《Leveling Up My Bow In The Apocalypse》


 Chapter 1: Enterprise

    Chapter 1: EnterpriseIt was yet another Monday morning in Nova Kronos. The city rose around me like a glass colossus, with buildings that seemed to touch the sky, reflecting the vibrant glow of pulsating holographic advertisements. These holograms, lively and dynamic, gave the impression that the metropolis itself was breathing. The streets, covered with intelligent materials that adapted their texture as needed, were filled with flying vehicles, agile drones, and hurried pedestrians, all moving in a precise rhythm, like the gears of a gigantic machine.


    I was part of this flow, but my mind wandered as I stretched on my comfortable bed. The automated curtains still blocked most of the light outside, but a golden glow escaped through the cracks, gently illuminating my minimalist room.


    The sound of the alarm¡ªa sharp mix of electronic tones¡ªbroke the silence, pulling me back to reality. The ceiling of my room was filled with holographic projections: welcome messages, the day''s schedule, and even reminders about mental health amidst the exhausting routine. I sighed and, with a lazy gesture, turned off the alarm using the panel beside the bed. I activated the bathroom heater, which soon began releasing a gentle mist. I felt the weight of fatigue on my body, but the impersonal call of Monday mornings summoned me to action.


    After my shower, I put on my corporate uniform: a smart fabric shirt that regulated temperature, trousers that adjusted to my body, and shoes that molded perfectly to my feet. I grabbed my work bag, equipped with all the digital files and notifications I hadn''t yet reviewed, and stepped out the door.


    I entered the autonomous vehicle parked in the garage of my apartment, and as the car carried me to the office, I watched the streets. They were a sea of holograms, interactive advertisements, and people walking with headphones on, lost in their own worlds. The car glided silently among other autonomous vehicles, floating above the level of regular traffic. The flow was a labyrinth of precision, yet time still seemed to slip through my fingers like sand. Every day, the same scene.


    When I finally arrived at the underground parking lot of the corporate building, I stepped out, carrying my bag and blending into the crowd of employees. The building before me was an immense structure of glass and steel, its upper floors disappearing into the clouds. There was something imposing about the architecture, but also a sense of emptiness, as if everyone there was playing a role they hadn''t chosen but never questioned.


    As I entered the lobby, the air was saturated with the artificial scent of hydroponically grown plants and the soft sound of ambient music. The receptionist, Abigail, stood in her usual spot, an artificial smile on her face as she greeted employees. She wore heavy makeup, her large metal earrings swaying slightly with the movement of her head, and her hands were always busy manipulating the holograms on her terminal. It was clear that she knew much about what went on inside that building and about the lives of the people who passed through there.


    "Good morning, Alexander," Abigail said in her automated voice, her expression unchanged. "Another successful day ahead, isn''t it?"


    "The same as always. And you?" I replied politely, my impersonal tone already prepared for the type of conversation I knew was about to unfold. Abigail, ever enthusiastic, wasted no time launching into her morning story. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, it was great! You know, Noah and I tried..." she began, diving into the details of her weekend with vigor and enthusiasm, just as she did every other week. The story was the same¡ªperhaps with a few variations, but nothing that would raise an eyebrow or prompt me to interrupt.


    With my eyes subtly shifting to the digital display on my watch, I let the conversation flow while my mind wandered elsewhere.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the elevator arrived, granting me freedom. I offered a brief excuse, stepping away with a slight nod, as the sound of the doors closing behind me sealed my escape. The relief of breaking away from the monotony propelled me toward the 15th floor, where the office awaited.


    As I stepped out of the elevator, I found a calm, quiet environment¡ªa temporary refuge before the day''s hustle began. The office was modern and minimalist, with large windows offering a panoramic view of the metropolis. Yet, the glass walls and open design made the space feel colder and more impersonal than inviting. I was one of the first to arrive in my section, a small advantage I appreciated now and then¡ªa brief island of peace at the start of the workday.


    I sat down at my meticulously organized desk and powered up my computer. The screen lit up with my personalized interface. Emails began to populate the inbox, most of them on topics I had already anticipated but needed to read anyway. Financial reports, spreadsheets with the latest investment analysis figures, market updates¡ªall perfectly aligned for my review.


    I felt at ease in this space, away from social chatter, immersed in numbers and projections. I''d always had a good instinct for investments, an intuitive ability to sense where money should be placed and where it shouldn''t. For me, this was the easiest part of the job.


    "Business Analyst"¡ªthe title seemed almost excessive for what I did, but for an outsider, it might appear dull. Yet, for me, there was a peculiar tranquility in losing myself in financial calculations and forecasts.


    The office gradually filled with more employees, but the formal greetings soon faded. The sound of keyboards clicking and the low murmurs of quiet conversations took over the space, but I was immune to the buzz. I noticed with an internal sigh that, unfortunately, there were no donuts today¡ªa slight disappointment since it wasn''t every day that someone brought them to the office. Another morning without surprises, with nothing but predictability.


    As the day progressed and I worked through more emails and reports, I began to feel a slight fatigue. I hadn''t slept enough¡ªthe same lingering tiredness that often accompanied me¡ªbut I was used to it. Lack of sleep didn''t affect me as much as it seemed to affect others.


    The work carried on, and so did I. The office continued to fill with more employees as the hours passed, but social interactions in my corner were minimal. I''d always been this way¡ªdiscreet and reserved.


    Just as I was finishing my thoughts, the soft sound of my supervisor Lucas''s boots echoed across the room. Lucas approached with his characteristic wide, contagious smile, his warm and friendly tone filling the space effortlessly.


    "Hey, buddy! A few of us are heading out for lunch. Want to join?" Lucas asked, his natural enthusiasm radiating energy and lighting up the room without trying.


    "Yeah, sure, sounds good," I replied timidly, my tone always more reserved yet polite. I didn''t want to be the type of person who declined invitations¡ªespecially when the invite came from someone like Lucas.


    I really liked Lucas. It was hard not to like someone like him. He was, without a doubt, the kind of person people would call a "natural leader." Lucas had a rare talent for reading people with precision and making anyone feel at ease in his presence. He spoke to everyone with the same ease, whether it was the company president or the newest employee, and he always knew exactly what to say to keep a conversation interesting and flowing.


    Behind Lucas stood Xavier, an imposing man with an expression that initially seemed stern but quickly revealed itself to be more nuanced. Large and taciturn was the first impression he left on anyone meeting him for the first time, but I knew Xavier was, in reality, a gentle giant.


    He was always there, silently shadowing Lucas, and though he appeared intimidating at first glance, Xavier was kinder and more laid-back than most would expect. His loyalty to Lucas was almost unfathomable to those who didn''t know their history. Somehow, Xavier seemed to be there to protect, support, and even act as a caretaker¡ªalmost like a butler but with the quiet, enigmatic demeanor that made him a mystery to others.


    Lucas, to me, was almost an exception to the rule. As the son of an absurdly wealthy family, he could have easily turned out to be the typical spoiled heir with arrogant and indifferent attitudes. Yet, somehow, Lucas had risen above all of that. Not only did he remain humble and genuine, but he also became the central figure in countless conversations¡ªthe person everyone wanted around, regardless of social status.


    I got up and headed to the elevator with Lucas and Xavier, chatting along the way about work and the meeting we had planned for after the lunch break.


    I spotted Abigail with Noah, her husband, stepping into the same elevator as me, Lucas, and Xavier. The elevator quickly became cramped, as three other people were already inside, waiting to go down.


    One of those three was Beatrice. Beatrice was a coworker in the human resources department, which shared office space with my department. She was a year younger than me, slim, Black, and, frankly, I had never seen a Black woman so stunning. Normally, I was drawn to white women, but this woman unsettled me in a way I couldn''t quite explain.


    I knew it was probably because she was one of the only women my age I interacted with regularly. Just two people of the opposite sex in close proximity¡ªa fact that, without a doubt, contributed to my never acting on any emotional impulses.


    So, all I could manage was a nod and a small "Good morning," despite it already being noon. I barely managed to suppress my embarrassment, but thankfully, she seemed to take it as a poorly timed joke.


    I was perfectly aware that Beatrice barely saw me as a friend and had no romantic interest in me. Lucas, on the other hand, was clearly on her radar. Not that I could blame her. Lucas was a great guy, no matter how you described him, and I simply couldn''t bring myself to dislike him, even though he was my unconscious and one-sided rival in love.


    As for me, I was what someone would describe as fairly average in the department in terms of appearance. Neither too fat nor too thin, with short black hair, black eyes, and a face that couldn''t be described as either handsome or unattractive.


    I was a focused man, with an energy that shone through my passion for physical activities and my commitment to taking care of my body. My above-average physique was the result of a combination of discipline and enjoyment. From a young age, I had always felt a special connection to archery, a sport I practiced regularly for fun.


    My parents had gifted me a home training range where I could hone my skills while enjoying the solitude and tranquility of the environment. The pursuit of perfection in archery also reflected in other aspects of my life.


    I maintained a rigorous gym routine, not just to build strength and endurance but also to fuel my ambition of becoming a high-level athlete. Although the dream of being an athlete seemed far off, I didn''t let that discourage me, staying committed to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.


    My routine was predictable, marked by hours of training and moments of leisure devoted to archery. But the sudden sound of the elevator moving snapped me out of my daily thoughts.


    The sound of the elevator doors closing was followed by a strange feeling, as if the environment around me was distorting. I began to drift into reflections about what to have for lunch, small pleasures filling my mind. But then, a new sound cut through my thoughts¡ªsomething that made me shudder.


    "BOOOMM~~"


    This time, the sound seemed to echo inside my head, almost like an internal explosion, followed by words that appeared before my eyes¡ªnot in the physical world, but in my mind. I barely had time to process what was happening when a strange sensation overcame my body.


    The words, quick and cryptic, flashed like a commanding directive.


    "Introduction and tutorial sequence starting."


    Before I could try to make sense of what was happening, I felt my body give in to the darkness, and I fainted, unaware that this moment would mark the beginning of a completely new and unexpected journey.


    ...


    2081 Words

 Chapter 2: Classe.1

    Chapter 2: Classe.1I felt a shiver run down my spine as I adjusted to the unusual situation. The heavy silence in the room was almost deafening, broken only by the sound of my own uneven breathing. I tried not to focus on the vulnerability of being completely naked or the fact that my tech watch¡ªmy only connection to the outside world¡ªhad disappeared along with my clothes.


    The being before me tilted its head slightly, as if it were assessing me. Its black wings, which had been folded against its back until then, slowly unfurled, revealing an impressive wingspan and details that seemed to absorb the surrounding light. The texture of the wings resembled velvet, but there was something inhuman about the way they moved, almost as if they were alive on their own.


    The being''s skin was as dark as the night, without any hue or markings I could identify as human. Despite this, the stranger''s body had human-like proportions¡ªmuscular and elegant¡ªbut lacked the usual anatomical details: no navel, no hair, no scars or marks. The creature was a disconcerting combination of beauty and terror.


    "You have no need to fear," the voice finally sounded, though its lips did not move. It was a deep, resonant voice that seemed to emanate from every corner of the room at once.


    "Who... who are you? Where am I?" I asked, my voice trembling. I struggled to maintain composure, but the surreal appearance of the being, the strange white room, and my own situation left me in a state of panic.


    "Greetings, human. I oversee your introduction. In this introduction, I will explain to you the circumstances of your new reality," the entity said with a voice that sounded synthesized, a blend of multiple male and female tones. As I was about to open my mouth to respond, it began speaking again.


    "First, allow me to welcome you to this new Chapter of your life. You will be connected to the realm of Lovecraft, the creator god of the Ancients. Now, do you have any questions before we proceed to the matters pertinent to the tutorial?" the entity finally finished. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    My mind was in turmoil. The realm of Lovecraft? And what does it mean by a new Chapter? Yet, instead of asking any of those significant questions, I ended up blurting out the most mundane one possible:


    "Who¡ªno, what are you?" I stammered, stumbling over my words.


    "I am the entity tasked with greeting you and introducing you to the new world and the circumstances of your new reality," it replied promptly, offering no hint of wanting to provide further details.


    "What new reality?" I asked.


    "The reality designated by Lovecraft, known as the Madness System," it explained.


    "And how do I see this system..." Before I could finish my question, a screen suddenly appeared before my eyes:


    Status


    Name: Alexander Wood


    Race: [Human (0) ¨C lvl 0]


    Class: N/A


    Profession: N/A


    Health Points (HP): 90/90


    Mana Points (MP): 80/80


    Stamina: 70/70


    Statistics


    Strength: 7


    Agility: 8


    Endurance: 7


    Vitality: 9


    Resistance: 7


    Wisdom: 8


    Intelligence: 8


    Perception: 10


    Willpower: 6


    Free Points: 0


    Titles: N/A


    Well, that answers that question, I thought. An idea began forming in my mind about what might be happening, and I decided to roll with it. I was half-convinced this was nothing more than a bizarre lucid dream, so I saw no reason not to have a bit of fun. First of all, I did what I thought would be entertaining and started analyzing the stats.


    There were nine different statistics, each ranging from 6 to 10 points. My stats seemed fairly balanced, with only Willpower and Perception standing out. Willpower, being just 6, made me wonder¡ªdid that indicate weak resolve? Or was 6 actually low for someone in my situation?


    My race was listed as "Human," which was pretty self-explanatory, but what did the "0" mean? And apparently, I was a level 0 human. Beyond that, it seemed I had neither a class nor a profession. While I could argue that I was upper-middle class with my profession being a financial consultant, I doubted that was what the system meant by those two categories.


    There were no titles either, and health and mana were at 90 and 80, which led me to assume they were based on one of my stats, multiplied by a factor of 10. Vitality, being the only stat at 9, made me conclude it was the determining factor for health. Mana was a bit trickier, sitting at 80, with Wisdom and Intelligence both at 8¡ªone of those two was likely the determining factor. Stamina was at 70, which, following my earlier deduction, meant it was tied to Strength or Endurance, with Endurance being my bet.


    I tried focusing on different elements of the screen, apparently without much success. It simply informed me that Strength meant strength and that Class meant class... However, when I attempted to focus on my race, it yielded a result:


    Human (0) ¨C The lowest level of humans in the system. This type is found only in newly initiated worlds. The human race is known as one of the most balanced and numerous among the myriad races of the Lovecraft realm, capable of treading many different paths on their way to power.


    Stat bonuses per level: +1 to all stats, +1 free point.


    So that clarified a bit. Humans were the baseline race, with no apparent advantages or disadvantages except for being adaptable. That "level 0" implied that I hadn''t progressed in this system yet. If this were a dream, it was oddly detailed¡ªperhaps more than my subconscious typically managed.


    Thanks for calling me the lowest level of human, I guess? I thought. The description kind of confirmed that there were other races out there, and also that more humans were in what that thing called the realm of Lovecraft.


    I fiddled with the menu a bit more, trying almost everything I could before glancing back at the strange, humanoid-like entity.


    "Hey, can I ask about the different stats on the status screen and their effects? Like, which stats are linked to health points, or if there''s any connection?" I asked.


    "No. It tells you what you need to know for now," it responded, still as monotone as ever.


    "Can I ask how I get a class and profession? It mentions a level here¡ªhow do I level up? What does the ''0'' after my race mean? Also, why am I here in the first place? Where did the others go?" I asked, sounding a bit authoritative. Not that I blamed myself, this situation was undoubtedly the strangest thing I had ever experienced.


    "Your class is chosen upon entering the tutorial. This class will be the starting point of your journey and will help guide your path. A profession becomes available by performing tasks related to that profession, whether through a long period of time or by excelling at such tasks. Classes focus on the pursuit of strength, while professions are paths of creativity, rarely offering direct increases in strength. You level up through a wide variety of actions."


    "The ''0'' after your race indicates the current classification of your race. You are here because you entered the introduction. By ''others,'' I will assume you mean other Earthlings, and those other Earthlings are also now in their respective introductions," it explained concisely, without offering many details, but at least it gave me a much clearer idea of what was happening. It was especially reassuring to know that my colleagues were likely doing okay and probably in a similar situation to mine.


    "Now, let''s go to the classes," the entity said, even though I hadn''t asked.


    Before I could open my mouth, I was interrupted by a screen that appeared before me, displaying a wall of text. I quickly composed myself and started going through the classes one by one:


    Shadow Rogue ¨C Basic starting class. A master of stealth and quick attacks, the Shadow Rogue combines agility and precision to strike deadly blows before even being detected. Focused on evasion, stealth movements, and refined combat techniques, it sacrifices raw strength and endurance in exchange for speed and dexterity. Primarily equipped with rapiers, daggers, small axes, and throwing weapons, this shadowy warrior excels in ambushes and infiltration missions.


    Stat bonuses: +2 Agi (Agility), +1 End (Endurance), +1 Str (Strength), +1 Vit (Vitality), +1 free point.


    The first class seemed to be a rogue. It mentioned daggers and throwing weapons. That intrigued me a bit, although I was quite reluctant to be the guy fighting up close and personal. I chose archery, not fencing, after all.


    Warfare Arcanist ¨C Basic starting class. The Warfare Arcanist is a magical warrior who balances mastery in combat and the use of magic, creating a versatile approach to battle. Combining physical strength and arcane power, it casts spells to enhance attacks, protect itself, or deliver devastating blows. This mid-tier combatant has a balance of speed, power, and endurance, surpassing light warriors in survival and heavy warriors in mobility. Capable of wielding a wide range of weapons, both heavy and light, as well as using arcane focuses and grimoires to channel magic.


    Stat bonuses per level: +1 Agi (Agility), +1 End (Endurance), +1 Vit (Vitality), +1 Str (Strength), +1 Int (Intelligence), +1 free point.


    The second class seemed like a choice someone would make if they wanted to be a warrior but had no idea which direction to specialize in. Although, it might provide some versatility.


    ...


    1586 Words

 Chapter 3: Classe.2

    Chapter 3: Classe.2Fatal Shot ¨C A basic starting class. Focused on ranged combat, mainly using a bow and arrow, along with light options for close combat, such as short swords and daggers. The class is fast and flexible, emphasizing agility over strength.


    Stat bonus per level: +2 Per, +1 Agi, +1 End, +1 Str, +1 free point.


    Well, here we go. No surprises further down the list, this one seemed to be by far the most appealing choice. Disregarding the light options for close combat, if I had to fight in any way, which I strongly suspected I would, I would undoubtedly prefer to do it with a bow.


    Caster ¨C A basic starting class. The Caster focuses on magical combat, favoring wisdom and knowledge over strength and speed. The basic class is not attuned, meaning it is not specialized in any element or type of magic, so it is limited in power but broad in scope. Casters wield powerful destructive abilities, though they often lack defensive options. The class mainly uses catalysts such as staffs, idols, relics, or wands to amplify the power of magic.


    Stat bonus per level: +2 Int, +1 Wis, +1 Will, +1 Per, +1 free point.


    Well, this, if not everything before, confirmed that magic is a real thing. Although the concept of being a tough guy who shoots fire and bends lightning seemed appealing, I honestly would prefer just having a bow.


    Healer ¨C A basic starting class. The Healer can heal wounds, remove afflictions, and amplify the power of themselves and/or their companions. The basic class is not attuned, meaning it is not specialized in any divine power or type of magic, so it is limited in power but broad in scope. The class is weak in solo combat, with no offensive options, but powerful when surrounded by allies.


    Stat bonus per level: +2 Will, +2 Wis, +1 Int, +1 free point.


    And the last option seemed to be a healer. All the classes were "basic starting classes," which meant there were no special, superpowered starting classes. At least not for me. I also noticed that all the classes provided a total of +5 to stats per level, along with one free point.


    Compared to the race, the classes seemed to offer more specialized stats but less overall, though this might be due to me being human. The healer class didn''t appeal to me at all, though it did have an interesting line about divine powers. Does this imply the existence of gods? Could I perhaps become some kind of priest in the future?


    "Hey, can you tell me anything more about these classes? Any advice or tips?" I asked, hopeful.


    "Your path is for you to discover. Now choose a class before we proceed," the thing replied, leaving little room for further discussion.


