The tutorial forest looked ordinary, yet it breathed with an unnatural aura.
The wind carried the scent of damp earth mixed with blood, and far beyond the trees, faint whimpers and feral roars echoed in turns.
This place was divided into three zones.
The first zone was a gentle forest. Deer, squirrels, and other harmless creatures roamed freely, surrounding the open field where everyone had first been gathered.
The second zone was dangerous. Hungry wolves, tigers, and bears prowled in the shadows of the trees.
The third zone was the forest of death. Thick shadows crept across the ground, home to creatures that should not exist. Bodies covered in writhing tentacles, claws sharp as scythes, and eyes glowing in the dark.
And that was the perfect place for leveling.
Oskar moved quickly through the first zone, crouched low as he tied a rope trap between two trees. He was not hunting humans. Not yet. These traps were for food.
This world's system was merciless. Every creature killed gave Exp. Raise your level, raise your stats. If not, you would become prey.
[You have gained EXP]
"Oh?" Oskar tilted his head. "Looks like something fell into my trap."
He followed the sound and found a wild chicken caught in the snare. Small, but it meant another day of survival.
Snapping its neck, he plucked the feathers quickly and lit a small fire behind some bushes.
The scent of roasting meat filled the air, far sweeter than anything from his old world even without seasoning.
He set ten more traps after that. The method was slow but safe. Hunting without risk. While others fought for their lives, he quietly gathered Exp.
Yet his mind never truly rested. Hanston was a man skilled in twisting words and manipulating people.
He was building his strength. Rumors said he had already gathered a loyal Red team.
Blue cards like Oskar were pushed aside, restricted from hunting, and left to grow weaker until they could be slaughtered.
Oskar had seen this before. Back in his old world, faces like Hanston's belonged to men who held power tightly. Their smiles were false, their words poisoned.
He was checking his eighth trap when he heard it.
…Hhh… hhh…
Heavy breathing.
Oskar froze. His hand slowly reached for a sharpened stick. He crouched, eyes locked on the bushes to his right. Something moved there. Small, but certain.
Step by step, he crept closer.
The leaves shifted.
A girl stumbled out. Her hair was a tangled mess, her face smeared with dirt, her clothes worn as if she had rolled on the ground.
In her hands was a short, blunt stick barely worthy of being called a weapon.
Her eyes widened when she saw Oskar.
"Don't!" She tried to step back, but her foot caught on a tree root, nearly making her fall.
Oskar did not attack. His gaze lowered to the red card at her waist, half hidden but unmistakable.
Ah… interesting.
For some reason, the girl covered her upper body as if protecting herself from something else entirely. Oskar sighed.
"Why are you here?"
"I… I saw you come in and follow, but I got lost," she replied quietly. She looked more like an office worker than a fighter.
"My name is Oskar. Yours?"
She frowned. "Why introduce yourself all of a sudden?"
"Is it not normal to introduce yourself before getting to know someone? Or are you too grown-up to remember basic manners?" Oskar said with deliberate mockery.
"Elisa Margan," she answered, her voice carrying a mix of annoyance and restraint.
The name did not ring any bells. Not an important character.
"Why are you not with Hanston?"
"That man is strange. I do not like being controlled. I saw you go into the forest… I knew this forest was not just decoration."
Oskar narrowed his eyes. Those words were too confident for someone new.
"So you think I will not kill you even though you are Red?"
She paused, then lifted her chin. "If you wanted to, you would have done it already."
She was good. Too good to be just prey.
"Do you know how to end this tutorial?" Elisa asked.
"I do. But I will tell you if you help me."
"Help how?"
"Join Hanston's group and you'll realize why we need to work as one."
Elisa hesitated, weighing the risk. Her eyes measured him carefully.
"Fine. And don't worry. I have my reasons. Hanston seems to be hiding something." She gave a small, sly smile.
"Good. But remember, run whenever you sense danger." Oskar said, his tone carrying a subtle threat.
Elisa turned to leave, her steps light but unhurried.
Oskar watched her disappear between the trees before his eyes fell to his final trap.
[You have gained EXP]
"I'll focus on leveling first."