The moment froze in time. Their breaths hitched, their hearts pounding in their chests as they stared in utter disbelief. The small monster—this strange, humanoid creature—had just done something impossible. It had reached into thin air, and in an instant, something materialized in its hands. A device.
Not just any device.
It resembled a telephone—a sleek, alien contraption with buttons that flickered under its fingers. The group exchanged glances, struggling to process what they were seeing. But the real shock came moments later.
With practiced familiarity, the creature pressed the buttons, and the device spoke. The sound was neither purely mechanical nor completely organic—it was something in between. A voice coated in a strange distortion, robotic yet unmistakably sentient.
They listened, but none of them recognized the language. Not a single word felt familiar. It was unlike anything they had ever heard before.
Haruto clenched his fists, his thoughts racing. Was this proof that they had left Earth far behind? That this wasn't just some bizarre survival game, but a world entirely foreign to them?
The creature finished its conversation. Without hesitation, it reached out once more, and another device appeared—a hoverboard. In an effortless motion, it stepped onto the floating contraption, and before they could blink, it ascended into the sky.
They watched in silence as the figure disappeared beyond the treetops, the faint hum of the hoverboard fading into the distance.
Their minds were a battlefield of conflicting emotions.
Hope. The aliens had technology. That meant there was a chance—however small—that these beings might have the means to help them return to Earth.
Fear. If these creatures were hostile, if they saw humans as nothing more than prey, then this survival ordeal had just become even more terrifying.
Would they even stand a chance against such beings? Even if all of them leveled up, would it ever be enough?
A heavy silence settled over the group. They exchanged uncertain looks, the reality of their situation weighing down on them.
"We can't risk making contact," Haruto finally spoke, voice tight with hesitation. "If we approach them without understanding their intentions… it could be suicide."
The others nodded, reluctant but resigned. They had to remain hidden—not just from monsters, but from aliens too.
But now, a new objective loomed before them.
If these aliens were advanced enough to possess technology that defied logic, they had to find a way to communicate. A way to understand them.
For now, they could only prepare.
The Next Hunt Begins
Suppressing their swirling thoughts, they turned their attention back to their original goal—finding another monster to hunt. This time, with three weapons at their disposal, the battle would be easier. Or at least, they hoped so.
It took two long hours before they finally spotted their next prey.
A creature stood in the shadows—blue-skinned, red-eyed, long-eared. Its slender legs twitched as it prowled forward, its movements eerily feline yet unmistakably canine. A hybrid—something between a cat and a dog.
Just as they prepared to strike, John stepped forward.
"I'll fight instead of Ayan," he announced, gripping the sword with determination.
Ayan frowned. "You haven't even leveled up."
John met his gaze, unwavering. "Neither have you. And you got injured blocking that last monster."
A hushed pause followed. The group turned toward Ayan, processing the revelation.
When Hye Rin knelt beside him, carefully inspecting his leg, the tension thickened.
"You're hurt." Her voice carried quiet concern.
Ayan tried to protest, but the deep bruising around his ankle was undeniable—almost broken.
She fixed him with a sharp look. "You should have told us."
"I didn't even realize it was broken," he admitted, frustration lacing his words.
Without argument, they bandaged his leg, forcing him to sit out the next hunt.
The moment served as a wake-up call for the group. They had been relying on Ayan too much, forcing him to bear the brunt of responsibility.
But if they were truly going to survive, they needed to be stronger.
They had to share the burden.
The Battle Amid the Trees
John, Haruto, and Luca stepped forward, the new hunting team.
John wielded the sword. Luca took the spear. Haruto gripped the shield.
This time, the battlefield was different—thick forests, towering trees stretching toward the sky. An advantage for hiding. A disadvantage for movement.
When they neared the creature, Luca launched the first attack, his spear slicing through the air.
The monster dodged—fast—but the back of its body tore slightly, sending it into a frenzy.
With rage burning in its glowing eyes, the beast retaliated, lunging toward Luca.
But before the strike landed, Haruto threw himself in front, shield raised high.
The impact sent a jolt through him, but he held firm.
John saw the opening. In one swift motion, he sliced through the monster's hind leg, crippling its movement.
The trio jumped back, reassessing.
Luca repositioned himself, spear in hand, while Haruto hurled his shield toward the creature.
The monster leapt—dodging—but Luca was ready.
His spear struck true.
The weapon buried itself deep into the monster's belly, creating a gruesome wound.
John wasted no time. He sprinted forward, blade flashing, severing all of its legs in one final blow.
The monster collapsed, its breath ragged.
They signaled the rest of the group, beckoning them forward to finish the job.
Ayan—now slightly recovered—took the sword.
His injury may have slowed him, but the momentum of leveling up coursed through his veins.
With one powerful stroke, he ended the monster's life.
Reflections and Realizations
A strange voice echoed:
"You killed an ordinary-class monster: 'Scramper.'"
"No killing reward obtained."
"You earned 100 experience points and leveled up."
As Ayan processed the sensation of leveling up, he felt it—a surge of power, a shift in his body.
A new strength awakening within him.
But as they glanced toward the setting sun, reality struck once more.
Four days had passed since they arrived.
The food from Earth was running low.
Soon, they would have no choice but to eat monster meat.
The thought lingered uneasily as they returned to their cave.
Tonight, they slept—but the weight of uncertainty was heavier than ever.