    Realizing it was best to choose the class I had planned all along, I selected the Fatal Shot class.


    You have chosen the Fatal Shot class. Confirm?


    It seems even the most powerful systems are prone to security warnings like these, I thought, as I confirmed my decision with the system.


    "You have obtained the Fatal Shot class."


    As soon as those words appeared before me, I felt a strange tingling in my head, neither unpleasant nor comfortable. At the same time, a few items appeared on the table in front of me. Before I had a chance to look closer, I was once again greeted by several system messages:


    "Skill acquired": [Basic Fatal Shot (Inferior)] ¨C The best friend of a Fatal Shot is the bow in its hand and the arrow in the heart of its enemy. Unlocks basic proficiency with bows, crossbows, and adds a tiny bonus to the effects of agility and strength when using a ranged weapon.


    "Skill acquired": [Basic One-Handed Weapon (Inferior)] ¨C A Fatal Shot may not be a master in the arts of close combat, but it''s far from defenseless. Unlocks basic proficiency with most one-handed weapons and adds a tiny bonus to the effects of agility and strength when using an appropriate melee weapon.


    "Skill acquired": [Fatal Shot''s Eye (Common)] ¨C The eyes of the Fatal Shot are trained to track and detect the weaknesses of their enemies. Allows the Fatal Shot to locate their prey more easily. Passively gives a small increase to the effect of Perception on visual organs.


    Reading these three messages, my suspicions that this new system was extremely similar to video games or perhaps tabletop RPGs were once again confirmed. All three seemed quite basic, especially the two skills that literally had "basic" in their names. Both were simply "inferior" in what I assumed to be their ranking. The last one seemed a bit more interesting, being less basic and even considered a common rarity skill.


    Additionally, I instinctively knew how Fatal Shot''s Eye worked. I tried to focus, and suddenly, I felt my vision become much clearer than before. It was as if I were gradually shifting from low quality to Full HD in about 5 seconds or so while concentrating. I looked around, amazed at how distinct everything appeared. When I deactivated the skill and my vision returned to normal, I checked my resources and saw that my stamina had dropped from 70 to 68, with mana and health remaining at full.


    I closed the window and looked at the items on the table. I glanced at the thing sitting eerily still and asked, "I assume these things are for me?"


    "Yes," it replied. "They are basic starting equipment based on your initial class. Now, for the final step of the introduction. Some necessities are given to all new initiates of the system."


    And, as it finished those words, I was once again greeted by a screen appearing before me.


    "Skill acquired": [Identify (Inferior)] ¨C Basic identification skill, known to all except the smallest children of the myriad races. The skill allows you to attempt to identify any object or creature you are focusing on.


    A skill that would actually allow me to get some semblance of information, perhaps? Something I felt I seriously needed. Only more and more questions kept appearing throughout this entire introduction trial, with little to no answers.


    "The time allocated for the introduction is coming to an end in 10 minutes, and you will be transported to the tutorial. It is recommended that you acquire the equipment given before the end of the introduction, or the items will be lost," the thing said, causing me to panic slightly as I stood up to grab the items from the table.


    The items included a bow and a quiver, a cloak, a knife, and a small pouch attached to a belt. They all looked quite medieval. The bow was made of wood, unlike the digital bows I was used to, which were typically made of aluminum and other composite materials. The string itself seemed to be made of silk, perhaps. I was honestly unsure.


    The cloak was made of a rather rough material, resembling burlap, but it seemed quite durable. The quiver was made of wood, with leather wrapped around it, and a leather strap to wear it on the back.


    The knife was as simple as it looked, just a steel blade attached to a wooden handle. The quality of all the items seemed very good to me. Last but not least, I looked at the small pouch, and upon opening it, I found a few small bottles.


    As I wondered what they were, I almost slapped my own head, remembering my identification skill. I began to focus on one of the bottles containing a red-tinted liquid, and after 3-4 seconds, a new screen appeared:


    [Health Potion (Inferior)] ¨C Restores health when consumed.


    What was I expecting? As simple as it sounds. I used Identify on the other items in the pouch, one by one, finding a total of 3 health potions and 3 stamina potions, which did exactly the same thing as the health potion, but for stamina.


    Closing the pouch, I moved on to the other items. The bow, knife, and cloak yielded no results, only informing me that the wooden bow was a wooden bow and that the brown cloak was a brown cloak. With little hope, I inspected the quiver and was pleasantly surprised:


    [Enchanted Quiver (Common)] ¨C A quiver enchanted with the ability to conjure arrows of common rarity when infused with mana.


    That definitely seems useful, I thought. As I finished my inspection, I was gently reminded that I didn''t have infinite time.


    "Two minutes remaining until the tutorial begins."


    I hurried to put the cloak over my head and began fastening the belt with the pouch, slinging the quiver over my shoulder. Fortunately, it already had dozens of arrows. The belt also came with a small sheath, into which I promptly placed the knife and fastened the small leather buckle meant to keep it in place.


    Finally, I took the bow in my hand, with no obvious place to secure it. After thinking for a moment, I put it over my shoulder and got ready for whatever was to come.


    "10 seconds remaining until the tutorial begins," the humanoid thing reminded me.


    "It was nice meeting you, I guess, whatever you are," I said, waving goodbye. A bit scared, but more than that, I felt a small sense of excitement building in the pit of my stomach.


    "Introduction sequence complete."


    ...


    1569 Words


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 Chapter 4: Tutorial.1

    Chapter 4: Tutorial.1I felt as if I had simply blinked, and suddenly, I found myself in a completely different place. There was no warning, except for the system message, no sensation of being thrown through time and space; I just kind of... moved.


    I found myself in a... room? No, that was an understatement. It was much larger than any room I had ever seen. Despite being able to see the ceiling, I could barely make out what seemed to be a wall far away on one of the sides. On the roof, there was a huge circular light that seemed to act as a sun.


    I looked from the ceiling to the wall, and everything in that place seemed to have some kind of circular design, like a giant dome. I was standing on what I could only identify as an enormous pillar, one of many that spread in all directions.


    Where the floor would be expected, I saw a vast forest stretching in all directions. However, none of the trees even came close to the top of the pillar. Not because the trees were small, some seemed to be over a hundred meters tall, but because the pillar was monstrously tall.


    As I began to wonder if the system had forgotten about me or what exactly was happening, the reliable window and voice appeared again.


    "Welcome to the tutorial."


    I felt a warmth spread throughout my body upon hearing the sound of yet another notification.


    Title earned: [Explorer]


    A title? One that I assumed everyone would understand, I thought, quickly checking.


    [Explorer] ¨C Complete the introduction and enter the tutorial as an Explorer. +3 to all stats. Grants the skill: [Endless Languages of the Races (Unique)].


    Three to all stats out of nowhere could only be a welcome thing. Probably also the source of the warm glow earlier. Although I was still far from certain about how exactly this would help. The skill, however, seemed a bit more tangible when I looked at what it did.


    [Endless Languages of the Races (Unique)] ¨C Allows you to communicate with the myriad of races throughout the multiverse. A unique skill granted for free to the forerunners of a newly initiated race.


    The skill, in some way, allowed me to communicate with other races. Would it only be speech or also writing? More questions arose, and when I tried to focus on the abilities, I didn''t get any more results. I even tried using my newly acquired Identify skill, but nothing happened.


    Hearing something behind me, I jumped and quickly turned around, only to see that another person had also been transported to the same platform. With a hand on the hilt of his knife, I recognized who it was.


    "Lucas?" I asked rhetorically, looking at the man in front of me. Lucas wasn''t wearing his suit anymore, but was dressed in chainmail, gauntlets, and what appeared to be leather pants with a pair of sturdy-looking boots, all seeming to have come straight out of a medieval film.


    Lucas also seemed perplexed by the whole situation, as it took him a second or two to compose himself before he heard and saw me.


    "Alexander!? Oh man, it''s good to see you! Have you seen any of the others?" Lucas asked, with his usual energy, in a hopeful voice.


    "Nah, I''m just as surprised to see you here. After we got in the elevator, you too¡ª"


    But before I had the chance to ask, another flash of light appeared, and once again, before I could see who it was, another flash of light, and then another, until there were a total of 10 people on the platform before the flashes stopped.


    I instantly recognized all the people, as five of them had been in the elevator with me, and four were other employees from my company. To my relief, Beatrice was among the newcomers and seemed to be okay, now wearing a white robe with what looked like a small wand at her hip. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s going on¡ª"


    "Hey, why¡ª"


    "Have you seen Noah!?"


    "Where is¡ª"


    Everyone started talking over each other: all of them confused, but some more than others. I simply stepped back while I tried to process the situation internally, but of course, still listening to the others. After the initial panic passed, everyone calmed down and started assessing the situation. After all, we were all professionals. It had nothing to do with Lucas trying to calm them down. No way.


    After a quick round of questions and answers, it seemed that everyone had been transported to their respective interrogation rooms and had gone through pretty much the same ordeal as I had. However, I discovered I had apparently missed some questions, as the others had figured out a few more details. One of them was that new skills could be obtained every 5 levels with our classes.


    As we went on, we also counted our different classes. We ended up with 1 light warrior, 2 medium warriors, and 1 heavy variant warrior, 2 Fatal Shooters, 3 conjurers, and 1 healer. Quite balanced, something I suspected the system had done on purpose. Or maybe it was just luck.


    My armors and outfits were also very different. No longer were we all wearing our nice dress shirts and "presentable" clothes we used to wear. The light warrior wore leather armor, the medium warriors, like Lucas, wore their chainmail sets, and the heavy warrior wore what looked like a poorly crafted iron armor.


    The other Fatal Shooter, whom I recognized as Wyatt from R&D, was wearing the same cloak as me, wielding a wooden bow just like mine. Wyatt was one of the few people I had always gotten along with at work. We had to interact a lot due to what we did, and naturally, we got along. Both of us were fairly introverted and, by coincidence, shared some of the same hobbies. I wasn''t sure if I could call him a friend, but at least a close acquaintance. Besides, we were both terrible at anything romantic, which made us kindred spirits in that department.


    Abigail was one of the people who panicked the most, with her husband Noah not being among them. She had chosen to be a conjurer, perhaps just because it seemed to be the least physically demanding. Though, thinking about it, she once mentioned that she and her children really enjoyed a certain book about a scarred boy wizard.


    I also learned from the conversation that apparently, I could have asked for a different weapon in the Introduction, something I hadn''t known. Maybe I could have gotten a modern compound bow... though I doubted it, considering the whole medieval theme going on.


    The last two classes were from two other conjurers, all wearing very similar brown robes to the ones I wore, seeming to be much more comfortable, made of a material resembling silk. They all held wooden staffs, something I assumed were wands. And finally, there was our only healer, Beatrice, in her white robe, also looking very similar to silk, with her smaller white wand.


    Another topic discussed was, of course, the skills granted. As I expected, everyone received Identify and the translation skill included in the title granted upon entering this supposed tutorial. Class skills were another story, however.


    Light warriors had a dual-wielding skill, which gave a boost to wielding two weapons, a throwing weapon skill, and a common rarity skill, the counterpart to the Fatal Shooter''s Eye, called Quickstep, allowing the warrior to make quick bursts of speed. In reality, though, the skill only made someone take a step slightly faster than normal, which was completely disappointing in practice.


    The medium warrior had five skills, though all with Inferior ranking. They had a skill for one-handed weapons, one for two-handed weapons, one for sword and shield, a throwing weapon skill, and a skill called Balanced Approach, which gave a small bonus to all stat effects while wielding any weapon. It was so small that neither of the two medium warriors even noticed the difference.


    The heavy warrior had the same sword and shield skill, a two-handed weapon skill, and a skill called Toughen Up, which allowed the warrior to temporarily increase their resistance. This was also incredibly disappointing, with no visual indication at all. Additionally, Xavier said it still hurt when Lucas struck him, making even the effect questionable.


    The Fatal Shooter skills, of course, I already knew.


    The conjurers also had three skills, the first being Magical Tools Proficiency, which allowed them to use their wands and other magical items, an attack skill called Mana Bolt, and a defensive skill called Mana Barrier. The barrier was also terrible, being so weak that a casual sword strike could break it, but the Mana Bolt seemed pretty powerful.


    The healer class also had three skills, one called Heal, which, unsurprisingly, allowed the healer to heal things, one called Regeneration, which turned out to be a passive aura that allowed the healer''s allies to regenerate health faster, and the last skill was the same as the conjurers'', allowing them to use magical items. Of these skills, I was particularly interested in the aura, and how exactly it determined who the allies were and who weren''t.


    Another thing that was determined was that the Identify skill didn''t work on other people. It didn''t even return a basic message. There was simply no response. It seemed that the rarity of the skill was too low or prohibited for some reason. I looked at Beatrice and decided to ask her about the aura, but I was interrupted before I had any chance.


    ...


    1614 Words

 Chapter 5: Tutorial.2

    Chapter 5: Tutorial.2"Everyone! Look at the other platforms. I think there are other people on them," said the heavy warrior Xavier, drawing everyone''s attention. When I looked at the closest platform, my enhanced vision came in handy as I was able to distinguish some details.


    It seems there were 10 individuals on the other platform as well, and as I looked around, I saw they were on all the others around me. I could still see some bursts of light on some of the other platforms, but after a minute or two, everything went silent, and the tutorial truly began.


    Start of the Challenge


    [Mission: Introduction]


    Duration: 3 months.


    Category: Survival.


    Objective: Survive throughout the challenge period. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rules: Accumulate Challenge Points.


    Summary: The vast and dangerous Abyssal Forest is filled with threats and opportunities for newcomers. Wild monsters roam its depths, always on the hunt. Defeat these creatures to earn CP and strengthen your skills. Who knows, maybe an opportunity to face the powerful Lords of Creatures will appear in your path.


    Tutorial Points Rules: CP is earned by killing beasts, divided among the contributors. When killing another initiate, half of their CP will be divided among the contributors.


    Final rewards based on CP and the number of survivors.


    Total survivors remaining: 1200/1200


    CP collected: 0


    As I was reading the information, I suddenly felt the pillar beneath me tremble slightly as I began to be slowly lowered. I quickly composed myself and checked that all my equipment was properly in place. As I did this, I wondered how I could be so calm in the face of the situation and noticed that everyone else was strangely calm as well, though this varied from person to person. Perhaps it had something to do with willpower, or more likely, it was due to dependence on a certain individual.


    Throughout the conversation, Lucas was the guiding light for everything. He made sure only one person spoke at a time, that useful information was extracted, and that everyone had their turn. It was an unspoken rule that he was the leader of the group. A rule that, of course, I had absolutely no intention of contesting.


    The group calmly discussed the action plan during the descent, with Lucas taking the lead once again, of course.


    Everyone agreed to focus on the first aspect of all this: Surviving. Everyone had weapons and potions; warriors and deadly shots had 3 health potions and 3 stamina potions each, while the spellcasters and Beatrice had 3 health potions and 3 mana potions.


    In addition, all we had were the clothes on our bodies. The rest of the internal discussion mainly revolved around the strange details of the tutorial, like the seemingly random duration. We also came to an agreement that hunting beasts was a necessity. None of us liked it, but we needed to eat somehow. Based on the tutorial rules, it didn''t seem possible to escape violence. We also collectively agreed that we would not antagonize any other survivors unless we had no other options.


    I didn''t agree with everything, but I didn''t want to play the devil''s advocate or start unnecessary fights. I had already noticed before that I might be a bit atypical. I really didn''t understand the lack of willingness to hunt. Personally, I was even excited by the idea.


    "First, we''ll need to locate water, food, and shelter. The flora doesn''t seem to be the same as Earth''s, so we can''t rely on our current knowledge of what is and isn''t safe to eat. We should try to see if the identification skill can help distinguish edible plants from poisonous ones.


    The system also mentioned beasts, so hunting will likely be an option, if not necessary, to secure a food source," said Lucas. "But we also need to be careful of the other survivors."


    "We shouldn''t be aggressive, but we also won''t be seen as weak. The chances are that we''ll have to hunt beasts, as the system says, to grow stronger and survive. If we work together and do our best, I''m sure we can all make it home safely."


    The little speech was a bit redundant, considering we had already gone over these points, but it seemed to put everyone on the same page. Once again, I was reminded of why Lucas was the youngest department head my company had ever had. He achieved this by relying solely on his competence and charisma, along with a bit of nepotism, but that was almost expected in the job market today, or well, before today.


    The only thing that bothered me a little was seeing Beatrice staring at Lucas with stars in her eyes. Not that this was the time or place for such foolish thoughts. The pillar was getting closer and closer to the ground.


    When we finally reached beneath the tree canopy, I spotted several bird-like creatures hidden in the trees, though I couldn''t distinguish any details. Two months... I would have to survive two months in this forest.


    As we were just a few meters from the ground, I prepared myself for what was to come.


    The pillar finally touched the ground, and we found ourselves in a clearing. Strangely, the pillar beneath us seemed to go through the soil, leaving only grass beneath our feet, with no evidence that the massive pillar had ever existed.


    I took a deep breath of the fresh air and tightened my fist around the bow. I felt a bit of nervousness. But more than that, a strange sensation began to bubble inside me. Excitement.


    My dull world had changed, and I had no intention of making that damned forest my tomb.


    The group had previously considered our immediate plan of action upon reaching the ground, with the first goal being to find a safe place to set up camp. The artificial sun in the sky seemed to have moved a bit during our short stay, indicating a day-night cycle.


    Xavier made the polite guess that the night would be even more dangerous than the day. If beasts inhabited that forest, they imagined some of them had to be nocturnal. The threat of other humans taking advantage of the cover of darkness couldn''t be ignored either.


    After leaving the clearing where the pillar had sunk into the ground, we wandered through the forest. The tension of everyone increased as we found ourselves in a much more confined space. The first goal was, hopefully, to find a water source to set up camp near. Due to the dense tree canopies, it was impossible to spot anything from the top of the pillar, so we had to enter blindly.


    As we walked, awe-struck by the environment, I felt strangely relaxed. Despite my vigilance for whatever might be lurking behind the trees around us, I had the sense that nothing would catch us by surprise. I was still listening for potential dangers, of course, but it was a difficult task since it wasn''t exactly a quiet forest. Birds chirped, distant roars from beasts were frequent, and the rustling of leaves as the wind blew was louder than I was used to. This was probably tied to my slightly heightened perception.


    When Xavier, the frontline warrior, passed over a small hill, he suddenly stopped. Lucas quickly approached to stand next to him. I was right behind, but I could still hear them due to the proximity.


    "What are those things?" Xavier asked, looking down the hill to another small clearing. I walked up to them, being the last to arrive. I looked at a group of what I assumed were the beasts mentioned, of some sort.


    "They look like large badgers. Although, judging by the deer-like thing they''re eating, I think they''ve really upgraded their diet," Lucas replied, turning to the rest of the group. "We already agreed that we might need to hunt. These things don''t look too dangerous, so we should be able to handle them. Any ideas?"


    I looked at the large badgers. Four of them, each the size of German shepherds. The way they were eating the deer-like thing, they definitely had sharp teeth and claws, tearing into the meat of their prey. The perception of the surroundings seemed dull, to say the least, since none of the creatures had noticed us yet, even though we were only 30 meters away.


    The feeling they gave me wasn''t one of danger at all. In fact, I had the sense that dealing with them would be easy.


    ...


    1422 Words

 Chapter 6: Tutorial.3

    Chapter 6: Tutorial.3Interrupting my thoughts, the other Fatal Shot, Wyatt, intervened:"I vote for the hunt. From the distant roars, it seems there are much more dangerous things out there, and they could even be our dinner source tonight. They seem to be low-level beasts," he said, receiving a nod from Lucas. Hearing the word "level," I mentally slapped myself again today, wondering why I hadn''t tried using Identify yet. That''s what the damn skill is for, I thought grumpily.


    Focusing on the beasts one by one while wrapping up the conversation around me, I got what I expected, a bit:


    [??? - level 3]


    [??? - level 4]


    [??? - level 3]


    [??? - level 3]


    "... I''m just saying, maybe they''re closer to ferrets than badgers!"


