Adam stayed crouched low in the bushes, hidden well by the thick leaves and branches. His sharp eyes were fixed, focused intensely, on the scene right in front of him, the battlefield where he had just fought. The clearing was silent now, the only sound the soft, gentle rustling of leaves as the wind blew through the trees.
He had just finished fighting and defeating the five Fang Wolves that had attacked him after he provoked them by killing their leader. It had been a quick, fierce fight, full of action and adrenaline. Their wild eyes, which had looked so dangerous just moments ago, and their sharp fangs were now still, lifeless, no longer a threat.
As he looked over the fallen creatures, Adam felt a surge, a rush, of deep satisfaction fill his chest. He allowed himself a small, satisfied smile, a quiet moment of pride in his accomplishment. His heart was still pounding a little, but now it was with the thrill of victory, the feeling of having won.
Taking a deep breath, Adam slowly rose from his hiding spot behind the bushes. He moved carefully now, stepping out into the clearing where the wolf bodies lay. Each step he took was measured, thoughtful, almost as if he didn't want to disturb the strange calm and silence that had fallen over the clearing after the fight ended. He approached the bodies of the wolves, his eyes still watching them.
As he got closer to where the wolf corpses were lying, something unexpected happened. Something caught his eye that he didn't fully remember from the old game, or perhaps hadn't noticed clearly before. The bodies of the Fang Wolves, all five of them, began to shimmer, to glow softly, with a faint blue light. The light was very soft at first, like a gentle whisper, but it grew stronger and brighter with every moment that passed, becoming more noticeable.
Adam stood still, frozen in place for a moment, unsure of what he was witnessing. Was this a new graphical effect in this version of the game? Was it some kind of magical process? He waited and watched, his curiosity overcoming any confusion.
The soft blue glow spread slowly over all the dead bodies of the wolves. Then, in a quick blink, an instant, the wolf corpses started to break apart. They weren't dissolving slowly; they were coming undone, turning into tiny, glowing particles of light. These particles lifted away from the ground, drifting upwards like sparkling dust dancing in the air, slowly fading as they floated higher among the trees.
Soon, within just a few seconds, the physical bodies of the wolves had completely vanished, gone entirely. They left behind nothing of their original shape. In their place, lying neatly on the forest floor where each wolf had died, small piles of what looked like treasure, like loot, appeared.
Curiosity burned strongly in Adam's eyes now, a fire of wanting to know. He moved closer to the little piles on the ground. He knelt down beside one of them, bending his knees carefully, and gently inspected the items in the pile.
There, among the loose treasures and rewards, he saw shining copper coins. He quickly counted them – 25 copper coins in this pile. Next to the coins were two Fang Wolf fangs, the sharp teeth of the wolf. He knew from his past life playing the game that these fangs were known to be a rare item, something that didn't drop from every single wolf. Getting two from one was good luck. And finally, there was some raw Fang Wolf meat, likely a common drop but useful.
Adam's heart skipped a beat, a quick jump of excitement. Even though he had just been in a serious fight, fighting for his virtual life as a Level 1 character against much stronger monsters, the reward he was seeing was well worth the effort. The risk had paid off.
Not waiting for any more strange body transformations or further explanations, Adam quickly began to check the other piles of loot left by the other wolves. As he gathered the items from each pile, adding them to his mental count, something seemed to sense he was collecting.
Almost as if by magic, or perhaps just the game's automated system kicking in, a bright blue system window appeared right before him again. The window automatically showed his progress, listing everything he had collected from the fallen wolves in a neat, organized list:
[Congratulations, AlphaBoss! You have collected:
10 Fang Wolf Fangs
2.5 kg of Raw Fang Wolf Meat
125 Copper Coins.]
A soft chime, a gentle ring, sounded, and he felt a slight sensation, a sort of click or confirmation, meaning the loot had been automatically gathered and transferred to his inventory storage space within the game system. Adam's grin widened even more as he took in the numbers in the window. He had gotten 10 fangs, which was a great amount for just one pack, and a decent amount of meat and coins. It was a pleasant surprise how quickly the rewards added up, much faster than fighting weaker monsters.
"Not bad at all," he muttered quietly to himself, the words filled with satisfaction. He was proud of what he had just accomplished, defeating strong enemies early on. And he was also proud of how the turn of events, from waking up in his old room to gaining the Administrator class, had led him to this moment of early success.
