Gazing at the pile of energy crystals harvested from their hard-fought hunt, Nawa wore a look of pure delight. Although the hunt had proven far more dangerous than anticipated, the rewards had exceeded expectations just as significantly.
Nawa wasn't the only one feeling this way; Natee and the others shared the sentiment. Originally, they had only intended to hunt a few "Low-Professional" rank wolves, yet they had managed to take down nearly the entire pack. To top it off, they had secured the meat of the pack leader—a "High-Professional" rank beast.
Since Nawa's fire magic had already cooked the pack leader's meat to the point where it was ready to eat, Natee and the group decided to use a portion of it for a celebratory dinner.
The five young companions ate and drank joyfully. Even after stuffing themselves until there was absolutely no room left in their stomachs, they still couldn't finish a single leg of the pack leader—a limb massive enough to rival an elephant's leg. Nevertheless, the stat boosts they gained were substantial.
Nawa discovered that consuming the pack leader's meat increased his base stats significantly: Attack Power rose by 8 points, Agility by 12, and Speed by a staggering 20.
The quality was nearly on par with the "Elder" rank monster meat he used to consume back on Earth.
Yet, impressive as the stat gains were, the stat boosts themselves were not what Natee and his friends were truly seeking from the pack leader's meat.
Given their status, they could easily afford to eat Elder-rank monster meat for every meal. What they truly desired, however, was the "Sprint" skill—a potential reward for consuming the meat of this wolf pack.
Some time after the meal, Natee stood up, bent his knees slightly, and let out a low growl.
"Haaah!"
As the sound died away, a blue aura surged from the soles of Natee's feet, instantly enveloping them completely.
"Natee... are you planning to use 'Sprint'?" Somchai exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment.
For over six months, Natee had struggled to master this skill without any sign of success—but this time was completely different. The blue aura wrapping around his feet and extending up to his shins signaled that he had finally succeeded.
*BOOM!* Natee kicked off the ground with tremendous force, creating a thunderous sound. In a flash, his body shot dozens of feet into the air. Upon landing, he immediately surged forward and began to run. His running speed was two to three times faster than his normal movement.
"Success!" Mai shouted with delight.
"Congratulations, buddy," Somchai said, giving Natee a thumbs-up.
"You really pulled it off," Ploy added, smiling just as broadly.
It was true that the [Sprint] skill could more than double Natee's speed. However, compared to his [Berserker] skill—a B-rank ability that boosted speed by over five times while also increasing attack power—[Sprint] paled in comparison.
Yet, the reason his friends were so excited was that if Natee could fuse [Berserker] with [Sprint], it would create an incredibly powerful A-rank skill.
As Natee sprinted at full tilt, he began to unleash the red aura of his [Berserker] skill. Instantly, his speed skyrocketed—multiplying so rapidly that his body seemed to vanish from where he had just been standing.
However, Natee appeared unable to control this sudden surge in speed; the very next moment, he slammed violently into a large tree over ten meters away.
*CRASH!* A thunderous impact echoed out. Although the tree didn't snap, the force of the collision—hitting a trunk thick enough to require two people to encircle it—made the tree shudder, causing hundreds of leaves to rain down.
"I'm fine; no need to heal me."
"It's just a minor injury," Natee said, bracing himself against a tree with one hand to pull himself back to a standing position.
"Why would you do something so reckless? That 'Dash' skill is Rank A—even High-Rankers can't necessarily use it. Yet here you are, only Rank D, daring to use it. Do you have a death wish?" Ploy snapped, her voice harsh.
"Sorry... I didn't think it through. I was just eager to test out the new 'Sprint' skill I got... You guys have been there too, right?" Natee said weakly, rubbing the back of his head with a contrite expression.
"You're just an overgrown kid," Ploy shouted at him before turning on her heel and walking away.
It was common knowledge among Players that skill ranks were linked to a Player's base stats. Attempting to use a skill far above one's base stats was not only difficult to master, but even if successful, the skill might not unleash its full power.