    "I''m not saying they''re not a bit like ferrets, I''m saying you''re confusing ferrets with weasels!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, I returned to the conversation, hearing Bruno, the light warrior of our small group, and Gabriela, one of the spellcasters, discussing something nonsensical. It wasn''t exactly surprising. They were cousins and had an ongoing, never-ending riddle of pointless arguments, some lasting days or even weeks before they finally decided to "agree to disagree."


    I had to admit I couldn''t see the resemblance to any of the creatures... but, on the other hand, I didn''t know the difference between the two anyway. But one thing I was sure of: ferret or weasel, an arrow to the heart or head would be lethal either way.


    Interrupting the insane argument between the two cousins, the other medium warrior besides Lucas, Evan, seemed to have had the same idea I did. "Guys, I just tried using Identify on one of them, and it was level 3. But I couldn''t see the name."


    "Oh, great initiative! Why didn''t I think of that before!" Lucas cheered and gave Evan a pat on the back. Turning to me, he asked, "Hey, Alexander, any idea what to do?"


    "No, but I also tried identifying them. Three of them are level 3, and one is level 4," I added. I''d never been great in big groups like this, especially when all nine others turned to me. Seriously, I just hoped the pointless conversation would stop and the fight would begin.


    We were ten against four. We had the jump. Every advantage was ours, so this posture seemed... pointless.


    "Okay then, looks like fighting them is the decision. Now, for our tactical approach..."


    Several minutes passed, strategizing and deciding exactly how to face the beasts. After the previous discussion, we retreated behind the hill again to avoid being spotted. Occasionally peeking over the hill, the badger-like beasts, maybe weasels, maybe ferrets, didn''t seem in any rush with their meal.


    The plan was simple: fire ranged attacks, trying to damage or perhaps kill one or two, with Xavier leading the charge with his shield to draw the beasts'' attention, while Lucas and Evan flanked him to cover his sides. The plan was based on the assumption that the beasts were stupid and aggressive when attacked.


    Planning so much might have been a bit much for full-grown badgers, but no one seemed willing to take risks. A feeling I understood, but disagreed with. Wouldn''t a no-risk fight be... boring?


    The only problem with the plan was that, apparently, the spellcasters only had about 10 meters of range with their darts. Beyond that, they would disappear, according to what Henrry, the last of the group''s spellcasters, had heard during the introduction.


    This left Wyatt and me, easily dismissing Bruno with his throwing daggers, doubtful of our accuracy at 30 meters, or even 10 meters, if he could throw them that far. As for Wyatt... the first time he held a bow was earlier that same day when he chose it by opting for the Fatal Shot class.


    "So, Alexander. Are you confident you can hit one from here?" Lucas asked, apparently not having much faith in the plan we''d spent the last 10 minutes making. That the planning had been a waste, I agreed. The beasts would already be dead if it had been up to me.


    "Sure," I replied, a little less awkward than before with everyone looking at me. My frustration, well-hidden with the passive group, overtaking my social anxiety.


    I took an arrow from the quiver on my back and inspected it. Wooden shaft, steel tip, with fletching made from a type of feather I didn''t immediately recognize. The weight was good and balanced, the tip sharp, and overall, it seemed to be of good quality.


    "Okay, ready when you are," Lucas said, preparing along with everyone else. Judging by the looks on their faces, the lack of confidence was everywhere. They weren''t fighters. The only one who seemed to have any proper training was Xavier.


    I climbed the small hill, followed by everyone else right behind me.


    I looked at the beasts and nocked the arrow. I raised the bow while focusing. My vision instantly sharpened, knowing instinctively that the Fatal Shot Eye had been activated. Time seemed to slow a bit as I drew the string.


    For the first time today, something felt right. The morning routine, the work, the introduction, and everything else had just felt... off. But in that moment, while holding the bow, everything seemed to be as it should be. I smiled, aimed, and shot the arrow. Before even seeing the result, I had already drawn another arrow, preparing to shoot again in one fluid motion.


    The arrow was aimed at the neck of the strongest beast, the level 4. I briefly considered the heart or head, but I had limited knowledge of its physiology. The heart couldn''t be placed where I assumed, and the hardness of the skull was too unpredictable. The arrow flew straight, with more speed, power, and precision than I had ever shot before.


    The arrow hit the beast directly in the throat as it lifted its head from the carcass of its prey, just a moment before the attack arrived.


    It fell backward, and before the other badgers could register what had happened, the second arrow arrived, striking the badger on the far left in its chest, penetrating deeply. The two remaining badgers looked toward the hill and immediately attacked, showing no regard for their lives.


    Before they had even moved 5 meters, another arrow flew. This time, however, they were ready and dodged the frontal strike, leaving only a superficial scratch on the arrow as it veered away. I managed to fire two more arrows before they reached the group, both causing only light injuries to one of them.


    Before the beasts could sink their teeth into me, a massive figure moved in front of me, carrying a huge shield and a short sword, followed by Evan and Lucas on either side of him. I flanked around, still hidden behind the three men in front of me, trying to see if I could take another shot.


    The first badger to reach them was the uninjured one, crashing into Xavier''s shield and predictably being thrown back by the impact. Right behind it was the wounded one, a little more cautious, as Lucas tried to keep it at bay by pointing his sword at it and making threatening movements.


    As I took my time aligning a shot, the beast that had collided with the shield was stabbed by Evan, who somehow managed to strike it in the hind legs. With the creature incapacitated, the two warriors quickly finished it off.


    Lucas was still trying to deal with the wounded badger, swinging his sword back and forth, with the beast leaping around, trying to attack him without getting hit. Lucas already had several scratches on his arms, and the badger seemed to have taken a few blows as well.


    I aimed my bow, and as the badger jumped away from the sword strike, I released the arrow, hitting it in the side. Before the creature could recover, Lucas''s sword fell, slicing its head off and immediately ending its life.


    Xavier and Evan also managed to finish off the last badger around the same time. I looked at the first two I had hit, and both were also dead. The first one I shot in the throat died instantly, while the other managed to run a few meters toward us before succumbing to the wound. Judging by the blood, I had hit something important, probably even the heart.


    "Shit, we did it!" Evan shouted, swinging his bloodied sword. Behind them, Beatrice was running toward Lucas. She began murmuring a few words, and a white light appeared around her hands as I watched the cuts and bruises on Lucas''s arms slowly heal. Lucas thanked her and looked at me with a strange expression in his eyes.


    I wasn''t in the mood for any unnecessary social interaction, and as the adrenaline wore off, I looked at the system messages I had missed during the fight.


    "You killed [Badger ¨C lvl 4] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 8 PC gained."


    "''DING!'' Class: [Fatal Shot] reached level 1 ¨C Status points allocated, +1 free point."


    "You killed [Badger ¨C lvl 3] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 4 PC gained."


    "You killed [Badger ¨C lvl 3] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 2 PC gained."


    "''DING!'' Class: [Fatal Shot] reached level 2 ¨C Status points allocated, +1 free point."


    "''DING!'' Race: [Human (0)] reached level 1 ¨C Status points allocated, +1 free point."


    "You killed [Badger ¨C lvl 3] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 2 PC gained."


    Well, I thought. That was a bit more than expected. I felt good. Right. The warm glow of increased stats definitely helped, but it was more than that.


    I had won. It was an easy battle, but still, it felt great. The sensation of hitting each of the badgers was still clear in my mind, the satisfaction that came with each kill. I wanted to hunt more.


    ...


    1665 Words

 Chapter 7: Tutorial.4

    Chapter 7: Tutorial.4While I was still relishing the feeling of my levels and post-battle euphoria, I opened my status window. The ramblings of my comrades interested me little, for although I liked the victory, I didn''t exactly see it as a monumental achievement. They were grown-up rodents... badgers are rodents, right? Probably not. Moving on.


    Status


    Name: Alexander Wood


    Race: [Human (0) ¨C lvl 1]


    Class: [Fatal Shot ¨C lvl 2]


    Profession: N/A


    Health Points (HP): 130/130


    Mana Points (MP): 120/120


    Stamina: 111/130


    Statistics


    Strength: 13


    Agility: 14


    Stamina: 13


    Vitality: 13


    Resistance: 11


    Wisdom: 12


    Intelligence: 12


    Perception: 18


    Willpower: 10


    Free Points: 3


    Titles


    [Explorer]


    Come to think of it, I hadn''t opened this window since the introduction. Not even to confirm my class or title. And, surely, I had grown. My agility alone had almost doubled with the title and the levels combined, going from 8 to 14. With Perception being the attribute increased by 2 points per Fatal Shot level, it had grown by a full 8 points. And I could feel it. Sounds were clearer, my vision sharper than ever, except when I focused on using the Fatal Shot Eye.


    It could be my imagination, but I felt like my perception was still increasing while I was there, venting. Or maybe the new statistics applied their bonuses gradually, or we simply needed time to get used to them. "I have to try it out," I thought, smiling to myself.


    Statistics were truly a strange thing. During the fight, I moved faster and became stronger than ever, at the level of an athlete in peak condition, at least. However, everything felt so natural that I didn''t question it for a second. It was almost frightening how easily I adapted to my body''s performance going through such large changes.


    I decided to attribute it to the magic of the system and dismissed the status screen, finally realizing that everyone was either looking at me or at the dead badgers.


    "Thanks, Beatrice," Lucas said, gently pushing Beatrice, now blushing, away from him. He turned to the rest and began praising us. "Good job, everyone. Especially you, Alexander."


    Lucas seemed to have returned to normal again, with the same passive smile and sparkle in his eyes as before. The tension after the fight had already disappeared. On a side note, I had ''completely ruined'' the carefully made plan by killing half the beasts before the fight even started. The only beneficial part of the plan still applicable was what to do with the corpses afterward. We needed a food source, so... badger meat. Yay?


    Figuring out how to transport the badgers was a hassle since no one wanted to handle the dead, bloodied animals. Especially the one killed by Xavier and Evan, since it was a complete mess, full of holes. In the end, they only took the two I killed at the beginning of the fight since they were more intact. The transport was left to Henrry, who felt bad for not contributing to the battle, and Bruno, who seemed eager to help. No one even addressed me or asked me to carry anything. It wasn''t something I would complain about.


    As we walked forward, still looking for any source of water, I checked my quiver and noticed I had 54 arrows, having fired 6 in the previous fight. I focused on the quiver and identified it once again:


    [Enchanted Quiver (Common)] ¨C A quiver enchanted with the ability to conjure [common] quality arrows when injected with mana.


    Now I just have to figure out how to inject something with mana, I thought... only to find, four seconds later, that injecting something with mana was much easier than I had anticipated. I just had to hold it with my hands and think intensely about doing it. It was almost instinctive.


    As the mana slowly left me, I felt a bit strange, but not really uncomfortable. In the quiver, I saw arrows slowly appearing, seemingly growing along its sides. After half a minute or more, there were again 60 arrows in the quiver. Trying to inject more mana didn''t seem to have any effect. I looked at my mana: 102/120.


    So, three mana per arrow. Got it. Damn, this would have been useful back then, I thought while admiring the magical quiver, before adding, or not, since I had no mana...


    I thought about collecting the arrows, but there were several reasons not to. First, I would have to clean the arrows somehow before they were useful again. Second, my penetration power would be reduced if they had already been used, even if just a little. Third... I could just conjure them magically. And if I started running low on mana, I could just ask one of the warriors to refill the quiver, since they didn''t use their mana for anything else.


    All of this ignoring how long it would take to gather the arrows, when I could just conjure new ones in seconds.


    As we continued walking, I quickly found myself at the front, walking alongside Xavier. He seemed to hesitate about something but eventually opened his mouth.


    "Alexander... were you in the army or something like that? Or maybe you went hunting from time to time?" he finally asked.


    I was a bit surprised; I hadn''t expected that kind of question. "No, to both. But I practiced a lot with the bow when I was younger, and I still practice when I visit the old folks at home. Why are you asking?"


    I was honestly confused. If I had to say, I did decently in the last fight, but that was about it.


    "I just thought you did so well back there, nothing more," Xavier said, not pressing further. Although it didn''t seem like the answer satisfied him in the least.


    I nodded at him and turned my head forward again, scanning the foliage. One thing I noticed was the complete absence of insects or larvae, or any of the smaller animals, really. There were birds in the trees, but even they were all about the size of pigeons.


    No insects was a good sign, though. Normal animals seemed to have mutated, or perhaps become something completely different. Imagining mutant mosquitoes, ticks, or spiders, I could easily see the entire group being wiped out without even knowing how they died.


    The forest was extremely dense and full of hills, fallen trees, and giant bushes, making it hard to tell what was 10 meters ahead. This forced us to move slowly, barely managing to keep a walking pace. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a few more minutes of walking, I finally saw some movement to my left. I immediately nudged Xavier on the side, who followed my line of sight, also seeing the rustling bush. Xavier raised his arm, signaling for the rest of the group to stop. I took my bow off my shoulder and pulled an arrow from the quiver, nocking it. I was ready for whatever was there.


    After a few moments, the bush stopped rustling, and everything fell silent again. As the seconds passed, everyone seemed to start relaxing. Everyone, except me. My intuition told me there was still something there.


    I focused and used the Fatal Shot Eye, watching the bush closely. I saw the light reflecting between the leaves and, without hesitation, I fired an arrow.


    A huge scream was heard, and a small wild boar staggered out, no taller than my knees. After stumbling a few steps, it fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from its left eye.


    "You killed [Boar ¨C lvl 1] ¨C Experience gained. 1 XP gained."


    Everything went silent again as we stared at the dead boar. Lucas opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by an even louder sound.


    "SCREAMED!"


    A loud scream echoed, followed by the sound of footsteps, making the ground tremble slightly.


    "RUN!"


    I had no idea who had screamed, and didn''t need to think twice before following the advice. I ran back and found my way around one of the larger trees. Without hesitation, I grabbed my knife and another arrow from the quiver, driving them into the tree, easily piercing the bark.


    I started climbing while watching the rest of the group, all running to hide behind trees. Xavier was the only one still out in the open, holding the rear guard. His shield was pointed in the direction of the footsteps.


    As I made quick progress climbing the tree, the bush where the small boar had emerged was torn apart. A massive boar, taller than even Xavier, the tallest member of the group, appeared.


    The boar completely ignored Xavier and the others, charging straight at the tree I was climbing. It struck the tree with its tusk, making it shake violently. The impact caused me to lose control of my arrow, but I managed to hold onto the knife and avoid falling to what would likely have been a certain death.


    As I stabilized myself, grabbing another arrow and driving it into the bark of the tree, the rest of the group froze, huddled around a nearby tree, all staring in awe at the massive beast. Finally, Lucas composed himself and called for the spellcasters and Wyatt to start firing spells and arrows at the creature.


    ...


    1550 Words

 Chapter 8: Tutorial.5

    Chapter 8: Tutorial.5I completely ignored the group of nine people preparing to attack and continued banging my head against the tree, letting out loud screeches. It was a terrible move on my part, as I gave the humans enough time to strike.


    Three mana bolts, followed by a lone arrow shot at my flank, finally made me notice the other humans. The mana bolts caused small explosions upon hitting me, leaving holes and burning my skin, while the arrow seemed unable to penetrate my flesh.


    Now, with new and more accessible targets, I began stomping toward the group. No one, not even Xavier, had any intention of facing me head-on, so they all started running toward the trees.


    This prevented me from attacking them, as I futilely tried to impale anyone. They kept dodging, using the trees to hide, taking advantage of my difficulty making sharp turns and maneuvering properly, which gave me time to try to find a new vantage point.


    I climbed a branch and from there began shooting arrows at them. The arrows I shot pierced my thick skin and embedded themselves in me, quite differently from Wyatt''s arrows. Again, I tried to attack, but ended up crashing into the tree, causing more damage to myself than to anyone else.


    What followed seemed like an eternity of me shooting at the boar, while the spellcasters fired mana bolts whenever possible. The warriors tried to keep the beast''s attention on them, making loud noises and waving their hands and swords at it.


    Everything seemed to be working very well until we all heard a scream. I saw that Abigail had fallen onto something and was now lying face down on the ground, just a few meters from the boar. She seemed completely disoriented from the fall and didn''t even seem to be trying to get up.


    The boar was stupid, no doubt, but at least smart enough to recognize a vulnerable prey when it saw one, as it immediately shifted its attention to her. Xavier tried to run to help her without hesitation, but he was too far and too slow when the beast attacked Abigail.


    He didn''t even try to impale her with his tusks; he simply charged at her, his massive hooves crushing the ground with each step. As he ran over her, a loud snap was heard, followed by Abigail screaming in pain.


    Before the boar could turn around and attack her again, Xavier finally reached it and drove his sword into its side, penetrating nearly a third of the blade. The strike made the boar instantly shift its focus to him, completely ignoring the woman screaming.


    With a quick strike of its head, the boar smashed its tusks into the heavy warrior, sending him flying backward and crashing into a tree with a loud thud, leaving his sword still embedded in its side. However, this entire sequence of events allowed Bruno to reach Abigail and start dragging her behind a tree. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From where I was, still shooting arrows at the beast, I saw everything. There was nothing to be done about it, I thought, as I continued my attack. I should at least take advantage of the space created by the woman''s incompetence.


    The beast was already looking like a porcupine, with all the arrows sticking out of it, and the mana bolts burning its flesh. It started to move noticeably slower. It snorted loudly, now glaring at Bruno with its red eyes, who was covered in Abigail''s blood.


    Before the beast could charge recklessly again, it was hit in the eye by another arrow I shot. Trying to grab another arrow, I realized my quiver was empty, while the boar attacked the tree I was in once more. Blood was visibly pooling in the underbrush, and the boar itself seemed to have been dipped in a bath of red paint. Two more mana bolts struck the beast in its hindquarters, and Wyatt was still shooting arrows, but causing only minor damage.


    The beast was now on its last legs, and the warriors finally felt confident enough to get closer. They all began stabbing it, except Xavier, who had been thrown against the tree with considerable force earlier. He was still conscious but struggling to rise.


    With a few more stabs, the warriors'' swords and the continued loss of blood finally made the beast fall.


    You killed [Irontusk Boar ¨C lvl 10] ¨C Bonus experience earned for killing an enemy above your level. Experience shared with the rest of your group. 302 CP earned.


    ''DING!'' Class: [Deadly Shot] reached level 3 ¨C Status points allocated, +1 free point.


    I felt the warm glow of the levels, but I decided that worrying about the notifications could wait. I jumped down from the tree and ran to where Abigail was lying. Beatrice was already with her, using her healing magic. As I got closer, I was initially relieved that she was still alive, until I saw the lower half of her body. One of her legs was completely ruined, while the other was entirely missing from the knee down. The enormous weight of the boar had crushed her completely, turning her into pulp.


    "Use the healing potions too!" Henrry shouted, grabbing one of his and handing it to Bruno while supporting her head. Bruno quickly uncorked the bottle and poured the red liquid into Abigail''s mouth.


    The effect was immediate. The crushed leg began healing rapidly, and Evan quickly grabbed it, positioning it properly, ignoring the screams of the former receptionist. The leg healed, but the situation with the severed leg was less favorable. Although the wound closed, no new limb grew.


    I walked slowly, holding an empty bottle in my hand. Judging by my condition, I should have consumed a healing potion too. Abigail had lost consciousness, probably due to the pain, and the group''s mood was even darker than before. There was no post-victory celebration this time.


    "We need to move. This much blood will surely attract something," Henrry said with a sigh. Bruno and Evan decided to carry Abigail, supporting a shoulder on each side. The two badger bodies had been knocked over when the boar charged at them, and honestly, no one felt like searching for them. Unless they had been completely stomped on by the jeep-sized beast, of course.


    As we started walking, I grabbed my quiver and began conjuring more arrows in case another fight broke out. We couldn''t let such a small setback interrupt our hunt. There was still daylight left.


    Once four arrows were generated, Lucas and Beatrice slowed down and ended up walking by my side. I was confused about what they wanted until Lucas turned to me and looked me in the eyes.


    "...Why did you do that?"


    ...


