The sound of something breathing too close behind me made my heart freeze.
I turned—
Nothing.
Only tall trees. Dark trunks. Thick fog crawling across the forest floor like it was alive.
Rylan walked ahead without looking back. His steps were calm, steady, like he belonged here.
I ran to catch up. "Hey! Wait! You can't just walk like that! I almost died back there!"
He didn't slow down. "You would have."
"Why are you so cold?!"
He stopped suddenly. I almost crashed into him.
"Because this forest doesn't forgive noise," he said quietly.
As if answering him, a distant roar echoed through the trees.
My stomach tightened.
[ Warning: Multiple Life Forms Detected.
Threat Level: Medium to High. ]
"Oh come on," I whispered. "System, can't you say something positive for once?"
[ Positive Statement: You are still alive. ]
"…That's not helpful."
Rylan moved again. "Stay close. Step where I step."
I looked down. The ground wasn't normal soil. Strange glowing lines ran through it, faint and blue. They formed patterns I couldn't understand.
"What are these?" I asked.
"Magic traps," he replied. "Old ones. Some still active."
I quickly copied his steps.
"So… where are we going?" I asked.
"To the outer camp."
"Camp?"
"For hunters."
Hunters.
That word made something inside me feel small.
I was Level 1.
They were probably Level… one hundred?
We walked for what felt like hours. My legs hurt. My throat was dry. The forest never seemed to end.
Suddenly—
[ Skill Unlocked: Minor Mana Sense. ]
I stopped.
"Wait. I feel something."
Rylan glanced at me.
The air felt different. Like waves moving through it. Like invisible energy brushing against my skin.
"It's… everywhere," I whispered.
He studied me carefully now. "You awakened Mana Sense this fast?"
"Is that bad?"
"It's rare."
Oh.
Maybe I'm not totally useless.
Before I could feel proud—
The ground trembled.
Heavy steps.
Not like the spider.
Bigger.
Trees shook as something pushed through them.
Rylan immediately raised his bow.
"Behind me."
I didn't argue this time.
From the darkness emerged a massive beast. Four legs. Dark fur. Two curved horns. Eyes burning gold.
[ Monster Identified: Horned Fang Bear.
Rank: A-Rank. ]
"A-Rank?!" I squeaked.
Rylan's jaw tightened.
"That's not supposed to be here."
The bear roared, and the sound felt like it hit my chest physically.
My legs almost gave up.
"System!" I whispered desperately. "Anything useful?!"
[ Suggestion: Support Role.
Use Wind Push to distract. ]
"Distract?! It will eat me!"
The bear charged.
The ground cracked under its weight.
Rylan shot three arrows in one second.
"Sky Splitter."
The arrows glowed silver and hit the beast's shoulder.
It barely slowed.
"Why are monsters so strong in this world?!" I screamed.
The bear swung its paw.
Rylan jumped back—but the force of the wind from it knocked him sideways.
He hit a tree hard.
"Rylan!"
The bear turned toward him.
No.
No no no.
My chest tightened.
If he dies, I die next.
Fear turned into something hot.
Anger.
"I am not dying on my second day in another world!"
I stepped forward.
"Wind Push!"
A stronger blast came from my hands this time. It hit the bear's face.
It didn't hurt it.
But it distracted it.
For one second.
Rylan rolled away and shot another arrow straight into its eye.
The beast roared in rage.
[ Level Up Condition Met.
Experience Gained: 50% ]
"Only fifty percent?!" I yelled.
The bear charged again.
Rylan stood up, blood running from his forehead.
He looked different now.
Serious.
Focused.
He pulled out a black arrow.
The air around it twisted.
"Don't move," he told me.
I froze.
He aimed carefully.
"Void Pierce."
The arrow shot forward like a shadow tearing through light.
It went straight through the bear's skull.
Silence fell heavily.
The massive body dropped.
The forest stopped shaking.
I couldn't breathe properly.
Then—
[ Level Up!
Hora – Level 2 Achieved.
New Skill Available: Mana Thread. ]
"…Level 2," I whispered.
Rylan walked toward the fallen beast slowly.
"You're reckless," he said.
"You're welcome."
He looked at me for a long moment.
"You didn't run."
"I was too scared to run."
"That's not the same thing."
He turned away again, but his voice was slightly softer.
"Still… you helped."
The forest felt different now.
Like it was watching me.
Testing me.
And somewhere deep inside, I felt it again—
That strange connection with the bracelet on my wrist.
It pulsed once.
Faint.
Like it was alive.
Rylan began walking again. "The camp is close."
I followed him silently this time.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that the monsters weren't random.
That bear wasn't supposed to be there.
And this world—
It felt like it was preparing something.
Something bigger than just survival.
And somehow…
I was part of it.