The barrier shimmered faintly as Grimm stepped through it, leaving the Newbie Village behind.
Behind him, the team leader's fists clenched, pride bleeding into rage. The others muttered among themselves, their words stoking the fire already burning in his chest.
Grimm, unaware of this had already vanished beyond the glowing boundary.
---
The air beyond was heavier — thicker, colder, and charged with faint energy. Behind him, the peaceful village was gone, replaced by a sprawling, mist-veiled forest that stretched endlessly in every direction.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
---
-[You have exited the Newbie Village.]
-[Protection Period has ended.]
-[You are now subject to combat threats.]
-[Blessing of the Beginning has activated.]
→ For five days, EXP gain and item drop rates are doubled.
---
A slow, predatory smile crept across his lips.
"Perfect," he murmured.
If his memory served him right, Newbie Village #3 was close to a special area — a goblin settlement. If he continued forward, he'd reach it soon. It was one of the best EXP farms on the first floor… but also one of the deadliest.
He wasn't suicidal enough to head there yet.
The goblins in that area ranged from level 5 to 13 — and a mini floor boss lurked within their nest. For now, he'd settle for hunting the surrounding beasts. Build strength. Test his limits. Then, maybe, the goblins could come next.
With that decision, his eyes gleamed faintly. He clenched his fist, feeling the rush of strength coursing through his reborn body.
"The hunt begins."
He stepped forward, disappearing into the mist.
---
The forest was ancient — towering trees draped in silver fog, their canopies filtering sunlight into faint, shifting rays. The air was cool and damp, thick with the scent of moss and earth. Wisps of mist curled like restless spirits at his feet.
Grimm moved swiftly, soundlessly.
Though his face was calm, his senses stayed razor-sharp. The team he'd offended earlier wasn't weak — one of them had a B-Rank talent, and the rest weren't pushovers either.
He wasn't about to test his luck.
Pride is better swallowed than died for, he thought dryly.
He pushed deeper into the woods until he was confident he had put enough distance between himself and the spawn point. Only then did he finally slow his pace.
---
Meanwhile…
Not far from where Grimm had spawned, five figures materialized in a flash of white light — the same team from before.
Their bald leader scowled, sunlight glinting off his head as his gaze swept the treeline. "Tch. He's gone?"
The red-haired girl frowned, touching a crystal embedded in her wristguard. It flickered once, then dimmed. "The tracking mark I placed on him — gone. He's out of range."
The leader's jaw tightened. "That rat. All talk earlier, now he's running with his tail between his legs."
One of the boys snickered. "Captain, forget him. An E-Rank like that won't last a day out there."
Another grinned. "Yeah. Let's focus on leveling. Once we hit Level 10, we'll raid the goblin settlement and grab that thing."
Their eyes lit up with excitement. The leader sneered but stayed silent, anger simmering in his chest.
That E-Rank trash… once I find you, you'll beg before me.
---
Back in the forest…
Grimm stopped beside a mossy boulder, exhaling softly. "That should be far enough," he murmured.
The fog was thicker here, swallowing the trees in a gray haze.
He hated running, but he wasn't foolish. Against a coordinated team with higher-ranked talents, he stood no chance. Not yet.
What he lacked now was time.
No skills. No combat experience in this world.
But those could be fixed.
With a flick of his hand, He summoned his inventory. A faint shimmer of light appeared, and from it, a slender sword materialized in his grasp.
The weapon gleamed faintly, its edge simple but well-balanced — a standard-issue beginner blade.
---
[Metal Sword]
-Grade: Common
-Durability: 100 / 100
Effect:
→ +2 Strength
Skill:
→ Hemorrhage Edge (Passive)
> Attacks have a 30% chance to inflict Bleed, dealing 10% of original attack damage per second for 5 seconds and reducing enemy regeneration.
---
Grimm examined the sword. "Not much," he murmured, brushing his thumb along the blade's edge, "but it'll do."
He took a stance, exhaling slowly. "Let's see what this world has to offer."
A heavy rustle snapped his attention forward.
From the mist emerged a hulking bear — fur like gray iron filings, eyes burning crimson with primal hunger.
Grimm's pupils flared faintly as he activated [Omnivision].
---
[Ironfang Bear]
Level: 2
HP: 100%
Skills: Roar (F)
Strength: D | Agility: F | Defense: C
---
The bear locked eyes with him — and roared.
The sound ripped through the forest, shaking the air itself. A prompt flickered before Grimm's eyes.
-[You are affected by: Fear.]
-[Special Trait Detected — Effect Nullified.]
Grimm blinked. "Special trait?" he muttered, but the bear was already charging.
"Guess I'll think about it later," he murmured, adjusting his stance.
The ground trembled as the beast lunged. Grimm sidestepped just as its claws slammed into the earth, tearing a crater where he'd stood.
He retaliated with a clean slash — steel slicing into flesh. Blood splattered across the moss. The bear howled, swinging wildly, but Grimm was already gone from its reach.
He flowed between its heavy strikes, precise and deliberate, exploiting every sluggish motion.
When its arm lifted, he struck again — sharp, efficient.
[Hemorrhage Edge Activated — Bleed inflicted!]
"Sweet," Grimm muttered as dark blood gushed from the wound. The beast stumbled, its movements growing sluggish.
He pressed the advantage.
The blade flashed — a final, clean strike to the neck.
With a guttural roar, the Ironfang Bear collapsed, its crimson eyes fading into dull gray.
Grimm exhaled, lowering his weapon. "That's one down."
---
-[You have slain: Ironfang Bear (Lv. 2)]
-[You have received experience ×2!]
A satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
Then another prompt appeared.
-[Would you like to devour Ironfang Bear?]
[Yes] / [No]
Without hesitation, he selected Yes.
A translucent maw formed above the corpse — vast and ethereal, woven from blue light. It opened wide, consuming the remains in a single, silent bite.
The air rippled once, then stilled. Nothing remained.
---
-[You have devoured: Ironfang Bear.]
-[+4 Strength obtained.]
---
Grimm's muscles tightened as power surged through him — raw and electric.
"So this is Devour…" he murmured, flexing his arm, feeling his strength rise like molten metal beneath his skin. "Not bad at all."
He dismissed the window, but a thought lingered.
That earlier message — Special Trait Detected, what was it about?
Before he could dwell on it, another notification appeared.
---
[A unique trait has been detected.]
[Would you like to view your Special Trait?]
[Yes / No]
---