Adam remained crouched low in the bushes, concealed by the thick foliage. His sharp eyes were fixed on the scene before him, the clearing where he had just fought.
The space was silent now, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves as wind moved through the trees. He had just defeated the five Fang Wolves that attacked him. It had been a quick, fierce battle. Their wild eyes and sharp fangs were now still, lifeless, and no longer a threat.
As he looked over the fallen creatures, a powerful surge of satisfaction filled his chest. He allowed himself a small, private smile, a quiet moment of pride. His heart still pounded in his chest, but now it was with the thrill of a hard-won victory.
Taking a deep breath, Adam slowly rose from his hiding spot. He stepped carefully into the clearing, his movements measured and thoughtful, as if not to disturb the strange calm that had fallen after the fight.
As he neared the wolf corpses, something unexpected happened. The bodies of the five Fang Wolves began to shimmer with a faint blue light. The soft glow grew stronger with each passing moment.
Adam stood frozen, watching with curiosity. The blue light spread over the dead wolves, and then in a quick instant, the corpses started to break apart. They dissolved into tiny, glowing particles of light that drifted upward like sparkling dust, slowly fading among the trees.
Within seconds, the physical bodies had vanished completely. In their place, lying neatly on the forest floor where each wolf had died, small piles of loot appeared. Curiosity burned in Adam's eyes.
He moved closer and knelt beside one of the piles, gently inspecting the items. He saw shining copper coins, 25 of them in this pile. Next to the coins were two Fang Wolf fangs, a rare item drop. Finally, there was a portion of raw Fang Wolf meat.
Adam's heart skipped a beat with excitement. The reward was well worth the risk of fighting stronger monsters as a Level 1 character. He quickly began to check the other piles of loot. As he gathered the items, a bright blue system window appeared before him, automatically showing his progress in a neat, organized list:
[Congratulations, AlphaBoss! You have collected:
10 Fang Wolf Fangs
2.5 kg of Raw Fang Wolf Meat
125 Copper Coins.]
A soft chime sounded as the loot was automatically transferred to his inventory. Adam's grin widened as he took in the numbers. Ten fangs from a single pack was an excellent return. "Not bad at all," he muttered to himself, the words filled with satisfaction. He was proud of what he had accomplished.
His steps felt lighter as he moved through the clearing, the memory of the battle fresh in his mind. He recalled the dangerous flash of the wolves' eyes and the intense rush of his own adrenaline as he dodged their attacks. The strange blue light and the automatic system message made the experience feel more magical and real than a simple video game.
Pleased with his success, Adam decided to check his progress. "Status window," he said aloud, his voice steady and confident. The familiar blue interface materialized in the air.
Name: AlphaBoss
Species: Human
Class: Administrator
Level: 1
Experience: 2500/100
HP: 50/100
MP: 10/100
Physical Stats:
Stamina: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Luck: 3
Skills:
Reality Manipulation (Level 1) - Cooldown: 22 hours remaining
Mark and Attack
Adam studied the interface, focusing on the numbers. His Experience was 2500/100. He held enough experience to level up many times over. The stats were low, but his potential was already immense.
The listed skills, Reality Manipulation and Mark and Attack, were reminders of his unique power. "Hmm," he whispered to himself, a hint of pride in his tone.
"I've accumulated quite a bit of experience already." He knew that while early levels were easy, the path ahead would grow much tougher. This early surplus was a crucial part of his plan.
His mind raced with thoughts of future battles and the difficult trials that lay ahead. For now, the clear victory, the tangible rewards, and the confirmation of his growing potential made everything seem possible.
After a few moments of quiet reflection, Adam dismissed the status window and began his journey back towards the Beginner Village. He needed a safer spot to rest and think.
He took slow, careful steps along a path that felt familiar from his past life. Before long, a new presence caught his attention. He saw another figure in the distance, another player.
This player stood with an air of calm confidence. Adam immediately paused, stepping behind a large tree to observe her without being seen. She was a young woman with long, striking golden hair that shone in the dappled sunlight. She held a sword of good quality, one that was both well-worn and well-cared for. This suggested she was not a total beginner.
The moment her eyes met his, her face showed a look of genuine surprise. She seemed hesitant, as if trying to remember something important. Then she spoke, her voice clear. "You... you ventured deeper into the forest, didn't you?" Her question carried both curiosity and a note of caution, acknowledging the danger of the area.
Adam did not reply right away. He remained still, fixing his gaze on her, trying to read her intentions. The silence stretched for a brief moment. The woman's eyes traveled down, observing his outfit—the dark fabric, the subtle hints of armor, the design built for quiet movement. Her expression changed from surprise to genuine admiration.
"Wow," she said, her tone warm and impressed. "You must be a pro player, right? To have such an advanced set of equipment right after the game's release… it's really incredible." A small, welcoming smile formed on her lips as she took a step closer. "Hi," she said, introducing herself. "My name's Kamiko."
At that exact moment, Adam's eyes narrowed, the blue gleam in them focusing intensely on her face. A jolt went through him as he recognized the name. Powerful memories from his previous life began to stir, revealing who this person was destined to become. Kamiko was not a random player.
She was fated to become a top member of the Ten Petal Guild, a powerful and influential force in the game's future. Even in the early days of the old game, her reputation was known. She was smart, resourceful, and skilled at spotting opportunities others missed. These qualities would make her a formidable player. Meeting her now brought a strange mix of respect and sharp caution.
Adam stood silently, his mind racing with the possibilities this unexpected encounter presented. Kamiko, noticing the slight change in his expression, tilted her head with a look of soft concern. "I'm sorry," she said gently. "Did I startle you? I didn't mean to catch you off guard." She took a small step back, giving him space.
Her eyes sparkled with friendliness as she continued. "I've been exploring the forest, looking for hidden treasures. I couldn't help but notice your equipment. It looks really high level. It seems like you must already know your way around the game." She paused, weighing her next words carefully. "Maybe," she said, a hopeful note in her voice, "we can help each other on our journeys? Explore together?"
It was a simple offer, but coming from her, Adam knew it meant much more. He stood there, looking at the golden-haired future guild leader, trying to decide his next move. He knew far too much to treat this as a random meeting. He had knowledge she could not imagine and power she could not comprehend. His journey had just taken a complex and pivotal turn.