Adam crouched low in the bushes, his eyes fixed on the battlefield before him. The clearing was silent now except for the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
He had just fought and defeated the five Fang Wolves that had attacked him.
Their wild eyes and sharp fangs were now still, and Adam felt a surge of satisfaction fill his chest. He allowed himself a small, contented smile. His heart pounded with the thrill of victory as he looked over the fallen creatures.
Taking a deep breath, Adam slowly rose from his hiding spot. With careful steps, he made his way toward the group of lifeless wolves.
Each step was measured, as if he did not want to disturb the strange calm that had fallen over the clearing. As he approached the bodies, something unexpected caught his eye.
The bodies of the Fang Wolves began to shimmer with a faint blue light. The light was soft at first, but it grew stronger and brighter with every passing moment.
Adam stood still for a moment, unsure of what he was witnessing.
The blue glow spread over the dead bodies, and then, in a blink, the wolf corpses started to break apart. Tiny particles of light drifted away like sparkling dust in the air.
Soon, the bodies had completely vanished, leaving behind nothing but a gentle glow that slowly faded into the surrounding forest.
In their place, small piles of loot appeared neatly on the forest floor.
Curiosity burned in Adam's eyes as he moved closer to the piles. He knelt down beside one of them and carefully inspected the items.
There, among the loose treasures, were 25 copper coins, two Fang Wolf fangs—an item that was known to be very rare—and some raw Fang Wolf meat.
Adam's heart skipped a beat with excitement; even though he had just fought for his life, the reward was well worth the effort.
Not waiting for any further explanation, Adam began to check the other piles. Almost as if by magic, a blue system window appeared right before him. The window showed his progress in a neat, organized manner:
[Congratulations, AlphaBoss! You have collected:
10 Fang Wolf Fangs
2.5 kg of Raw Fang Wolf Meat
125 Copper Coins.]
A soft chime rang out, and the loot was automatically transferred to his inventory. Adam's grin widened as he took in the pleasant surprise of the reward.
"Not bad," he muttered quietly, proud of his accomplishment and the turn of events that had led to his current success.
Adam's steps grew lighter as he recalled each moment of the battle. He remembered the flash of the Fang Wolves' eyes and the rush of his own adrenaline as he moved quickly to dodge their attacks.
The blue light and the automatic system message made it all seem even more real.
He could not help but wonder what magic or technology was behind the strange transformation of the wolf bodies into valuable items.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Still pleased with himself, Adam decided it was time to check on his progress. "Status window," he said aloud, his voice steady.
Instantly, another blue screen materialized in the air before him. This screen was familiar, a constant companion on his adventures, displaying his stats and information in clear, simple text:
---
Name: AlphaBoss
Species: Human
Class: Administrator
Level: 1
Experience: 2500/100
HP: 50/100
MP: 10/100
Physical Stats:
Stamina: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Luck: 3
Skills:
Reality Manipulation (Level 1) - Cooldown: 22 hours remaining
Mark and Attack
---
Adam studied the interface with satisfaction. The numbers and skills were a reminder of the early stages of the game.
"I've accumulated quite a bit of experience," he whispered to himself, a hint of pride in his tone.
He knew that in these early levels, it was easier to gain experience points, but that soon, the path ahead would grow tougher.
His mind raced with thoughts of future battles and challenges. However, for now, his victory and the rewards made everything seem possible.
After a few moments of reflection, Adam dismissed the status window and began his journey back to the Beginner Village.
His mind was still buzzing with the excitement of his victory and the wonders of the blue light magic that had just taken place.
He took slow, careful steps along the familiar forest path. His eyes occasionally drifted to the ground, keeping track of the trail and noting every small detail of the forest that surrounded him.
Before long, a new presence in the forest caught his attention. As he walked, he noticed another figure ahead—a player who, unlike the wild creatures he had just fought, looked calm and confident.
The player was a young woman. Adam paused, his instincts alert as he tried to assess her. She had long, striking golden hair that shone brightly in the dappled sunlight.
In her hand, she held a sword that looked both well-worn and well-cared for, an indication of her skill and experience.
The moment her eyes met his, her face showed a look of surprise.
For a split second, she seemed unsure, as if trying to remember something important.
Then she spoke, almost as if the answer was on the tip of her tongue. "You ventured deeper into the forest, didn't you?" she asked, her voice carrying both curiosity and a hint of caution.
Adam did not reply right away. Instead, he fixed his gaze on her, trying to read her intentions.
The forest around them was quiet, and the only sounds were the soft footsteps of each of them on the leaf-covered ground. After a brief silence, the young woman's eyes traveled down to his outfit.
She took in every detail—the dark fabric, the subtle enhancements that hinted at stealth and agility—and her expression softened from surprise to genuine admiration.
"You must be a pro player," she said, her tone warm and impressed. "To have such an advanced set of equipment right after the game's release… it's incredible." Her voice was friendly, and a small smile began to form on her lips as she stepped closer.
"Hi," she said, "My name's Kamiko."
At that moment, Adam's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the name. In the back of his mind, memories from his previous life began to stir.
He recalled that Kamiko was destined to become one of the top members of the Ten Petal Guild, a powerful and influential group in the game's future.
Even in the early days, her reputation was well known to those who had played for a long time. She was known for her sharp mind, her resourcefulness, and her ability to take advantage of any situation.
These qualities made her a force to be reckoned with, and Adam felt a mix of respect and caution in meeting her.
For a moment, Adam stood silently, his mind racing as he thought about all the possibilities this encounter might bring. He knew that meeting someone as important as Kamiko early in the game could change many things.
Kamiko, noticing the slight change in his expression, tilted her head and gave him a curious look. "I'm sorry," she said softly, "did I startle you? I did not mean to catch you off guard." Her tone was gentle, and she took a step back, giving him space to think.
Adam stands quietly after hearing Kamiko's words.
Kamiko's eyes sparkled as she continued, "I have been exploring the forest and looking for hidden treasures, and I could not help but notice your equipment. It seems you know your way around."
She paused, as if weighing her words, then added, "Maybe we can help each other on our journeys."