Worse yet, there was a risk of backlash, potentially injuring the Player themselves.
While talented and gifted Players might manage to use a skill one rank above their own, very few could handle a skill two ranks higher—as Natee had done.
Natee possessed Rank D base stats yet could use "Berserker," a Rank B skill; he was undeniably a rare genius. Even so, attempting to use a Rank A skill while his base stats were only Rank D was simply beyond his limits.
Natee made a rough estimate: if he wanted to use an A-rank "Dash" skill effectively in actual combat, his base stats would need to be at least Rank C first.
"Is the skill you're looking for the same kind the wolf pack leader used?" Nawa asked, his eyes clearly showing his curiosity.
"I think so. Even though I was only watching from a distance, that Wolf Alpha could definitely use the 'Dash' skill. It's incredible. Usually, 'Profess'-rank monsters can only use D or C-rank skills, but this Wolf Alpha used an A-rank skill.
Honestly, it was probably stronger than your average 'Elder'-rank monster. Yet, you managed to take it down, Big Brother. I really respect you."
The cold, disdainful look that had previously been in Natee's eyes was completely gone; now, his gaze held only awe and respect.
Nawa smiled slightly and nodded in response to Natee's words. The real reason Nawa had asked was to confirm what kind of skill he might gain if he let White Snake devour the Wolf Alpha's beast core.
Once everyone else was asleep, Nawa took the Wolf Alpha's beast core out of his dimensional storage and fed it to White Snake. Shortly after White Snake swallowed the core, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
*Ding!* A system message window appeared.
(You have consumed the Wolf Alpha's beast core.)
(Speed [Spd] increased by 180.)
(Strength... STR increased by 150
( And AGI increased by 120 )
( New Skill )
( Dash – Consumes mana to boost speed dozens of times over in an instant, enabling high-speed movement that is difficult to track with the eye. It can be used consecutively, but doing so causes the mana cost to multiply with each use. )
Upon seeing the boosted stats, a look of clear delight appeared on Nawa's face; the stats he gained far exceeded his expectations. Most importantly, he had also obtained "Dash"—the A-rank skill belonging to the wolf pack leader—just as he had hoped.
Nawa opened his status window. To check his own strength...
"Ding!" The system sound rang out once more.
( Rank D - Class: Mage )
( Health (HP) – 35% [ Endurance 75/100 ]
( Mana (MP) – 595/595 ) [Rank D]
( Attack Power (Str) – 362 ) [Rank D]
( Defense (Def) – 169 ) [Rank D]
( Agility (Agi) – 289 ) [Rank D]
( Accuracy (Dex) – 218 ) [Rank D]
( Speed (Spd) – 265 ) [Rank D]
( Nawa's Skills )
( Fireball – Creates a fireball that hurtles toward the target at high speed; attack power and quantity depend on the mana consumed. )
( Fire Wall – Conjures a wall of fire in a desired area; size and intensity depend on the mana consumed. )
( Air Blade – An air blade formed by condensing airflow into a razor-sharp edge attached to the arm, serving as a sword; size and sharpness depend on the mana consumed. )
( Air Bomb – Gathers surrounding air to create a high-pressure air sphere; upon detonation, it releases immense force; intensity and size depend on the mana consumed. )
( White Snake's Skills )
( Acid Concentrate – Secretes concentrated acid from the body; quantity and potency depend on the mana used. )
( Dash – Uses mana to boost speed for a short duration, creating the illusion of instantaneous movement; can be used consecutively, though doing so causes mana consumption to increase exponentially with each use. )
Nawa gazed at his various stats with satisfaction. His average base stats had now risen to the level of a mid-tier Rank D player.
Although his current overall strength was still far below what it had been five years ago—back when he was in the Himmapan Forest—it was impressive considering he had only entered "The Oneness" a few days prior. This rate of progress was even faster than when he had wandered into the Himmapan Forest five years ago.
