Ryn glanced at his now full inventory.

  He had bought three days' worth of food, Health Potions, Arcana Potions, and a stack of antidotes.

  Most importantly, he had purchased a bundle of sturdy wooden practice swords and heavy oak clubs from the general store.

  His coin pouch felt significantly lighter.

  The shopping spree had cost him nearly half of his hard-earned capital.

  However, he remained calm. The rewards for an S-Rank quest would easily cover the expense and then some. It was a necessary investment.

  Satisfied, he left the shop and headed for the village gates.

  The entrance to the Whispering Forest was just ahead.

  He checked his status window.

  [ Level: 1 ]

  The entity waiting in the Northern Mines was likely Level 15 or higher. Fighting it in his current state would be suicide, regardless of his skill. He needed to fill his Vein with Arcana first.

  And with the Twin Shadow-Forged Daggers his master gifted him, he could punch far above his weight class.

  Ryn stepped into the forest.

  The outer region was chaotic. Dozens of players were shouting and fighting over Level 2 Slimes and Horned Rabbits.

  "That's my kill!"

  "Party invite sent!"

  Ryn ignored them. He activated the [ Silent Step ] effect of his daggers. His footsteps became soundless against the grass.

  He slipped past the noisy groups like a ghost, weaving through the trees without attracting a single monster.

  He headed straight for the mid-section of the forest.

  He had no interest in grinding small fry for meager experience points. He was going straight for the local Boss.

  The atmosphere in the mid-section was a little different.

  The players in this zone were the "Pros" and hardcore grinders who had already reached Level 7 or 8. They moved in coordinated parties, efficiently taking down Wolves and Boars.

  Ryn didn't stop and continued on his way.

  Finally, ten minutes later, he crossed the invisible line into the Inner Section.

  The sunlight dimmed, blocked by the thick canopy of ancient trees.

  The noise of the other players faded into silence.

  Ding!

  ──────?????──────

  [ You have successfully avoided detection for an extended period. ]

  [ Skill Learned: Faint Presence (Passive) (Lv. 1) ]

  ──────?????──────

  Ryn raised a brow in surprise.

  It seemed the skill acquisition mechanic was identical to Tower of Trials. If you performed an action enough times or with enough proficiency, the System crystallized it into a Skill.

  He paused, a familiar impulse rising in his mind.

  He instinctively wanted to trigger his signature movement skill from his glory days in TOT: [ Blink ]. It was a reflex etched into his muscle memory.

  But he stopped himself before he even tried.

  "Right. Empty," Ryn muttered, looking at his 0/100 Arcana bar.

  Without Arcana in his Veins, he couldn't manipulate space. He would have to stick to physical speed for now.

  He shook his head and continued forward.

  He stepped over a thick, mossy root and entered a small clearing.

  There it was.

  A massive beast prowled in the center of the glade. It resembled a lion, but its mane was made of sharp, crimson bone spikes. It let out a low growl that vibrated in Ryn's chest.

  A bright red cursor floated above its head.

  [ Crimson Mane Lion - Lv. 10 ]

  Ryn's eyes lit up in recognition.

  He knew this monster.

  It was a near-perfect replica of a beast that existed in the real world, in the wilds of Nasera.

  "It seems Mirage's claims about being inspired by the real world were true," Ryn muttered.

  If the appearance was identical, he wondered if the attack patterns and weaknesses were the same, too.

  In reality, the Crimson Mane Lion had a fatal defect that he discovered by chance. A cluster of nerves hidden just below the jawline controlled its balance. One solid hit there would paralyze it for a few moments.

  ...Well, there was only one way to find out.

  He tapped his chest.

  'Nero, come out.'

  A ripple of black mist leaked from his collar, and the small creature hopped onto his shoulder, its large white eyes blinking in anticipation.

  Ryn stepped out from the shadows, revealing himself to the beast.

  The Crimson Mane Lion snapped its head toward them, letting out a deafening roar that shook the leaves off the nearby trees.

  Ryn lowered his stance, flipping the Twin Shadow-Forged Daggers into a reverse grip.

  The beast charged.

  It moved with terrifying speed for its size. A massive paw, heavy enough to crush a boulder, descended toward Ryn's skull.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Ryn watched the muscle fibers in the lion's shoulder bunch up, instantly predicting the trajectory.