    1129 Words

 Chapter 9: Tutorial.6

    Chapter 9: Tutorial.6I was surprised when I looked at Lucas, with a clear confusion on his face. "Why did I do what?"


    In a low voice, he made sure no one else could hear them before explaining. "Why did you decide to provoke the wild boars without thinking, without consulting anyone in the group? Look what happened, Abigail lost her damn leg, Alexander. We''re in a forest forgotten by God, full of monsters that want to devour us, and in just a few hours, one of us is crippled."


    "What do you suggest we do now? Trap ourselves and wait for nothing to find us for more than two whole months? Or what, leave Abigail behind to die? What exactly was your plan when you decided to shoot at a bush, with no idea what was inside it? There are other people in this forest too, and what if it had been one of them? What the hell is wrong with you?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lucas was visibly redder in the face as he continued to attack me, growing louder and, of course, attracting the attention of the others. Everyone was looking at us now, and as I glanced around, I saw open hostility in some people''s eyes, while others stared at the ground. Xavier and Wyatt were the only truly neutral ones, both seeming just sad. Then there was Henrry, who showed no visible emotion on his face, but he didn''t seem inclined to express his opinions.


    I had never seen Lucas so angry before. Right, what was I thinking? I just saw the reflection of something. In retrospect, it was the eye of the little wild boar. Something in my head told me to shoot. It was just... instinct.


    I really wasn''t thinking. From the start, I wasn''t. Except for my internal deliberation, when it came to any kind of combat or tense situation, I just went into autopilot. Letting my instincts take control and my intuition be my guiding light when making decisions in a split second.


    "I... I''m sorry, I was just... I don''t know..." I couldn''t express myself properly, my incompetence in social situations once again evident. On one hand, I felt bad about the outcome of the situation, but I really didn''t think it was my fault.


    Not shooting would have been stupid too. It could have been a predator waiting to ambush us or even some kind of trap. Besides, it was an enemy we clearly could handle. The only reason Abigail ended up like she did was because she made a mistake and tripped.


    "You don''t know? Well, you should know! Think, for God''s sake! We''re humans, not beasts that attack anything we see. Think about the consequences. We''re a group. A team. What would have happened if we weren''t here? What if you were alone?" Lucas was getting more and more offended by my passive behavior and my lack of response to his criticism. Not because I didn''t take it seriously, but because I simply had no idea how to respond.


    I took the question very seriously. What would have happened if I were alone? I replayed the fight in my head, starting from the beginning.


    I was climbing the tree when the wild boar came out of the bushes and charged toward me, already out of the beast''s reach. Although this made me temporarily lose control, I was never really in danger of falling. My enhanced stats made me stronger and faster, and I had no trouble staying upright with just one arm. With my stats, I would have climbed the tree with ease.


    The arrows I shot at the beast caused more than enough damage to make it bleed to death as well. By the end, over 50 arrows had penetrated it, and even if I had run out, I could have started summoning more. In the end, the wild boar would have been forced to leave or stay beneath the tree and wait for me to keep shooting. And, based on the creature''s behavior, it likely would have stayed until it succumbed.


    The tree was more than strong enough to withstand the blows, suffering almost no damage. With a circumference easily large enough for 7-8 grown men to hold hands around it, I didn''t see any scenario where it would fall. So, to sum it all up... if I were alone, I would have gained solo experience and PC, and no one would have been seriously hurt, although the fight would have taken longer.


    Moreover, I had a natural reluctance to ignore my own instincts and intuition. I assumed most people would do the same. Before the system, in my professional life, I was very calculating, always taking an analytical and data-driven approach. But even so, I relied heavily on my instincts. The same went for university tests. I trusted my intuition in an almost unhealthy way.


    When it came to archery, and basically everything in life, I came to prefer facing things as they were, trusting my own judgment.


    And I felt that my instincts and intuition only grew stronger after the system arrived. Even taking a more objective look at my performance so far in this tutorial, I realized that I had made few, if any, mistakes... if I were alone, of course.


    I made the right split-second decisions. With each arrow I shot, I never doubted whether I should shoot or not. And if I had hesitated for even a second to climb the tree? I would have probably been crushed into mush between the tree and the giant boar.


    With the way every beast we had encountered so far had acted, I knew that the little wild boar would probably attack anyway, making the fight with the large boar inevitable. The outcome of my actions might not have been ideal, but still, I firmly defended them. Killing the little wild boar was the right decision, and my performance during the fight was as good as anyone could have expected.


    "I did what I thought was best, and I stand by the decision to kill the little wild boar. Even if it were another human, trusting someone who isn''t from our team is a terrible idea. The tutorial actively encourages us to kill each other, don''t forget that," I began, finding a confidence I didn''t even know I had.


    "Lucas, this new reality of ours is one where magic exists. Abigail is hurt, but she''s not in danger. She lost a leg, but who can say that can''t be healed? With her enhanced physique, she should be fine soon, and maybe we could even try making her a wooden leg or something like that.


    Or we can just have her guard our camp since she can cast magic. This is no longer our old world. People die. I''d consider us lucky that we haven''t lost anyone yet. Seriously, look at the tutorial panel, guys."


    The last part of my speech, said aloud, was directed at everyone. I had already opened my own panel:


    [Mission: Introduction]


    Duration: 3 months.


    Category: Survival.


    Objective: Survive throughout the challenge period.


    Total remaining survivors: 1112/1200


    PC collected: 319


    Not even an hour had passed since the beginning, and yet nearly a hundred people had died. And I seriously doubted that the beasts were the only ones behind so many deaths.


    The others were silent, not knowing what to say. It was no secret to anyone that I had been the main contributor to the group so far, having the best combat performance and scouting ahead to identify potential dangers. I had even led them away from an area where I felt strong beasts were fighting each other.


    Despite us being there for such a short time and only having participated in two fights, I had already shown more than just my proficiency. Even Lucas, the de facto leader of the group, had to admit that I had been doing most of the heavy lifting so far.


    "Alexander... I just want you to remember that we''re a team. Consult us, tell us what you''re thinking before just acting. Don''t make the decision for all of us..." Lucas sighed, not wanting to dwell on the matter anymore. I was relieved to see that he had no intention of continuing. "Let''s move on."


    The next half hour was peaceful, with me still in the lead, Xavier a little behind me, and the rest of the group silently following my lead. Finally, as the environment began to darken, I heard the subtle sound of running water in the distance.


    ...


    1432 Words

 Chapter 10: Tutorial.7

    Chapter 10: Tutorial.7I thanked once again for my enhanced senses and told the group what I had heard. Everyone was relieved, and after just five more minutes, we made our way to the top of a hill and spotted a small river running just below. It was tiny, only a few meters wide, and the depth didn''t go beyond our ankles, but a source of fresh water is a source of fresh water.


    Quickly, we found a clearing a little further down the river, and everyone settled on the grass. For the first time since the start of this tutorial, we finally relaxed ¨C everyone resting, except for me, who was sitting with my quiver in hand.


    I conjured more arrows along the way, but I began to feel a headache. A symptom of low mana, it seemed, as my mana had dropped to 11/120. My stamina still looked good, at 116/140. The maximum had increased by 10 due to the point in endurance I received from leveling up in my class. Looking at my stats, I was reminded once again of my 4 unallocated free points.


    The biggest challenge in the previous fight had been my ability to deal damage. Against small targets, my arrows dealt higher damage, and I could aim for vital points. But, like the boar, large creatures were simply too big to be affected by small arrows.


    There were weak points, like when I hit the eye, but the other weak points were usually protected. I needed my entire quiver of arrows to take down a large pig, and that was with help. But I wasn''t sure if boosting some stats in strength or agility would somehow enable me to deal serious damage. There was simply too much fur, skin, flesh, and muscle to get through before hitting any organs.


    Saving the points also seemed like a waste. After thinking for a while, I decided to put 1 point into strength, 1 into agility, and 2 into perception, just following my class distribution. Looking at my stats, not much had changed, except for the points from a single level-up and the free points.


    Stats:


    Strength: 15


    Agility: 16


    Endurance: 14 S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Vitality: 13


    Mana: 11


    Wisdom: 12


    Intelligence: 12


    Perception: 22


    Willpower: 10


    Free Points: 0


    Looking around, I realized I wasn''t the only one checking their menu screens. The conversation started soon after, everyone happy to finally have some minimum level of safety. No one spoke to me, which was fine, as I was just content to listen.


    Everyone had managed to gain a single level in their race and class with the boar''s death, it seemed, with Xavier even getting two in his class. He had already gained a level in his class from the first fight with the badgers, but his contribution against the boar seemed to yield a lot.


    After relaxing for about 20 minutes, the peace was broken when Lucas stood up, asking the group not to waste what was left of the daylight. Dividing up tasks, we started gathering firewood, checking the perimeter, and collecting materials to maybe make some basic tools. Evan had the idea of grabbing some of the vines lying around and maybe making an improvised rope. The vines were very thin, but quite strong, and could be woven together.


    The perimeter check fell to me, and I ended up killing two more badgers that were lurking in the bushes outside the clearing. They were only level two, didn''t give any levels, and only 4 PC. Not having enough mana to recharge all my arrows, Wyatt gave me some of his arrows to fill my quiver. After that, he started using his own mana to conjure more, effectively acting as a mobile arrow factory.


    This also gave me the chance to ask Wyatt for tips related to archery and combat in general. Although even I was surprised by my own level of combat competence, I was more than confident and willing to offer advice on how to handle a bow. I had tried to become a professional when I was younger, though I didn''t exactly go around bragging about it, mainly because I had to give up that dream due to an injury, leaving a small mental scar.


    I showed the proper forms, advised on how to aim, the right movements when drawing arrows from the quiver, nocking them correctly, drawing the bow, and finally releasing the arrow, all in one fluid motion. Wyatt, by my side, tried to keep up with the movements while asking a question here and there.


    Around us, everyone was busy trying to make at least a functional camp, and Henrry volunteered to try skinning and preparing the two badgers I had killed, which were lurking around the edges of the clearing. His goal was to make them suitable for cooking.


    Wyatt and I were left alone with our own shenanigans, spending hours practicing with the bows. As I thought about all my knowledge on how to use a bow while teaching Wyatt, I was pleasantly surprised when the system suddenly gave me a notification.


    Skill Improved: [Basic Fatal Shot (Lower)] ¨C A Fatal Shot''s best friend is the bow in your hand and the arrow in your enemy''s heart. Unlocks basic proficiency with bows, crossbows, and adds a tiny bonus to agility and strength effects when using a ranged weapon.


    [Advanced Archery (Common)] ¨C A Fatal Shot''s best friend is the bow in your hand and the arrow in your enemy''s heart. Demonstrates enhanced proficiency with a bow, making the weapon even more familiar to you. Adds a smaller bonus to the effect of agility and strength when using a ranged weapon.


    The bonus effect on the stats shifted from tiny to small, though I still had no idea how significant the effect would be. My bow didn''t feel any more familiar than before, perhaps because I already felt very comfortable with it.


    Wyatt, although he hadn''t received any skill improvement, still showed significant progress in his abilities. While it was certainly getting darker, there was still plenty of sunlight left in the day, and preparations for dinner were far from ready.


    I still had a few things I wanted to test. I looked at Wyatt while thinking about what to do, then had a brilliant idea.


    "AH! For God''s sake, that hurts!" I growled after being hit by yet another arrow.


    "Alexander, are you sure about this?" Wyatt asked, genuinely wondering if I was really a masochist. I had been shooting padded arrows, with blunt arrowheads wrapped in cloth, at myself for almost three hours. The cloth came from my own jacket, which I had been wearing under my cloak the entire time.


    "Yeah, just give me a second," I said as I prepared once more. I had wrapped the torn sleeve of my jacket around my eyes, acting as a blindfold.


    "Are you sure this is doing anything? Well, I guess it''s good practice for me, but..." Wyatt said, murmuring the last part. My plan was pretty straightforward. I would have Wyatt shoot arrows at me while blindfolded, and I would try to react to them without relying on sight.


    Although I had some doubts about the validity of my own plan to begin with, I had made progress throughout the training session. At first, I would only flinch milliseconds before the arrows hit me, but now I could at least react and attempt to dodge the arrows before they struck me.


    "Keep shooting the arrows, I can feel them!" I said, still suffering but also very optimistic.


    I had been wondering about my strange senses ever since I arrived at this tutorial. Somehow, I "knew" the large boar was moving through the bushes before I even saw or heard the beast. In fact, saying I knew might have been a bit too strong a word. I just had a vague sense that a great danger was approaching.


    In combat, I really didn''t think much for myself, I just went with the flow. I still had full control over my body, of course, but sometimes it felt like my brain couldn''t keep up with what my body was doing. My instincts. I just did what felt most natural in the moment. And the results spoke for themselves.


    That''s how I got the idea for this kind of practice. I wanted to train my senses and understand exactly what was happening to me and why it seemed like I had a new sixth sense. I suspected it had something to do with Fatal Shot or maybe was related to my perception stat, but Wyatt didn''t have the same experiences I did.


    With the large boar, I felt it coming toward me as soon as I started climbing the tree. My logical mind then took over, concluding that the boar would hit the tree, which allowed me to strengthen my grip and avoid falling.


    At the start of the impromptu practice session, Wyatt had thrown small twigs and cloth-wrapped stones at me. I barely felt anything before they hit me. I could even sense that something was coming toward me, but not the speed or where it would hit. And it was already too late to react.


    After much frustration and reflection, I asked if Wyatt could throw a stone that wasn''t wrapped in cloth. This time, I felt it vividly before it hit me, and even more so when it actually struck me.


    I ended up with a nice blue bruise from that. Wyatt apologized profusely afterward, and I reassured him, convincing him to go back to the cloth-wrapped arrows. They still hurt like crazy, but at least they didn''t cause any real damage. Well, I had lost a few health points, but it was almost imperceptible, and they were regenerating quite quickly.


    Throughout the session, I felt the improvement more and more, and I realized I was getting a little closer to being able to grab something. I had a much clearer sense that something was about to hit me than when I first started. It still wasn''t enough of a sensation to react properly, though.


    ...


    1666 Words

 Chapter 11: Tutorial.8

    Chapter 11: Tutorial.8Back in the present, the next arrow came, and once again, I felt that something was about to hit me, so I tried to dodge. I ended up being hit again and even stumbled as I tried to escape. I got up once more, undeterred. I could feel it there. It wasn''t just the concept of danger approaching; I could actually sense what was about to hit me.


    We continued practicing for a while longer, and I even managed to dodge one or two arrows here and there. Wyatt finally started to believe everything I was doing and even began asking me questions about how I was able to do it. I tried to explain the feeling I had, but I realized I''m terrible at putting this sensation into words. It was like trying to explain colors to someone who has never seen.


    Another hour passed before someone came from the makeshift camp. They said the food was ready, and although neither Wyatt nor I were hungry, we knew the importance of eating. After all, no one knew when we''d have our next meal.


    The dinner being prepared was the two badgers we had killed earlier. They were being grilled in a makeshift way over a small campfire after being skinned and gutted. Surprisingly, Xavier knew how to do that. We didn''t have any spices or proper tools, so honestly, the food looked quite... plain.


    Even Gabriela, the cook, had to admit that it didn''t look appetizing at all. Beatrice was the one who came to us, the "Deadly Shots," to convince us to eat. I almost felt like all the pain had been worth it when she sat next to me while we ate to heal my injuries. The healing was incredible, like a cold current running through my veins, and I could see the bluish marks slowly fading over the next twenty minutes as I sat there, savoring the sensation.


    We talked while Beatrice asked questions, mostly about why I had let Wyatt use me as a target for nearly four hours, along with smaller curiosities, like why I was so skilled with a bow and arrow.


    I was happy to talk to her and explained my training with Wyatt and what I hoped to achieve through it. I also shared how I practiced archery during my youth and how I still practiced occasionally, justifying my skill with the bow.


    I ended up revealing, much to her interest, that I had unfortunately had to give up becoming a professional due to an injury. Beatrice seemed surprised, as she had always seen me as the nerdy, quiet, and non-athletic type. This also made me realize how little I interacted with her outside of work-related matters. In fact, the same was true for everyone in the group.


    I was never the social type in any environment, actually. Although I''m not completely awkward in social interactions, I''ve always tried to minimize them. For starters, I ended up choosing archery because my father insisted that I practice some sport. So, I chose one that didn''t require a team or direct interaction with opponents. It was something I could enjoy on my own, just me and my bow.


    The likely reason I like Lucas and Beatrice is that they are two of the few people outside my family with whom I feel comfortable. Lucas has this welcoming nature and such an open demeanor that he makes almost anyone feel at ease. As for Beatrice... well, I''m not exactly sure why I like her. Maybe I just find her physically attractive, and that''s it. The truth is, I barely knew her before all of this started.


    At university, I worked hard to improve my social skills. I actively participated in meetings and events, even though I never fully felt at ease. These efforts greatly helped boost my self-confidence. Managing to get a girlfriend and some close friends contributed even more to that development. But all of that came crashing down the day I found out my girlfriend and my supposed best friend were together. Apparently, it was an "open secret" in our small group, known by everyone except me.


    All the work and growth I''d achieved went down the drain, and my self-confidence and self-esteem plummeted. My girlfriend claimed it was just "fun" and didn''t mean anything, while my "best friend" seemed to think it wasn''t a big deal. He even said I needed to "stop being a coward about it." Somehow, the rest of the group seemed to share that sentiment. Or maybe they just feared being excluded from the social circle if they spoke out against it.


    This event led me back to my old introverted habits. I studied, practiced archery, played games, watched TV, and went to classes. A good day was one where I didn''t speak a single word to anyone except my parents when they called to check on me.


    Things improved after I graduated and landed a good job. Because of that, I was forced to get involved in the social system of the workplace. It was Lucas who initially pulled me out of my shell and helped me open up more to my colleagues. Enough to maintain friendly relationships with everyone, at least. Come to think of it, maybe the reason we were in this tutorial together was precisely because Lucas insisted on inviting me to lunch with him.


    In a professional environment, I no longer have trouble speaking or expressing myself normally. It''s the same reason I was able to discuss my decision-making with Lucas earlier and talk to Wyatt during training. But what I was doing now... casually talking to Beatrice... was more stressful than facing the huge boar. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the middle of the conversation, Bruno shouted at us, visibly nervous.


    "Beatrice! Abigail woke up. Can you come see how she''s doing?"


    Everyone looked at me with a certain nervousness. Beatrice didn''t hesitate, apologized, and followed Bruno to Abigail. Not that they were far away¡ªthey were less than five meters from where we were sitting and eating.


    I could easily spy or listen to what was going on, but I decided not to. I wouldn''t blame Abigail if she were angry with me. In her eyes, I was the indirect cause of the injury, after all. However, I admit that I was a bit scared of the possibility of her turning those thoughts into words or actions.


    How would I react if she started yelling at me? Blaming me? Could I stay there and argue, sticking to my decision? Or would it just heat up and turn into another big argument? The fear of finding out made me fall back into my old habit of simply avoiding potential confrontations.


    So, I preferred to close my eyes and, once again, focus on trying to understand and relive this strange new sixth sense ability I was experiencing. As I mentally shut myself off, I completely lost track of time until I was awakened by Wyatt, who was about to poke me in the side.


    I opened my eyes before his finger even touched me, surprising Wyatt. I was about to ask what he wanted when I realized that Lucas had also gotten up, clearly about to give another one of his speeches.


    "Well, folks, we made it through our first day," he began, casting a sad glance at Abigail. "Wyatt checked and confirmed that the beasts at least have some fear of fire. However, we''re not sure if that''s a certainty. I think we should have someone on watch while everyone sleeps. We should do a rotation."


    No one objected to the idea of having someone on watch while the others slept. It was decided that two people would be on watch together while the others rested. Since we had an odd number of people available for the rotation, Abigail was excluded. Without making a fuss, I volunteered to stay on watch alone, and no one contested it.


    The first shift would be Gabriela and Bruno, the second would be mine, and the third would go to Lucas and Beatrice. I won''t lie, I wasn''t too thrilled about the idea of Lucas and Beatrice being alone, sitting near a fire under the moonlight. But, let''s be honest, a forest full of killer creatures isn''t exactly a romantic setting.