All credit for this went to White Snake; the more the creature devoured, the stronger Nawa became. It had reached the point where it could consume beast spirits without suffering any adverse side effects whatsoever.
If there was one thing that displeased Nawa, it was that the "Dash" skill—gained from devouring a beast spirit—could only be used by White Snake itself. Even so, it significantly boosted Nawa's combat capabilities, as the "Dash" skill allowed White Snake to grow exponentially stronger.
While Nawa was having White Snake test out the "Dash" skill, something unexpected happened to the creature. Its skin began to crack, and blood shimmering with a golden hue started to seep out. Nawa turned pale; the only thought racing through his mind was that White Snake couldn't handle the power of the beast spirit and was being injured.
Before Nawa could even react, a sensation of agonizing pain—as if his body were being torn apart—shot through him. The pain was most intense in his head; it felt as though his skull were about to explode.
"Aaaargh!"Nawa screamed at the top of his lungs, clutching his head tightly. His scream woke Natee and the others from their sleep in the middle of the night.
"P'Nawa, what's wrong?"
Ploy exclaimed in a voice filled with shock. This was the first time she had ever seen Nawa scream out in such agony. Unless her eyes were playing tricks on her, she also thought she saw faint, glowing golden patterns shimmering across his skin.
"Eek... a snake!" Mai exclaimed, having caught sight of a small white snake coiled on the ground beside Nawa.
"That's impossible—we're inside a protective barrier; how could a monster get in?"
Before she could even finish speaking, Ploy leaped backward and instantly assumed a combat stance, having spotted the snake herself. It was a white serpent, nearly two feet long—roughly the same size as a white-lipped pit viper back on Earth.
Back on Earth, a snake this small would be no trouble—you'd just shoo it away and be done with it. But here in *The Oneness*, even a small, cute-looking creature could be more dangerous than a full-grown tiger. This snake, in particular, had managed to breach a force field that kept an entire pack of wolves at bay.
"Move!" Natee shouted as he summoned his claymore from his dimensional inventory and immediately thrust it toward the white snake.
*Thwup.* The tip of the claymore sank into the ground as if plunging into a mud pit.
Such was the power of a premium-grade weapon with an attack rating exceeding 50. Yet, no matter how destructive the weapon, it was useless if it missed its target.
The white snake moved with incredible speed, effortlessly dodging Natee's storm-like assault. In the blink of an eye, it vanished and reappeared on Nawa's shoulder, baring its fangs and hissing furiously.
*Hiss!.....*
"Natee, watch out for P'Nawa!" Ploy shouted a warning when she saw Natee preparing to strike the snake.
Natee managed to halt his blade just in time; given the snake's position, pressing the attack further risked harming Nawa as well.
"Listen closely. This snake might have been here all along—that's how it got inside this barrier. There's a high chance it could catch P'Nawa off guard and attack him."
Natee paused for a moment, glancing over at Nawa. He was still clutching his head in agony, blood seeping from his nose and mouth; he looked as though he was gritting his teeth to endure excruciating pain.
In a situation like this, he could hardly help himself, and if too much time passed, there was a risk that the snake would strike him again.
"Ploy, how much has your mana recovered?" Nathee asked.
"Over half," Ploy replied.
"Good. I'll handle that snake. If I make a mistake and Nawa gets injured, it's your job to heal him—understood? As for Mai and Somchai, you two keep watch and protect Ploy,"
Nathee said in a serious tone.
"Mm, agreed," Ploy said, and the others nodded in acknowledgment.
Nathee was truly worthy of being the leader of the Asashi Institute's 'Four Heavenly Kings.' Even in a critical, high-pressure situation where time was running out, he remained composed. With just a few brief sentences, he ensured everyone understood the plan and quickly assigned their roles.
*Whoosh.* The red aura of the 'Berserker' skill erupted from Nathee's body like flames. He gripped his sword tightly, intending to finish the fight in a single instant.
