A week had passed since Rihan's first hunt.
In that time, the once-clumsy hunter had become a predator feared by everything in the outer forest.
Every sunrise, he hunted — every sunset, he grew stronger.
Crystal Boars that once terrified him now fell with a single blow of his Shadow Claw.
He had slain goblins, hounds, serpents — even a monster tree that tried to strangle him with its roots.
His level had climbed to 5, and his control over mana had deepened.
Through relentless training, Rihan discovered that magic wasn't about chanting—it was about imagination and precision.
> "Magic is just math with willpower," he muttered one night, watching the flames in his palm dance into shapes.
"Once you understand the flow, you can shape it however you want."
He created his own spells — Fire Spear, Wire Wall, and even modified Hell Flame for faster casting.
But the beasts nearby no longer gave much experience, and even eating their flesh didn't increase his stats like before.
> "Guess I've outgrown this area…" he sighed.
"If I want to keep improving, I need stronger prey."
And so, Rihan ventured deeper — into the inner forest.
---
The deeper he went, the darker it grew. The air was heavy, the trees ancient and thick. Using Shadow Movement, he passed unseen, scouting his new territory.
Here, beasts were fiercer — three-headed serpents slithered through the undergrowth, hobgoblins stalked in packs, horned rabbits leapt faster than arrows, and monstrous spiders weaved traps of death.
But what caught his eye wasn't a monster.
It was a pond, clear and still.
He crouched beside it, lowering his head to drink—
—and suddenly froze.
Every instinct screamed danger.
His fur bristled, heart pounding as the shadow of a towering figure moved behind him.
Rihan turned slowly.
There stood a creature over two meters tall, muscles bulging under green skin, tusks jutting from its mouth.
A massive axe in one hand. A bow slung across its back.
> "An… Orc," Rihan whispered. "I've seen this thing in games… but this one's real."
The Orc's eyes met his. For a moment, silence.
Then—
TWANG!
An arrow shot forward like lightning.
Rihan threw up a Fire Wall, but the arrow pierced straight through, grazing his shoulder.
> "Tch—That pierced my spell!?"
"This one's out of my league…"
Before he could retreat, a blue screen flashed.
---
[Quest Generated]
Defeat the Orc Scout (Lv.12)
Reward: 500 Coins + Random Bonus
Penalty: Death
---
> "What?! Penalty—death!?"
"Are you kidding me!?"
There was no escape. Even if he ran, the system had bound him.
He took a deep breath, eyes narrowing.
> "Fine… if I can't run, then I'll fight."
---
The Orc fired again, each arrow slicing through the air like a bullet.
Rihan barely dodged, his body moving on pure instinct.
> "I need to close the distance!"
He used Shadow Claw to kick up dirt and dust, creating a smoke screen.
Then vanished with Shadow Movement, reappearing behind the Orc.
> "This is the end!"
He slashed — but the Orc spun, blocking the strike with its axe and sending Rihan flying into a tree.
The Orc spoke in a deep, rumbling voice he couldn't understand — until the system translated it.
---
[Translating Language…]
Orc: "State your name, warrior. I, Kal, will remember it after I kill you."
Rihan spat blood, glaring.
> "Go to hell! You'll be the one dying today!"
The Orc laughed.
> "I like your spirit. But this is the end!"
It charged forward, axe raised high.
Rihan dodged, panting.
> "Even with all my training… I can't win like this. Unless…"
His eyes burned.
> "Do I have to use it?"
Kal swung his axe again. Rihan's instincts screamed — Now or never.
He roared:
"HELL FLAME!"
Flames erupted in a two-meter line of destruction — but Kal leapt high, dodging mid-air.
> "Hah! Was that your strongest spell, little beast?" the Orc taunted.
"Too bad — now you die!"
Rihan smirked, eyes glowing.
> "You really think I can only use it once?"
The Orc sneered.
> "Bluff! That spell takes time to cast again—"
Rihan raised his claw.
> "You're right. Big spells take time… but only if you're standing on the ground."
He pointed upward.
> "Can you dodge in mid-air?"
"HELL FLAME!"
The blast of fire exploded upward.
The Orc's eyes widened in disbelief before the flames swallowed him whole.
BOOM!
The air shimmered with heat as the Orc half body burned to ash.
Rihan fell to the ground, panting.
---
[Quest Complete]
+500 Coins
+200 Bonus – First Intelligent Kill
+25 to All Stats
+20 Mana (Total: 300)
[Evolution Unlocked] – Cost: 500 Coins
---
Rihan laughed weakly.
> "So much… power… hah."
He opened the shop.
Shop Level 2 Unlocked.
New items appeared:
Subspace Storage – 200 Coins
Hunting Knife – 100 Coins
Leather Armor – 150 Coins
> "Subspace? Perfect timing."
He bought it, stored the Orc's body, and began heading back to his cave.
---
Meanwhile, in the forest clearing, ten more orcs appeared — eight scouts and two heavily scarred warrior orcs.
One scout knelt beside a broken arrow.
> "This is Kal's… he fought here."
"Do you see his body?" asked one of the warriors.
"No, sir. Just blood and ash."
"Then he's dead. A weakling doesn't deserve burial. We return now."
They turned and vanished into the forest's mist.
---
Back in the cave, Rihan sat before the Orc's body, now pulled from his subspace.
> "I'll make sure your death feeds my strength."
He bit into the flesh, swallowing the rich mana-laced meat.
[+2 Strength]
[+2 Agility]
[+3 Endurance]
He smiled faintly.
> "Not bad… a productive day."
Then the status window flashed again.
[Proceed with Evolution?]
Yes / No
> "Why not? Let's see what comes next."
The moment he confirmed, his body grew heavy. His vision darkened.
When he opened his eyes, the world felt… smaller. His limbs stronger.
---
[Evolution Complete]
Race: Shadow Wolf (Juvenile)
Height: 1 meter | Weight: 75 kg
New Skill: Shadow Blade
Skill: Howl (Stuns weaker enemies for 3 seconds)
Magic Power Increased Significantly
Rihan stood, muscles rippling under his fur.
Power surged through every fiber of his being.
> "Stronger again," he whispered, grinning. "Next evolution… Level 30."
Outside, the night wind howled — but this time, the forest went silent.
Because the hunter was no longer prey.
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