    After we finished cleaning up what was left of dinner, everyone rushed to sleep a little. Although most of us still had plenty of physical energy left, we were mentally exhausted. I, on the other hand, didn''t feel particularly tired, but I knew it would be foolish not to take the chance to rest. It wasn''t at all comfortable lying on the hard ground with only my thick cloak to cushion me, but it was all we had.


    I closed my eyes and fell asleep almost immediately, which, given the circumstances, was impressive. I have no idea exactly how long I slept¡ªmaybe the three hours we agreed on¡ªbut I woke up when I felt someone approach me. I opened my eyes instantly, alert, and saw Gabriela let out a small scream, jumping back, startled because I had woken up suddenly just as she was about to call me.


    "Shit, you scared me. Were you already awake?" Gabriela whispered as I got up, checking if I still had my bow, quiver full, and knife with me.


    "No, I just woke up. How long have I been sleeping? Did anything happen while I was out?" I asked, looking around. It was already late at night, but not as dark as I thought it would be. The moonlight was doing a great job of illuminating the clearing, making it easy to see everything. Or maybe it was my enhanced vision, making everything look brighter. Honestly, I had no way of knowing.


    "We''ve been on watch for just over three hours. We''ve been using the tutorial countdown to keep track," she replied. "Nothing really happened. Some small animals and what looked like more of those badgers were around the clearing, but they didn''t come out of the bushes or get close. I think they were scared of the fire. Or maybe my amazing magic!"


    I laughed at her attempt to joke, more out of politeness than actually finding it funny. I could see how tense she was, and she was clearly trying to lighten the mood. She smiled, and together we went to Bruno, who looked more than happy to be relieved from the shift.


    The two of them headed straight to where the others were sleeping, wishing me a peaceful watch before lying down. I sat down on the same log where Bruno had been earlier and stared into the dark forest. Let''s hope the rest of the night is just as peaceful...


    ...


    1803 Words

 Chapter 12: Tutorial.9

    Chapter 12: Tutorial.9The night was quiet, much quieter than I would expect from a forest full of almost irrational beasts eager to chew on human flesh. There were no roars, no wolf howls, not even the hoot of owls. In fact, no sound beyond the breeze rustling through the trees and bushes and the crackling of the campfire.


    My responsibility while on guard was pretty simple: keep my eyes open for anything trying to kill us and make sure the campfire stayed lit. I checked my stamina, watching it climb to 135/140. Almost full again after about three hours of sleep. When I went to bed, it was only halfway, regenerating much faster than I had expected.


    The possibility that the need for sleep decreased with levels certainly made sense, or perhaps the system had altered something fundamental within me, making sleep less important. For example, I couldn''t help but wonder: what would happen if someone just chugged stamina potions whenever it got low? Could they stay awake indefinitely?


    I shook my head to push those thoughts aside and stood up, taking a short walk around the camp to inspect the perimeter of the small clearing. In hindsight, the location of our camp was poorly chosen, to say the least. Dense trees and bushes surrounded us, providing perfect hiding spots for any predator. No direction offered any solid cover against potential attacks.


    I considered whether we should look for a cave or something like that in the morning. But then again, caves also have their downsides, since chances are there''s only one entrance... and I can imagine a beast like the giant boar charging through the narrow tunnels, trampling everything in its path. Yeah, not a pleasant image at all.


    Looking at the trees, I thought it might be possible to camp in one of the larger ones. While that would make it impossible to build a fire, I wasn''t entirely confident in everyone''s ability to climb such trees.


    Thinking about how little activity there was in the forest at that time of night made me reflect that the system, or whoever designed this tutorial, wasn''t completely ruthless. The absence of nocturnal beasts made survival much easier, giving us time to sleep and recover. Even animals like badgers, which are normally active at night, seemed to hunt only during the day.


    Still, I had to remain vigilant, as I had no solid evidence that there weren''t beasts out there, still hunting. I also couldn''t forget about the other humans in the tutorial. I had seen them at the giant pillar in the beginning, scattered all over. Thinking about it, they were only to the left and right, with none ahead or behind me. And that giant wall behind us... it was something I couldn''t get out of my head.


    The space between the pillars was easily measured in kilometers, so it wasn''t surprising that we hadn''t encountered other survivors yet. It had only been half a day or so, and while we had been moving for some time, we hadn''t gone far¡ªmaybe just a few kilometers at most. The pace had been slow, with everyone tense and overly cautious, even making a few detours to avoid potentially dangerous areas. The direction we followed was also directly away from the wall.


    I didn''t even know if the other participants in the tutorial were actually human. I had seen silhouettes, indicating bipedal creatures, but there was no way to know if they had roughly the same shape as us or if they were truly human. And honestly, I''m not sure if I''d prefer them to be human or alien, since the chances of us clashing at some point were high either way.


    As the minutes dragged by, the monotony started to get to me. While sitting and just keeping watch might sound easy, anyone who''s ever worked a night shift knows exactly how mind-numbing it can be. Unfortunately, reading a book or playing on my phone wasn''t an option.


    Bruno and Gabriela were probably keeping themselves entertained by talking and keeping each other awake and alert. But the boredom, mixed with the lack of even the smallest environmental stimuli, led me to become increasingly less vigilant.


    I was promptly jolted out of my stupor once again when I heard the rustling of one of the bushes at the farthest edge of the clearing, the farthest from the campfire. I fixed my eyes on it as the bush continued to move. I didn''t feel any sense of danger coming from the bush as I focused, but my instincts still told me something was wrong. That I should be careful.


    I grabbed my bow and stood up from the log, checking again to make sure everyone was still deeply asleep. They had been dead tired yesterday, mainly from the mental exhaustion of this whole ordeal, so I wasn''t at all inclined to wake them for a possible false alarm.


    I walked toward the bush, which was still rustling faintly every two seconds as I got closer. I examined the bush, seeing nothing, but still hesitant to get any closer. I began to draw my bow and aimed at the bush, moving slowly, taking small steps, ready for anything that might leap out.


    Without warning, something sprang from the bush, and I immediately released my arrow, hitting it with precision. At the same time, before I could register what it was, a silhouette emerged from the bushes. I couldn''t make out exactly what it was in the darkness, but the humanoid shape was clear. And that became even more apparent when I saw the moonlight reflecting off the blade of a sword.


    I staggered back and yelled to wake the others, but the sound had barely left my mouth when I awkwardly raised my bow to try to block the sword.


    I managed to block it, but I was pushed back again, almost falling to the ground, barely holding the bow with both hands. Finally, I was able to get a proper look at the attacker and saw that it was a bearded man, appearing to be in his thirties, wearing an outfit identical to the one worn by Lucas and Evan. In other words, a typical warrior.


    The warrior tried once more to swing his blade, but it cut through the wood of my bow and got stuck, turning our struggle into a standoff. I tried to pull my bow back and retreat, while the warrior attempted to completely cut the bow and advance toward me. However, the standoff didn''t last long, as another person came charging out of a nearby bush, wielding a massive two-handed axe.


    I saw the figure, and it didn''t take a genius to know the situation was bad. Very bad. The typical warrior was as strong as I was, if not a bit stronger, and I had already been forced into close combat, which meant I couldn''t use my bow. The others at the camp had already woken up, but they were confused and disoriented, with no idea what was happening. We were a good 25 meters away from the campfire, hidden in the darkness.


    I was at a loss for what to do as the warrior with the axe approached. There was no time to think, so instead, I just reacted. Less than a second before the axe would have crushed my head, I released my bow the moment the warrior pulled, causing him to lose his balance and fall backward due to his own momentum. I seized the opportunity to retreat while the axe slammed into the ground where I had been. The weapon was now stuck, turning the heavy warrior into my next target. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I moved forward and tried to stab him with my knife, but the strike was blocked by his armored arm. Without hesitation, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and, using the length of the arrow, attacked from above, landing a quick strike to the warrior''s eye as the blow passed over his guard. The arrow barely penetrated, but it was enough to buy me some time.


    Before I could breathe, the medium-sized warrior was back on me. I managed to block the first strike with my knife, but he stepped back and swung his sword again. This time, a faint red glow radiated around the blade, which moved faster and with much more force. My attempt to block it resulted in a searing pain in my wrist as the knife was torn from my hand and thrown far away.


    ...


    1428 Words

 Chapter 13: Tutorial.10

    Chapter 13: Tutorial.10At the same time, I felt a distinct sense of danger behind me. No... it wasn''t just the sense of danger, but the certainty of death. Time seemed to slow down as my senses were heightened like never before. I saw, no, I felt the battlefield. The axe-wielder rose once again, blood streaming from his eye, but he managed to grab his axe, ready to strike again.


    The average warrior was on me once more, raising his sword for another blow. But more importantly, behind me... an arrow was flying toward my head. For the first time, I fully embraced the sensation of these unfamiliar, new senses. But more than that, I followed exactly and unquestioningly what my instincts told me to do. Something had been unlocked, and I accepted it more than willingly.


    I shifted slightly to the side, raising my left hand behind my back as I caught the arrow. The same movement easily dodged the overhead strike from the average warrior, as I struck the arrow into his hand, making him scream in pain as he dropped his sword. The axe-wielder behind me tried to strike me once more, but I evaded the blow by ducking underneath him as if I had eyes behind my back. In the same motion, I grabbed the sword the average warrior had dropped earlier.


    In one quick, fluid motion, I slammed the sword into the knee of the axe-wielding warrior, making him bend over and scream. Instead of trying to finish him off, I ran toward the now unarmed average warrior with the intent to end him. I rushed at him and slashed once across his arms as he raised them to block, with the second blow cutting his neck, spraying blood around me and soaking me from head to toe.


    Another arrow flew toward me, but I just swayed slightly, causing it to miss as I ran again toward the heavy axe-wielding warrior, who was trying to grab me once more. However, I didn''t give him time to do so; as I ran, I kicked his head. Before the disoriented warrior could recover, I raised the sword and drove it down into the skull of the kneeling man. With all my weight behind the blow, the sword sank only a few inches, but it was more than enough to deeply pierce his brain, killing him instantly.


    However, the sword got stuck, so I pulled two arrows from my quiver, one in each hand, as I dodged another arrow shot by the enemy archer. The attacking archer was clearly disturbed, and fear was evident in his eyes as I, covered in blood, advanced toward him. He was hidden in some bushes nearby, but locating where the arrow had come from was the simplest thing in the world.


    The archer threw his bow to the ground, realizing he didn''t have time to fire another arrow, and drew his knife. A smart choice, as I already found his bow and arrow extremely lacking. Clearly a rookie before the system, and I had the feeling the man wouldn''t be much better with a melee weapon either.


    I smiled as I easily dodged the first knife strike, leaning and driving an arrow into the arm of the archer wielding the knife. To the man''s credit, he didn''t drop the knife, but it didn''t help much, as another arrow struck his stomach, causing him to drop the knife from the shock of the blow.


    He tried to retaliate, but I easily pulled another arrow from my quiver and shot it into the archer''s chest, followed by another, and then another. The poor man could only flail his arms as he tried, in vain, to push them away.


    Nine arrows later, the man finally stopped fighting when his last breath left him, now with a total of 12 arrows sticking out of his corpse. I stood up and looked at the sky, a small smile still on my lips. The sense of danger was gone, and my killing instinct had calmed. I had survived.


    The others in the camp were now more than awake and rushed toward me, all clearly still nervous. The moment they saw the scene, they were instantly horrified by the sight. A man lying face down in a pool of blood, right next to another man still kneeling, blood dripping from his eye with a sword protruding from the top of his skull. The image became even more grotesque because of a smiling Alexander, completely covered in blood, standing over another corpse with a dozen arrows sticking out of it.


    "What... what happened?" Lucas stammered, clearly disturbed by the carnage. His mind was in turmoil as he looked at me, horrified.


    Smiling, I turned to him, still savoring the euphoric feeling I was experiencing, and my smile grew even wider as I responded.


    "I won."


    I felt good. Incredibly good, in fact. The sensations of facing certain death and emerging victorious were wonderful. I didn''t notice the strange look Lucas was giving me, as I simply enjoyed how I felt. I didn''t realize that the others from the group had also arrived, though some of them quickly turned away when they saw the scene.


    Among the newcomers, Beatrice looked at me with a mix of concern and fear.


    "Are you hurt? There''s so much blood..." she asked quietly. She seemed a little nauseous, staring at the haunting image of me standing next to a man full of arrows, the blood glistening as it reflected the moonlight.


    "I''m fine. None of this is mine," I replied casually, with a slight smile. I hoped to end any potential conversation so I could focus on more important matters. I had already received several system notifications and was more than eager to check them.


    "Ah... okay," she responded timidly.


    Beatrice didn''t seem inclined to ask more questions, while Lucas appeared to have something to say but chose not to speak. I took the opportunity to slip away, as no one else said anything.


    "I''m going to sit and check my status messages. There are no more enemies, as far as I know, so everyone relax," I said, considering whether I should suggest they go back to sleep. I decided against it, as I had serious doubts that anyone would want to rest now. I certainly didn''t, my spirit was too high.


    I walked over to the campfire, which was still burning strong as always, sat on the same log where I had kept watch earlier that night, and finally opened my notification window, eager to check a series of messages.


    ["You killed [Human (G) - Level 3 / Warrior (Medium) - Level 7] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 478 TP gained"]


    ["You killed [Human (G) - Level 2 / Warrior (Heavy) - Level 5] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 340 TP gained"]


    ["You killed [Human (G) - Level 2 / Archer - Level 4] ¨C Bonus experience gained for killing an enemy above your level. 294 TP gained"]


    ["DING! Class: [Archer] reached level 4 - Status points allocated, +1 free point"] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ["DING! Race: [Human (G)] reached level 2 - Stat points allocated, +1 free point"]


    ["DING! Class: [Archer] reached level 5 - Status points allocated, +1 free point"]


    I won, not because of my stats, but purely because of how I fought. They were amateurs, and I even doubted that they had used all of their abilities during the fight. Aside from the medium warrior using that glowing sword, I didn''t notice anything else... then again, they were all low-level, and it didn''t seem like abilities really had any kind of real visual prompt, from what I had seen so far. In fact, I should be surprised that the guy even had an ability to make the sword glow like that, to begin with.


    I looked at the battle rewards; the stats and levels were nice, but the real gains came in the following notifications. Although, they were a bit different from any previous ones.


    ["Bloodline detected"]


    ["Processing..."]


    ["..."]


    ["Bloodline analyzed."]


    ["Bloodline Awakened: [Bloodline of the Fatal Shot Rare Destined (Bloodline Ability - Unique)] ¨C Dormant power lies within the very essence of your being. A unique and innate ability awakened in the bloodline of the newly initiated human, Alexander Wood. Increases innate instincts. Enhances the ability to perceive your surroundings. Increases danger perception. +5% to perception."]


    A new ability had been unlocked, or was it an ability? I had no idea what this so-called bloodline was. My family background was nothing extraordinary, as common as it gets, yet apparently, I had an innate ability linked to it.


    Not that I would complain just because I was a bit confused. The effects of the ability were, in my honest opinion, amazing. This also explained why I had these strange senses that no one else seemed to have. The most amazing thing was that the description even included my name. That was kind of cool on its own... right?


    ....


    1497 Words

 Chapter 14: Tutorial.11

    Chapter 14: Tutorial.11What I gathered from my own experiences, along with the description of the skill, was that it had four main effects. The first was the enhancement of my instincts. Without a doubt, this is the explanation behind my combat performance and the almost supernatural reaction time I possess. My ability to react is far beyond what my stats should allow, and that''s why, sometimes, I feel like my body can''t keep up with what I want it to do.


    The second part of the skill is the perception of the surroundings. The sensation of a 360-degree awareness that I experienced during the fight makes me act as though I have eyes in the back of my head. I can''t explain how it works; I just "know" where everything is. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even now, I am still alert. I feel the flickering flames of the fire and every particle of smoke in the air. I know where the log is beneath me, how there''s a small hollow part of it, and I can perceive every blade of grass around me. My understanding of this improves whenever I focus, but passively, I''m becoming aware of nearly everything around me, especially any movement.


    It''s all vague, however, and the range seems to be only a few meters. I can''t sense the other people, as they''re still on the corpses, about 10 meters away. I estimate that the range is maybe five or six meters. It''s very low for reconnaissance, but incredibly useful in combat.


    The third effect of the skill was the perception of danger. This part was pretty self-explanatory, to be honest. It was the tingling sensation I felt whenever something dangerous was coming toward me, the feeling in my gut that something was lurking ahead, waiting to strike.


    On its own, this part would already be great, but what made this skill incredibly powerful was the synergy with the other two effects. My perception of the environment around me allowed me to understand the nature of the danger, and my enhanced instincts enabled me to react in a split second.


    The fourth and final part was a 5% bonus to perception. While it was certainly valuable, I saw this effect as somewhat insignificant compared to the others. However, I had no doubt that it would become more useful as I gained more stats, since the bonus would begin to increase.


    The entire skill seemed far stronger than anything I had ever seen. The "Eye of the Fatal Shot" was also a perception-based skill, but compared to my "Lineage of the Rare Fatal Shot," which was destined for me, it was almost useless for anything beyond reconnaissance.


    Even though the skill itself was amazing, it didn''t come alone and brought even more benefits.


    ["Title Earned: [King of Lineage] ¨C Unlock a unique lineage skill. The power found in the origin of your Records is yours, and only yours, to wield and pass down through the multiverse. May your lineage prevail. +15 Vitality, +10% to Vitality."]


    That was... huge. In so many different ways.


    The description of the title was something in itself. Especially when compared to my only other title, which was just a practical statement that I was now part of the multiverse and new to it. This one, on the other hand, talked about something called "Records." What the hell was that?


    Even the name of the title seemed more impactful. Patriarch of the Lineage. It was indicating that I was the ancestor of the lineage and that it was solely mine. Did that mean the rest of my family didn''t have it? Was I just the first to unlock it? The thought that my family was still alive briefly crossed my mind, but I suppressed that thought. Now wasn''t the time to get sentimental.


    The description and the stats granted by the title indicated that the system wanted me to survive and allow the lineage to continue on... and, wow, the stats. A massive vitality boost of +15, instantly making it my highest stat, further improved by an additional +10% directly on top of that.


    Looking at my stats, I realized there had been significant development in terms of levels, skills, and titles.


    ["Status"]


    ["Name: Alexander Wood"]


    ["Race: [Human (G) ¨C lvl 2]"]


    ["Class: [Fatal Shot ¨C lvl 5]"]


    ["Profession: N/A"]


    ["Health Points (HP): 302/310"]


    ["Mana Points (MP): 123/130"]


    ["Stamina: 144/170"]


    ["Statistics"]


    ["Strength: 18"]


    ["Agility: 19"]


    ["Stamina: 17"]


    ["Vitality: 31"]


    ["Resistance: 12"]


    ["Wisdom: 13"]


    ["Intelligence: 13"]


    ["Perception: 28"]


    ["Willpower: 11"]


    ["Free Points: 3"]


    My stats had grown enormously, which made me smile widely. However, I frowned a bit when I started questioning my vitality at 31. According to my quick math, I should have had 29 vitality before the +10%, since it was 13 the last time I checked. After that, I gained +1 point from leveling up my race and +15 from the title. With +10%, it should have been at 31.9... and yet it showed only 31 and not 32. Did it only display whole numbers rounded down?


    I had 3 free points, so instead of thinking about it more, I allocated a single point and saw my vitality instantly jump from 31 to 33. So, just whole numbers rounded down. Got it, I thought, agreeing internally.


    As for my last two points, I decided to do another experiment. My stamina was at 144/170, higher than my maximum when I woke up earlier in the night. What I wanted to know was how increasing the maximum of a resource affected the current amount available.


    I allocated one free point to stamina, leaving one left for later. I saw my stamina jump to 154/180, adding 10 static points to both the maximum and the current amount. Does this mean that I could, potentially, have infinite stamina with enough repeated level-ups? I wondered, though I admitted that the likelihood of that happening was pretty slim.


