TING!
>[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
You have successfully passed through the dense grasslands of the forest.
>[ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS UPDATE:]
>[Terrain:] Transitioning to Riverbank Zone
>[Visibility:] Improved
>[Threat Level:] Medium
>[AUTO-LOG:] Path saved. New surroundings recorded in system memory.
>[NOTE:] Stay alert.
After navigating through the thick jungle of Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Joe and Spiritfang had finally made it past the dense foliage. In the distance, Joe spotted a river—clean enough to drink from.
As they moved closer, a sudden notification flashed in front of Joe's vision.
TING!
>[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
>[MISSION 002:]
- LOCATE SHELTER – FAILED
>[REWARDS:] 0
"Got damn. I Forgot that mission had a 5-hour time limit. Damn... but it's fine. What matters is finding the shelter—I still wanna know what's there," Joe muttered with a hint of disappointment.
But just as they neared the riverbank, Spiritfang suddenly froze.
"Wait, Joe… something smells off," he whispered, sniffing the air with heightened senses.
"Huh?"
Joe paused, confused. He sniffed, too.
"I don't smell anything. Maybe you're just picking up your own stench—you haven't showered in days," he teased.
"Shut up. I'm still gorgeous, even unbathed," Spiritfang shot back with a smirk.
And then—
TING!
>[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
>[ENEMY DETECTED:]
- 5 MONSTERS AHEAD
- CURSED BEASTS TYPE
- C-RANK LEVEL
- HP: 5,000
>[WEAKNESS:] POISON / LIGHTNING
>[NEW MISSION]
>[MISSION 003:]
- DEFEAT 5 C-RANK MONSTERS
>[REWARDS:] EXP GAIN. INKSTONE. DUAL KARAMBIT UPGRADE. RED AURA FLAME LEVEL UP.
"Wow, C-Rank enemies already? That escalated fast… but whatever, let me test my strength," Joe muttered with confidence.
They crept forward cautiously, not yet sure where exactly the enemies were.
TING!
>[SYSTEM WARNING!]
YOU ARE 18 METERS FROM TARGET LOCATION
>[CAUTION:] HIGH THREAT LEVEL DETECTED
>[SUGGESTED ACTION:] PREPARE FOR COMBAT
From a short distance, Joe and Spiritfang spotted the five C-Rank monsters lurking near the river.
"Alright Fang, here's the plan—we flank them. I'll take the three on the left, you handle the two on the right. Move slow, and don't make a sound. Got it?" Joe instructed sharply.
"Got it," Spiritfang replied with a nod.
They began to sneak up, each footstep measured and silent.
TKK… TKK…
TFFT… TFFT…
The sound of their steps merged with the rhythm of the forest. But then, out of nowhere—a mosquito flew up Joe's nose.
HAAAAATSCHHUUU!!!
The explosive sneeze shattered the silence like a gunshot. Birds flew off the branches, leaves rustled in panic.
"Oops. Sorry," Joe whispered guiltily, as if hoping no one heard him—especially not the monsters.
Spiritfang turned to Joe in disbelief. His brows furrowed as he stared at him blankly. Slowly, a smirk appeared—half amusement, half doom.
Joe stood there frozen, a strand of snot mixed with the mosquito still hanging from his nostril, eyes watering, nose red from the sneeze, trying so hard not to laugh.
Spiritfang facepalmed slowly with a deep sigh.
"I freakin' knew it…" he grumbled, one ear perked and tail stiff, ready for trouble.
Suddenly, one of the monsters sniffed the air.
Tssskk…
TING!
>[SYSTEM ALERT:]
>[ENEMIES ON HIGH ALERT!]
>[COMBAT MODE ACTIVATED!]
In an instant, all five cursed beasts turned their glowing red eyes toward them. Their skin was gray, caked with mud and dried blood, and they moved with deadly speed.
"Joe… we've got no choice," Spiritfang growled low.
"Let's dance," Joe smirked, drawing his Dual Karambits, the blades gleaming as sunlight pierced through the leaves.
Two cursed beasts lunged straight at Spiritfang—quick, like shadows. But he was quicker.
FWIP!
He flipped upward, dodging the first swipe, spinning mid-air. As he landed behind the enemy—
SKRASHHH!
He tore into its back with his teeth, shredding through hide and sinew. The second beast attacked from the side—but Spiritfang's tail whipped across its face with a loud—
WHUMP!
He followed up with a bite to the neck, his Aura Fang Blade extending from his fangs.
>[CRITICAL HIT!]
- Enemy HP -3,200
>[Weakness Exploited:] POISON
Meanwhile, Joe faced the other three.
"Alright, come at me one at a time," he said coolly, twirling the karambits on his fingers.
The first monster—large, horned, heavy—charged in.
DASH!
Joe slid beneath its stomach, twisting and stabbing the side with his right karambit.
TSUK!
>[HIT!]
- Enemy HP -1,000
He turned just in time to see the second one leaping toward him.
Joe jumped back and hurled an Inkstone bomb.
BOOOOM!
Blue smoke enveloped the beast.
>[Status Effect: CONFUSED – 3s]
"Perfect."
Joe jumped onto a nearby boulder, launched into the air, and performed a mid-air spin—
SLASH—SLASH—SLASH!
Three rapid strikes with the Red Aura Flame Karambit.
>[Combo x3!]
- Enemy HP -2,800
- Burn Status Applied
The third beast came from behind. Joe sensed it.
>[INSTINCT MODE:]
- AUTO-PARRY ENGAGED!
CLANG!
His karambit clashed with the creature's fangs. Joe took two steps back, exhaled deeply, and began channeling his energy.
>[SKILL UNLOCKED!]
- Red Flame Trail – Level 1
"Let's finish this!"
Flames erupted from beneath his feet as he dashed in a blazing circle, leaving a trail of fire with every movement. He leapt once, twice, and descended like a meteor—
WHOOM!!!
BOOM!
>[TRIPLE HIT COMBO!]
- All enemies hit
>[Damage:] 5,000 Total
- Cursed Beasts Defeated
Silence.
Smoke.
Heavy breathing.
Spiritfang stood on top of a fallen monster, blood-stained fur still bristling. Joe knelt, catching his breath, karambits in hand, smiling.
"Got Damn, that was wild."
TING!
>[MISSION 003:] COMPLETE
- EXP +1,000
>[ITEM ACQUIRED:] Inkstone +600
>[ITEM ACQUIRED:] Red Aura Flame Level UP
>[DUAL KARAMBIT 1:] 30+ Level
>[EXP LEVEL 1:] 90%
"Wow nice." Joe stood stunned, eyes wide with amazement.
"New to your system, huh?" Spiritfang asked with a smirk.
"Hehehe, yeah… kinda," Joe replied, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"You should explore your system more. There's still a lot you need to learn, kid."
"Huh? Like what?" Joe asked, curious.
"You won't know if you don't try to find out," said Spiritfang to Joe.
"Alright, I'll give it a try," Joe replied.
Joe sat down on the ground, focusing deeply. By stabilizing himself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically
And then—
TING!
he managed to summon the system. The main interface appeared before him.