Night fell quietly across the Outer Plains.
Darkness stretched endlessly.
Cold wind swept through the ruined house.
And inside—
Four exhausted figures lay on their bedding.
Eyes open.
Bodies still.
Stomachs empty.
---
Kael groaned loudly.
"…I can't sleep…"
He turned over again.
"…My stomach is killing me…"
---
Soren sat up slowly.
His face pale.
"…Same here…"
"…We haven't eaten since yesterday…"
---
Elric remained lying still.
But his eyes were open.
Sharp.
Awake.
"…Nutritional depletion detected."
"…Energy loss accelerating."
---
Rynelle Aeris lay quietly on his side.
His long black hair spread across the bedding like flowing silk.
His stomach tightened painfully.
Hunger clawed at his insides.
Sharp.
Persistent.
Unforgiving.
---
They had potions.
They had skills.
They had power.
But—
No food.
---
Kael suddenly sat upright.
"…We can't keep starving."
---
Soren nodded.
"…Agreed."
---
Elric stood slowly.
"…Night hunt required."
---
Rynelle sat up last.
His eyes calm.
But determined.
"…We hunt Night Walkers."
---
Silence followed briefly.
Then—
They moved.
---
Armor formed around their bodies.
Weapons appeared in their hands.
Mana glowed faintly.
Ready.
Prepared.
Hungry.
---
They stepped outside.
Night wind greeted them instantly.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
---
The plains were dark.
Moonlight stretched faintly across the land.
Shadows moved quietly in the distance.
Danger lurked everywhere.
---
Kael whispered quietly.
"…Keep your senses sharp…"
---
Soren moved silently beside him.
"…Anything that moves—we kill."
---
Elric scanned the darkness.
"…Movement detected."
---
Rynelle stopped instantly.
"…Direction?"
---
Elric pointed forward.
"…North-east."
"…Approximately fifty meters."
---
They moved carefully.
Step by step.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Silent hunters in the night.
---
Then—
They saw it.
---
A single Night Walker.
Standing alone.
Its body hunched forward.
Back turned toward them.
---
But something was different.
Something disturbing.
---
It wasn't hunting.
It was eating.
---
Crunch.
Crack.
Rip.
---
Kael's face darkened.
"…That smell…"
---
They stepped closer.
Carefully.
Slowly.
---
Then—
They saw the truth.
---
A human corpse lay beneath the creature.
Torn apart.
Blood covering the ground.
Clothing shredded.
Bones exposed.
---
A student.
Dead.
Eaten.
Abandoned.
Forgotten.
---
Soren clenched his jaw.
"…Damn…"
---
Elric whispered quietly.
"…Confirming deceased student."
---
Rynelle stared silently.
Cold anger flickered inside his chest.
---
Kael stepped forward slowly.
"…We kill it."
---
Rynelle nodded once.
"…Now."
---
The Night Walker suddenly lifted its head.
It sensed them.
Its glowing eyes locked onto theirs.
---
It roared loudly.
Then charged.
---
Kael moved instantly.
"Wind Pierce!"
BOOM.
His spear slammed into the creature's shoulder.
Knocking it backward.
---
Soren followed.
Sliding forward like shadow.
SLASH.
He cut across the beast's leg.
---
Elric stepped in immediately.
Blocking its counterattack.
CLANG.
Then striking downward.
---
CRACK.
The core shattered.
---
The Night Walker collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Silent.
Finished.
---
Heavy silence followed.
---
Kael exhaled deeply.
"…That one was easy…"
---
Soren turned toward the corpse.
"…We should check them."
---
Elric nodded.
"…Resources recovery required."
---
Rynelle stepped forward slowly.
Kneeling beside the dead student.
---
The body belonged to a girl.
Young.
Likely newly awakened.
Her expression frozen in fear.
---
Rynelle carefully removed the storage ring from her finger.
Silent respect in his movement.
---
He activated the ring.
Light flickered.
Items appeared on the ground.
---
Iron rods.
Metal fragments.
Sticks.
Bundles of wood.
Clean folded clothing.
Camping materials.
---
Kael blinked.
"…Looks like she was trying to survive…"
---
Soren sighed quietly.
