The northern road leading out of town was quiet.
Alex walked steadily along the dirt path, the newly purchased dagger resting in his hand. The weapon felt unfamiliar, but comforting at the same time. At least now he had something better than a wooden stick to defend himself with.
The town walls slowly disappeared behind him as the trees of the forest grew closer.
Tall trunks stretched toward the sky, their leaves blocking much of the sunlight. A cool wind moved through the branches, creating a soft whispering sound that filled the air.
Alex stopped at the edge of the forest.
For a moment, he simply stared into the shadows between the trees.
This is where the wolves live.
Last night he had fought them by pure instinct and luck. But today he needed to be smarter.
He crouched slightly and focused on the ground.
The Analyze skill activated automatically.
Small details began to stand out to him—disturbed dirt, claw marks on tree bark, and faint animal tracks leading deeper into the forest.
"Footprints," Alex whispered.
The tracks were fresh. That meant wolves were nearby.
He slowly followed the trail into the forest, moving carefully between the trees.
Every sound made him tense.
A snapping twig.
Rustling leaves.
Even the wind made his heart beat faster.
Relax, he told himself.
If he panicked, he would make mistakes.
After walking for several minutes, he finally saw movement ahead. A dark shape stepped out from behind a tree.
A wolf.
Its black fur blended perfectly with the shadows of the forest. The moment Alex saw it, the system activated.
Shadow Wolf
Level: 2
Threat Level: Low
The wolf growled softly as it noticed him.
Alex tightened his grip on the dagger.
"Alright," he whispered. "Round two."
The monster lunged.
But this time Alex was ready.
He jumped sideways just before the wolf's claws struck the ground. As the creature tried to turn toward him again, Alex stepped forward and slashed with the dagger.
The blade cut across the wolf's side.
The beast yelped and stumbled.
Alex didn't hesitate. He attacked again, driving the dagger into the wolf's shoulder.
The monster collapsed with a final whimper.
A familiar message appeared in front of him.
Enemy Defeated
EXP Gained
Alex exhaled slowly.
"That was… easier than last night."
He wiped the dagger on the grass and looked around carefully.
No other wolves appeared.
Good.
But the system had already given him a mission.
Defeat 5 Shadow Wolves
He had only defeated one.
"Four more to go."
Alex continued deeper into the forest. Time passed slowly as he searched. Eventually, he found another wolf near a fallen tree. Then another.
Each battle became slightly easier as he grew more comfortable fighting. His movements became quicker. His reactions sharper.
After defeating the third wolf, the system flashed again.
Level Up!
Level 3 Reached
Strength +1
Agility +1
Alex felt the familiar surge of energy run through his body. His muscles felt stronger. His breathing steadier.
He couldn't help smiling.
"This system really is like a game."
But just as he finished speaking, a strange feeling crept down his spine. Someone was watching him.
Alex turned slowly, scanning the forest behind him.
Nothing.
Just trees and shadows.
Still… the feeling remained.
Unbeknownst to Alex, his instincts were correct.
High above the forest, hidden among the thick branches of a large tree, a figure watched him silently.
The hooded stranger from the guild hall.
The man's eyes followed Alex's movements carefully.
"…Interesting," he murmured.
The stranger had expected the young adventurer to struggle. Most beginners did.
But Alex fought with surprising efficiency.
Almost as if he had done this many times before. The hooded man's gaze narrowed slightly.
"And he's getting stronger quickly…"
Something about the boy felt unusual. Very unusual.
The stranger slowly pulled a small glowing crystal from his cloak. The crystal flickered faintly.
He whispered a quiet command.
"Scan."
The crystal pulsed once. But instead of showing Alex's information, the crystal suddenly flickered violently. Then the light disappeared completely. The hooded man froze.
"…What?"
The scanning crystal had failed. That had never happened before. His expression slowly darkened.
"That's impossible."
He looked back at Alex, who was now walking deeper into the forest searching for more wolves.
The stranger's voice dropped to a whisper.
"…What are you hiding?"
For the first time since arriving in the town, the mysterious watcher felt something unexpected.
Curiosity.
And perhaps…
Concern.
Meanwhile, Alex had no idea someone was observing him. He continued through the forest until he heard a low growl nearby. Two wolves stepped out from the bushes.
Alex sighed.
"Well…"
He raised his dagger.
"Looks like I found the last ones."
The wolves slowly circled him. Their red eyes glowed in the dim forest light. Alex steadied his breathing and prepared himself. The fight began.