    For the last free point, I wasn''t sure how to distribute it, so I left it aside for now. The last item on my long list of system messages was the result of reaching level 5 in my Fatal Shot class:


    ["Fatal Shot class skill available"]


    I mentally acknowledged that I wanted to explore the class skills, and a large list appeared in front of me. To my surprise, a large number of weapon skills showed up before me. [Basic Two-Handed Weapons (lower)], [Basic Shield Technique (lower)], [Basic Unarmed (lower)], [Basic Throwing Weapons (lower)], and so on.


    The only skills I didn''t seem to have were the ones related to magic. Honestly, I wasn''t interested in any of them. I was more than happy with my already upgraded ["Advanced Archery (Common),"] and still had the [Basic One-Handed Weapons (Lower)] skill in case things got risky and I was forced to fight up close like in the last fight. This left me with only three options available at the bottom.


    ["Basic Traps (Lower) ¨C Fatal Shot is not limited to direct combat, but can also use tactical dexterity to emerge victorious. Unlocks proficiency in the use of basic traps and knowledge of how to craft them. Adds a tiny bonus to the effects of stats on traps, depending on the nature of the trap."]


    ["Basic Stealth (Lower) ¨C The deadliest predator is the one who isn''t seen coming. Unlocks basic proficiency in the arts of stealth, allowing you to remain undetected more easily and blend into the environment. Adds a tiny bonus to the effects of agility and perception when successfully remaining undetected."]


    ["Basic Tracking (Lower) ¨C The first goal of any hunt is to find your prey. Unlocks basic proficiency in tracking entities you are familiar with. Identifiable traces must be available. Adds a tiny bonus to the effect of perception when tracking."]


    All the options were just more basic proficiency skills. Thinking about the two close-combat ambushers from before, both were above level 5 in their classes. I wouldn''t be surprised if both had the basic stealth skill, considering how close I got to them while they managed to stay hidden. Although the first warrior had a shiny weapon, so he probably acquired a skill to do that. Yeah, that made me a little jealous. Good luck, that lucky guy was dead.


    I saw value in all the options, but I couldn''t picture myself setting up a large number of traps, especially not with my lineage skill. I really wanted the tracking skill and considered using it to figure out where the three attackers had come from.


    But in the end, I decided on [Basic Stealth (Lower)]. I could imagine the synergy with my lineage skill, allowing me to strike my enemies before they had a chance to retaliate. The fact that it also scaled with agility and perception only made everything better.


    ...


    1465 Words

 Chapter 15: Tutorial.12

    Chapter 15: Tutorial.12The fight made me realize how little I had accomplished since entering the tutorial. They were all higher level than me, with the average warrior being level 7 in their class, more than double what I had been. I had already decided that I would need to go hunting.


    I selected the skill and felt the same sensation as when I first received my class. This time, however, much weaker. It gave me something that I wasn''t sure if I could call "knowledge," but I still understood it instinctively. Perhaps it was due to my lineage skill, but I doubted it. Either way, now I knew how to sneak around a bit better than before. They were small, subtle things, far from being a complete guide to becoming a master thief.


    I closed all the menus and felt quite satisfied with myself. Maybe a little sad that gaining a new skill was so anticlimactic. No laser beam skills or shooting down the eight suns with eight arrows had been acquired.


    Finally, I got up from the log and stretched my back. The smell of iron instantly reminded me that I was still covered in blood. Or, more precisely, my cloak and face were covered. I took off the cloak, seeing that my shirt and pants underneath were spared from the torrent of blood. Quickly, I ran to the nearby small river, cleaned my face, and ran back to the camp, the whole trip taking less than a minute.


    As I felt revitalized, I also began to feel strangely naked. I immediately realized that I had no weapon with me. My knife had been disarmed, and my bow, cut. I saw that the others were still near the corpses, and I began walking over there. First, I reached the dead Fatal Shot and grabbed the bow I had knocked down, noticing that it was identical to the old one. The only difference was that this one was intact.


    While I grabbed the bow, I couldn''t help but look at the dead Fatal Shot, with arrows still sticking out of him, although the blood had long since stopped flowing. The man''s eyes were still wide open, showing visible horror. I looked at him until I stopped. Then, I surveyed the other corpses: the man with a sword still lodged in his skull, and the other lying in a pool of his own blood.


    At the same time, I noticed the looks everyone gave me. It wasn''t the same look of guilt for causing Abigail''s wounds, like before. It was a look of fear. That''s when it hit me, much later than it should have.


    The attackers were human. I had just murdered three human beings.


    .


    .


    .


    Murder. Killing. Homicide.


    The act of taking another human''s life has many names in society. No matter what name is given, it is a crime. It is immoral. And even if morality were completely ignored, the act of removing another member of society is, in most cases, a detriment to that said society. Ending another life is inherently abominable to humans, and even if the act were one hundred percent justified, it will often leave the killer traumatized by the experience.


    In many comics, whenever a hero kills a villain, it''s the moment they become a villain. It is seen as a turning point for the character ¨C their fall to the dark side.


    These were just some of the thoughts running through my head as I sat on the grass, staring at the ground, reflecting on my feelings about what had happened that night.


    I killed not just one, but three people. Logically, I knew it was self-defense. They tried to kill me, so I killed them. It was justified, and in many countries, it could even be considered legal. Hell, it could even be argued that I was in a situation comparable to a war zone, making the laws of war apply, in which case I simply killed enemy combatants. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if I got past the fact that I killed them, the way I did it couldn''t be ignored, however. I didn''t think about the ferocity of my actions during the fight, but upon seeing the corpses, it couldn''t be clearer how brutal I had been. Especially with Fatal Shot... I immobilized him and just kept stabbing him repeatedly with arrows until he finally stopped moving. It was a classic example of excessive force.


    The acts of brutality could perhaps be explained by my inexperience in combat, the adrenaline pumping through me as I fought, and my enhanced instincts taking over, but what I couldn''t explain was how I felt while doing it... and afterward. I didn''t feel anything when I killed them. It was as if I were simply checking off three items on a list as I ended their lives, one by one.


    After the fight, the only thing I felt was euphoria. I had never felt better. More alive. The relief, the sense of superiority, and the overwhelming feeling of "winning" were so intense, so addictive. If this feeling was due to my enhanced instincts, as I suspected... that meant my basic instinct, my core being, enjoyed killing.


    No, that''s wrong, I corrected myself. I didn''t feel any pleasure in killing the badgers, and I didn''t feel any particularly strong emotion after the big boar. I only felt contentment afterward. I didn''t like the simple act of killing... I liked the hunt. The challenge of the kill. I liked the feeling of defeating my enemy.


    I was never the confrontational or aggressive type; in fact, I made an effort to avoid conflict whenever possible. But I liked challenges. I liked pushing myself to the limit and trying to improve. Putting my whole being into something and fighting for the top. That''s how I got so good at archery. That''s how I graduated as one of the best in the class. Not because I was particularly smart, but because I liked seeing the number on my test score go up, so I pushed myself to make that happen.


    I remembered one of my teachers describing me as "driven" and "ambitious." I wasn''t sure if I agreed with either of those terms, but I liked choosing tough fights and coming out on top. What people misunderstood, however, was that it wasn''t because of the reward of the challenge. I did it for the challenge itself. The outcome wasn''t necessarily relevant.


    That''s how I felt about the fight that, in the end, resulted in the death of three human beings as well. I felt that the outcome, their deaths, was ultimately irrelevant. It was the process of the fight that was my goal, not the deaths of the three. It was just the inevitable result of a life-or-death battle.


    And that was the core of my problem. After reflecting on my emotions and summing it all up, I concluded that I simply didn''t care much. Whether they were humans or beasts, in the end, they were just challenges to be overcome. The only feeling of remorse or regret I''ve ever had so far in this tutorial was when Abigail got hurt.


    Even so, I knew I thought it was more her fault than mine. A part of me hated feeling that way, but when I thought about the situation, I just couldn''t find anyone else to blame except her.


    She shouldn''t have tripped in the first place. As a spellcaster, she could have at least tried to use the Mana Barrier that all spellcasters knew they had. Freezing right after tripping certainly didn''t help her chances either. If she hadn''t, rolling out of the way of the charge would have been more than possible.


    If all else failed, she could have at least prevented one member from being trampled so they could fix him with a potion, like they did with the other leg. In other words, if I were in her place during the fight, I wouldn''t have ended up losing a leg.


    But it happened, and now she was just a burden. Me and everyone else in the group were aware of this, but no one really wanted to express it. Leaving her behind wasn''t any different from letting her die. None of us wanted that on our conscience, and no one wanted to leave a colleague and a friend behind. Not even me, despite my frustration with her. But at the same time, I knew it couldn''t stay this way forever.


    I finally realized I didn''t fit in with the group, probably a little late in hindsight. They were corporate workers, civilians in every sense of the word. The only fight any of them had ever been in was sports like boxing. I doubted any of the group had ever been in a bar fight or anything like that, except for one person.


    Xavier stood out. He was determined and strong even before the tutorial. He handled his shield and sword well, and he didn''t hesitate to attack. The man had the eyes and demeanor of a fighter and was undoubtedly the strongest person in the group, except for me, but he was tied to Lucas. Comparing my disorganized group of office workers to those I had killed was like night and day.


    Though still amateurs with their weapons, the ambushers who attacked us were far from being novices in combat. They had a plan of attack, a very good one in my opinion, and they had the courage to fight. They had the guts to watch a group of 10 with just three people. Their hope was probably to kill them quickly before they had time to wake up the others. Then, they would proceed to wipe out the entire camp before we could organize a counterattack.


    Their levels also spoke to their proficiency. They dared to hunt beasts or other humans to gain their levels, meaning they had been fighting most of the time since entering the tutorial. They just had the bad luck of encountering me as a lookout. If it had been anyone else, the chances are that most of the group would be dead by now.


    ...


    1700 Words

 Chapter 16: Tutorial.13

    Chapter 16: Tutorial.13Comparing those three to my own group was sad. They probably would have lost several people, if not been completely decimated, facing that large boar if I hadn''t been there. They might have even suffered injuries from the first group of badgers. They were weak, not just in combat strength but also in determination.


    I realized that this line of thought was a spiral black hole of negativity, but I needed to acknowledge it. If my instinct, my natural disposition, is to enjoy hunting and overcoming challenges, then I could only see myself completely mad if I suppressed those desires.


    Finally, I lifted my eyes from the grass, having found a semblance of determination. I would hunt, and I would grow stronger.


    The others were still talking near the bodies of the two warriors, and I could hear their discussions, which seemed to mainly revolve around who the attackers were, where they came from, and if there were more of them. I looked at them. They were my friends, my colleagues, and I was looking at Beatrice, my passion. I wanted them to live, from the bottom of my heart.


    To make that happen, I needed power. I had won today, but would I win tomorrow? What if there were more attackers? What if they were higher level, or if I had made a mistake? My bloodline ability was far from perfect. It didn''t grant me omniscience, but only quicker and more appropriate reactions during combat.


    Look at the attack from the average warrior, where his blade was covered in a red glow. My instincts didn''t have a warning for that, and I ended up disarmed and nearly dead. The strike wasn''t a direct threat to me, as it wasn''t aimed at my body, only my knife. It was an attack to disarm me, and my natural instincts failed to recognize such a complex attack. I also needed to think more while fighting and blend instinct with logic.


    With my determination strengthened, I walked toward the rest of the group, except for Gabriela, who was still beside Abigail.


    "Alexander... can you tell us what happened?" Lucas asked when he saw me approaching. Everyone seemed to avoid looking at the corpses, which was perfectly understandable. It was equally understandable that they would avoid looking at the killer as well.


    "Yes... I was on watch when I heard¡ª"


    I explained exactly what had happened, and I saw the concern on Lucas''s face as I described the ambush. The concern seemed to grow into confusion as I described how I had turned the situation around.


    "But... why would they attack us for no reason?" Beatrice asked.


    "Experience, equipment, and tutorial points," I replied promptly. Then, I began explaining the points I had gained along with the levels. On purpose, I left out the whole bloodline matter, however. The fact that one of the attackers was level 7 was a big shock to them, as the strongest member of our group, Xavier, was still only level 2 in his class after the boar slaughter.


    "But simply murdering someone..." Beatrice murmured while immediately casting a confused glance at me.


    "It was self-defense, Beatrice, he... we had no choice but to defend ourselves," Lucas said, coming to my defense. "He may have saved all of us. Please, don''t blame him for it. We may need to reconsider our strategy for¡ª"


    As the others continued speaking, mostly filled with concern about the future, I walked over and picked up the knife I had dropped when the average warrior attacked me with the glowing weapon skill. As I grabbed it, I also finally solved the mystery of what had been thrown at me when they first jumped me.


    I saw a dead badger, with the arrow I had shot stuck in it. It was already dead before I even hit it, with what looked like a long sword cut to its stomach, something I assumed to be the cause of its death in the first place. I doubted I''d be fooled like this again with my new Perception Sphere, which was the name I had given to my new spherical vision.


    Returning to the ongoing conversation of my colleagues, I wasn''t exactly satisfied. The group''s discussion seemed to be oriented toward finding a safe place to hide and wait for the tutorial to end, only fighting when absolutely necessary or to get food. As I listened, I started getting more and more irritated. Was I really the only one who had any sense of the situation we were in? I finally snapped when I started speaking in a much louder voice than any of them were used to. I used enough curse words that HR would need to be called.


    "Wake up, guys! This whole tutorial is focused on killing, oh, and it''s called a TUTORIAL! As in TRAINING! What do you think a tutorial is for? A good corporate job? Or, I don''t know, maybe a place even worse than this? What do you think is more likely? The world has changed, and you all need to move and adapt if you want to survive."


    I was out of breath by the end, everyone just staring at me with wide eyes. I was perfectly aware that the outburst was completely out of character. I had simply gotten fed up. I had resolved for myself that I wanted them to live, that I wanted them to make it through this tutorial in one piece, and they wanted to hide in a hole in the ground for over two months?


    A single person who had fought even a little during the tutorial would be able to wipe them out easily in just a few days if they didn''t gain any strength. A random beast could come to them and kill them too. I didn''t like having this thought, but I was confident that the current me could take them all down alone in an ambush, just eliminating them one by one with arrows from a distance.


    "What do you suggest we do?" Xavier came up and asked. Xavier had been by far the bravest and most competent of the group, aside from me. He stepped forward and even selected a class during the introduction that allowed him to defend others. His tone wasn''t one of anger or confrontation, but genuine.


    "I suggest you do whatever it takes to level up and survive this shit. Even if you don''t want to fight other people, you at least need strength to defend yourself when they want to fight you. In other words, hunt beasts. Gain experience, gain power, do what the system wants you to do," I finished.


    "I agree with Alexander," Wyatt said as he also joined the conversation. "We need to learn to defend ourselves. And what if Alexander hadn''t been on watch, but someone else? What if they had arrived a few hours earlier? Would you be confident in fighting three people at the same time, all above you in level, Bruno?" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bruno shook his head, certain that he would probably be a corpse on the ground now if the watch plan had been different.


    I hoped my outburst would be a wake-up call for all of them. I didn''t want to just leave them behind and be alone. I was afraid of the consequences of that. They wouldn''t be able to survive alone as they were now.


    I gave them space to think about it while I apologized to the group and went to check the corpses, starting with the two dead warriors. I knelt on the ground and began rummaging through their backpacks. If my colleagues and I had gotten six potions at the start of the tutorial, these people had them too. I quickly took the backpacks from the corpses and looked inside. Both had a good number of potions, a mix of resistance, health, and mana.


    Seeing mana potions, I confirmed that these three had been part of a team with casters or healers who had died, or they had killed casters or priests. Personally, I leaned toward the latter. There were a total of fourteen health potions, eight stamina potions, and five mana potions, including the contents of the bag of the dead Fatal Shot.


    I turned to the group once again, who simply stared at me while I looted. It was still dark, but the fire from the improvised torches they had brought lit up the scene quite well. The problem was that the forest was still too dark to leave. They would have to wait until morning before they could do anything.


    "For now, try to rest a bit more. It''s still my turn to keep watch, so I''ll stay. Get some energy. Tomorrow, we''ll hunt," I said, sitting back down on my log. I doubted any of them would manage to sleep a bit.


    ...


    1486 Words

 Chapter 17: Tutorial.14

    Chapter 17: Tutorial.14I kept my promise to keep an eye out for the rest of the night. It ended up being just a few hours without incident until the artificial sun rose once again. As I watched the group get up and pack their things, I seriously doubted they had actually slept.


    The camp we were at was compromised, and we didn''t know if more enemies would come. We needed to find a new place. The whole initial plan of finding water, food, and all that survival nonsense turned out to be a damn waste of time. Although we still needed food and water, that wasn''t the most urgent thing. We needed more, much more. So, staying in one place was simply stupid.


    We got ready, and I was surprised to see even Abigail standing, walking with an improvised wooden leg. It was basically a large piece of wood tied to her thigh and what was left of her leg. It looked uncomfortable and certainly not suitable for big movements, but I saw determination and courage on her face. I felt respect for her, as she refused help, and then we started walking.


    We moved away from the huge wall in the distance. I had a theory based on the position of the pillars, and since the wall was only visible behind us, I believed this entire place had a spherical design. The fake celestial bodies also suggested a dome shape. Moving inward, towards the center of the dome, would hopefully allow us to find more beasts. After all, they were very scarce in the outer area.


    It didn''t take long before we found another group of beasts. This time, it was a group of deer-like creatures, the same ones the badgers had been eating on the first day. There were seven in total, and after using Identify, I discovered they ranged from levels 2 to 4, with the largest one at level 5.


    I decided not to interfere, first because I wasn''t sure how much experience killing lower-level enemies would give, and because the goal of this exercise was for everyone to build fighting experience. They started yet again to come up with a long and elaborate plan, but I silenced them firmly, telling them to get it together and move.


    We had three spellcasters and one Fatal Shot; plenty of long-range firepower to take down some of them before the fight even truly began. I had given everyone the potions I looted the day before, so they were more than covered in that department. However, I kept the resistance potions, as they were quite unnecessary for my teammates at the moment, and I had a theory I wanted to test. Something for a more opportune time. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fight was pretty easy, as I had already predicted. Xavier easily took down the largest deer and even an extra one, while Evan, Lucas, and Bruno each faced one. The last two deer-like creatures had already been killed or disabled by the initial barrage, effectively making the fight five against nine, with me not participating.


    I saw Evan easily kill his deer, as it was only level 2, landing a precise blow to its neck and cutting it. His style was a bit reserved and defensive, but he had a good constitution and lacked no confidence. Moreover, he was very good at detecting openings, and I''m sure I saw him feint during the fight.


    Bruno took a bit longer, with his two daggers cutting the beast. He was by far the fastest in the group, aside from me, and used his active skill, which allowed him to have small bursts of speed here and there. He hesitated a bit and clearly didn''t enjoy fighting, but still got the job done.


    In my honest opinion, Lucas was the worst fighter in the group by a considerable margin. He panicked almost instantly when the beast approached and just swung his sword back and forth, without focus. The spellcasters did well, with Abigail having the worst accuracy, but I couldn''t blame her given her circumstances. Henrry was by far the best, with plenty of precision and always aiming for vital points. Gabriela was somewhere in the middle, decent, but nothing impressive.


    Beatrice had little to do during the fight itself, as her healing ability was touch-based, but she was quick to call out potential dangers and even healed Lucas in the middle of the combat at one point. To my surprise, she was quite good.


    Wyatt was also decent, but I''m a bit biased when it comes to archery. My results spoke for themselves, as I landed some good shots, even taking down one of the deer on my own when we faced them for the first time.


    The entire ordeal lasted only a few minutes, with the last opponents to die being the big deer, which was slowly brought down by Xavier, who absorbed the blows with his shield, while the spellcasters and Wyatt shot at it until its death.


    I didn''t receive any credit for the kills, since I didn''t participate actively, confirming my suspicions that you needed to deal damage or contribute in some way to gain experience. My moral support and oversight didn''t seem to count as actual help.


