Time returned to the present.
Staggering back into the village, Kael made his way to Mark.
After initiating dialogue, a light screen appeared in front of him.
Only two items were displayed.
A red potion.
A blue potion.
Simple. Direct.
Kael selected the red one.
[Item]
Rough Health Potion
Effect: Restores 20 HP over time
Description: A novice's practice brew. It tastes terrible, and the effect isn't great either. Are you sure you want to drink this?
Price: 10 Copper Coins
Kael ignored the description and bought it immediately.
A red glass bottle appeared in his hand out of thin air.
He pulled out the stopper and drank it in one go.
His face twisted instantly.
"...This is awful."
What exactly had Mark put into this?
Making something taste this bad was almost impressive.
Still, the effect was immediate.
Warmth spread through his body as his condition slowly improved.
He then checked the blue potion.
[Item]
Rough Mana Potion
Effect: Restores 15 MP over time
Description: Unless someone is on the verge of death, it's hard to imagine who would buy this.
Price: 10 Copper Coins
Kael silently agreed.
What kind of trash was this to cost 10 Copper Coins?
He turned and went to Aunt May, handing over the rabbit legs.
[System Notification]
Quest Complete: Aunt May's Ingredients
+20 EXP
+20 Copper Coins
Aunt May really was stingy.
Kael chose to think of the rabbit legs as rent for the past few days.
Without an inventory system, he tossed the Copper Coins into a basin inside Aunt May's house.
Total savings: 26 Copper Coins.
He was still 25 EXP short of leveling up.
At this rate, reaching level 2 tomorrow wouldn't be a problem.
Kael didn't rest.
Instead, he replayed the fight with the white rabbit in his mind.
"Feints can create openings."
He had no real combat experience.
Everything had to be learned from scratch.
"It's not just about technique. The rabbit's strength wasn't much higher than mine. If I react fast enough, I can block it. If I can't cast in time, that's still an option."
"Constitution might be worth improving. Getting injured affects me too much. Maybe it also improves meditation efficiency."
"Higher Spirit improves perception. If I push it further, I should be able to track rabbits precisely."
Then there was the staff.
Kael finally understood its value.
His clothes were full of holes from repeated casting.
But the staff—
Despite being used constantly, even as a blunt weapon—
Showed no signs of damage.
No durability loss.
And its low damage?
That was actually useful.
It prevented him from killing too quickly, forcing him into extended fights.
Which meant more combat experience.
…
The next morning, Kael opened his eyes.
The pain in his abdomen was gone.
After getting breakfast from Aunt May, he picked up his staff and headed out again.
Back on Rabbit Plains—
After facing the white rabbit, normal rabbits no longer felt threatening.
Their charge was obvious.
Their strength wasn't overwhelming.
Compared to that white rabbit, they were simple.
Kael began testing something new.
He used his staff to block attacks instead of relying purely on spells.
Reducing mana consumption.
Improving efficiency.
After several exchanges—
A fireball struck cleanly.
[System Notification]
+5 EXP
Drop: Rabbit Leg ×1
Drop: Copper Coin ×1
Kael picked up the coin and ignored the rabbit leg.
The quest was already done.
It had no value now.
Time passed.
Another rabbit fell.
Then—
[System Notification]
Level Up!
Kael → LV2
[Status]
Name: Kael
Level: LV2
Class: None
Constitution: 5 (+1)
Strength: 4 (+1)
Intelligence: 9 (+1)
Agility: 4 (+1)
Spirit: 17 (+1)
Talent: Fire Affinity
Effect: +10% Fire Damage
Skills: Firebolt, Basic Meditation
Soul Shards: 0
Simulation: Insufficient Soul Shards
Recommended Class: Mage
Every stat increased.
It didn't seem like much—
But his overall strength had clearly risen.
No wonder some players dared to carry others.
After leveling, hunting rabbits became significantly easier.
Another rabbit appeared.
His eyes barely kept up—
But his perception followed it clearly.
Kael raised his staff.
Firebolt.
The fireball shot out instantly.
Boom!
The rabbit's head exploded under the impact.
It vanished into white light.
[System Notification]
+2 EXP
[Combat Log]
Firebolt → Rabbit (Head)
Blast Damage: 35
Result: Fatal Hit
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Even if these creatures were system-generated—
Their biological weak points still existed.
Head.
Throat.
Heart.
All lethal.
Then—
That feeling again.
Another Firebolt formed.
Faster.
Clearly faster than before.
His Intelligence had increased, reducing casting time even further.
It felt effortless.
His Spirit also enhanced control, making the fireball travel faster.
Rabbits no longer gave enough EXP.
Time to move on.
Next map—
Pheasant Grove.
If rabbits were agile assassins—
Then pheasants were reckless warriors.
Half-human height.
Sharp beaks capable of piercing wood.
No caution.
No hesitation.
One spotted Kael—
And charged immediately.
Too slow.
Far too slow.
From over a hundred meters away—
The first fireball hit.
Then the second.
Third.
Fourth—
Each impact staggered it.
The fifth fireball exploded.
The pheasant collapsed.
[System Notification]
+10 EXP
Drop: Copper Coins ×4
Then—
Something else dropped.
A faint white glow.
Equipment.
[Item]
Pheasant Grove Parkour Boots
Quality: Common
Agility +1
Durability: 19/19
Description: Don't expect too much from white-quality gear.
Kael ignored the description.
He ran to the river, washed his feet, and carefully put on the boots.
They adjusted to fit perfectly.
A strange but welcome feeling.
At last—
He could get rid of his worn-out shoes.
Back in Pheasant Grove—
Another pheasant charged.
Moments later—
It turned into light.
[System Notification]
+10 EXP
Stronger enemies—
Yet less threatening than rabbits.
[Combat Log]
Firebolt → Pheasant (Head)
Blast Damage: 25
Impact Damage: 14
Burn Damage: 11
Firebolt → Pheasant
Blast Damage: 15
Impact Damage: 4
Burn Damage: 11
Firebolt → Pheasant (Head)
Blast Damage: 25
Impact Damage: 14
Burn Damage: 11
The pheasants had around 120 HP.
Their attacks weren't weak.
And yet—
They couldn't even reach him.
Kael lowered his staff slightly, eyes steady.
"Distance…"
"…is a mage's lifeline."