Roxy raised an eyebrow, opening the bag and inspecting the contents. Inside were several severed heads—small, ugly, twisted faces of the dark-furred forest creatures. Their jagged teeth and bloodshot eyes were frozen in fear. "You weren't kidding when you said you could handle it."
"We cleared a whole nest," Riven added, his tone calm. "Near the marsh bend, about four kilometers east."
Roxy smirked, clearly impressed. "Well then... You've completed the qualification mission."
She reached under the counter and pulled out two small black pouches, each containing a single silver card. On one side was their engraved name, and on the other, the Guild's seal and rank:
Auren – Rank F
Riven – Rank F
"These are your official Adventurer IDs," Roxy said. "You'll be able to take missions now, and with these, you can enter any major city—including Central—without needing a special pass."
Auren held the card up, inspecting it. The moment his fingers touched it, he felt a faint pulse of mana inside—an enchantment for identification and tracking, perhaps.
"You've got potential," Roxy continued. And Your money, They Got 60 silver as money in returns of dead bodies.
After a handshake with Roxy, and in that exact second, he activated it.
No chant. No glow. No reaction from her. But inside him, something snapped into place — a glowing, invisible tether of soul essence linked them like an ethereal thread.
[Soul Imprint Mark Applied Successfully]
Target Bound: [Name - Roxy]
Link Strength: Stable
Emotional Sync: Passive
Tracking: Enabled
> "Now… wherever you go," Auren thought, "I'll feel your presence. If you're ever scared, crying, hurt… I'll know."
As they turned to leave, the guild's chatter resumed behind them. Both men looked at their new ID cards again—symbols of a new identity, and a door into the Central.
But neither of them realized yet how deep that door would take them into a world of blood, politics, and monsters far worse than the ones in the forest.
---
As the stars shimmered above the silent forest, Auren and Riven finally returned to the wagon. The old wagon owner was curled up in his blanket, already deep in sleep, snoring faintly under the flickering moonlight.
Riven stretched her back with a sigh. "I'll start the fire. You get the wood."
Together, they gathered dry twigs and logs, stacking them into a small bonfire just outside the wagon. With a swift spark from Riven's flint, flames burst alive, casting dancing shadows against the trees.
he placed a small grill over the fire and started preparing the food. A bag of potatoes was pulled out, along with strips of raw meat they'd bought earlier from a village vendor. he roasted them slowly, the scent of spice and fire-roasted meat curling through the cool forest air.
"For three people?" Auren asked as he glanced at the food.
Riven smirked. "He may be old, but he's got an appetite."
Auren nodded, then glanced at the woods behind them. "I'm going to bring more wood," he said. "We'll need a strong fire to keep the wild beasts away while we sleep."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped into the forest, the firelight fading behind him.
The woods were quiet—too quiet. Only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant owl cry echoed through the dark. Auren moved with care, plucking dead branches and checking for dry bark. As he crouched to grab another log, a sudden ding echoed in his mind.
> [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – STATUS UPDATE]
---
Name: Auren
Age: 20
Race: Human (Enhanced)
Class: Mind Dominion
Level: 4
EXP: 200/300
---
[SKILLS – MIND DOMINION]
1. Mental Bind
Enhanced focus allows Auren to bind limbs individually at higher levels.
Level 4 Effect: Duration extended by 3 seconds; can now bind two targets simultaneously.
New Bonus: +5% Bind Strength
2. Desire Twist
Instills conflicted arousal and obedience in targets.
Level 4 Effect: Initiates faster; slightly effective even on strong-willed targets.
New Bonus: +7% Suggestion Success
3. Obedience Seal
Enforces loyalty or silence through psychic imprinting.
Level 4 Effect: Can now stack 3 Seals simultaneously; persists through unconsciousness or mild memory resets.
New Bonus: +7% Duration and Effectiveness
4. Pleasure Domination
Reinforces control through layered sensory pleasure.
Level 4 Effect: Emotional dependence begins after 3rd activation.
New Bonus: +7% Emotional Bond Rate
---
[SUPERPOWERS – LIMIT 3/3 SELECTED]
1. Shadow of Submission
A fear-inducing aura that weakens enemy resolve.
Level 4 Power Boost:
Aura Radius: 7 meters
Willpower Resistance Reduction: +20%
New Bonus: +5% Aura Pressure
2. Dominator's Gaze
Short, paralyzing eye contact that forces hesitation or submission.
Level 4 Power Boost:
Suggestion success rate: +17%
Duration: +2 seconds
New Bonus: +7% Fear Shock Effect
3. Psychic Bind
Invisible mental chains that restrict target movement.
Level 4 Power Boost:
Bind strength: +15%
Now affects magical/mana-based movement
New Bonus: +7% Lockdown Duration
---
[Combat Strength Summary]
Attribute Base Value Current Modifier (Level 4)
Mind Power 100 +20% = 120
Domination Influence 85 +15% = 97.75
Aura Intensity 70 +15% = 80.5
Physical Strength 60 +10% = 66
Sensory Resistance 55 +10% = 60.5
---
Auren stood silently, the glowing status screen fading into the back of his mind. His eyes narrowed slightly, a sly grin stretching across his lips.
"Leveling up…" he muttered. "This system—it's feeding on me. Evolving through me."
He looked around the woods, senses sharper now. Every sound, every movement felt clearer, more connected. The trees no longer looked so dark. They looked like opportunity. He grabbed more logs with a firm grip, a new confidence surging in his veins.
Tonight, the fire would burn brighter—and so would his power.
With the wood bundled in his arms, Auren turned back toward the camp, unaware of the eyes watching him from deeper within the forest shadows.
Something else had noticed him evolve.
Something hungry.
---
The crackling of the fire echoed softly beneath the endless sky as Auren returned with a bundle of dry wood stacked across his arms. His steps were calm, precise—even the wilderness seemed to pause in the presence of his sharpened aura.
As he approached the campsite, the scent of roasted meat and earthy potatoes danced in the air. Riven sat by the bonfire, rotating a thick slab of meat on a makeshift spit, the firelight painting gold and red highlights across his tired face. A third plate had already been prepared—one for the wagon owner, who now sat up rubbing his eyes, still drowsy but smiling at the smell.
"You took your time," Riven muttered, stabbing a piece of meat with his knife to check its tenderness. "Hope the woods didn't whisper too much."
Auren dropped the wood in a neat pile near the fire's edge. "They whispered enough," he said with a sly grin. "But I told them to wait their turn."
Riven rolled his eyes while the wagon owner chuckled lightly, shaking his head. The three of them sat around the fire, passing metal plates and sharing the meal under the darkening sky. The forest around them stayed oddly quiet—perhaps the thick scent of cooked flesh or the warm, glowing fire kept the beasts at bay.
For a few moments, no one spoke. They just ate, letting the silence be their comfort and the flames be their guard.
After the meal, Riven stretched and let out a sigh. "That should keep us going till the next village."