The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 1: Beginning Arc
Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins
The celebration was loud.
Voices filled the air.
"HURRAY!"
"We survived!"
Laughter echoed through the village.
People gathered together.
Some hugged each other tightly.
Some sat down, still shaking.
Some just stared at the sky like they had been given another life.
Everyone smiled.
Everyone laughed.
Relief replaced fear.
Hope replaced despair.
But I stood there…
silent.
Still.
Unmoving.
The sound of celebration felt distant.
Like it didn't belong to me.
My eye moved toward the forest.
Dark.
Still.
Waiting.
Not peaceful anymore.
Not distant anymore.
Watching.
I clenched my hand.
The pain from yesterday still lingered.
The blood.
The loss.
The truth.
"Now… I have to become stronger."
The words formed naturally.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"I will conquer this forest."
Not for glory.
Not for power.
For survival.
For them.
For what comes next.
—
The next morning—
The village was quieter.
Not silent.
But calmer.
The excitement from yesterday had faded.
Replaced by something else.
Respect.
Caution.
Unspoken understanding.
I prepared.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Food.
Enough for days.
Water.
Essential.
Sword.
Not perfect.
Not balanced.
Not crafted for war.
But enough.
More than what I had before.
More than a farming tool.
I adjusted my grip.
Tested the weight.
It felt different.
Heavier.
But reliable.
I turned once.
The village stood behind me.
Familiar.
Warm.
Safe.
People noticed.
Some looked at me.
Some avoided my gaze.
Some understood.
I spoke quietly.
"Take care."
No one stopped me.
No one told me not to go.
Because they knew.
If I didn't go—
something worse would come.
Then—
I stepped into the forest.
—
The air changed.
Immediately.
Heavy.
Cold.
Alive.
The light dimmed slightly.
Not because of darkness—
But because something blocked it.
The trees stood taller.
Closer.
Watching.
The ground felt different under my feet.
Uneven.
Unpredictable.
Every step mattered.
Rustle.
A sound.
Low.
Sharp.
Then—
Growl.
Deep.
Hungry.
[Monsters Detected]
Name: Fang Wolves
Levels: 12, 14, 16, 19
A pack.
Four.
They surrounded me.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
Eyes glowing.
Sharp.
Focused.
Teeth exposed.
Wet.
Ready.
"Grrrrrr…"
Their breathing was heavy.
Controlled.
They weren't rushing.
They were hunting.
"RRAAAHH!"
They attacked.
All at once.
One jumped.
Fast.
Direct.
I stepped aside—
Barely.
The timing was tight.
Too close.
Slash!
The blade cut clean.
[Enemy Defeated]
Fang Wolf (Lv.12)
+120 EXP
No pause.
Another rushed.
Lower.
Faster.
I ducked—
My body reacted faster than thought.
Cut upward!
The blade connected.
[Enemy Defeated]
Fang Wolf (Lv.14)
+150 EXP
Two left.
They didn't hesitate.
Didn't fear.
Didn't retreat.
They roared together.
"GRAAAAAAA!"
Both attacked at the same time.
From different angles.
I moved back—
But not enough.
Too slow.
Claws tore through my shoulder.
Pain exploded.
Sharp.
Burning.
Blood spilled instantly.
Warm.
Heavy.
My grip tightened.
And—
I smiled slightly.
"Good…"
This was real.
This was necessary.
I stepped forward.
Not away.
Inside their attack.
Closer.
Where they didn't expect.
Slash!
The blade cut deep.
[Enemy Defeated]
Fang Wolf (Lv.16)
+180 EXP
The last one stopped.
Just for a moment.
Fear.
A small pause.
A hesitation.
I didn't.
Dash.
Close distance instantly.
Strike.
[Enemy Defeated]
Fang Wolf (Lv.19)
+220 EXP
Silence returned.
Brief.
Sharp.
[EXP Gained: 670]
[Level Up!]
Level 38 → Level 42
I exhaled.
Slowly.
"Too easy…"
But my body disagreed.
Pain spread.
Blood continued to drip.
This wasn't easy.
It was necessary.
—
Time passed.
The forest grew deeper.
Darker.
More dangerous.
More monsters appeared.
More fights.
More wounds.
More experience.
Then—
Something different.
[Enemy Detected]
Shadow Lynx (Lv.21)
It didn't move.
It didn't rush.
It vanished.
Completely.
No sound.
No trace.
Then—
Behind me.
"SKREEEE!"
I turned—
Too late.
Claws tore across my back.
Deep.
Sharp.
Pain surged instantly.
I spun—
No delay.
Slash!
The blade cut through its body.
[Enemy Defeated]
Shadow Lynx (Lv.21)
+300 EXP
[Level Up!]
Level 42 → Level 45
My breathing grew heavier.
The fights were changing.
Faster.
Smarter.
More dangerous.
Then—
The ground shook.
Heavy steps.
Multiple.
Not one.
Several.
[Monsters Detected]
Name: Redfang Alpha Pack
Levels: 25, 27, 30, 33
Stronger.
Much stronger.
Their presence alone—
Was different.
Denser.
Sharper.
They didn't surround slowly.
They didn't wait.
"ROOOOOAR!"
They charged.
Direct.
Aggressive.
Relentless.
One lunged first.
Fast.
I blocked—
Impact!
My arm shook violently.
The force pushed me back slightly.
Another aimed for my neck.
I tilted—
Barely avoided it.
Too close.
Third hit my side.
Pain exploded again.
My body slid across the ground.
Dust rose.
Blood followed.
I stood.
Slow.
Unsteady.
Breathing heavy.
Blood dripping.
"Ha…"
A breath escaped.
"Now this is a fight."
They came again.
No hesitation.
No fear.
I moved.
Forward.
Slash!
[Enemy Defeated]
Redfang Wolf (Lv.25)
+400 EXP
Another jumped.
Mid-air.
I rolled under—
Cut upward.
The blade connected clean.
[Enemy Defeated]
Redfang Wolf (Lv.27)
+450 EXP
Two left.
Level 30.
Level 33.
They slowed.
Not fear.
Awareness.
They were watching.
Studying.
Then—
Together.
"RAAAAAAA!"
They attacked.
Perfect timing.
I stepped forward.
Not back.
Clash.
Claw met blade.
My arm shook again.
Pain spread through it.
But I didn't stop.
I couldn't.
Slash!
[Enemy Defeated]
Redfang Wolf (Lv.30)
+500 EXP
The last one roared.
Loud.
Furious.
We moved at the same time.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Final strike.
The blade cut through.
[Enemy Defeated]
Redfang Wolf (Lv.33)
+600 EXP
Silence.
Complete.
The forest paused.
Just for a moment.
I stood there.
Barely.
Blood covered my body.
My breathing was rough.
My body heavy.
Then—
[EXP Gained: 1950]
[Level Up!]
Level 45 → Level 53
Power surged.
My body stabilized slightly.
The pain didn't disappear.
But I could stand.
I exhaled slowly.
"Still… not enough."
The forest ahead remained.
Endless.
Unforgiving.
I turned back.
Step.
By.
Step.
Each movement slower than before.
But steady.
When I reached the village—
They saw me.
The moment I appeared.
Silence spread.
No cheers this time.
No laughter.
Only shock.
I was injured.
Covered in blood.
My clothes torn.
My body marked.
But alive.
Still standing.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
Their eyes said everything.
I didn't need to speak.
Because they already knew.
This path—
Had already begun.
Chapter End
I returned… injured.
But stronger.
Level 53.
Next Chapter: The Sword Awakening: Sokaru