CHAPTER 228: HUNTING

Fenric stretched his fingers around the bowstring. The weapon felt light, but also powerful — like an calm before storm.

Chief Seraphina stood and motioned to the door.

"hmm, it seems you also have an weapon" She said looking at the Bow.

"Yeah, I found it and ist perfect for me, I excel at Archery" He said as She nodded adding " then lest see how good you are at it, after all hitting that giant Kraken eye is not that difficult" She said.

Fenric didn’t said anything and just followed her out of the house with Liana and Spunky right behind. The moment they stepped outside, the sky was already shifting to evening colors — orange and purple clouds mixing above the ocean.

They walked toward the village gate. Hunters and guards bowed slightly as the Chief passed.

Fenric leaned closer to Liana and whispered:

"She will help me I f I am in danger... right?"

Liana whispered back without looking at him:

"She will but only when you are at your last breath."

"...Great," Fenric muttered.

Spunky barked once as they reached the gate — excited to go.

Seraphina stopped and looked at Fenric.

"You must reach Level 10. We’ll hunt Rank 1 monsters. Stay close, listen to orders, and do not try to fight alone."

Fenric nodded quickly. "Yes ma’am. No hero stuff."

Seraphina gave a small nod. "Good."

Then she looked into the forest beyond the gate — a place filled with glowing blue plants, twisting trees, and faint sounds of distant monsters.

"We’re entering Coralwood Forest. Many Rank 1 beasts here. Perfect for leveling."

Fenric tightened his grip on the bow.

He took one deep breath.

"Okay... let’s go earn my class."

Seraphina stepped forward first, Liana beside her, and Fenric walked behind them — Spunky guarding his back.

The village gate closed behind them.

The air inside the forest felt colder. Moist, too. Each step made the grass glow faintly under their feet. Strange insects buzzed with tiny lights on their wings.

Fenric kept staring around, wide-eyed.

"Wow... this place looks like someone mixed a jungle with an aquarium," he whispered.

Liana smiled a bit. "Coralwood is close to the sea. The plants here absorbed the ocean’s mana."

Seraphina raised her hand, signaling them to stop.

"There," she said quietly.

Fenric followed her gaze — a small creature with a shell like a blue crab but legs like a wolf. It was chewing on a mushroom.

[Coral Fangbeast – Rank 1 – Level 3]

Fenric gulped. "It looks... cute?"

Liana shook her head. "Don’t trust the cute ones. They love legs. Human legs."

Almost on cue, the beast turned its head and growled — sharp teeth dripping saliva.

Seraphina stepped aside and pointed at Fenric.

"This one is yours."

"Hah?" Fenric’s face went pale. "Mine alone?"

"You must learn," Seraphina said. "Shoot. Aim for the weak points: eyes, joints, throat."

Fenric took a deep breath.

He raised his bow.

The string hummed with energy as he pulled. A blue-gold arrow formed from water mana and his own Gold elemental mana.

The beast charged.

Fenric panicked — but released the shot anyway.

THWIP!

The arrow struck the creature in the shoulder — not lethal, but enough to slow it.

"Again!" Liana yelled.

Fenric fired another — this one pierced the beast’s neck.

It collapsed and dissolved into small blue particles.

A notification flashed in his vision:

[ +300 EXP ]

[ Level Up! → Level 8 ]

[ EXP: 0 / 12,800 ]

Fenric looked at the exp bar and nodded.

"It seems I was right... with each level up, the EXP required for the next level doubles."

Seraphina crossed her arms, studying him. "Not bad for someone who awakened this morning."

Fenric wiped the sweat from his brow, though his breathing was steady. "If this is hunting, then I’ll just have to get used to it."

Liana raised a brow. "Oh? No trembling? No begging to go home?"

"It was nothing compared to the Kraken I faced," he said casually.

The leaves rustled again — another Liquid Wolf leaped from the brush, claws aiming for his throat.

Fenric didn’t hesitate.

A skeletal, water-lined arrow materialized as he drew the string. His aim was precise — the arrow pierced through the wolf’s skull, and the creature burst into shimmering blue motes before its body even hit the ground.

A notification flickered:

[ +300 EXP ]

Liana’s eyes widened. "You learn fast... dangerously fast."

Fenric smirked, already moving forward. "Let’s keep going. I want to see how strong I can get."

They swept through the outer forest. Fenric’s arrows grew sharper; his perception of mana threads improved. Each kill dissolved into motes and numbers:

[ +280 EXP ]

[ +310 EXP ]

[ +400 EXP — Elite Liquid Wolf ]

He made mistakes, slipped once or twice — but with Liana covering his blind spots, nothing managed to land a kill shot.

By the time the sun began dipping behind the treetops...

Fenric checked his status window.

◈ Fenric — Level 8

EXP: 61%

He let out a long sigh. "Still not enough..."

Liana nudged him with her elbow. "It was your first day. Level 8 is already ahead of most new hunters."

Fenric’s fingers curled with excitement, not exhaustion.

"I want Level 10 by tomorrow," he declared.

Liana blinked. "...You’re insane."

"Maybe." Fenric grinned. "But that’s how you grow strong."

Inside, his ambitions burned hotter than ever.

There is no way I’ll be mediocre in this fantasy world. I will grow stronger, reach the peak... and most importantly, have a harem of beautiful ladies! Fenric clenched his fists in determination.

Liana narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious. "...Why do I feel like your intentions are not pure?"

Fenric coughed, turning away. "W-What? Of course they are pure! Purely focused on strength!"

By twilight, they arrived back in the village. Hunters carried the day’s catch, children ran around laughing, and lanterns flickered to life along the dirt paths.

"Good work today," Liana said, stretching her arms behind her head. "Get some rest. Tomorrow won’t be easier."

Fenric nodded and headed toward his small wooden house. But as he reached his door—

"Ah, you’re back."

A calm, gentle voice greeted him.