The forest wasn't too far from the village—just a few minutes past the outer fields, where wildflowers and soft grass gave way to rough dirt paths and scattered trees. The air shifted subtly as they crossed the invisible threshold between safe zone and wild land. The shadows stretched longer here, and the chill in the wind carried a sharpness to it.
Adrian had his short sword drawn. Sarah walked ahead, her longsword resting against her shoulder, while Alice strolled on the side with her war mace slung across her back like it weighed nothing.
"Hey, Alice," Adrian said as they stepped deeper beneath the canopy. "That mace… what's the deal with it? You swing it like it's made of feathers."
She flashed a grin. "Iron Vanguard class bonus. Strength scaling's kinda cracked early on. But honestly? It's more like momentum than muscle. You get the swing going, and it does most of the work."
"You ever use one in a real game before?"
"Only in that fantasy physics sim with ragdoll knights," she laughed. "Satisfying as hell. Knocked a guy through a castle window once."
Sarah gave her sister a playful shove. "Just don't whack Adrian by accident, yeah?"
"Hey, I'm not that reckless."
Before Adrian could answer, something ahead shifted the air. Leaves rustled, low and sharp. He stopped, sword steady in his grip.
Two shapes stepped through the underbrush—white fur, sleek bodies, lean muscle rippling beneath their coats. Wolves. Larger than any normal dog, and smarter too. They lowered themselves into a stalking stance, eyes glowing faintly blue. Their breath fogged in the cold air as they growled, low and guttural.
System Notification:
You have entered combat.
Enemies: White Wolf (Lv. 2) × 2
Health: 120 / 120
Above the wolves, red bars flickered into existence—sharp, clean, digital outlines that hovered just above their heads.
Adrian's gaze shifted. As if synced to the moment, his and the others' bars appeared too:
Adrian – Lv. 1 – 100 / 100
Sarah – Lv. 1 – 140 / 140
Alice – Lv. 1 – 160 / 160
They all saw it. The wolves saw it too. Their growls deepened, and the moment cracked like tension snapping in a wire.
Adrian's stance shifted slightly—knees loose, sword angled low. No armor. No backup. Just the three of them and sharp instincts.
"I'll take left," Alice said, stepping forward. "You two get the other."
"Copy that," Sarah said, adjusting her grip.
Adrian moved in tandem, silent and measured, his Physique stat quietly pulsing under the surface.
Physique EXP: +5 (Combat Posture Initiated)
The first wolf lunged for Alice. She pivoted, brought her mace around with a brutal crack that shook the air. It connected squarely with the wolf's side and sent it tumbling.
-43 [Critical Blunt Impact]
The second wolf darted toward Sarah, who met it with a shieldless block—her sword rising at an angle to parry the first bite. It grazed her shoulder.
-9 [Piercing Bite]
"Now!" she shouted.
Adrian was already moving. He slipped behind the wolf like a shadow, quick and clean, and thrust his short sword low into its flank.
-27 [Backstab Bonus]
The wolf snarled and twisted, snapping back at him, but he ducked and rolled away.
Physique EXP: +6 (Evasive Movement)
"Nice stab!" Sarah grinned.
"Thanks. Keep it in place," Adrian said.
"Already on it."
Meanwhile, Alice was going feral. Her mace smashed into the left wolf's head again, cracking its skull with a loud thunk.
-50 [Staggering Blow]
White Wolf 1 – 27 / 120 HP
The creature stumbled, bleeding heavily, but lunged again out of pure rage. Alice planted her feet and tanked the bite directly.
-11 [Bite]
Alice – 149 / 160
"Ugh. Furry little punk," she muttered, raising her mace again. "Stay down."
Another blow. The wolf didn't rise.
White Wolf 1 – 0 / 120 [Defeated]
Loot Dropped: Beast Fang ×1, 2 Copper
"Down!" Alice called.
Sarah and Adrian moved in tandem now, pressing the second wolf. Adrian darted in for another slash, this time hitting the legs.
-24
White Wolf 2 – 40 / 120
Sarah's sword followed like a cleaver, hitting hard.
-35
White Wolf 2 – 5 / 120
"Finish it!" she shouted.
Adrian's blade whipped out once more—clean and fast.
-7
White Wolf 2 – 0 / 120 [Defeated]
Loot Dropped: Beast Claw ×1, 2 Copper
They stood in silence for a moment as the combat faded. The red bars vanished. The fog of adrenaline began to lift.
Adrian exhaled slowly, lowering his weapon. "That was… smoother than I expected."
"You've got good instincts," Sarah said, brushing blood off her sleeve. "Fast hands too."
"Nice dodging," Alice added. "Keep that up and you'll live longer than the average assassin."
Physique EXP: +18 (Combat + Kill Assist)
Physique: 3 (Tier 0 – Unawakened)
Adrian felt the subtle change. He didn't feel stronger. Not exactly. But his breathing felt easier. His grip more natural. His steps more fluid.