Adam's steps felt lighter as he moved through the clearing now, clearing the small loot piles from the ground, remembering each detail of the battle he had just finished. He remembered the dangerous flash of the Fang Wolves' eyes as they attacked, the intense rush of his own adrenaline as he moved quickly, relying on instinct and past knowledge to dodge their attacks and land his own.
The strange blue light that the wolves' bodies turned into, and the automatic system message that appeared, somehow made it all seem even more real, even more magical than just seeing bodies fall in a video game. The connection between defeating the enemy and receiving rewards was smooth and almost mystical.
He couldn't help but wonder about the magic or the advanced technology that was behind this system, the strange transformation of dead virtual wolf bodies into glowing particles and then into valuable digital items like coins and fangs. It was a part of the game's deeper workings, something he knew was complex.
Still feeling pleased with himself and his early success, Adam decided it was time to check on his progress again. He needed to see his experience bar, his new skill, and everything else after the fight. "Status window," he said aloud, speaking the command clearly into the air. His voice sounded steady and confident now.
Instantly, another blue screen, the familiar interface, materialized in the air before him. This screen was his constant companion, showing all his stats and information in clear, simple text, a snapshot of his character's current state:
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, focusing on the numbers and skills displayed. The basic stats and the Level 1 still showed him as a beginner, but the Experience points told a different story. "Experience: 2500/100." He had earned far more experience than needed for Level 1.
He was already holding enough experience to level up many times over, if he chose to, thanks to defeating higher-level monsters and his strategy. The stats were low, but his potential was already huge. The listed skills, Reality Manipulation (even on cooldown) and Mark and Attack, were reminders of his unique power, something no other player at this level possessed.
"Hmm," he whispered to himself, a hint of pride in his tone.
"I've accumulated quite a bit of experience already." He knew that in these very early levels of the game, it was generally easier to gain experience points; the first few levels required less to earn.
But he also knew from his past life that soon, the path ahead would grow much tougher, requiring far more effort and risk to level up. That's why getting a huge amount of experience early and holding onto it was so important for his plan.
His mind started racing again, filled with thoughts of future battles, more challenging monsters, and the difficult trials that lay ahead as he got closer to the powerful guilds and players of the future. However, for right now, the clear feeling of his victory against the wolves, the tangible rewards of the loot, and the confirmation of his growing potential made everything seem possible. He felt a surge of confidence that he could face whatever came next.
After a few moments of quiet reflection, reviewing his status and plans, Adam dismissed the status window with another gesture. He was done with the clearing for now. He began his journey back towards the Beginner Village. He needed to find a safer spot to rest and think, maybe use the village services later if needed.
His mind was still buzzing, active with the excitement of his difficult victory, the power of his new skill, and the quiet wonder of the blue light magic he had just seen turning dead bodies into loot.
He took slow, careful steps along what felt like a familiar path through the forest. Even though it wasn't a marked trail, he had spent enough time here in his past life that the layout of the trees and ground felt known. His eyes occasionally drifted down to the ground, not just watching for roots or rocks, but also keeping track of the small details, noting the way the light hit the leaves, the shapes of the trees, keeping track of his location in the forest.
Before long, a new presence, something different from the silent trees and hidden monsters, caught his attention in the forest ahead. As he walked, moving quietly, he noticed another figure in the distance ahead of him – another player character. But this player, unlike the wild wolf creatures he had just fought, seemed calm and stood with an air of confidence.
The player was a young woman. Adam paused his own movement immediately, stepping behind a large tree trunk once more to observe her without being seen first. His instincts were instantly alert; meeting another player required caution. She had long, striking golden hair that seemed to catch the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, shining brightly.
In her hand, she held a sword. It wasn't a simple iron sword like BlockHead's; it looked like better quality, both well-worn, showing it had been used a lot in combat, and well-cared for, showing that its owner took pride in it and was skilled. This combination suggested she was not a total beginner but someone with some experience, perhaps even from the original game or another similar game.
The moment her eyes met his – maybe she had spotted his subtle movement, despite his stealth gear – her face showed a look of surprise. It was a genuine reaction.
For a split second, she seemed unsure, hesitant, as if she was trying to remember something important, perhaps trying to place him or his unique appearance.