    The gains were decent as well. Discounting TP, we had some level-ups, which also resulted in increases in race levels. This also confirmed, in fact, the hypothesis that the race leveled up every second level in the class.


    Without further ado, we moved on and encountered a few smaller groups of beasts in the following hours. I only needed to intervene once, when a large level 7 badger ran past Xavier, heading straight for Gabriela. However, it was easily killed by me with an arrow to one of its legs, followed by another that struck the creature''s right eye, likely penetrating the brain, as the beast dropped dead immediately.


    We suffered some injuries, with the most dangerous one being when Evan took a nasty bite to the arm and had to drink a healing potion. The minor injuries, like scratches and things like that, were treated by Beatrice after each fight. Although she couldn''t do much in combat, her healing ability was invaluable, as it allowed us to always stay in great condition and removed any chance of infection in the wound. Assuming that was still a thing. Oh God... can bacteria level up? That thought I quickly pushed to the back of my mind. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts...


    Although a healing potion could also heal wounds and worked much faster, it seemed to have some kind of cooldown. If you drank one, you couldn''t drink another for the next hour. Why this happened, we didn''t know. Hell, we didn''t even know how we knew. Evan just said he''d known right after drinking one. System magic or something like that. We had no idea if there were adverse effects to drinking another or if it simply wouldn''t work, and frankly, no one wanted to test it either.


    After another tough fight and a round of healing, everyone was getting tired, as we had already surpassed the fourth hour since we left in the morning. The last group we killed was yet another small group of deer-like creatures, so we decided to camp and roast some things over the fire. We also found another small stream nearby, allowing everyone to rehydrate. I, deliberately, didn''t eat or drink anything during this time.


    I wanted to test exactly how health and endurance resources worked and their relation to daily needs. I wanted to see if potions, especially resistance potions, could neutralize the need for sleep and sustenance. But that was for a time when I felt any real hunger or need to sleep.


    We sat around a small campfire, eating the roasted deer, which, it''s worth mentioning, was much better than badger meat. However, it didn''t last long, as our peaceful break was interrupted when I heard what sounded like metal scraping against metal. I stood up from the log I was sitting on and gestured for the rest of the group to prepare for a potential conflict.


    The source of the sounds soon became clear, as a large man emerged from the bushes, wearing full metal armor identical to Xavier''s, also carrying a shield and a sword. He was older, somewhere in his late forties to early fifties, but his presence showed no signs of weakness due to his age.


    A considerable group followed him. I counted fifteen, with likely more hiding in the dense foliage behind them. There were mostly warriors, which made sense, as half of the basic classes were variants of this class. The rest were spellcasters, with only one Fatal Shot from what I could see, and no healers in my line of sight.


    I made quick eye contact with Lucas, and he instantly understood what I wanted, stepping forward shortly after. While I was certainly the strongest in the group when it came to combat, I was probably the weakest when it came to negotiation. And, while Lucas was terrible in combat, he was the best when it came to social interactions.


    The first to speak wasn''t Jacob, but the middle-aged warrior.


    ...


    1544 Words

 Chapter 18: Tutorial.15

    Chapter 18: Tutorial.15"Well, hello, my name is Charles." ¨C He said in a friendly voice as he looked at the group, his eyes stopping on Beatrice for a second before continuing. ¨C "We saw the smoke from your fire and decided to investigate ¨C no need to worry. We don''t intend to fight anyone. So, who are you?"


    The man spoke confidently and had a relaxed expression on his face. Observing the situation, I noticed that Charles'' group outnumbered us by a significant margin. There was no way I could trust in winning a fight against so many enemies if things went south. If a fight broke out, it would be a one-sided massacre, or we would scatter like leaves in the wind, with a real chance that only I would escape safely, while the others would be hunted down one by one. Fighting was definitely out of the question.


    "It''s good to see other humans finally!" ¨C Lucas replied with a radiant smile, stepping forward. ¨C "My name is Lucas, and these are my colleagues from before this so-called tutorial. May I ask why you''ve sought us out? We also have no desire for unnecessary conflict."


    "Ha-ha, of course not! We, humans, were made to stick together!" ¨C Charles responded with an exaggerated laugh, but soon adopted a more serious tone. ¨C "My group and two others, very similar to yours, decided to join forces to get through this purgatory that calls itself a tutorial. Of course, we need all the people we can get, so we would love for you and your friends to join us."


    Lucas immediately noticed how he used the term "forming a team." One didn''t need to be a genius to see that there was clearly only one leader in the group ahead of them. Charles might claim it was a team formation, but it was clearly a simple assimilation. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lucas didn''t let his thoughts show, but continued smiling as he nodded, "It''s good to hear that other groups are doing well out there. Can I talk to my colleagues first? I''m sure you understand that a decision like this is best made unanimously."


    "Of course! Of course! No rush!" Charles agreed, though Lucas made it clear that those were just words. They had to find a solution quickly.


    Charles motioned for us to stay where we were while his group allowed Lucas to step back a bit. He gestured for me and the others to do the same. During this time, I kept my eyes fixed on the other group in case they tried anything suspicious. I noticed Charles throwing a glance at Fatal Shot, who had been standing by his side since the beginning. That Fatal Shot took a step forward, clearly trying to listen better, taking advantage of his sharp perception. Was he second in command?


    When we had moved a bit away, Lucas turned his back to the other group and came over to us.


    "What do you think of them? A larger group would be safer, and I think their offer is..."


    He continued speaking positively about their proposal, but while he was talking, I quickly looked around and crouched down, writing a few words on the ground with my fingers:


    "They can hear us."


    "I have a bad feeling. I think this is going to go wrong somehow."


    "Be careful."


    Lucas nodded, already expecting that. That''s why he kept his true thoughts hidden. He quickly wiped the words away with his hand, acting as though he was just brushing dust off his shoes. He continued talking while receiving reluctant glances from those around him.


    "... but we''re familiar with each other, and it seems we work well as a team. There are also certain disadvantages to larger groups, such as a greater need for food, and that could end up attracting some of the stronger beasts or something like that."


    The others also noticed the scribbles I made on the ground, and while they agreed with what Lucas said, it was clear none of us liked the situation. We all had a bad impression of Charles and his group.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the other Fatal Shot subtly shake his head at the middle-aged warrior, who frowned at our response, apparently unexpected. However, he quickly masked his scowl and put a smile back on his face before approaching us again.


    "I understand if you''re hesitant, but working together is in everyone''s best interest here."


    "Certainly it is, but..."


    At that point, Charles turned directly to Beatrice, who was a little behind us, interrupting Lucas.


    "Young lady, you wouldn''t happen to be a healer, would you? I''d be very grateful if you came with us."


    Beatrice seemed shocked and confused, unable to say anything before Charles turned back to Lucas and the rest of us.


    "Your companions don''t have to come, you know? They can, but you can also come with us alone ¨C safety in numbers and all that. I can promise you an appropriate position in our group and make sure we do everything we can to keep you safe. There will, of course, be plenty of supplies. If you just come with us, I''m sure we can settle this amicably."


    Even I, with my terrible social skills, could pick up on the underlying tone in that sentence.


    .


    .


    .


    The mood of the conversation shifted, and the smile on Lucas'' face vanished. I was also working at full capacity, analyzing the situation. Should I catch them off guard and shoot the man? Even if I tried, I didn''t have confidence in making the shot. And even if I hit him and somehow managed to kill him, the chances were that I''d end up badly if the other side retaliated ¨C or, more precisely, when they retaliated, because I seriously doubted they would accept having their leader killed without responding.


    Beatrice also seemed incredibly nervous at this moment, hiding a bit behind Xavier, who had a stoic look on his face. The situation was tense, to say the least. She didn''t seem at all willing to respond positively to his... ''invitation.''


    Charles looked on with a slight smile, but his eyes were still cold. The ones behind him also seemed to have become tense, hands near their weapons. He finally spoke again, breaking the silence before we reached a breaking point.


    "I''ll be honest with all of you, healers are scarce in this place. We had one, but he died an hour after entering the tutorial. Three groups, thirty people, and only one crappy healer," he said, spitting on the ground, clearly frustrated. "So, young lady, I''m serious when I say you''d be treated well. We need you a lot more than you need us."


    He turned back to Lucas and continued.


    "You agreed that we humans were made to stick together, right? We don''t have a healer. We only have a handful of healing potions. There are no medical supplies, no hospital, no doctors, nothing. Doesn''t she have the responsibility to help her fellow humans? I want to settle this peacefully with everyone leaving happy, but I don''t exactly have a choice here. We need a healer, one way or another. We just need the healer. The rest of you are free to choose what you want to do."


    "Just know that her joining us is non-negotiable. Not having a healer is very risky in this place, and I''ve already lost many good men and women unnecessarily. If you and your companions join us, you will be treated like everyone else. We''ll form hunting groups based on ideal configurations, with the healer naturally joining my own group. I can even promise that if you don''t want to fight, we''ll offer protection as long as you contribute in other ways. Just think carefully."


    Charles seemed to have finished speaking as he once again gave them space. He had put the ball in their court, and now the question was what to do...


    They could try to run, but they were clearly outnumbered, and their levels were much lower. I had the feeling that most of the opposing group was level 5 or above. They had said they were out of healing potions, which indicated they had fought quite a lot. Fighting was out of the question.


    The second option was for me to join them. I didn''t like this option at all. I had a bad feeling about them. I didn''t doubt that Beatrice would stay unharmed, but what about the rest of the group? Would they be used as meat shields or something like that? They clearly wouldn''t allow us to act autonomously, fearing we would leave with Beatrice.


    The third option was simply handing her over. They''d probably let us go, since, although hunting humans was valuable, they were much more dangerous than beasts in most cases. Besides, we''d have to try not to antagonize Beatrice more than necessary. I doubted anyone would want a healer who only wanted to kill the people she healed. Or worse, if she refused to heal.


    Needless to say, I wasn''t a fan of simply handing her over. One of the reasons was that we''d end up with the same problem that Charles'' group was currently facing. I was hesitant to express my thoughts when Evan started speaking.


    "Maybe we should go with them. Imagine not having access to any kind of healing or medicine in this damn hole. That would drive even the best of us to desperation. We don''t even know them, why are we taking such an antagonistic stance?" I looked at the others, many of them nodded, while others remained silent.


    I could easily see Charles smiling in the other group, clearly approving of the direction the conversation was taking. Evan was right, though; they were clearly desperate. Who were we to reject helping the other group? Without a healer or healing potions, a single bite or claw wound could get infected and rot, making even small scratches and injuries fatal.


    I also thought about my own goal. I had decided that I wanted to try to help my companions learn to defend themselves. If we joined a larger group, we''d be significantly safer from the beasts.


    According to Charles, Beatrice, one of the few people I actually cared about, would definitely be safe. I didn''t doubt the middle-aged man when he promised he would do anything to protect her. Who would be stupid enough to irritate or kill a walking hospital in a forest full of dangers?


    However, I wasn''t at all open to letting her go alone. That would leave the other eight without a healer. I also had serious doubts that Beatrice would agree to leave us behind. Especially Lucas.


    As the discussion continued, Charles and his team waited patiently, as the decision to join was slowly being made. But there were still reservations. How would they be treated? Would they be considered outsiders? What reason would Charles have to keep them around after he had already gotten his hands on Beatrice? The predominant fear was that they would be treated more like hostages than members.


    ....


    1857 Words

 Chapter 19: Tutorial.16

    Chapter 19: Tutorial.16I hadn''t said anything up until then. I remained silent, listening and absorbing the conversation around me. Charles seemed not to care what they thought, as long as they joined him. But I knew I needed something more. I needed security. Something that would keep us safe and well-treated.


    I had no intention of joining either of them. I had already decided to follow my own path the night before. I needed strength, and I needed power. Something inside me began to stir at the lack of progress.


    It would be foolish not to seize an opportunity to rise above what I currently was. More importantly, I wanted this. I wanted to hunt, fight, and face challenges. And I knew I wouldn''t be able to do that if I stayed with any group.


    I thought about the desire to hunt. I remembered how I felt after killing the three attackers the previous day, and the feeling of accomplishment¡ªthe feeling of power. I warmed myself in that feeling and channeled my lineage, letting a fake smile of endless confidence spread across my lips.


    "Charles, is it? What''s your level?" I asked, with a calm voice.


    Charles looked at the group, noticing me for the first time. I was just a discreet young man, completely covered by the cloak given to all Fatal Shots. He didn''t find anything extraordinary until he looked directly at my face. My eyes were practically glowing, and a confident smile formed on my lips, with a trace of excitement well hidden, deeply buried. There was no fear or concern in my expression, almost as if I wanted a fight to start.


    "I''m at level 9 in my class, and we have a few others in our group at level 7 and above," Charles replied, sincerely, without hesitation in sharing. He probably thought I was just another office worker or something like that before this tutorial. The only thing that made me different was the Fatal Shot, which seemed to convey a slightly distinct vibe.


    Anyway, they had leveled up since entry, resting for a few hours. They played it safe since they didn''t have a healer, but he doubted that a single individual could overcome their group. He also doubted I was actually strong, since his companions couldn''t hide their confused glances at my behavior. Or maybe I was fooling even my own allies?


    "And who might you be? Your level too, if you don''t mind?" he asked, in a straightforward tone.


    I sighed lightly, feeling a slight disappointment. It wasn''t an act. He really expected the man to be stronger. From what I had seen so far, level 10 seemed to be the peak of power for monsters, and humans could reach something similar. But his level 9 didn''t impress me.


    "Well, that''s a bit disappointing. I was expecting you to be stronger," I said, with a sneer. "As for my name and level? I''m Mr. Shit-Eater, and I''m level Go-Fuck-Yourself."


    I saw Charles'' smile disappear almost immediately. Lucas, Beatrice, and everyone else were stunned, not understanding what the hell I was doing openly provoking the man. Especially considering we were outnumbered. Had I gone mad?


    "I thought we were getting close to reaching an agreement here?" Charles asked, clearly irritated by the unexpected turn in the conversation. He didn''t seem to understand who I was, a Fatal Shot he hadn''t even noticed before. What gave me such confidence?


    "Oh, I''m almost certain they''re joining you, but not me. I have a bigger prey to hunt," I replied, keeping the smile as I moved closer to Charles and his camp. As I approached, a tingling sensation took over me, alerting me to the danger lurking behind the man. I could distinctly feel three Fatal Shots with their bows probably aimed at me, in case I tried something.


    "I just wanted to make something clear. I''ll leave my old comrades with you, so take good care of them. Of course, if anything happens, we''ll have a problem," I said, now just a step away from the middle-aged warrior.


    Charles was a good ten centimeters taller than me, looking directly at me. But he seemed unsure of how to act. He had a strange feeling that I was unusual, but refused to back down, not wanting to appear weak in front of his men.


    "Hoh, problems? What kind of problems would those be?" he said, looking at me as he took half a step forward, trying to loom over me.


    My smile widened even more. "The kind of problem where I get a convenient prey served on a silver platter. Do you think you''re superior? Do you think those three Fatal Shots will land a shot before I cut off your head? Do you think their arrows have any chance of hitting? Do you honestly think you''re the predator in this scenario?"


    I said this as I spread my arms out to the sides, watching Charles tense up, stop smiling, and grow serious as he stared at me.


    "Because you''re not. You can take them, train with them, fight with them, and survive with them. But I''ll be watching. One wrong move, and I''ll hunt you and all your friends one by one. Sweet dreams."


    I turned and began to walk away.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Fatal Shot just behind Charles starting to pull his bow, but Charles raised a hand, signaling for him to stop. However, when I saw that, I made exactly the same move, making both of them stop as soon as it became clear that I could somehow still see them, even with my back turned. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I returned to my comrades, who were there, watching me with confused expressions.


    "Are you leaving us?" Wyatt managed to murmur.


    "Yes, that was my plan all along. I have my own objectives for this tutorial. If you join them, you should have a much better chance of surviving than alone. Don''t worry, I''ll check in occasionally," I replied, smiling at them. It wasn''t the threatening and almost manic smile I had given Charles, but a friendlier, calmer smile.


    "Take good care of everyone, Lucas, and don''t let them intimidate you or anyone else," I said, finally turning toward the forest with the intention of leaving.


    "Wait!" Lucas shouted and ran up to me, hugging me and secretly passing me one of the bags he was carrying. Inside were all the health potions from the attackers the night before, along with the three health and resistance potions from Lucas.


    Ending the hug and pulling away, Lucas looked at me and smiled.


    "Be careful, my friend, and please, come back and check in whenever you can."


    I nodded and stepped away from the camp. There were no sincere goodbyes from any of them, except Wyatt, who shouted for me to be careful. I had a strong feeling I wouldn''t see them for a long time, but even without showing myself, I hoped the power of the threat remained. However, I was sure that dear Charles would give me a chance to really hammer that home soon.


    I had seen Charles whisper something to the Fatal Shot as I was returning to my comrades earlier. Looking once again, I realized that the said Fatal Shot, whom I had assumed was his second-in-command, had left with some of the light warriors.


    Smiling, I entered the bushes and moved at a fast pace, heading directly away from the clearing. I couldn''t see them anywhere in my sphere, but I knew they were getting closer. Charles didn''t seem like the type of man who would easily accept threats, and sending a team after me to remove a potential threat was perfectly characteristic of him.


    Quickening my pace, I began to run to create some distance. My heart was still pounding from the earlier performance. I wasn''t entirely sure how I had found the confidence to do that, but, in a way, wasn''t there a certain emotion in this kind of challenge too?


    Excitement bubbled in my stomach as I found a place that seemed simply perfect.


    Smiling at the thought of my pursuers, I knew they would be arriving soon. I could feel it. I began retracing my steps, going back about ten meters, stepping over my old tracks as I approached a tree. I had intentionally walked near it on my way there, keeping that in mind, of course.


    Moving according to my basic stealth ability, I felt it activate as I quickly climbed the tree, finding a good hiding spot among the leaves. Soon, they would be on top of me, and I was ready for them. Not a single thought about how they were human even crossed my mind. Today, they were just prey.


    "They think they''ve understood something," I thought while waiting. "I''m the one hunting them."


    ...


    1486 Words

 Chapter 20: Tutotial.17

    Chapter 20: Tutotial.17"How troublesome," he thought as he pursued the Fatal Shot under Charles''s orders.


    Prity, a Fatal Shot, was silently running through the forest with six of his companions. Four Fatal Shots and three light warriors made up the hunting group. In his opinion, it was a total overkill to send seven men after a single Fatal Shot from some corporate office.


    Seriously, what the hell was going on with that guy? Spouting some clich¨¦ crap to look tough. He had to hold himself back from cringing the entire time and barely managed not to shoot him in the back as he walked away.


    Unfortunately, Charles didn''t want to spoil the relationship with the new healer. Although the guy had done some strange things, it was nothing that made Prity suspicious of him. It was totally unnecessary to send so many, but Charles was nothing short of meticulous.


    In the end, of course, he understood why Charles had sent people after him. Either he was real and a serious threat, or he was a lunatic, in which case, he would be a chaotic threat. In either case, it was better to nip the problem in the bud.


    Prity himself had been one of the people who entered the tutorial with Charles, and he worked for the man before the initiation. Charles ran a private security company and had hired staff in several offices in the operating city. Nicolas was just another faceless employee, but his background earned him some trust, which led him to the position of right-hand man in this tutorial.


    Finding a healer was a stroke of luck. Not having one was honestly a nightmare, especially for the warriors who often suffered minor injuries, being forced to fight up close and all that. They had a healer when they arrived here, but he got impaled by a huge stag in one of the first fights. That left them with only a limited amount of healing potions, made worse by having to waste them on what a healer could fix in minutes with just a little mana.


    Even luckier was that the healer was part of a team of laypeople who were clearly inexperienced when it came to battle. And yet, he was invited by his boss to pursue a big-mouthed Fatal Shot who decided to play it cool. He didn''t buy the guys'' nonsense at all.


    Personally, he wanted to bet that the guy would end up killing himself, but Charles wasn''t the type of man you rejected. He was their leader, with practically everyone calling him "boss." Earned not by nepotism or posture, but by pure competence.