That number didn't mean raw power—it meant connection. Integration. And now… they had their first victory.
Current Status:
Adrian – Lv. 1 (12 / 100 EXP)
HP: 100 / 100
Class: Assassin
Weapon: Short Sword
Physique: 3 (Tier 0 – Unawakened)
Physique EXP: 29 / 50
Sarah – Lv. 1 (19 / 100 EXP)
HP: 140 / 140
Class: Dragon Knight
Weapon: Longsword
Alice – Lv. 1 (21 / 100 EXP)
HP: 149 / 160
Class: Iron Vanguard
Weapon: Heavy Mace
They didn't even make it back to the trail before Alice turned around and pointed her mace toward the deeper woods.
"One more pack. Just one," she said with a crooked grin. "We're already warmed up."
Sarah didn't hesitate either. "I say we hit three more. We're not gonna stay weak forever."
Adrian looked down at his short sword—light, sharp, slick with faint blood. His fingers itched around the grip. "I'm in."
They moved fast.
Their steps turned into light jogs—Adrian's boots crunching dirt and dead leaves, Alice stomping like a steel bear, and Sarah weaving between them like a poised blade.
Physique EXP: +2 (Jogging)
They weren't far before they heard it—low snarls, deeper than before. A cluster of glowing blue eyes blinked between thickets ahead.
System Notification:
You have entered combat.
Enemies: White Wolf (Lv. 2) × 3
Health: 120 / 120 each
"Three this time," Sarah said. "Alice, middle. I'll take right. Adrian, left."
"No armor," Adrian muttered, "so no mistakes."
He took position, sliding left as the wolves charged in.
The forest exploded into motion.
Alice slammed forward like a tank on fire, absorbing the middle wolf's charge full-on. It bit her side hard.
-14 [Piercing Bite]
Alice – 135 / 160
She didn't flinch. Her mace came down like thunder on its back.
-36 [Blunt Force Impact]
Enemy HP: 84 / 120
Sarah was a blur. She ducked beneath the lunging wolf, rolled, and slashed its legs mid-spin.
-21
Enemy HP: 99 / 120
Adrian danced sideways, baiting the third wolf. It leapt, jaws wide, and he ducked beneath the bite and slashed its belly.
-29 [Backstab Bonus]
Enemy HP: 91 / 120
Physique EXP: +7 (Dodging + Quick Counter)
The wolf turned fast and went for his leg—he kicked it away and dove behind a tree, sliding around with instinct and speed.
Physique EXP: +3 (Reactive Movement)
On Alice's side, the middle wolf clawed her face.
-10 [Swipe]
Alice – 125 / 160
"Stupid mutt," she growled. She caught it mid-leap and slammed it into the ground with a brutal overhand.
-44 [Crushing Blow]
Enemy HP: 40 / 120
Sarah dashed forward, landing two light strikes—one on the shoulder, one on the chest.
-18
-20
Enemy HP: 61 / 120
Adrian switched hands mid-dash and jammed his sword beneath the left wolf's chin.
-33
Enemy HP: 58 / 120
Physique EXP: +5 (Precision Movement)
He ducked and rolled again, trying to stay mobile. One slip and he'd be meat.
The middle wolf lunged again—but Alice headbutted it.
-6 [Unarmed Counter]
Then followed with a mace to the ribcage.
-41
Enemy HP: 0 / 120
[White Wolf Defeated]
Loot: Beast Fang ×1, 3 Copper
Alice: +15 EXP → 36 / 100
Sarah feinted right, drew the wolf in, and decapitated it with a spinning strike.
-62 [Clean Execution]
Enemy HP: 0 / 120
[White Wolf Defeated]
Loot: Beast Claw ×1, 3 Copper
Sarah: +14 EXP → 33 / 100
Adrian kept kiting his. Every movement added to the burn in his legs, but his body was syncing. Feeling smoother.
Physique EXP: +5 (Endurance Stress)
He ducked, lunged, and cut deep through the side of the wolf's throat.
-40 [Bleed]
Enemy HP: 18 / 120
The wolf rushed one last time—he met it with a rising slash to the jaw.
-25
Enemy HP: 0 / 120
[White Wolf Defeated]
Loot: Beast Claw ×1, 3 Copper
Adrian: +16 EXP → 28 / 100
Physique EXP: +9 (Final Kill + Swift Execution)
Physique: 4 (Tier 0 – Unawakened)
EXP: 55 / 100
He panted, hands on his knees. "They're not too tough... but they'll get smarter."
"Yeah," Sarah said, wiping her blade. "We need better gear before we try anything higher."
Alice tossed her mace onto her shoulder. "We need ten more. I want that level up."
Adrian sheathed his blade. "Let's get moving then."
Party Loot: 9 Copper, 3 Beast Claws, 2 Beast Fangs
Shared Inventory Updated.