The sun rose over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and blood-red. The fishing boat arrived at a small, rocky island far from the main shipping lanes. It was a hideout for low-level criminals and scouts.
"This is as far as I take you for free," Silas said, stepping onto the wooden pier. "In this world, information and transport have a price. You owe me, kid."
Kai stood up, feeling his body a bit more stable after a night's rest. "What do you want?"
Silas pointed toward a small tavern near the docks. "There is a man inside named 'Bull-Neck' Garett. He's a small-time pirate with a bounty of 2 million Berries. He stole something that belongs to me. Get it back, and your debt is settled."
[Ding!]
[Side Quest: The First Hunt.]
[Objective: Defeat 'Bull-Neck' Garett and retrieve the stolen item.]
[Reward: 10 Soul Coins + 1 Random Low-Grade Skill.]
Kai's heart raced. This was it. His first chance to earn Soul Coins without sacrificing his own life span.
"I don't have a weapon," Kai muttered, looking at his pale, thin hands.
Silas tossed him a rusted, short dagger. "A trader uses whatever is at hand. Use that 'will' of yours, or you'll be dead before the sun sets."
Kai walked toward the tavern. The smell of cheap ale and tobacco filled the air. Inside, he saw a massive man with a thick neck and a scarred face, surrounded by three laughing goons. That was Garett.
[System Scan...]
[Target: Garett | Soul Quality: Low (Cloudy) | Threat Level: Medium.]
Kai took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't win a test of raw strength. His body was still that of a 53-year-old man in terms of stamina. He had to be fast and use his secret weapon.
As he approached the table, Garett looked up and sneered. "What do you want, old man? Looking for your lost grandson?"
Kai didn't answer. He focused all his mental energy. The air around him suddenly turned heavy. The laughter in the room died down as Kai activated [Intimidation of the Void].
Garett's eyes widened. He felt a sudden, illogical fear—as if a ghost was standing right behind him. His hand, which was reaching for his axe, frozen for a split second.
Now! Kai thought.
He lunged forward, not with the dagger, but with his hand outstretched, aiming for Garett's chest. He didn't want to just kill him; he wanted to see if he could "touch" the soul.
[Warning: Soul Extraction requires the target to be in a weakened or terrified state.]
[Status: Target Terrified. Initiating 'Minor Soul Touch'...]
A faint, grey mist began to leak from Garett's chest, flowing toward Kai's fingertips.