The wolf's leap resumed, fangs glinting in the sunlight as it came straight for my throat.
"Alright, new dagger—don't fail me now!" I yelled, gripping the handle like a lifeline.
Instinct—or pure desperation—took over. I thrust the dagger forward with both hands, eyes squeezed shut. Something warm splattered across my face, and the weight of the beast slammed into me like a truck. My back hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of me.
For a second, everything went silent. Then, a soft *ding* broke the tension.
> **You have slain: Gray Wolf (Lv. 3)!**
> **Rewards:** 100 EXP, 5 Silver, Beast Fang (Material)
I opened one eye. The wolf lay on top of me, motionless, its head skewered by the dagger sticking out at an awkward angle.
"…Holy crap. I'm alive?" I shoved the corpse off me with a grunt, chest heaving. "Oh my god, that was way too close. If this was hardcore mode, I'd be uninstalling."
My hands trembled as I yanked the dagger free, the metallic tang of blood sharp in the air. My gamer brain immediately kicked in, overriding the panic.
"Loot check," I muttered, brushing off the gore. A tiny pouch appeared in my inventory window, along with a jagged tooth labeled *Beast Fang*.
I stared at the screen. "Okay, so this world… actually drops loot. Which means EXP, leveling, crafting… This is literally an RPG."
And if there was one thing I knew, it was how to break RPGs wide open.
---
I sat down in the grass, opening the floating menu.
> **Status Menu:**
> Name: Kenji Sato
> Level: 1
> HP: 73 / 100
> MP: 20 / 20
> Strength: 10 | Agility: 10 | Intelligence: 10 | Luck: 10
> Unique Skill: Ad Surprise (Lv. 1)
"All tens? Ugh, talk about budget stats," I groaned. "I'm the definition of average. Not even a hidden bonus for dying tragically?"
I swiped to the next tab: **Inventory.**
- Iron Dagger (Attack +12)
- Beast Fang x1
- Broken Wooden Stick (Collector's Trash)
- 5 Silver
And then the final tab: **Shop.**
It was empty—until a bright banner slid into view like an annoying mobile game popup:
> **"Unlock Daily Deals! Watch 5 ads now!"**
I rubbed my temples. "I knew it. There's a shop. Of course there's a shop. This world isn't just like a game—it *is* a game. A free-to-play scam of a game."
---
Before I could spiral, another thought hit me: *Ads are my weapon now.*
I tapped the **Ad Surprise** skill for details.
> **Ad Surprise (Lv. 1):**
> - Watch ads to receive random rewards.
> - Daily Limit: 3 Major Ads.
> - Additional Minor Ads for small buffs.
> - Exclusive Deals appear randomly!
> *"Watch more, survive more!"*
I stared at the screen. "Three ads a day for major rewards? That's… actually broken if the rewards scale. If I can stack buffs before boss fights… Oh my god, I can cheese this world."
My heart thumped with excitement, the same rush I got when discovering a hidden exploit in a game. For the first time since I woke up here, I grinned.
"Alright. Let's test this baby."
---
I called up the **Watch Ad** option.
> **Ad #1: Sponsored by Match-3 Puzzle Saga!**
> *"Match colors! Earn prizes!"*
A rainbow of candy blocks filled the screen. I groaned but let it play, humming along to the obnoxious jingle. Thirty seconds later, the reward popped up:
> **Reward: Minor Health Potion (+50 HP)**
I downed it immediately, watching my HP bar refill. "Not bad. Could've been worse."
Next ad.
> **Ad #2: Sponsored by Farm Hero Legends!**
> *"Plant carrots! Breed unicorn pigs!"*
I suffered through another thirty seconds of farm animals dancing.
> **Reward: Buff – +5% EXP for 1 hour**
"Now we're talking," I said with a smirk. "That's how the grind begins."
I still had one major ad left, but a little voice whispered in my head: *Save it for emergencies.* Gamer instinct 101—never blow all your resources too early.
---
Feeling slightly more confident, I sheathed the dagger and started walking. A dirt path wound through the grass ahead, and if my MMO experience taught me anything, paths meant civilization—or at least a starter village with NPCs who didn't want to kill me.
"Alright," I muttered, adjusting my grip on the dagger. "Find a village. Find food. And maybe find a Wi-Fi hotspot, though I'm not holding my breath."
As I followed the path, a faint rustling in the bushes caught my attention. My body tensed, expecting another wolf. Instead, a blue blob bounced out, wiggling like gelatin.
"A slime?" I blinked. "Oh my god. It's always slimes."
The slime jiggled closer, its glossy surface reflecting the sun. No teeth, no claws—just… bouncy menace.
I tightened my grip on the dagger. "Perfect. Low-level mob. Great for testing the new buff."
The fight was laughably easy. Two stabs, and the slime popped like a balloon full of Jell-O.
> **You have slain: Slime (Lv. 1)!**
> **Rewards:** 20 EXP, Slime Jelly (Material)
I wiped the dagger clean on the grass, chuckling. "Man, if everything was this easy, I'd be level 99 in a week."
The thought hit me like lightning: *What if I chain ads for buffs before farming?*
A slow grin spread across my face. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
---
The path eventually led to the edge of a small valley. Nestled in the distance was a cluster of wooden houses, smoke curling from chimneys—a village.
"Yes!" I pumped a fist. "Starter town, here I come!"
But before I could take a step forward, a system alert slammed into my vision, flashing red and gold like a casino jackpot.
> **LIMITED TIME OFFER!**
> *Watch 3 ads now for an EXCLUSIVE Starter Pack!*
> *Includes: Guaranteed Weapon, Armor, and 50 Gold!*
> **Hurry! Offer ends in 10 minutes!**
I froze. My gamer brain screamed two things at once:
- *This is bait.*
- *But… free loot.*
I stared at the countdown ticking in the corner.
10:00… 9:59… 9:58…
My hands itched. My heartbeat quickened.
"Oh no," I whispered, eyes wide. "They know me too well."