>Location: Mist Forest — Eastern Surroundings of the Starting City
The mist enveloped the forest like a spectral veil, thick, shifting, almost alive. The gnarled trunks seemed to silently observe Z3RO's every step. His gauntlet sparkled with blue energy, pulsing in time with his breathing. His sphere drone, dubbed "B.I.T." (Bios-Intelligent Tracker), hovered just above his shoulder, emitting a low hum.
This was only the beginning.
Z3RO—Arzane's alias—had chosen the **Artificer** class. A hybrid, tech-savvy class, rarely chosen initially because of its difficulty. But for him, it made sense. He didn't just want to hit or cast spells. He wanted to understand the game's code, *tame* it.
When he left the city center, he had refused all the easy quests. Too much dialogue, too much wasted time. He had directly aimed for the Forest of Mist.
Objective: Level up to 5.
HUD Interface (excerpt)
* **Name: Z3RO**
* **Class: Artificer — Techno-nomad Initiate**
* **Level: 3**
* **Active Skills:**
* *Micro-Drone Lv. 1*: Scans and analyzes enemies
* *Energy Overload*: Electricity pulse
* *Gravitational Grenade*: Slows all enemies in a targeted area
* **Inventory:**
* 3 Raw Genesis Crystals
* 1 Unstable Component
* 12 Energy
* 1 Healing Capsule (Lv. 1)
The first fight soon followed.
A sucking sound, like wet flesh. The Stringy Ghoul leaped out of the mist, its eye sockets empty, its flesh lacerated. It emitted a shrill frequency that momentarily caused Z3RO's interface to freeze.
> *Hostile Detected — Type: Stringy Ghoul (Lv. 4)*
Z3RO pressed himself against a tree. "Quick scan, B.I.T!"
> *Movement: Erratic. Speed: Medium. Weaknesses: Electric shock, posterior joint.*
Perfect. He activated the **gravitational grenade**.
> *Launch... impact in 3...2...1.*
The metallic sphere detonated silently. A distorted gravitational field held the creature, folding it in on itself.
> *Now.*
Z3RO triggered **Energy Overload**. A blue wave erupted from his gauntlet and struck the paralyzed ghoul, pulverizing him in a flash of glowing pixels.
> *+120 EXP gained!*
> *Loot: Genesis Tooth — Necrotic Gland — 9 Genesis Units.*
He leaned back against a rock, panting. The fight had lasted 12 seconds, but his heart was pounding as if he'd just stepped out of a ring.
He opened a crafting window and injected the new loot into the drone.
> *B.I.T. Protocol updated: Can deliver a micro-electric shock on impact.*
Z3RO smiled.
— It's starting.
Another signal flashed. Several hostile forms. A pack this time.
He stood up and replaced his visor.
>— Come on. Let's see if Genesis is ready for me.
**✦ End of Chapter 4**
*Next chapter: "Hakaijin, the Other Side of the World."*