— First Hunt
Beyond the outer walls of Lamul, where the influence of the city weakened and nature reclaimed dominance, stretched the vast expanse of the Rafom Forest.
This was where survival truly began.
In the outer layer of the forest, Grade 1 beasts roamed freely—ranging from early stage to peak stage. Though considered the weakest among beasts, they were still deadly to unprepared cultivators.
Nahil and Dron arrived at the meeting point.
Two figures were already waiting beneath a tall, crooked tree.
Twins.
As Nahil approached, one of them glanced at him and spoke bluntly,
"You are Qi third stage… don't hold us back."
The tone was neither mocking nor friendly—just direct.
Nahil looked at him.
He said nothing.
Silence was his answer.
The second twin smirked slightly and looked at Dron.
"So, you're friends with this fatty? This your first time hunting?"
Dron frowned instantly. "Who are you calling fatty?"
Ignoring him, the twin continued.
Nahil replied calmly,
"Yes. His father and my father are friends."
A brief pause.
"Yes… it's my first time."
The twins exchanged a glance.
"Lawn," said the first.
"Clwan," said the second.
Nahil nodded. "Nahil Dragsen."
No more words were needed.
They turned and began moving toward the forest.
—
As they stepped deeper into Rafom Forest, the atmosphere changed.
The air grew heavier.
The sounds of the city vanished completely, replaced by rustling leaves, distant growls, and the occasional snap of branches underfoot.
The group moved cautiously.
After some time, Lawn spoke,
"There are rumors going around."
Nahil looked ahead. "What rumors?"
"A peak-stage Grade one beast has been seen in the outer region."
Clwan added, "Several hunters have died recently."
The group slowed slightly.
The tension rose.
Then—
Dron burst into laughter.
"With me here, what can a peak-stage beast do?" he said loudly. "I'll smash its head with my big carrot!"
Clwan glanced at him.
"Your carrot is too small."
Nahil added calmly, "Your carrot will get eaten before it hits the beast."
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then Lawn let out a quiet laugh.
Dron's face turned red.
"You guys are too much."
Despite his complaints, the mood lightened slightly.
Nahil observed them quietly.
They spoke casually, joked even in danger—
But they were alert.
Careful.
Reliable.
"They're not bad…"
He thought.
Dron waved his hand. "Let's move. We don't have much time. We need to return before dusk."
"Yeah," Lawn said.
They continued forward.
—
After walking for nearly half an hour, Nahil suddenly stopped.
His hand lifted slightly.
"Wait."
The others froze instantly.
Ahead—
Something moved.
In a small clearing, partially hidden by bushes, a beast slowly stepped forward.
It was about the size of a large dog.
A single sharp horn extended from its head.
Its skin was thick, rough, almost like stone.
Its mouth opened slightly, revealing rows of sharp, uneven teeth.
"It's a Gamio," Lawn whispered.
"Middle-stage Grade One," Clwan added.
Dron grinned. "Perfect."
Nahil's gaze sharpened.
"Positions."
The others instinctively looked at him.
There was a brief hesitation.
Then they moved.
Dron stepped forward, gathering Qi into his arms.
Lawn circled left.
Clwan moved right.
Nahil remained slightly behind.
Observing.
Waiting.
"Hey!" Dron shouted. "Come here, ugly thing!"
The Gamio reacted instantly.
Its head snapped toward him.
A low growl escaped its throat.
Then it charged.
Fast.
Much faster than expected.
Dron's expression changed slightly as he braced himself.
The beast slammed into him.
A heavy impact.
Dron slid back a step but held his ground.
"Now!" Nahil called.
Lawn and Clwan moved simultaneously.
Lawn struck first, his Qi-infused attack landing on the beast's side.
A dull thud echoed.
Clwan followed, aiming for its leg.
The Gamio roared, twisting violently.
Its horn slashed toward Lawn.
"Watch it!"
Lawn jumped back just in time.
Clwan stepped in, blocking with a reinforced strike.
Sparks of Qi scattered.
The beast's defense was strong.
"Too tough," Lawn muttered.
Nahil's eyes narrowed.
He watched every movement.
The way it shifted its weight.
The timing of its attacks.
The slight delay when it turned.
"There…"
A small opening.
He moved.
Wind Qi surged beneath his feet.
His speed increased instantly.
He circled behind the beast, his presence almost unnoticed.
The Gamio was focused on Dron.
"Again!" Dron shouted, pushing forward.
The beast responded, lunging at him once more.
At that moment—
Nahil struck.
His hand, coated in controlled Qi, aimed precisely at the weaker point near the base of the neck.
A sharp impact.
The beast staggered.
Its balance broke for a fraction of a second.
"Now!" Nahil shouted.
Dron didn't hesitate.
"With my carrot!" ( Sword)
He swung both arms down with full force.
This time—
The strike landed clean.
A heavy crack echoed.
The Gamio collapsed to the ground, its body twitching once before going still.
Silence.
The forest seemed to pause.
Then—
Dron burst out laughing.
"We did it!"
Lawn exhaled. "That was close."
Clwan nodded. "But clean."
Nahil looked at the beast.
No injuries.
Efficient teamwork.
Better than expected.
"Good," he said simply.
Dron puffed his chest. "Of course it's good. With me here—"
"Your carrot saved us," Clwan said dryly.
Dron smirked proudly.
They approached the body.
Dron took out a storage ring.
A faint glow appeared as the Gamio's body vanished inside.
"Two cubic meters of space ," he said. "We can still store a few more."
Nahil looked at the sky through the trees.
The light had begun to shift.
Time was passing.
Dron grinned again.
"Let's keep going. We still have two hours before dusk."
Nahil nodded.
"Yes."
His eyes moved deeper into the forest.
This was only the beginning.
And something within him—
A faint, quiet sensation—
Seemed to stir.
The hunt had just started.