The eastern gate of Lemuria City wasn't just a gate.
It was the line where the safe world ended and everything else began.
Inside the walls, life moved in neat little circles—patrolled streets, fixed roofs, people going about their days without thinking twice about what waited beyond the steel. Outside… outside was pure unknown.
The massive gate groaned upward with a deep mechanical rumble, revealing a cracked road that stretched out toward the distant tree line. Watchtowers dotted the outer wall, guards posted at every one with rifles and heavy crossbows ready for whatever might crawl too close.
The sky was still mostly dark, but a thin orange line had started bleeding across the horizon, promising the sun would be up soon.
About forty newly awakened hunters milled around near the gate, split into small teams. Each group had an experienced hunter assigned to keep them from getting killed on their first real trip outside.
Aaron stood a little behind the crowd next to Rei, both of them quiet for once.
The open gate pulled at something deep in their chests—part thrill, part nerves, and a whole lot of that feeling that once you crossed this line, nothing would ever feel quite the same again.
Rei let out a slow breath. "So this is it."
Aaron nodded. "This is it."
A tall man in dark leather armor stepped forward. A long scar cut across his left cheek, making him look like someone who'd learned every lesson the hard way.
He scanned the group with the tired eyes of a guy who'd watched too many rookies do something stupid and pay for it.
"Name's Seo Dojin," he said, voice low and rough. "I'm the hunter babysitting your group today."
His gaze moved over them slowly.
"Pay attention. What's waiting outside these walls isn't a classroom drill. Monsters don't give a damn about your class, your rank, or how bright your future was supposed to be."
A few students shifted on their feet.
Seo Dojin kept going.
"Your only job today is simple. Listen. Stay with your team. Don't go chasing glory on your own."
He paused, letting it sink in.
"And if I yell run… you run like hell. No questions."
Nobody cracked a smile.
Even the cocky ones looked serious now.
Seo Dojin glanced toward the gate where the guards had finished their final checks.
"Alright," he said. "Let's move."
The teams started walking through one by one.
The moment Aaron stepped past the gate, a faint chill brushed his skin. The air felt different out here—thinner, sharper, like the whole world was holding its breath.
The paved road lasted a few hundred meters before it turned into a dirt path winding toward the thick forest ahead. Ruined buildings dotted the open plains, half-swallowed by grass and vines, leftovers from a time before the Cataclysm turned everything upside down.
Nature had taken most of it back.
Tall grass swayed in the early morning breeze, and low hills rose dark against the slowly brightening sky.
But peaceful as it looked, the tension in the air was impossible to ignore.
Everyone knew the monsters were out here somewhere.
Rei walked close beside Aaron, eyes flicking left and right. "Feels… different," he muttered.
Aaron knew exactly what he meant.
The wilderness carried a weight to it, like the land itself was watching.
They walked almost twenty minutes before Seo Dojin lifted a hand.
"Stop."
The students bunched up around him.
"We're at the outer edge of Sector Twelve," he told them. "Low-level territory mostly. Grey Fang Wolves and Ironhide Boars—level two or three at worst."
A couple students tensed visibly.
Even those levels could mess you up if you weren't ready.
Seo Dojin crossed his arms. "First job is easy. Hunt one monster together as a team."
He looked straight at them.
"If you can't manage that… you've got no business being out here."
Rei swallowed hard.
Aaron just gave a small nod.
Right then, a soft rustle came from the tall grass nearby.
Every head turned.
A pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared between the stalks.
Then two more.
Three lean shapes slipped out of the grass—wolves, but bigger, meaner, with grey fur that rippled like smoke and teeth that looked built for tearing.
Seo Dojin glanced at them like they were expected guests.
"Perfect timing."
A few students stepped back without thinking.
"Three Grey Fang Wolves," he said. "Level two."
He didn't need to explain more—everyone could feel the threat rolling off them.
The group went dead quiet.
Seo Dojin raised an eyebrow. "Well? Who wants first crack?"
No one moved.
Rei half-raised his hand, then dropped it fast.
The silence stretched until it felt awkward.
Then Luna stepped forward, calm as ever.
"I'll go."
Seo Dojin nodded once. "Good. Need two more."
A shield-class kid and a fire mage volunteered quick.
The three of them moved out while the wolves lowered into a crouch, growling low.
Rei whispered, "This is about to get ugly."
Aaron watched without a word as Luna drew her sword. The blade caught the faint dawn light with a shimmer of frost.
The first wolf lunged.
Luna's sword flashed.
A streak of pale cold cut the air and slammed the wolf back with a sharp yelp.
The shield guy stepped up to block the second one while the fire mage hurled a small burst of flame.
The fight turned chaotic fast—growls, shouts, the crackle of fire—but Luna moved like she'd done this a hundred times. Her blade slashed clean across one wolf's shoulder. Frost spread over the wound in seconds. The creature staggered, then dropped.
The other two wolves turned tail and vanished back into the trees.
Silence fell again.
Seo Dojin gave a short nod. "Decent coordination."
Luna wiped her blade and sheathed it without a word.
At the same moment, a soft ding sounded inside Aaron's head.
The system panel lit up.
[Nearby monster defeated]
[Shared experience detected]
[Reward: 15 EXP]
Aaron's eyebrow twitched.
Even from the sidelines, just being in the party gave him a piece of it.
Then the system kicked in.
[Reward amplification triggered]
[Final experience gained: 1500 EXP]
His eyes widened a fraction.
The experience bar shot forward like it had been waiting for this.
[Level Up!]
[Level 3 reached]
Rei turned toward him suddenly.
"Brother Aaron?"
Aaron met his look.
"What?"
"You're smiling like you just found buried treasure."
Aaron let out a quiet chuckle.
"Just enjoying the fresh air."
But inside, the realization hit him hard.
If standing near a fight and doing nothing could hand him this much…
Leveling up was going to be a hell of a lot easier than anyone in this world ever dreamed.
And this hunt had barely even started.