Han Sen didn't stay by the stream for long. He knew the Quiet Woods were only safe for people above Level 5. To a Level 1 like him, even the insects could be dangerous. He needed a way to defend himself.
He walked toward a clearing where many adventurers often rested. On the ground, he found a discarded iron sword. It was rusted and the edge was chipped, but it was better than nothing.
[Item Detected: Rusted Iron Sword]
[Quality: Poor]
[Would you like to learn: Basic Swordplay?]
Han Sen nodded. A new skill appeared in his menu. He didn't hesitate. He poured 100,000 points into it.
[Ding! Basic Swordplay has evolved into: Heaven-Slaying Strike (Lv. Max).]
Knowledge flooded his mind. He suddenly knew a thousand ways to kill a man with a single flick of his wrist. He knew how to read the wind and the weight of the blade. The rusted sword felt like an extension of his own arm.
"I have the skill of a God," Han Sen muttered. "But I still only have 10 Health Points. If a monster scratches me, I'm dead."
This was the problem. He was a glass cannon. He could destroy anything, but he couldn't take a hit. He needed to find a way to stay safe.
He looked at his [Eye of Truth] and scanned the area. He saw a red glow coming from behind a thicket.
[Red-Eyed Shadow Wolf: Level 12]
[Health: 250/250]
[Skills: Shadow Leap, Crushing Bite]
To a normal person, a Level 12 wolf was a minor threat. To Han Sen, it was a boss monster. If it used [Shadow Leap], it would be over before he could blink.
The wolf stepped out from the shadows. It growled, its red eyes locking onto Han Sen's throat. It saw a Level 1 human and didn't even think of him as a meal. He was just a toy to be crushed.
The wolf pounced. It was fast, moving like a grey blur.
Han Sen didn't panic. His [Eye of Truth] saw the wolf in slow motion. He saw the exact moment the wolf's paws left the ground. He saw the gap in its fur right where its heart was.
He used [God-Speed Flicker].
To an observer, Han Sen didn't move. He simply vanished and reappeared behind the wolf. He didn't even look back as he swung the rusted sword in a simple, horizontal line.
Squelch.
The wolf's body split in half. Blood sprayed across the grass, but not a single drop touched Han Sen's clothes.
[Ding! You have killed a Level 12 Red-Eyed Shadow Wolf.]
[Experience Gained... Error... Level is Locked.]
[You have gained 10 Skill Points.]
"The experience is useless," Han Sen realized. "But I still get points for killing. This means I can grow even if I don't level up."
Suddenly, the temperature in the woods skyrocketed. The trees around him began to wither and smoke. The sky, which had been clear and blue, turned a deep, blood-red color.
A massive roar shook the earth. It wasn't the roar of a wolf or a bear. It was a sound that carried the weight of ancient power.
Han Sen looked up. High above the forest canopy, the air ripped open. Two massive shadows moved across the sun.
One was a bird made of pure, orange-gold fire. Each time it flapped its wings, sparks fell like burning rain. This was the Celestial Vermillion Phoenix.
The other was a massive lion with fur made of black darkness and gold armor. It walked on the air as if it were solid ground. This was the Abyssal Gold-Maned Lion.
"Those are Calamity Grade beasts," Han Sen whispered, his face pale. "They are at least Level 150."
Even with his maxed-out skills, the pressure from their mana made it hard to breathe. He was a Level 1 ant standing in the middle of a war between Gods.
The Lion opened its mouth and fired a beam of dark energy. The Phoenix screamed and dodged, but the attack clipped her wing. She began to fall, trailing fire and golden blood as she headed straight for the heart of the forest.
Han Sen knew he should run. He should go back to the city and hide. But his [Eye of Truth] saw something the Lion didn't.
The Phoenix wasn't just falling. She was protecting something in her talons. It was a small, white egg glowing with a soft light.
"If that Lion gets the egg, the whole forest will be destroyed," Han Sen said.
He gripped his rusted sword. He had 10 Health Points and he was about to run toward a battlefield that could kill a King.
He activated [God-Speed Flicker] and raced toward the crash site.