The forest was quiet that night, save for the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush. Lucien sat under a wide, moss-covered tree, his arms crossed behind his head, eyes on the dark canopy above. His body ached from swinging the sword for five long hours earlier, but his heart was pounding—not from exhaustion, but from excitement.
He felt... ready.
"System."
He whispered, half-expecting no response in the calm of the woods.
DING!
Quest: Trial by Hunt
Objective: Hunt and defeat a D-Rank beast
Time Left: 28 Hours
Reward:
• Level Up (Skip 4 levels)
• Significant boost to Mana and Stamina
• Newbie Scroll: Blood Sword Technique – Second Form
"Still some time left. Might as well make the most of it."
He rose, stretched his stiff limbs, and got back to work. The red blade in his hands hummed as if sensing his resolve. He practiced his swings with renewed focus, each movement sharper, faster, more precise. Hours slipped by as the number of swings piled up.
After five hours, he finally slumped to the ground and took out the wrapped food he had brought from the palace. Dry meat, bread, and a flask of sweetened water. It wasn't fancy, but it was enough. He ate, leaned back, and watched as the first rays of the morning sun pierced through the thick trees.
He sighed, feeling his strength slowly returning. The fatigue dulled. The pain was... manageable.
"Alright."
He said, standing up and cracking his neck.
"Let's find you, piggy."
Lucien roamed along the forest's edge, cautious not to venture too deep. He wasn't stupid. D-rank beast or not, getting ambushed would be game over. As he strolled and kept his guard up, the system chimed.
He defeated some low leverl monsters doing side quests and leveling up.
DING!
Side Quests Completed!
Level Up!
Level Up!
"Huh? Show me my status."
Name: Lucien Graycliff
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: [Useless Prince]
Class: Swordsman
Level: 4
Skills: Blood Vein Slash (Affinity – 96%)
Trait: Phantom Edge
Mana: 11/20
Stamina: 11/22
Status: Alive (Nervous)
His invisible armor had proven itself more times than he could count, absorbing impacts that would have broken his bones. It was scratched and dented by now, but still holding strong.
Armor Durability: 77/100
"Still good enough. Guess it's time."
The countdown continued.
Time Remaining: 15 Hours
The early light of dawn crept over the treetops, yet the woods were still dark and damp. Lucien walked cautiously, eyes scanning every bush and shadow. He tapped into the system once more.
"Can you help me find it?"
System:Navigation is difficult in wild zones, but one target is within 500 meters.
He gripped his sword tighter.
"That close, huh?"
Another few minutes of walking, and then—a roar. Loud. Guttural. The ground shook with the force of it.
Lucien turned sharply. A massive figure emerged from between the trees, leaves and dust flying into the air.
The D-Rank Boar.
Its eyes were glowing with rage, tusks long and jagged like broken swords. Its muscles rippled under thick, armored skin, and deep scars ran across its body. The beast was larger than any creature Lucien had seen so far, standing almost his height at the shoulder. And that wasn't even counting its horned forehead.
The D-Rank boar wasn't just large—it was monstrous. Its tusks were jagged and blackened, curved upward like ancient, cursed blades. Veins pulsed across its snout, and its small, glowing eyes burned like red-hot embers under the dark sky.
Each breath it exhaled puffed like smoke, its nostrils flaring as if sniffing out Lucien's fear.
The roar sent birds scattering. Lucien instinctively stepped back, heart hammering.
System Warning:Host is advised to stay calm. Fear will only hinder your reaction time.
He gritted his teeth.
"Right... Right. I'm not the same weakling I was."
The boar charged.
Lucien dove to the side just in time as the beast's tusks scraped across a thick tree, slicing it in two. Bark and wood splintered into the air.
He rolled, stood up, and faced the monster again.
"System! Phantom Edge, can I use it?"
System:Host has the Trait, but chance of activation in real combat is extremely low.
"Figures. Worth asking!"
The beast roared again, then lunged.
Lucien parried, barely dodging its claws, rolled like some elden ring player. It was fast—unreasonably fast. Like fighting a small truck with blades.
Every time the beast paused, he noticed its underside slightly exposed.
"That's it. The belly!"
Lucien ducked under another swing and lunged forward, sword ready.
'Blood Sword Technique – First Form: Blood Vein Slash!'
The red aura exploded from his blade as he brought it down on the boar's side.
SLASH!
The beast cried out, blood spraying from the wound. It stumbled, but didn't fall.
Lucien's grin faltered.
"You're kidding. That didn't take it down?"
Then—
BAM!
The boar retaliated. With a brutal swing of its massive head, it launched Lucien into the air.
He crashed into a tree with a sickening thud, the wind knocked clean out of him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He dropped to the ground, clutching his chest. Blood seeped through his clothes. His back was bruised, possibly fractured.
System Alert:Warning. Host severely injured.
He gasped, vision blurring. The armor absorbed much of the blow, but not all. His health was in critical condition.
But his fingers still held the sword. His eyes still burned with defiance.
Lucien coughed, slowly dragging himself back up, leaning against his weapon like a crutch.
"Still... not done yet."