The smell of damp pine needles filled Han Sen's nose as he stood among the white dust of the pulverized tree. His stomach growled: a sharp, twisting reminder of his mortality. He had the strength of a god, but the stomach of a beggar.
Even with his new power, Han Sen moved with extreme caution. The dry twigs beneath his feet felt like landmines. He only had 10 Health Points. If a venomous snake bit him or a stray arrow hit his chest, his journey would end before the sun went down.
A rustle came from the thicket to his left. Han Sen froze, his breath hitching in his throat. Through the leaves, a pair of glowing red eyes stared back at him.
[Detected: Iron-Tusk Boar]
[Level: 8]
[Status: Hostile]
To any other adventurer, a Level 8 boar was a minor nuisance. To Han Sen, it was a walking death sentence. The creature weighed four hundred pounds and possessed tusks as sharp as kitchen knives.
The boar lowered its head, its hooves scraping against the dirt. It didn't see a threat. It saw a Level 1 human with no armor and a fragile frame. The beast charged, its heavy footsteps vibrating through the soles of Han Sen's shoes.
Han Sen didn't panic. His mind worked with cold, mechanical speed. He opened his system interface while the beast was mid-charge.
[Skill Selection: Basic Agility]
[Allocating Skill Points: 50,000]
[Basic Agility has evolved into: Ghost-Veil Steps (Max Level)]
The boar was inches away, its hot, musky breath hitting Han Sen's legs. In that microsecond, Han Sen moved. He didn't run. He simply ceased to be where he was standing.
The boar slammed into the space where Han Sen had been, crashing through a thick bush. It skidded to a halt, confused. It turned around, searching for the small human.
Han Sen was standing ten feet behind it. He hadn't even broken a sweat. To his eyes, the boar moved as if it were trapped in thick honey.
"My body is weak, but my speed is absolute," Han Sen whispered.
He looked at his hands. He needed a way to end the fight without touching the beast directly. If the boar's hide was too rough, he might hurt his own hand during the punch. With 10 HP, even a bruised knuckle was a risk.
He looked at a small, jagged rock on the ground.
[Skill Selection: Basic Throwing]
[Allocating Skill Points: 100,000]
[Basic Throwing has evolved into: Star-Fall Precision (Max Level)]
Han Sen picked up the pebble. It felt heavy in his hand, humming with an invisible energy. He didn't wind up for a massive throw. He simply flicked his wrist.
There was no sound of a struggle. There was only a faint hiss, like a drop of water hitting a red-hot stove.
The pebble vanished. A clean, circular hole appeared in the boar's forehead. The exit wound on the back of its skull was the size of a dinner plate. The beast didn't even squeal. It simply collapsed into the dirt, its life erased in an instant.
[Ding! Level 8 Iron-Tusk Boar slain.]
[Experience gained: 80.]
[Warning: Level is locked. Experience converted into 0 Skill Points.]
Han Sen stared at the message. The system didn't give him more points for the kill because his points were already infinite. He didn't care. He walked toward the carcass, his eyes scanning the surrounding woods for more threats.
The "Gaze" of the forest had changed. The birds had gone silent. The smaller predators that had been stalking him in the shadows were now fleeing.
He knelt by the boar and began to harvest the meat. He needed to get strong, and he needed to do it quietly. If the world found out a Level 1 could kill a Level 8 beast with a pebble, the powerful would hunt him down out of fear.
As he carved the meat, a distant screech echoed from the high mountain peaks. It was a sound of pure fire and ancient power.
Han Sen looked up, his eyes narrowing. The sky above the mountains was turning a violent shade of crimson. Two massive shapes were circling each other in the clouds: a bird of gold and a lion of shadow.
The real monsters were waking up. Han Sen tucked the meat into his bag and vanished into the shadows of the trees. He was Level 1, and the world was starting to burn. He needed to be ready.