At that moment, a low, beast-like panting sound drifted from behind Don.
The sound was rough and uneven, like a creature that had been stalking its prey for some time.
Don's body reacted almost instantly. He turned.
What came into his sight made him pause for the briefest moment.
The creature standing behind him was roughly waist-high, its body covered in coarse gray fur that clung tightly to its muscular frame. Its limbs were thick and sturdy, built for sudden bursts of movement rather than speed over long distances. The broad, sloping forehead and narrow eyes gave it a strangely intelligent look, while the short snout and rounded ears made it resemble a bizarre fusion between a goblin and a red panda.
A Brugg Trainee.
The creature had only just finished spawning into the world. Its eyes had barely focused when Don had already moved.
His body responded faster than his thoughts. There was no hesitation. No wasted motion.
His leg snapped forward with sharp precision.
BOOM!
The impact sounded like a hammer striking a sack of sand.
The Brugg Trainee's entire body lifted from the ground as though gravity had suddenly forgotten it existed. It spun helplessly through the air before crashing down nearly five meters away, slamming against the dirt with a dull, heavy thud.
For a brief moment, the creature twitched.
Then it went still and It never got back up.
A faint flash of light appeared above its corpse.
[Critical Hit – 94!]
[You have killed a Brugg Trainee.]
[Gained 5 EXP.]
Don blinked once. "…Not bad... Not bad at all."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
The very first monster he encountered after entering the Holy War world had been eliminated with a single kick.
His high-strength build was already proving its value. Many might call this dumb, but with his experience, and what his brother told him, this path was the right path.
Don walked forward calmly, his boots crunching softly against the forest floor. With a casual motion, he nudged the corpse aside with his foot.
Two dark red copper coins lay quietly on the ground where the creature had fallen.
They glinted faintly beneath the filtered sunlight that passed through the forest canopy.
Don bent down and picked them up.
Just as he straightened, another Brugg Trainee spawned nearby.
A ripple of light flickered in the air, and the gray-furred creature materialized only a few steps away.
The moment its form stabilized, Don attacked.
His fist shot forward without hesitation.
At the same time, his eyes flicked toward the creature's attribute panel.
[Brugg Trainee]
[Grade: Common Monster]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 90]
[Physical Attack: 3–5]
[Physical Defense: 7]
[Magic Defense: 5]
[Skills: None]
...
Bruggs were among the most common low-level creatures scattered across the continent of Illynoa.
They possessed very little intelligence..Most were easily subdued.
In many regions, they were captured and enslaved by stronger races such as Orcs or Gnolls, forced to serve as laborers, porters, or expendable frontline soldiers.
In other words. They were cannon fodder. The perfect monster for beginners to farm.
THUD!
Don's punch landed squarely against the creature's chest.
The impact produced a dull sound as the Brugg staggered backward several steps.
[47!]
The creature wobbled clumsily, its body swaying as it struggled to regain its balance. A low snarl escaped its throat as it bared its small, crooked teeth.
Then it lunged forward in retaliation.
Its claws sliced through the air toward Don's chest.
This time. Don didn't dodge.
SCRATCH!
The creature's claws raked across his armor with a scraping sound. A faint burning sensation spread across his chest.
[7!]
The damage number floating in the air was almost laughable.
But Don's expression didn't change in the slightest.
His leg moved again. He was fast, precise and explosive.
BANG!
[49!]
The Brugg Trainee was launched backward once more, its body skidding violently across the ground before rolling to a stop several meters away.
This time. It didn't move again.
A brief silence followed.
Then...
A beam of golden light suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping Don's body in a warm glow.
The sensation felt strangely refreshing, as if every muscle in his body had just been revitalized.
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2!]
Don exhaled slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
'Full Strength build… This feels amazing.'
The power difference was obvious.
Even these early monsters couldn't withstand more than a couple of hits from him.
If he could maintain this pace, level quickly, acquire stronger equipment and continue stacking Strength. Then whether grinding monsters or fighting other players… his damage output would become terrifying.
Without hesitation, Don opened his stat panel.
Five newly earned attribute points appeared before him.
He didn't even need to think. All five. Directly into Strength.
The moment the allocation confirmed, his physical attack value surged upward.
[Physical Attack: 90]
Don slowly clenched his fist. The difference was immediate. His muscles felt tighter.
More responsive. More powerful. Around him, the once quiet forest was beginning to change.
More and more players were spawning into the area, their figures appearing in flashes of light as they entered the game world for the first time.
Voices echoed through the trees.
Shouts. Excited laughter. Confusion.
Some players had already begun fighting over newly spawned monsters, rushing forward the moment a creature appeared.
Others tried to steal kills. A few even started arguing.
The early game had always been like this. Everyone wanted an advantage. Everyone wanted to level faster than everyone else.
Don had no interest in competing here. Without hesitation. He moved.
His body burst forward like a gust of wind.
Ahead of him, a small cluster of newly spawned Brugg Trainees had just appeared.
Don rushed straight into them. His fists and kicks moved in rapid succession.
POW!
POW!
POW!
Like falling rain.
The Bruggs barely had time to react before his attacks landed.
One after another. Their bodies were knocked backward.
Their health bars emptied.
And their forms dissolved into fragments of data.
Don's experience bar rose rapidly.
Kill after kill.
Hit after hit.
Within a short period of time...
[Level 3.]
Only then did he slow down.
Returning to the area he had just cleared, Don calmly collected the drops scattered across the ground.
Copper coins. More copper coins. But no equipment.
Even after defeating seven or eight monsters. Not a single gear drop.
Don frowned slightly. 'Bad luck.'
By now, the forest had become crowded.
The once spacious grinding area was now packed with players running in every direction.
Continuing to farm here would only slow him down.
Without hesitation. Don turned and walked toward the small stream ahead.
As he moved, he opened the map interface.