First Hunt

The streets beyond Aurelios lay empty at this late hour.

Even in the central kingdom, danger never truly slept. Portals could tear open anywhere, anytime, and monsters didn't care about city borders.

Kiaro’s boots struck the cobblestones in a steady rhythm as he ran. His cloak whipped behind him in the cold night air. The system’s interface hovered in the corner of his vision, glowing faintly, guiding him forward.

[Current Quest: First Step]

[Objective: Defeat 10 monsters]

[Target: Low-Rank Portal Detected Nearby]

He crested a small hill and stopped.

There it was.

A faint rift shimmered in the darkness below, swirling with shades of green and black. It looked like the surface of a pond disturbed by a thrown stone—but this pond led to somewhere else. Somewhere dangerous.

Kiaro reached for the dagger strapped to his belt. The weapon was old, worn, and far from sharp. But it was all he had.

F-rank… this is my test.

He drew a deep breath. The cold air filled his lungs. Then he stepped forward and crossed the threshold.

---

The moment he entered the portal, the world transformed.

The cobblestones and lanterns of Aurelios vanished. In their place stood jagged rocks and twisted trees beneath a sickly green sky. The air smelled of decay, wet soil, and something unnatural—something that didn't belong in any sane world.

[Portal: F-Rank]

[Threat Level: Low]

The message blinked softly before his eyes.

Kiaro pulled up his status one last time.

— Status —

Level: 1

Rank: F

Strength: 5

Agility: 6

Endurance: 5

Mana: 3

No skills. No tricks. Just raw potential and burning determination.

He crouched behind a large rock and listened.

Then he heard them.

Guttural snarls. Low and harsh.

From the shadows between the jagged rocks, small creatures emerged.

Goblins.

Their skin was green and rough. Their bodies were hunched, twisted, and armed with crude wooden clubs. Their eyes glowed faintly red, reflecting the portal’s eerie light.

Kiaro counted silently.

One. Two. Three.

All the way to ten.

Perfect.

He dashed forward before fear could catch up.

[New Action Available: Basic Attack]

[Recommended: Use agility to strike first]

Kiaro lunged. His dagger sliced through the cold air and buried itself in the first goblin’s throat.

The creature screeched and staggered backward, black blood spraying from the wound.

“One down,” Kiaro muttered.

The remaining goblins noticed him immediately. They hissed and charged, clubs raised.

But Kiaro was faster.

He rolled to the side as a club smashed into the ground where he’d been standing. The impact cracked the stone beneath. Another goblin swung from his left—he ducked, pivoted, and drove his dagger into its ribs.

Stats help. But timing matters more.

He moved like water. Ducking. Striking. Rolling. Every motion flowed into the next.

One by one, the goblins fell.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #1]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #2]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

His heart pounded—not from terror, but from pure focus. Every dodge, every slash, every breath mattered.

Then the system flashed a new message.

[New Skill Unlocked: Swift Strike]

Effect: Increases attack speed for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 10 seconds.

Good. That’ll help.

Two goblins charged him together, swinging their clubs in unison. Kiaro pivoted, letting one club glance off his shoulder. Pain flared, but he ignored it. He drove his dagger into the second goblin’s side and twisted.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #3]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

A fourth goblin lunged from behind a rock. Kiaro dropped low, rolled beneath its swing, and kicked a loose stone into its face. The creature screeched and stumbled backward, clutching its broken nose.

“Come on,” Kiaro whispered, adrenaline burning in his veins. “Is that all you’ve got?”

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #4]

[Experience Gained: 2 XP]

The next few exchanges became a blur.

Kiaro’s body moved on instinct. The system guided him subtly—dodge now, strike there, pivot left—and he obeyed without thinking.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #5, Goblin #6, Goblin #7]

[Experience Gained: 6 XP]

Halfway done. His arms ached. His breathing grew heavier. But he couldn't stop.

The remaining goblins regrouped. Their red eyes glowed brighter. Their snarls grew more vicious. Even low-rank monsters became deadly when cornered.

But Kiaro had something they didn't.

Strategy.

He crouched, grabbed a loose rock, and threw it to the right. The sound echoed off the stones. Three goblins turned toward the noise.

Now.

He dashed left, dagger ready, and struck two in rapid succession.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #8, Goblin #9]

[Experience Gained: 4 XP]

Only one remained.

The last goblin circled him slowly, club raised. It was smarter than the others—or maybe just more afraid. It didn't charge recklessly. It waited.

Kiaro waited too.

Then he feinted forward with his dagger. The goblin flinched and raised its club to block. That was the opening he needed.

He dropped low, swept the creature's legs, and drove his blade into its chest as it fell.

[Enemy Defeated: Goblin #10]

[Experience Gained: 5 XP]

Silence.

The portal area fell completely still. Ten goblins lay scattered across the rocky ground, black blood pooling beneath their bodies.

Kiaro stood in the center of it all, breathing hard. His dagger dripped. His cloak was torn. But he was alive.

The system screen appeared again, glowing softly.

[Quest Complete: First Step]

[Reward: +5 Stat Points, Basic Skill Confirmation]

His status updated instantly.

Strength: 7 (+2)

Agility: 8 (+2)

Endurance: 6 (+1)

Mana: 3

And a new skill appeared in his interface.

[Skill Unlocked: Blade Precision]

Effect: Increases critical hit chance for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 20 seconds.

Kiaro let out a long, slow breath. The tension drained from his shoulders.

This is only the beginning.

[New Quest Available: None at this time. System monitoring active.]

He turned to leave. But as he walked toward the exit, a faint rumble echoed through the portal. The ground trembled slightly.

A reminder that portals were unpredictable. That even F-rank dungeons could hide dangers he hadn't yet seen.

Kiaro didn't flinch.

He adjusted his grip on his dagger and stepped through the rift.

Behind him, the green-black swirl shrank, hissed, and vanished. The rocky landscape faded into nothing.

He emerged into the cool night air of Aurelios.

The stars looked the same as before. The city looked the same. But Kiaro felt different.

Stronger.

Faster.

Alive.

He looked up at the sky and smiled.

F-rank? Maybe for now.

But tomorrow… tomorrow he would be stronger.

And the day after that? Stronger still.

He began the long walk back to his apartment, the system’s interface pulsing softly in the corner of his vision. Ten goblins. One quest. One step closer to breaking every rule the world had ever written.

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