But before Nathee could make his move, the white snake vanished from his sight. He scanned the area but couldn't spot it; by the time he realized where it was, the white snake had already appeared behind him, baring fangs that were several centimeters long. ...accompanied by a low, guttural hiss.
"Hiss..."
*Impossible. Is its speed beyond the limits of human vision?* Natee exclaimed inwardly, utterly stunned; even an Elder-class monster couldn't possibly move this fast.
Yet, despite his shock, Natee had no time to dwell on it. He swiftly shifted his grip, turning the blade backward to tighten his swing arc and immediately executing a strike.
"Die!" Natee shouted.
*BOOM!* A thunderous blast rang out, and dust billowed as the blade's edge slammed into the ground.
However, it hadn't so much as grazed the white snake; the creature had vanished from that spot before the sword could even reach it. Moreover, it had instantly reappeared on his right shoulder, baring fangs several centimeters long—poised to sink them deep into Natee's body.
Natee's face went pale with panic. At such close range, there was nothing left for him to do but pray that the little snake wouldn't strike a vital spot.
"Stop!" The voice belonged to none other than Nawa, who seemed to have regained his senses. He removed one hand from his head; though traces of pain lingered on his face, his eyes still burned with a fierce, sharp intensity.
To the others, it seemed like a futile gesture. How could a monster like that possibly understand human speech? Even if it did understand, there was no guarantee it would obey.
Yet, what happened next left everyone utterly stunned. The white snake halted its attack, retracting its fangs before slithering rapidly back to Nawa. Upon reaching him, it coiled calmly around his arm, appearing as docile as a pet.
"Nawa, what is going on here?" Ploy asked, her expression a mix of shock and surprise.
"Sorry for waking everyone up. This snake is my pet. It isn't fully tamed yet, so I accidentally got bitten. But don't worry—it's non-venomous; it was just a minor mishap."
In reality, the white snake wasn't Nawa's pet. It was a "White Snake" that had undergone a physical transformation after consuming the spirit core of the wolf pack leader, causing it to grow significantly in size.
The scream Nawa had let out earlier was due to an excruciating jolt of pain shooting straight to his brain—an agony he couldn't suppress—but since he didn't want to reveal the truth, he had resorted to a lie.
"Wait, are you saying... you have a monster as a pet? That's impossible."
Ploy exclaimed loudly, and the others looked equally astonished, unable to believe what Nawa was claiming.
Monsters were dozens of times more ferocious and dangerous than the wild animals of the human world. Even for a common-grade monster, anyone attempting to train one as a pet would need to be at least Rank C—or be a "Tamer" class player possessing the "Animal Psyche" ability to command monsters.
By any measure, that snake had to be at least an Elder-class monster. Even if it wasn't fully grown, it was far too powerful—especially for Nawa, who was merely a Rank-D player and a Mage, not a Tamer.
"Could you tell us who you really are?" Nathee asked, looking at Nawa with a serious expression.
Nawa thought for a moment before speaking.
"Do you guys remember that strange incident five years ago?"
"I do. There was a massive blackout across several provinces, and all electrical equipment stopped working. A commercial airliner even crashed in the forest, killing everyone on board," Ploy said, her expression suddenly turning strangely sorrowful.
Nawa felt a genuine affinity for Natee and his friends. He told them the same story he had told his mother: that he had been in a plane crash five years ago and lost his memory.
He explained that while living in the wild, he had met someone, learned certain skills, and acquired specific items. While not exactly a lie, it wasn't the whole truth either; he didn't want anyone to know about the Forest of Him.
Upon hearing Nawa's explanation, Ploy's expression shifted. The way she looked at him changed—as if she had a question burning in her mind but ultimately decided to keep it to herself.
As for Natee and the others, they didn't press for more details. Although they sensed Nawa wasn't revealing everything, they felt he harbored no ill intent and didn't want to pry. After a while, everyone went their separate ways to rest.