Post–Ch15)
Name: GrayWolf (Kenji Tanaka)Level: 7Regional Rank: #1 (Ashwood Frontier)
Rival: Skarlie (Lv7, Healer, Epic Quest)
Reputation: 250 RP — Protector
✦ Attributes
Base: STR 10 • VIT 10 • DEX 70 • INT 10Items (Rare T0, 8 pieces balanced DEX/STR):
Twin Fangs (Rare Dual Swords): +3 DEX, +2% Crit Chance
7 Rare pieces: mix of +DEX/+STR
Effective Totals: STR ~18 • VIT 10 • DEX ~73+ • INT 10
✦ Cards
Registered:
10♠ → +15% Crit Rate, +10 Spell Pen
K♠ → +25% Crit Damage, +15% Attack Speed
Unregistered:
5♣ (+5 Armor, +5 Block)
4♦ (+2 Loot Chance, +1 Craft Speed)
6♥ (+15 HP, +2 Regen)
7♣ (+8 Armor, +2 Block)
9♣ (+18 Armor, +6 Block) [Elite drop]
Deck Slots: 2/5 filled (Deck 1 incomplete)
✦ Combat Modifiers
+15% Crit Rate
+25% Crit Damage
+15% Attack Speed
+2% Crit Chance (gear)
+10 Spell Pen
✦ Skills
Twin Slash (Dual Swords, 5s CD)
✦ Economy
Currency: 2 Gold, 59 Silver, 89 Bronze
Auction VIP Card: Fee 10%
Mount: Ashwood Pony (T0, +15% travel speed)
✦ Active Quest
Audience with the Captain → Arrived at Guard Outpost.
Unexpected twist: Captain not alone → meeting also involves a Tier 1 City NPC Envoy.