Lucas left Mason Blake's team behind in high spirits, cutting alone through the wilderness toward Eastfall Valley.
As he walked, he replayed the earlier scene in his head—the stunned expressions, the disbelief, the quiet fear masked behind forced confidence. When they'd discovered the corpse of the man swallowed by the serpent—and realized the creature had been killed cleanly, efficiently, by a single individual—their reactions had been priceless.
Lucas smirked to himself.
"Not bad," he muttered. "Staying invisible has its perks."
The morning air was cool, carrying the scent of damp soil and crushed leaves. Sunlight filtered through scattered clouds, illuminating the endless stretch of plains ahead. Beyond that, a darker, denser forest loomed—the threshold to something far more dangerous.
He adjusted the blades at his sides and quickened his pace.
His body felt lighter now, stronger. Every step was controlled, efficient. The enhancements from his talents had begun to synchronize, transforming him from a cautious scavenger into something far more capable—a hunter.
"Let's see what this valley's hiding…"
But just as he reached the edge of the plains and prepared to enter the forest—
A blur of black tore through the underbrush.
It stopped directly in front of him.
Lucas froze.
"What the—"
The creature stood low, muscles coiled like springs. It resembled a wolf, but far from natural. Its fur was pitch-black, absorbing light instead of reflecting it. Jagged bone-like spines jutted from its back, shifting slightly as it breathed. Its crimson eyes locked onto Lucas with predatory focus.
The air grew tense.
Lucas didn't move. Slowly, he activated his skill.
"Delusion Sight."
A faint shimmer passed over his vision.
[Beast]: Shadowthorn Wolf (Mutated)
[Level]: 1
[Combat Rating]: 4-Star (Peak)
[Traits]: Bloodlust, Bone Spike Burst
[Weakness]: Old wound along right side
Lucas's expression sharpened.
"Four-star… peak."
This wasn't like the others.
This thing could kill him if he made a mistake.
But…
His grip tightened on his blades.
"So could I."
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
The wolf growled—a low, vibrating sound—and then vanished.
Not literally.
Just fast.
Lucas reacted instantly, activating Velocity Surge. His body snapped sideways just as claws slashed through the space where he'd stood.
CRACK!
The ground split under the force.
"Fast," Lucas muttered, eyes narrowing.
The wolf twisted mid-air, landing lightly before launching again. This time, the bone spurs along its back rose—
And fired.
Dozens of sharp projectiles shot toward him.
"Seriously?!"
Lucas dropped and rolled, the spikes embedding into the earth behind him with dull thuds. One grazed his sleeve, slicing fabric cleanly.
No hesitation now.
He surged forward.
"Power Burst."
Strength flooded his limbs.
He closed the distance in a heartbeat, blades flashing toward the wolf's flank—its weak point.
The beast reacted, twisting violently, but it was too late.
Slash!
Steel met flesh.
Blood sprayed.
The wolf howled, its movements turning frenzied. It lunged again and again, faster, more aggressive—but less controlled.
Lucas adapted.
Step. Dodge. Counter.
He didn't rush. Didn't panic.
He waited.
Watched.
Calculated.
Then—
"There."
The opening appeared.
Lucas moved.
Both blades came down with precision, striking the injured flank simultaneously.
CRACK.
The sound was subtle—but final.
The wolf collapsed mid-motion, momentum carrying it forward before it slammed into the ground.
Silence followed.
Lucas stood still for a moment, breathing steadily.
Then—
A soft glow rose from the corpse and merged into him.
[You have defeated: Shadowthorn Wolf (Mutated)]
[Experience gained: 80]
[Level Up!] → Level 4
[All attributes +1]
"Nice."
Lucas exhaled, rolling his shoulders as the surge of energy coursed through him.
No time wasted—he stepped forward and placed a hand on the corpse.
"plunder ."
A faint glow flickered.
[Plunder Successful]
Speed +2
Lucas flexed his fingers.
"Even better."
Before he could move on, however—
The sky seemed to vibrate.
A deep, authoritative voice echoed across the battlefield.
[Global Notice – Novice Village 888]
A participant has reached Level 3.
Level Rankings are now unlocked.
Lucas blinked.
"Rankings?"
Curious, he summoned his interface and opened the new tab.
A list appeared.
[Level Rankings – Novice Village 888]
Daniel Cross — Level 3
Ethan Cole — Level 2
Marcus Hale — Level 2
Victor Shaw — Level 2
…
Lucas Reign— Level 1
"…What?"
Lucas stared.
Then looked again.
Then laughed.
"Level 1?"
He checked his own panel.
Level 4.
He checked again.
Still Level 4.
"Okay… that's not right."
He leaned against a tree, thinking.
"System glitch?"
Unlikely.
"The ranking only shows… surface data?"
That made more sense.
If the system couldn't fully evaluate his abilities—especially his SSS-tier talent—then his displayed level might not reflect reality.
Which meant…
His expression shifted into a slow, knowing smile.
"I'm invisible on the leaderboard?."
A pause.
"…That's actually perfect."
No attention.
No pressure.
No one hunting him down.
Meanwhile, he kept growing stronger in the background.
Lucas chuckled.
"Guess I'm playing hidden boss now."
As if on cue, the Heavenly Voice spoke again.
[Announcement]
Level Rush Rewards Activated
1st to Level 10 → Gold Chest
2nd → Silver Chest
3rd → 3 Bronze Chests
4th–10th → 2 Bronze Chests
11th–100th → 1 Bronze Chest
Chest Tiers:
Black Iron < Bronze < Silver < Gold < Dark Gold < Diamond < Epic < Mythic
Lucas's eyes sharpened.
"Gold chest…"
Now that was worth chasing.
The rewards alone could change everything.
He glanced back at the rankings.
Level 3 at the top.
"I'm already ahead."
A quiet confidence settled in.
But he didn't get careless.
This world punished mistakes.
Still…
The advantage was his.
"Alright," he said, stepping forward into the forest's shadow. "Time to hunt properly."
The trees closed in around him, light fading as the canopy thickened overhead.
The air grew heavier.
Quieter.
More dangerous.
Lucas adjusted his grip on his blades.
Eyes sharp.
Senses active.
Every step deliberate.
"Eastfall Valley…"
A faint grin returned.
"I'm taking everything you've got."
And with that, Lucas Reign disappeared into the depths of the forest—unseen, untracked, and far more dangerous than anyone on the rankings could possibly imagine.