Then she spoke, breaking the silence, her voice clear. It was almost as if the answer to what she was thinking about had suddenly come to her, right at the tip of her tongue. "You... you ventured deeper into the forest, didn't you?" she asked. Her voice carried both a sense of curiosity about why a low-level player would be so far in and a hint of caution, recognizing the danger of this area.
Adam did not reply right away. He stayed still, looking back at her. Instead of speaking, he fixed his gaze on her, trying to read her intentions, her body language, her face. Was she friendly? Was she trying to size him up as a potential target? The silence between them stretched for a brief moment.
The forest around them was quiet, the only sounds the soft rustling of leaves high up and the almost silent footsteps of each of them standing on the leaf-covered ground. After the brief silence, the young woman's eyes naturally traveled down, looking at his outfit.
She took in every detail, clearly observing him closely – the dark fabric of his clothes, the subtle hints of armor hidden within it, the way it seemed designed for quick, quiet movement. She noticed the little enhancements that hinted at abilities like stealth and agility. As she looked, her expression changed from initial surprise and caution to genuine admiration.
"Wow," she said, her tone warm and impressed. "You must be... you must be a pro player, right?" It was almost an assumption, stated as a fact. "To have such an advanced set of equipment right after the game's release… it's really incredible." Her voice was friendly, without any threat, and a small, welcoming smile began to form on her lips as she took a small step closer towards him.
"Hi," she said, introducing herself with that friendly smile. "My name's Kamiko."
At that exact moment, as she spoke her name, Adam's eyes narrowed slightly, the blue gleam in them focusing even harder on her face. A jolt went through him as he recognized the name instantly. In the back of his mind, powerful memories from his previous life, memories of the future, began to stir, showing him exactly who this person was destined to become.
He recalled clearly that Kamiko was not just a random player. She was destined to become one of the top members of the Ten Petal Guild, a powerful, very influential, and famous group in the game's future. The Ten Petal Guild became one of the major forces controlling areas and resources.
Even in the early days of the old game, even before she was famous, her reputation was well known to players who had been around for a long time or who paid attention. She was known for being very smart, having a sharp mind that could figure things out quickly. She was known for being resourceful, able to use whatever she had available to her to achieve her goals. And she was known for her ability to take advantage of any situation, spotting opportunities others missed and using them skillfully.
These qualities made her a force to be reckoned with in the future, a formidable player and guild leader. Meeting her right now, at the very start of his second chance, brought a strange mix of respect for what she would become and a sharp sense of caution in meeting her, knowing how strategic and potentially dangerous she could be. She was someone important to know about.
For a moment, Adam stood there silently in the forest, his mind racing with incredible speed. He was thinking about all the possibilities, all the different paths, that this unexpected encounter with Kamiko, someone so important to the future power structure, might bring. Could he work with her? Should he avoid her? Could meeting her this early change her own future path? It was a lot to process at once.
Kamiko, noticing the slight change in his expression, the sudden stillness and focus, tilted her head to the side slightly. She gave him a curious look, a soft expression of concern on her face. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice gentle. "Did I startle you? Did I make you nervous?" She quickly added, "I did not mean to catch you off guard." Her tone was gentle and apologetic, and she took a small step back, giving him more space, showing she wasn't a threat right now.
Adam remained standing quietly after hearing Kamiko's words, still processing the shock of meeting her here, now.
Kamiko's eyes seemed to sparkle a little, looking friendly and open, as she continued talking, trying to start a conversation. "I've been exploring the forest for a little while," she explained, "looking for hidden treasures or useful items, trying to learn the area." Then she mentioned what had caught her attention.
"And I couldn't help but notice your equipment. Your outfit, your gear… it looks really high level, so early on. It seems like you must already know your way around the game, even though it just came out."
She paused again, as if she was weighing her next words carefully, thinking them through. Then she added the suggestion, the idea for why they were talking. "Maybe," she said, a hopeful note in her voice, "maybe we can help each other on our journeys? Explore together?" It was a simple offer of teaming up, but coming from her, Adam knew it meant a lot more.
Adam stood there, looking at the golden-haired player named Kamiko, the future top guild leader, trying to decide his next move in this unexpected encounter that could change everything. He knew too much to treat this as just a random meeting with another player. He had knowledge she couldn't even imagine. And he had power she couldn't even comprehend. His journey was already taking a complex turn, right here in the quiet beginner forest.