The night after the qualification round passed quietly.
Inside Lemurian Hunter Academy, most students were resting, celebrating their victories, or complaining about their defeats.
But the excitement of the tournament had not ended.
Early the next morning, a new announcement appeared on the academy notice boards and the academy network.
The Elimination Round would begin in four days.
The reason was simple.
The academy needed time to reorganize the arena, finalize the brackets, and allow the advancing students to recover and prepare.
Four days.
For most participants, that meant rest and training.
For Aaron...
It meant something else entirely.
Opportunity.
Morning sunlight filtered through the academy dormitory window.
Aaron finished adjusting the straps on his lightweight combat gear.
His Froststeel Dagger rested securely at his waist.
Behind him, Rei lay sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling like a man who had already given up on life.
"...Brother Aaron."
Aaron glanced at him, "Yes?"
Rei sighed dramatically, "The elimination round is in four days."
Aaron nodded, "Yes."
Rei turned his head slowly, "So why are you putting on combat gear?"
Aaron replied calmly, "I'm going to the wilderness."
Rei blinked, "...The wilderness?"
Aaron tightened the leather strap around his wrist, "Yes."
Rei suddenly sat up, "Alone?!"
Aaron shrugged, "Why not?"
The room fell silent for a moment as Rei stared at him in disbelief, "...Brother Aaron."
"Yes?"
Rei pointed toward the window dramatically, "There are monsters out there."
Aaron nodded, "That's the point."
Rei collapsed back onto the bed, "...I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"My best friend is insane."
Aaron chuckled, "Relax." He grabbed his gear bag and checked the contents one last time before heading for the exit. "I'll be back before dinner."
Rei waved weakly from his mattress, "If you die, leave your copper coins to me."
Aaron walked out the door, leaving his Rei behind. The hallway was empty as he made his way toward the academy gates, his mind already shifting from the tournament to the monsters waiting beyond the city walls.
...
The massive steel gates of Lemuria City slowly opened as early-morning hunting teams began leaving for the wilderness.
Aaron walked alone along the dirt road leading toward the outer sectors.
The environment gradually changed.
The towering city walls disappeared behind him, replaced by dense forest and rugged hills.
This region was one of the beginner wilderness sectors controlled by Lemuria City.
Most monsters here ranged between levels 3 and 8.
Dangerous for ordinary civilians.
But manageable for trained hunters.
Aaron stepped deeper into the forest, the transition from the city's edge to the true wilderness marked by the damp ground from last night's rain, and the scent of wet earth and rotting leaves that filled the air.
Several hours then passed, and Aaron encountered a few minor monsters.
Mutated wolves.
A venom lizard.
None lasted more than a few seconds against the Froststeel dagger.
But none of them dropped anything valuable either.
Aaron continued moving deeper into the forest.
Eventually—
A heavy sound echoed nearby.
CRUNCH.
CRUNCH.
Something large was moving through the trees as Aaron stopped walking. His eyes narrowed slightly, as the bushes ahead suddenly shook violently.
Then the creature emerged.
.....
[Ironfang Boar]
Threat Level: 8
Health: 920 / 920
Physical Attack: 95 – 140
Physical Defense: 80 – 110
Magic Resistance: 65 – 85
[A heavily mutated wild boar that roams the deeper wilderness sectors. Its tusks have evolved into iron-hard blades capable of piercing armor. The creature is known for explosive charges and violent temperaments. Experienced hunters recommend attacking from the side while avoiding frontal assaults.]
...
The massive creature snorted loudly.
Its body was nearly two meters long, covered with coarse dark fur. Two curved tusks protruded from its mouth like sharpened blades.
Its red eyes locked onto Aaron.
Then—
It charged.
The ground trembled beneath its hooves, the heavy vibrations echoing through the damp soil as the beast closed the distance.
Aaron didn't move. At the last second, his body shifted slightly to the side, a calculated blur of motion. The Ironfang Boar rushed past him, but Aaron's dagger flashed in a silver arc.
SLASH.
A thin frost mark appeared across the monster's flank, the ice crystallizing instantly against its coarse fur. The boar roared angrily and turned around, its red eyes locking onto him before it charged again.
Aaron activated [Titan Grip.] His arm muscles tightened as he gripped the Froststeel dagger, the power surging through his forearm with a dull, rhythmic thrum. The boar lunged forward, its tusks aimed directly at his chest.
Aaron stepped in. The dagger moved like lightning, cutting through the humid air with a sharp whistle.
THUD.
The blade pierced directly into the creature's throat, sinking deep into the muscle. Cold energy spread instantly through its body, turning its final breath into a mist of ice.
The boar staggered, its massive legs buckling under the weight of the flash-freeze. Two seconds later—it collapsed onto the forest floor. Silence returned to the wilderness, broken only by the faint crackle of frost on the carcass.
[Ironfang Boar defeated]
[EXP gained: 180]
Aaron wiped the blade clean.
"Decent."
But the next moment—
[Amplification triggered]
[New Exp Gained: 18,000 EXP]
[Level Up!]
[Level 11]
Aaron blinked.
level 11.
The sudden increase surprised even him.
But the notifications weren't finished.
The system interface suddenly flashed brightly.
[Milestone reached: Level 10 surpassed]
[System Evolution Activated]
Aaron frowned slightly.
"...System evolution?"
The interface changed.
Then a new line appeared.
[Amplification Multiplier Updated]
[100× → 1000×]
Aaron's eyes widened slightly.
"...One thousand times?"
That was an entirely different scale.
At that moment, the monster's dropped items appeared on the ground. In the wilderness, only level 5 monsters and above of any rank can drop items.
Three Drops.
A small blade.
A monster core.
And several copper coins.
Aaron examined the blade first.
.....
[Hunter Blade]
Quality: Uncommon
A simple short sword commonly used by beginner hunters.
.....
The system immediately reacted.
[Reward amplification activated]
[Weapon evolution in progress...]
[Enhancement ×1000]
A surge of energy flashed across the weapon.
The blade's appearance changed instantly.
The metal darkened into deep obsidian black while faint golden runes appeared along its edge.
A new description appeared.
...
[Abyssfang Blade]
Quality: Legendary
A weapon forged through amplified evolution. The blade possesses extraordinary sharpness and durability, capable of cutting through advanced monster defenses.
....
Aaron stared at the weapon.
"...Legendary."
Even major hunter guilds would treat weapons of this rank as treasures.
And this had come from a random wilderness monster.
The monster core and coins also changed.
Copper coins multiplied into thousands.
The core evolved into a high-grade energy crystal.
Aaron exhaled slowly.
The system had truly transformed.
"Truly..."
He looked at the legendary blade in his hand.
"...one drop of effort."
"Leads to thunderous rewards."
But just as he finished speaking—
A faint sound cut through the forest air.
SHHHH.
Aaron's instincts reacted instantly.
He turned sharply.
A streak of golden light shot through the trees.
An arrow.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Aaron raised his blade.
CLANG.
The arrow shattered against the metal edge, as its fragments scattered across the forest floor.
Silence followed.
Then—
A faint figure moved rapidly between the trees.
Watching.
Observing.
And preparing the next shot.