Ding!
[Congratulations to Sam Walker for leveling up to Level 3 of the Novice Rank!]
It had been an hour since Sam entered the forest of the first layer, and in that short time, he'd already carved a path through wave after wave of monsters.
His movements were steady, methodical, almost mechanical as he went from one enemy to the next, wasting no time in between.
He had started with the Level 3 Black Bears and Wild Boars, hacking them down with ease thanks to the raw power of his [Primordial Sword].
Their tough hides weren't much of a defense against a blade that could cut through steel like it was paper.
But then came the Level 4 enemies: [Nature Wolves] and [Green Snakes], and that's when things started requiring more caution.
They weren't just stronger. They were smarter, faster, and far more dangerous.
---
[Nature Wolves]
[Level: 4]
[Hell-Mode Analysis: Vines can come out of their bodies to surprise Awakeners. Don't get entangled by them.]
---
[Green Snake]
[Level: 4]
[Hell-Mode Analysis: Extremely poisonous. Only go into close-range if you can't hit them with your bullets.]
---
Sam had taken notice.
His [Hell-Mode Analysis] was giving him more valuable information.
It wasn't much, but even a short description could make a big difference.
A single warning about a hidden ability or a poison was sometimes all that separated life from death.
Even still, Sam didn't falter. He killed and absorbed every monster he came across, one after another.
And with each core he took in, he could feel something building inside him, a growing power, a pressure around his body that seemed to thicken like a dense fog.
His steps didn't slow. If anything, he moved faster.
Slash! Bang! Slash!
Every time his blade swung, a monster fell.
His progress through the forest was nothing short of a massacre.
This wasn't just about strength.
Sam had other things to worry about too, things like his reputation, connections to guilds, and the [Awakener Association], but all of that could wait.
For now, there was only one goal: clear the layer.
That was when he heard it.
"GRRROOOOOARR~"
A heavy, guttural roar shook the forest. Deeper than any other he had heard since arriving.
Sam's eyes narrowed. "A boss," he muttered, instantly shifting into a ready stance.
He spun around and scanned his surroundings. And then, just a moment later, a massive wolf crashed through the trees.
---
[Wolf King (Boss)]
[Level: 4]
[Description: A giant wolf that commands all the others in this forest.]
[Hell-Mode Analysis: It has other wolves hiding nearby. Don't lose focus.]
---
It stood at least two meters tall with coarse gray fur laced with aura.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Sam with undeniable aggression. The killing intent it radiated was unmistakable.
Sam didn't flinch.
"Here we go, little puppy," he smirked.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest not too far from Sam's location, two girls were in the middle of their own fight.
"Don't you think these monsters are stronger than they should be?" one of them muttered, loosing an arrow straight through the skull of a charging black bear.
"Yeah," the other replied, her sword cleaving through a Wild Boar, "It's strange. They're not supposed to be this tough."
The two girls were named Lily and Alicia.
Both were part of [Eclypsia Academy], one of the more prestigious groups involved in Awakener training.
Like Sam, they had cleared the [Novice Ruins], defeating the level 3 Goblin Guardian and stepping into the true first layer.
They had been planning to clear this forest together, slowly and safely. But then…
"GRRROOOOOARR~"
The same roar Sam had heard reached their ears too. Both girls froze mid-step.
Lily was the first to speak. "That sounded like a boss," she said, tightening her grip on her bow.
Alicia nodded, her expression hardening. "Let's go. We need to get stronger, and this might be the chance."
Without another word, the two dashed through the forest toward the source of the sound.
But when they arrived near the location of the roar, what they saw was… unexpected.
Someone was already fighting the boss.
Lily's eyes widened. "Wait, someone's already this far?"
"I thought we were ahead of the curve," Alicia muttered, confused.
But then she squinted, her focus sharpening. "Hold on… is that… Sam?"
"Sam?" Lily asked, raising a brow. "Sam Walker?"
"Yes! Look closer."
They both leaned forward slightly, hiding behind some trees to avoid getting spotted by the boss.
But Alicia was right—it really was him.
The same Sam Walker that everyone used to talk about. The boy who supposedly didn't have a class.
The one everyone dismissed.
Lily tilted her head, "That doesn't make sense. Last I saw him, he looked like a zombie. I don't mean physically, but… the way he walked, the look in his eyes… it was like he didn't even have a soul..."
Alicia nodded, "Exactly. Like someone who'd given up."
And yet here he was, standing face-to-face with a Level 4 boss monster… and grinning.
Not just smirking—grinning wide, as if the thought of dying didn't even faze him. He looked like he was enjoying it.
Lily was about to suggest they step in and help, but Alicia stopped her.
"Wait. Look again," she whispered.
Lily turned back to the fight. Sam's stance was calm. Focused. Even with a massive wolf lunging toward him and other hidden enemies waiting in ambush, he didn't look overwhelmed.
In fact, he looked… confident. Deadly confident.
They obviously knew about the [Wolf King], it was a level 4 boss that usually appeared only one out of five expeditions, and it was extremely deadly.
They were asked to not try to fight bosses alone, as it was far better to fight in groups.
And yet, Sam, all alone, was facing the [Wolf King] as if it was nothing.
"Does this really look like someone that is powerless?" Lily asked with a suspicious gaze.
"No," Alicia shook her head, "There's something wrong here."