    Prity didn''t question his decision, but it was a shame they had to accept such a weak group. He doubted any one of them was level 5. At least the healer girl seemed cool, and the red-haired spellcaster was pretty good too. The one he found most irritating was that crippled middle-aged woman ¨C the very definition of a burden in his opinion.


    I''m sure Charles will find a way to fix this, he thought. How could they be blamed if the rookies had unfortunate accidents during combat? As long as they had the healer on their side, everything was fair game.


    They had been running for a while and finally reached the area where Wil had entered the forest, as everyone went into stealth. They had a rule that every Fatal Shot and light warrior had to choose stealth at level 5, since Charles wanted a strong reconnaissance force and, as this situation proved, an assassination team.


    They moved through the brush as they explored ahead. The guy hadn''t exactly been stealthy, leaving clear tracks in the underbrush. Although none of them had tracking skills, that didn''t mean tracking was impossible. You just had to do it the old-fashioned way.


    As they followed the steps, they suddenly seemed to stop in the middle of a small clearing.


    Before anyone could react, he heard something pierce the wind, followed by a thud. The light warrior beside him fell, an arrow lodged in the back of his head, as dead as can be.


    "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" was his immediate internal reaction as he acted.


    "PROTECT YOURSELF!" he shouted while running toward the trees, quickly hiding behind one. Peeking back into the clearing, he saw two corpses, one of the Fatal Shots now also dead, shot during the retreat. What the hell is happening!?


    He activated Archer''s Eye and began scanning the trees. He had the feeling the attacker was in one of them, and it didn''t take long for him to spot the enemy. It was another Fatal Shot, based on the fact that another arrow flew from the treetop.


    Prity nocked an arrow and moved out from behind the tree, shooting from where the arrow had come from. He didn''t get a return shot, as he quickly retreated back behind the tree. He peeked around it again, his heightened perception and skill working in overdrive. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before he could find anything, he heard another scream echo. He ran toward where the scream had come from, dashing between the trees. Reaching the spot, he saw a Fatal Shot wounded with an arrow in the chest, and fortunately, he was still alive. Prity quickly pulled the arrow out and took his last health potion, making the man drink it.


    The wound visibly healed, and the now-healed Fatal Shot opened his mouth: "I got shot," he barely managed to say, still gasping as his lungs healed. "In the stomach, I think."


    The man collapsed, still breathless, as the potion worked its magic. Prity let the man lick his wounds while he listened to more screams from his companions around him.


    I was still smiling to myself as I examined the arrow in my stomach. I thought about pulling it out and drinking a healing potion, but when I looked at my health, I saw that it had only dropped a miserable 50 points. Not even a sixth of my total health after the new title. Pulling the arrow out would just make me bleed more, causing me to lose more health, and, frankly, it hadn''t even affected me much. It hurt like hell, but it was more than manageable.


    My initial ambush had gone well, killing two of them right off the bat. I also felt the sensation of leveling up, but I decided to ignore the system messages for now. It wasn''t the time to get distracted.


    However, the third target I had gone after was prepared and stayed out of my range when we spotted each other, resulting in both of us hitting each other with arrows. I almost hit the man''s heart, but I still landed a fatal blow. If he didn''t have a healing potion, he would bleed out in minutes. Or drown in his own blood as his lungs filled. I''m no doctor, but I was sure it would be one or the other.


    From the bush I was now hiding in, I focused on my sphere as I moved out, sneaking between the trees. I saw a lone light warrior hiding behind a tree in my sphere, and the tree itself didn''t pose any obstacle to my perception. My initial plan had worked perfectly, luring them all to the middle of a small clearing, then attacking, making them scatter in all directions. Divide and conquer, and all that.


    I threw a small stone to the left of the warrior as I approached from the right. The man instantly turned toward the sound, and I seized the opportunity to move forward, slipping behind him. I placed my left hand over his mouth and used my right to slit his throat. He still managed to pull his dagger back in a clumsy last-ditch effort, hitting me in my left shoulder.


    The man went limp as I held him until I received the notification. When it arrived, I released the corpse and looked at the knife wound in my left shoulder. It hurt, but barely caused any damage, and I could still use it easily.


    Three, maybe four down. At least three to go, including the Fatal Shot leading the group.


    I had seen the Fatal Shot in charge of the small band of assassins. He was fast, faster than me, indicating he was at a higher level. I estimated he was at least level 7 or 8.


    I started to sneak toward my next target while trying to stay hidden. I had already decided to leave one alive to send a message, if possible, but it certainly wouldn''t be their leader.


    ...


    1444 Words

 Chapter 21: Tutotial.18

    Chapter 21: Tutotial.18I had already spotted the one I wanted to act as my messenger. He was a young Fatal Shot, probably no older than seventeen or eighteen years old. I was watching him at that moment and could see and feel him trembling with fear. He kept glancing towards the clearing where the two corpses were.


    I decided to ignore the boy and instead started looking for another target. Given how the boy had frozen, I didn''t see any scenario in which he would be a problem.


    I didn''t sense anyone in my sphere as I moved, and I didn''t see anything either. I closed my eyes and focused on my hearing. At first, I didn''t hear anything but the ambient sound of the wind and the occasional beast or bird, until I caught another more relevant sound ¨C labored breathing.


    Silently, I slinked towards the sound of the breathing, and soon the last warrior of light appeared in my sphere. Unlike the others, he had decided to cover himself with leaves and bits of foliage, almost invisible combined with the basic stealth skill while lying on the ground. I doubted he would be able to locate me using Fatal Shot''s Eye.


    Fortunately, I didn''t need my eyes to see him. The man was well hidden if you looked at him, but with an omnidirectional sphere, what he was doing badly counted as hiding. I decided to gain a vertical advantage and climbed a tree to ensure my attack would be lethal.


    From up there, I had a clear shot at the man. He had certainly done a decent job hiding, since I couldn''t even spot him from above, especially because he was completely still. I prepared an arrow and pulled back my bow, aiming for his head.


    I found it interesting how none of the basic outfits for the classes provided head protection. Not even the heavy warriors, with their full armor, wore helmets. The only remotely close thing were the hoods on the cloaks that conjurers, healers, and Fatal Shots wore. But that didn''t exactly provide much protection against an arrow to the head.


    The only true protection seemed to come from the attribute of resistance, perhaps vitality, and maybe resistance to some extent. I wasn''t exactly sure, but I remembered that the Light Warrior class didn''t offer any attribute points for resistance and only one for vitality. In other words, their level advantage meant little or nothing if they were hit, except perhaps for one or two levels in race.


    That''s exactly what led the hidden warrior to die without even knowing how. All that was left was what appeared to be a pile of leaves and twigs with an arrow sticking out of it, a red liquid slowly soaking the grass around the arrow.


    Confirming the system notification that I had achieved the kill, I quickly checked my notification list, finding only 4. That meant the Fatal Shot I had exchanged arrows with earlier was still alive. He must have used a health potion, I thought.


    I decided to finish off the Fatal Shot, doubting he had gone very far. Although a healing potion instantly restored lost health points, it still took a little time for the body to fully heal. And, judging by where I had hit the arrow, he was hopefully still lying down, waiting for the count.


    I descended from the tree and slinked towards the place where I had fought the Fatal Shot. I still needed to be careful of the attack squad leader on the loose. The guy had a decent skill, judging by his quick reactions to the initial ambush, and his accuracy was pretty good, judging by his return shot.


    I quickly found the Fatal Shot, who had done nothing but crawl to the other side of the tree where I had left him. He was still gasping for breath, his lungs just healed, and he wasn''t in any condition to truly fight.


    Although he wasn''t exactly an exciting prey, an enemy is an enemy. The Fatal Shot covered his body and face with his cloak and made sure the blood was visibly spread as he tried to remain completely still. Probably hoping to deceive me into believing he was already dead.


    I was beside the man, still sneaking, while drawing my bow. The man had his vision blocked by the hood, completely unaware as death approached.


    I aimed and shot the arrow. The moment I released the arrow, my danger sense triggered, and I barely managed to move aside as an arrow entered my sphere and hit me in the back. A wave of immense pain hit me, making me grit my teeth, barely able to stumble behind a nearby tree, narrowly dodging another arrow.


    I crouched behind the tree and quickly pulled out the arrow still lodged in my stomach and the one in my back. The one in my stomach was narrow, only piercing the muscles, but the one in my back had hit something important. I quickly drank a healing potion and felt a cold sensation spread throughout my body. The potion itself didn''t taste like water, not that I had time to think about flavors at the moment.


    I couldn''t help but smile to myself, despite the pain, while confirming the death notification for the already wounded Fatal Shot. Then, I quickly opened my status page and dumped all my free points into perception. I didn''t even have time to look at my stats before my danger sense went off again, as I had to slip around the tree, avoiding another arrow.


    My smile widened when I reached temporary safety once again. The Fatal Shot was out of my sphere, even though it had become a bit stronger due to the enhanced perception given by the level-ups and free points allocated. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whoever this leader was, he wasn''t an amateur. He knew how to handle a bow, and unlike many others, he didn''t hesitate. I felt the excitement practically simmer in my stomach as I felt my wounds healing. Finally, I had found an opponent worth facing. My terrible taunting and equally terrible acting were one hundred percent worth it.


    .


    .


    .


    I felt a bit guilty for sacrificing my companion to catch the Fatal Shot, but not because of the death of my former ally. It was more because I had failed to kill the enemy. After giving a healing potion to the wounded Fatal Shot, I decided to hide in a tree about twenty meters away, with a clear line of sight to the injured man.


    In other words, I had used my ally as bait.


    The enemy Fatal Shot seemed to have some sort of perception skill or something that achieved a similar effect. A way to locate nearby individuals, at the very least. At first, I thought it was the Basic Tracking skill, but I had also seen the Fatal Shot use Basic Stealth. This meant the man had unlocked two skills, probably being above level 10, or he had some other means I wasn''t aware of.


    In the end, it didn''t matter. What mattered was killing the bastard, and my trap had worked like a charm until the very last moment.


    As I timed my shot against the enemy Fatal Shots, the man reacted as if he had eyes in the back of his head, dodging slightly to the side, which significantly reduced the damage from my shot. I cursed myself as I fired another arrow, but once again the man staggered to the side, dodging without even turning around. Before I could take another shot, he had already fled to safety behind a tree.


    I jumped from the tree I was in and started running to the side, keeping a good distance. Spotting the Fatal Shot once again, I quickly shot another arrow, but, once again, he managed to escape behind the tree.


    What followed was a cat-and-mouse game, where I kept shooting arrows whenever I saw the other Fatal Shot as he slowly closed in. Based on his movements, it seemed he had consumed a health potion, which put me on a timer before he returned to full condition.


    It was frustrating, and it only got worse when the other Fatal Shot started returning fire. Neither of us seemed inclined to get into close combat range, and with a good twenty meters still between us, we were at a standstill.


    I felt much better after avoiding a few more arrows, and even started shooting back. My life was in danger at all times, and I found myself in some tough situations. The other Fatal Shot was faster and stronger than me, but I was savoring every moment.


    ...


    1457 Words

 Chapter 22: Tutorial.19

    Chapter 22: Tutorial.19I dodged and moved between the trees, shooting arrows forward and backward as my opponent did the same, neither of us managing to land a hit. I was absolutely fine with this stalemate. With every move, I felt better, my high vitality helping to heal the internal wounds, making them practically irrelevant.


    Although the healing potion had restored my Health Points, it didn''t heal the body instantly. That depended on my vitality, a stat I didn''t lack, thanks to my [King of Lineage] title.


    As we exchanged arrows, we slowly closed the distance. The twenty-meter gap shrank to fifteen, then ten. With less than 20 arrows remaining, the other Fatal Shot finally entered my Perception Sphere, making the physical barriers between us much less relevant. I no longer needed to rely solely on sight.


    The forest was beautiful at that moment, with dozens of arrows stuck in the trees. Some were lower, near the trunks, while others were higher up, and periodically, the two Fatal Shots would climb the trees looking for some advantage.


    I could feel the growing frustration in my opponent, and when he entered my sphere, I finally saw the scowl on his face. I smiled to myself, feeling a quiet satisfaction.


    I shouted, "This is fun, right?"


    "What the hell do you want?" he yelled back.


    "A name I''d prefer. The name is Alexander!" I replied calmly.


    "And why would I care about that?" He yelled again, clearly irritated by the conversation.


    I saw that the man was spending his time conjuring more arrows, but it wasn''t like I had much to say about it. I was doing the exact same thing. However, he only had eleven arrows left, while I still had nineteen. Given the skill of the other Fatal Shot, he had probably counted the arrows and knew he was at a disadvantage. That''s what led him to extend the conversation, trying to buy time.


    "It would be a shame to end up just another random experience notification and tutorial points gained, wouldn''t it?" I responded, honestly. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had skill, no doubt. Despite the clear frustration overtaking his mind, he still maintained his composure. His approach was methodical; he never lost emotional control to the point of damaging his performance.


    I knew this wouldn''t be the last fight where my life would be at stake against a strong opponent, but I at least wanted to know the name of my first adversary. A slight regret passed through my mind for not getting the names of the three aggressors I killed earlier, but in that situation, exchanging names didn''t seem like a priority.


    "Still trying to act cool, huh? Control yourself; you''re making me shiver here," he mocked back. "But if you care that much, then my name is Prity."


    "Well, nice to meet you, I guess. Was my teasing really that bad?" I asked, trying to appear more confident. But, after reflecting a bit, I realized I came off more like a teenager trying to act tough.


    "Embarrassing enough to make me want to get rid of you, even without Charles ordering it. Seriously, what the hell was that?" Prity replied, counting his stock of arrows. Eighteen.


    "Seriously, that bad? Guess I should apologize?" I retorted, more than a little embarrassed. I had felt good at first, but now the sense of having overdone it was bothering me. I won''t ever do that again. Never again.


    "I''m still going to kill you," Prity responded, seeing he now had two dozen arrows. "You''re screwed, you know? You made us an enemy. Do you really think your friends will be safe after I kill you and go back to tell how full of shit you were?"


    "Okay, I guess that means the conversation''s over," I muttered, both to myself and to Prity.


    I knew the conversation wouldn''t get us anywhere, but I was satisfied enough to finally have a name to call my opponent. I stepped out from behind the tree and jumped to the side, shooting another arrow toward Prity, who easily dodged.


    The goal of the shot wasn''t to hit him, but just to interrupt his arrow conjuring.


    The shooting game resumed, but Prity quickly realized his disadvantage as the distance shrank. The other Fatal Shot always seemed to know what he was planning, even without a line of sight. We were close enough to bump into each other, but nothing lethal.


    Prity briefly considered the idea of fleeing but quickly dismissed it. Running away would leave him too exposed, and even if he managed to escape, it wouldn''t matter. A Fatal Shot with considerable skill would still be out there, and next time, he could easily get Prity or one of his allies. It reminded me of how we were ambushed that morning.


    And all of this without mentioning Charles''s reaction when he found out he had lost his entire squad to a single man. At least, Prity assumed they were all dead by this point, since none of them showed up despite the long battle.


    Instead of running or gaining more distance, Prity made a bold decision. He closed the gap between us. As part of his pre-initiation training, he had combat experience, and his skills with a knife were not to be underestimated.


    Although he had limited experience with a bow before the tutorial, the system even gave him an upgrade to his one-handed weapon skill once. He chose Fatal Shot because he believed a long-range weapon would be superior to a melee one, though a light warrior might have suited him better in retrospect.


    He ran back and forth between the trees, and while the distance was reduced only a few centimeters at a time, as we continued shooting back and forth, he made constant progress toward his opponent.


    I was calm with the other Fatal Shot approaching. While I preferred ranged combat, I wasn''t afraid of facing the enemy up close. Not because I trusted my skills with melee weapons, but because I fully trusted my instincts at that moment. They weren''t perfect, and I had taken some wounds during the fight, but they were still incredibly reliable.


    Suddenly, something came to my mind as I dodged another arrow. I kept dodging toward a specific tree, returning fire when the opportunity arose.


    When I finally reached the tree, I managed to increase the distance to a good eight to ten meters. I dodged behind the tree while Prity followed closely. It was there that I had killed the injured Fatal Shot at the beginning of the battle.


    The fight was so intense that we kept changing positions several times, circling the forest from tree to tree. This meant that Prity couldn''t see the dead Fatal Shot where I was. I, on the other hand, was standing behind the tree, next to the still-fresh corpse.


    Smiling once more, I lifted the body of the Fatal Shot and leaned it against the tree, preparing. Then, I stepped out from behind the tree and shot another arrow. I stayed around that tree, waiting for Prity to finally arrive.


    When he attacked me, while I circled the tree where the Fatal Shot was, he didn''t have time to realize what was happening. As he rounded it, I saw the movement and, without hesitation, drove the knife into his throat. I smiled as I felt the blade cut through his flesh while I looked at my opponent''s face, waiting to see the terror reflected in his eyes.


    What met him instead were the dead eyes of the comrade he had sacrificed earlier. Before he could process what had happened, a knife came from behind the corpse, plunging deep into his chest.


    With a blood cough, he fell backward, the knife being torn out in the process. A warm sensation spread from his chest as the blood gushed. He knew his heart had been struck and that he was finished as the blood filled his mouth.


    I looked at the fallen Fatal Shot in the soft underbrush of the forest. His eyes were still open, though it was clear he was struggling in vain to stay alive. His vitality still kept him going, but his health points were quickly running out, and death was already upon him.


    "Good fight," I said, in a solemn tone.


    "Fuck you v¡ª" Prity tried to speak, but a blood cough interrupted his words. He didn''t even try to speak again before the last trace of life left him.


    I sighed as I saw the notification confirming his death. I went over to him and closed his eyes. No, he was no longer the Fatal Shot, but Prity, the man who gave me the best fight of my life.


    At one point, I had considered cutting the leader''s head off, to send a clear message to Charles that my threat was real. But I couldn''t bring myself to desecrate the corpse of someone who had challenged me so intensely. Besides, it would have been too clich¨¦.


    I decided to bury Prity''s body, but there were still some unfinished business with the last member of the hunting group. I walked toward the place where the Fatal Shot was, still frozen in fear. He was in the same spot, clearly trying to hide.


    I had no respect for that young man, only pity. He was barely an adult, if he could even be considered one, thrown into this chaotic tutorial where beasts, monsters, and people trying to kill him were an everyday occurrence. People like me.


    The boy''s attempt to hide was futile; his constant trembling made it easy to find him, even without my sphere. He held his dagger in his hand, hidden under his cloak, but he had either lost or discarded his bow at some point.


    As I got closer, he began to tremble even more, until he finally gathered the courage to look up. When he saw me, his face showed pure panic as he stared at me, wearing a blood-red cloak that had probably once been brown. Before he could scream, I was quick, and with a simple motion, I disarmed the boy with a strong punch to the stomach, making him kneel as his knife fell to the ground.


    "Your friends are dead, kid. Go back to Charles and tell him Prity fought well, and remind him that I was serious when I said I''d kill him if he did anything to my friends. Oh, and tell him he''s free to send more people after me, I enjoyed it," I said, looking at him. The boy clearly thought he was going to die right there.


    He looked up, his eyes filled with terror, and hesitated at my words. To him, I was a monster in human skin. Out of nowhere, two of his friends had died, and while he tried to understand what was happening, he heard screams around him, panic spreading everywhere.


    He froze, not daring to move, fearing that an arrow would suddenly appear and end his life without him knowing how. It wasn''t a plea, but a silent waiting, hoping that the others would win and come to get him. But now, everyone was dead, even the seemingly invincible Prity, who even the feared Charles respected as his equal. And worse, now I was standing right in front of him.


    "Hello?" I asked aloud since he was just there, trembling. Didn''t he hear me?


    The boy tensed quickly and then started running uncontrollably, almost tripping on his first steps. He oriented himself and ran forward.


    I was a little confused for a moment but just shook my head as I watched him. The boy looked more than a little foolish, bumping into several trees while running, as if the devil were chasing him.


    When he finally left my line of sight, I let my body fall to the ground, exhausted. Fighting to the death with someone for almost an hour was draining.


    ....


    2011 Words