"…She was prepared…"
"…Just unlucky…"
---
Elric spoke calmly.
"…Materials useful."
---
Rynelle nodded slowly.
"…We take them."
---
They gathered the materials quickly.
Then—
Kael lifted the dead Night Walker.
"…And this is dinner."
---
They returned to their shelter quickly.
Walking faster this time.
Hunger pushing them forward.
---
Soon—
The ruined house appeared again.
Their temporary home.
Their survival base.
---
They entered immediately.
Closing the door behind them.
---
Kael dropped the Night Walker body onto the ground.
"…Alright…"
"…Time to cook."
---
Rynelle stepped forward.
Holding the Crafting Skill Book.
---
He opened it.
Light burst outward.
Mana flowed into his body.
Knowledge poured into his mind.
Techniques.
Structures.
Methods.
Creation formulas.
---
His eyes sharpened.
Understanding formed instantly.
---
"…Crafting… activated."
---
He stepped forward.
Holding iron pieces carefully.
Mana threads formed around his fingers.
---
Metal shifted.
Bent.
Molded.
Reshaped.
---
CLINK.
CLANG.
CLINK.
---
Within minutes—
Pots formed.
Plates appeared.
Knives sharpened.
Utensils created.
Simple.
Rough.
But usable.
---
Kael stared in amazement.
"…You just made a kitchen…"
---
Soren laughed lightly.
"…Now that's survival."
---
Using the sticks they found—
They created fire.
Small.
Controlled.
Warm.
---
Kael carefully cut the Night Walker flesh.
Removing usable meat.
Separating bones.
Cleaning portions.
---
Soon—
Meat entered the pot.
Water boiled.
Steam rose.
Scent filled the air.
---
Real food.
Real nourishment.
Real survival.
---
Minutes later—
They ate.
Hungrily.
Silently.
Relieved.
---
Kael sighed deeply.
"…That… was worth hunting…"
---
Soren leaned back slightly.
"…Best meal since we got here…"
---
Elric spoke calmly.
"…Energy restored."
---
Rynelle continued working.
Carefully.
Patiently.
---
Remaining meat—
Was smoked.
Preserved.
Wrapped carefully using cloth.
Stored safely.
---
Then—
He opened the treasure chest.
Placed the preserved meat inside.
Protected.
Secured.
Ready for later use.
---
Far away—
Across the endless plains—
Another group rested.
---
Seraphina's group.
Inside a massive ruined palace.
Walls cracked.
Floors covered in bones.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Skeletons scattered everywhere.
---
Yet—
They rested there.
Exhausted.
Hungry.
Tired.
---
Seraphina leaned against a cracked pillar.
Her golden hair stained with dust.
"…We need food…"
---
Beside her—
Lunaria sat quietly.
Her silver hair glowing faintly under moonlight.
"…Tomorrow…"
"…We hunt."
---
Another member spoke weakly.
"…I'm starving…"
---
Their stomachs growled.
Bodies trembling slightly.
Energy nearly depleted.
---
Yet—
They endured.
Resting inside the bone palace.
Waiting for dawn.
---
Meanwhile—
Closer to Rynelle's shelter—
Movement appeared in the distance.
Small figures.
Walking slowly.
Weakly.
Exhausted.
---
Three students.
Barely standing.
Barely surviving.
Moving toward safety.
Toward shelter.
Toward hope.
---
Their names—
Tarin Volke — A short boy with messy brown hair and sharp amber eyes.
Class: Scout-type fighter.
Fast. Quiet. Observant.
Mirelle Dusk — A pale girl with long ash-gray hair and trembling hands.
Class: Support-type awakener.
Calm. Intelligent. Weak physically.
Brakus Thorn — A tall, broad-shouldered boy with dark green hair.
Class: Heavy striker.
Strong. Slow. Protective.
---
They stumbled forward slowly.
Breathing heavily.
Eyes desperate.
Bodies starving.
---
And ahead—
Faint light flickered from inside the ruined house.
Rynelle's shelter.
---
Hope.
Safety.
Food.
Survival.
---
They moved toward it.
Step by step.
Closer.
Closer.
Unaware—
That their arrival—
Would soon change everything.