The cold system announcement rang out again—sharp, sudden, and merciless.
[Announcement: Novice Daniel Reed has been slain by a Level 1 creature — Ironclaw Mountain Cat.]
Lucas Reign froze mid-step.
A chill ran down his spine.
"…Another one."
His grip tightened around the twin steel blades. Even after everything he had just witnessed, the reality of it still hit hard. These weren't NPCs. These weren't nameless statistics.
These were people.
Alive one moment—gone the next.
And not just the reckless ones, either.
Daniel Reed had likely been part of a team. Someone cautious. Someone who thought numbers would keep him safe.
Clearly… it hadn't been enough.
Lucas slowly exhaled, forcing his thoughts into order. Panic wouldn't help him. Fear wouldn't keep him alive.
Only decisions would.
His gaze drifted toward the paths ahead.
Several trails had formed naturally through the tall grass—some wide and heavily trampled, others faint and barely noticeable.
The difference was obvious.
The main paths were safer. More people. More coordination. Fewer surprises.
But also…
Fewer opportunities.
Lucas eyes narrowed slightly as his mind began to calculate.
"Too many people means too little left behind…" he murmured.
On the other hand—
The narrower paths.
Less traveled. More dangerous.
And far more likely to produce… results.
He thought back to what he had already gained.
A D-rank talent.
Permanent stat increases.
Upgraded weapons.
All from risk.
All from stepping outside the obvious.
"If I want to grow faster than everyone else…"
His jaw tightened.
"…then I can't play it safe."
The conclusion was simple.
Danger wasn't something to avoid.
It was something to manage.
Lucas glanced one last time toward the safer route—then turned away without hesitation.
"The cautious survive," he muttered quietly. "But the bold… get stronger."
With that, he slipped into one of the narrowest, least-used paths.
The grass here was thicker, brushing against his arms as he moved. The sounds of distant battle faded quickly, replaced by an eerie stillness.
Every step felt heavier.
Every shadow, deeper.
Then—
Another announcement.
[Announcement: Novice Lila Hart has been slain by a Level 1 creature — Ironclaw Mountain Cat.]
Lucas stopped.
Same creature.
Same result.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Not just one victim."
That meant one thing—
A group had encountered something they couldn't handle.
And likely…
They hadn't made it out.
His pulse quickened—not from panic, but from something colder. More focused.
Opportunity.
Lowering his stance, Lucas moved forward with greater caution.
His steps grew lighter. His breathing quieter.
He used the terrain naturally—tall grass, uneven ground, shallow dips—to conceal his approach.
The scent hit him first.
Blood.
Strong. Fresh.
He slowed further, every muscle tensing as he approached the source.
Ahead, the land dipped into a shallow hollow.
Lucas crouched at the edge and carefully parted the grass.
Then he saw it.
The aftermath.
The hollow was devastated—grass flattened, dirt torn up, signs of a violent struggle scattered everywhere.
Two bodies lay motionless in the center.
A man—broad-shouldered, dressed like a laborer.
A young woman—likely no older than Lucas himself.
Both… badly torn apart.
Lucas's expression hardened, but he didn't look away.
Because just beyond them—
Was the real danger.
The Ironclaw Mountain Cat.
It was massive—easily the size of a large dog, its body lean but powerful. Black fur clung to its frame, matted with blood. Its claws were long, curved, and stained dark.
Even injured, it radiated danger.
And it was injured.
One hind leg bent at an unnatural angle. Deep gashes ran along its torso, exposing flesh beneath. Blood seeped steadily into the ground beneath it.
It was breathing heavily.
Weak.
Dying.
Lucas eyes narrowed.
"…Perfect."
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even consider fighting something like this. A 3-star creature was far beyond him.
But this?
This wasn't a fair fight anymore.
This was timing.
Positioning.
Opportunity.
"If I miss this…" he thought, "I'm an idiot."
He scanned the terrain quickly.
The beast's back was partially turned. Its attention focused inward—on pain, on survival.
It hadn't noticed him.
Not yet.
Lucas lowered his center of gravity and began to move.
Slowly. Carefully.
He descended the slope like a shadow, each step placed with deliberate precision.
Five meters.
Four.
Three.
The cat's ear twitched.
Lucas's muscles coiled instantly.
Two meters.
The beast shifted—its head beginning to turn—
Now.
Lucas exploded forward.
His left blade struck first—fast, direct, aimed at the neck.
A feint.
The cat reacted instantly, snarling as it raised a claw to intercept.
Clang!
The impact jolted through Lucas arm, nearly knocking the weapon loose.
But he didn't hesitate.
Because the real attack had already begun.
"Now—!"
He activated Strength Surge.
Power flooded his right arm in an instant.
Muscle tightened. Force multiplied.
"Drop."
His right blade drove forward—fast, precise, unstoppable.
The cat's guard was already committed.
Its throat—
Open.
Slice.
The blade cut deep.
Hot blood sprayed across Lucas arm.
The creature shrieked, a sharp, desperate sound as its body convulsed violently. Its claws tore into the earth, leaving deep grooves in the soil.
But it was already over.
Lucas stepped in, gripping the blade firmly—
—and twisted.
The motion severed what remained.
The struggle weakened.
Then stopped.
Silence returned.
A faint glow rose from the corpse, drifting into Lucas body.
[Kill confirmed: Ironclaw Mountain Cat (Level 1)]
[EXP gained: 30]
Lucas exhaled slowly, tension draining from his body.
He opened his panel.
[Level: 1 (30 / 100)]
"Not bad…"
Two more kills like that—and he'd level up.
But more importantly—
The real reward was still waiting.
He crouched beside the corpse.
"Plunder."
A familiar warmth spread through him.
[Success: Agility +2]
Energy surged through his legs, lightening his movements instantly.
He stood, testing his balance.
Faster.
Sharper.
More responsive.
He checked his stats.
Agility: 11
A noticeable jump.
Lucas allowed himself a brief smile.
"This… is how I win."
Not through brute force.
Not through reckless fighting.
But through accumulation.
Step by step.
Piece by piece.
Until the gap closed—
And then surpassed.
His gaze shifted slowly…
Back to the center of the hollow.
The two bodies remained where they had fallen.
Silent.
Still.
Waiting.
Lucas walked toward them, his expression calm—but his eyes focused.
Because this—
This was where the real value lay.
Talents.
Abilities.
Potential.
All waiting to be claimed.
He stopped beside the girl's body first.
For a brief second, he hesitated.
Not out of fear—
But acknowledgment.
Then his expression hardened again.
"Sorry," he murmured under his breath.
And placed his hand down.
"Plunder."