  Pivoting on his heel, he let the claws whistle past his nose by a hair's breadth. Fluidly shifting his weight, Ryn stepped into the beast's guard and slashed upward.

  Shing!

  Sparks flew as the blade met the iron-hard fur.

  -1

  The damage was negligible, but Ryn remained impassive. He knew his stats were too low to pierce the hide with brute force. He had to rely on his equipment.

  Ducking under a snapping bite, he spun to the beast's flank, delivering a rapid flurry of strikes before dancing away.

  -1

  -1

  -1

  The Lion roared in annoyance, swiping its tail, but Ryn leaped over it, continuing his assault.

  Minutes passed.

  The forest clearing became a blur of motion.

  Ryn danced around the massive beast like a phantom, never staying in one spot for more than a second. He chipped away at the monster's health one strike at a time, waiting for the probability to tip in his favor.

  Suddenly, the dark grey blade of his left dagger shimmered with a ghostly light, passing right through the lion's thick hide as if it were air.

  [ Effect Triggered: Phantom Edge ]

  -48!

  The Lion flinched.

  Ryn did not let up, pressing the advantage.

  [ Effect Triggered: Phantom Edge ]

  -52!

  Blood sprayed onto the grass. The monster's high physical defense was rendered useless against the dagger's unique property.

  The fight dragged on for another ten minutes. Ryn was glistening with sweat, but his breathing remained steady. The Lion, however, was panting heavily, its body covered in shallow but painful cuts.

  Frustrated by this slippery prey, the Lion planted its feet and let out a thunderous roar.

  BOOM!

  A visible shockwave erupted from its body.

  Ryn was thrown backward, skidding across the dirt. Before he could recover, the ground beneath him rumbled.

  Sharp bone spikes erupted from the earth.

  Twisting his body mid-air, Ryn dodged the jagged spears by inches, landing in a crouch.

  The Lion seized the opportunity.

  Its mane began to glow a violent crimson, distorting the air in the clearing with rising heat. It opened its maw, gathering a swirling mass of fire and razor-sharp bone shards.

  It was a combined attack, a homing arrow of flame and calcium meant to obliterate everything in its path.

  Ryn stopped moving. He stood his ground directly in the line of fire.

  'Time to eat, buddy.'

  Ryn reached up and plucked Nero from his shoulder, holding the small creature out with one hand like a shield.

  "Kyu!"

  The black ball of fur unhinged its jaw. Its tiny mouth expanded into a gaping abyss of darkness that seemed far too large for its small body.

  WHOOSH!

  The Lion unleashed its breath.

  The torrent of fire and bone spikes crashed toward them.

  "KYUU!" Nero inhaled.

  Like water draining into a sinkhole, the roaring flames and the deadly projectiles twisted and spiraled into the tiny creature's mouth. Nero swallowed the attack whole.

  Gulp.

  The clearing went silent.

  The Lion froze.

  Its eyes widened in genuine confusion as its strongest attack had just vanished into a ball of fluff.

  "Burp." Nero let out a small puff of smoke and patted his belly.

  'Good work,' Ryn praised it before putting it away.

  Ding!

  ──────?????──────

  [ Companion Nero has consumed High-Grade Energy. ]

  [ Energy Conversion: +50 Arcana to Master. ]

  ──────?????──────

  Ryn felt a sudden rush of heat in his Veins. His empty Arcana bar filled halfway instantly.

  He narrowed his eyes.

  'Thanks for the meal.'

  The Lion was still recovering from the confusion. Ryn channeled the newfound energy into his legs, distorting the space around him.

  [ Blink ]

  Zip.

  Ryn vanished.

  He reappeared instantly, directly beneath the Lion's raised chin.

  The beast was too late to react.

  Ryn drove both daggers upward with all his strength into the soft white patch of fur.

  Schlick.

  [ Critical Hit! ]

  [ Fatal Strike! ]

  -450!

  The nerves severed instantly.

  The massive beast's eyes rolled back. Its equilibrium was shattered, its legs gave out, and it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

  It wasn't dead, but it was completely paralyzed, twitching helplessly in the dirt.

  Ryn landed gracefully beside the incapacitated monster. He reversed his grip on the dagger and calmly walked over to the exposed throat.

  "Rest now," he whispered.

  He slashed deeply, ending the beast's suffering.

  [ Ding! ]

  [ Congratulations! You have defeated the Crimson Mane Lion (Lv. 10)! ]

  [ ... ]