Chapter 2: The First Hunt in Tandang Forest.
Morning in Barrio Tandang was serene, but Ginger's heart pounded like a drum awaiting the next beat. After his triumph selling lavender soap at the market, he'd hoped for a few days of peace. But the God Creation System had other plans. As he sat outside his ramshackle hut, catching his breath from tidying the yard, the familiar robotic voice echoed in his mind.
**"Ding! New mission: Hunt a wild beast in Tandang Forest. Reward: 30 mana, Basic Skill Creation permanently unlocked."**
"Hunt?" Ginger's brow furrowed, his dreams of a quiet life evaporating. In the week since arriving in Lurra, he'd learned this world wasn't just about markets and taxes. Beyond the village lay a perilous forest teeming with dangers—wild beasts the size of dogs and, according to Aling Nida's tales, monsters fiercer than bears.
"Are you serious? I'm just a soap-seller, not a hunter!" he protested to the empty air, knowing only he could hear the system.
His mana stood at *70/15*, bolstered by daily recharges and rewards from his previous mission. But hunting? That was a whole different beast. Back in Manila, the closest he'd come to "hunting" was chasing cheap deals on food delivery apps.
He opened his Status on the holographic interface floating before him:
Name: Ginger Musang
Age: 15
Mana: 70/15
Skills: None
Items: Simple Knife, Minor Protective Amulet
Mission: Hunt a wild beast in Tandang Forest (0/1)
Penalty for Failure: Mana capacity reduced to 10
"Reduced mana capacity? That's harsh," Ginger muttered. Mana was his lifeline in this world. Losing capacity would cripple his ability to use the God Creation System. He sighed, resolving to prepare thoroughly.
Grabbing his simple knife and the amulet now tied around his neck with a thin rope, he waited for Aling Nida, who was preparing breakfast—a bowl of lugaw sprinkled with salt. As they ate, he probed for information.
"Nay, what kind of animals are in the forest?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"Animals? Oh, Ginger, there's all sorts out there! Wild boars, Tandang wolves, even eagles as big as children," Aling Nida replied, stirring her lugaw. "But be careful. There are stories of monsters—creatures you can't explain. That's why only the village heroes hunt, and even they're rare now."
"Village heroes?" Ginger raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, trained guardians who fight monsters. But they're all in the capital now, with their fancy skills and weapons. We're left with simple tools and sheer guts," Aling Nida explained, her eyes tinged with worry.
Ginger mulled it over. His mission likely involved a boar or wolf, but the word "monster" sent a chill down his spine. In the webnovels he'd read, monsters were stepping stones to a protagonist's rise to power. But he was no hero—just a former call center agent with 15 mana a day and a knife better suited for slicing onions.
Before heading out, he opened **Create Item**. With 70/15 mana, he scanned his options:
- Bow and Arrows (10 mana)
- Animal Trap (8 mana)
- Sturdy Rope (5 mana)
- Bait Food (3 mana)
He chose an Animal Trap(8 mana) and Sturdy Rope(5 mana), leaving him with 58/15 mana. A simple metal-and-rope trap materialized alongside a coil of durable cord—basic but sufficient for a novice.
"This'll do," he whispered, though his nerves didn't agree.
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Tandang Forest was a dense jungle of towering trees with leaves as broad as umbrellas. The air was cool, filled with the chirps of birds and crickets. Yet as Ginger ventured deeper, clutching his trap and rope, an eerie feeling settled over him. His amulet glowed faintly, offering a sliver of confidence.
Near a babbling stream, he set up the trap, placing a piece of bread—created with 3 mana—as bait. His plan was straightforward: lure a boar or similar beast and trap it. But as time passed, the forest grew unnaturally quiet. The birds fell silent, and the air seemed to still.
**"Ding! Warning: A creature approaches. Prepare!"**
"What?!" Ginger sprang to his feet, gripping his knife. His heart raced as leaves rustled in the distance. A shadow moved between the trees—a creature the size of a large dog, with jagged teeth and scaly, armored skin.
"A Tandang wolf?" he whispered, but this was no ordinary beast. Its eyes glowed crimson, and it reeked of rotting meat. This was a monster.
**"Ding! Detected: Minor Monster - Tandang Scale-Wolf. Danger: Level 1. Recommendation: Flee or use a skill."**
"Skill? I don't have any skills!" Ginger hissed. But before he could bolt, the scale-wolf lunged, its claws glinting in the sunlight.
In a panic, he opened the system interface. His mana was at 58/15. A new option from his previous mission caught his eye: **Basic Skill Creation**. He tapped it, revealing a list:
- Basic Strength Boost (10 mana): Temporarily increases strength by 50% for 5 minutes.
- Basic Agility Boost (10 mana): Temporarily increases speed by 50% for 5 minutes.
- Basic Trap Mastery(15 mana): Grants knowledge of traps and hunting techniques.
"No time to think!" With the scale-wolf closing in, he selected Basic Agility Boost . A surge of warmth flooded his body, making him feel lighter. He dodged to the side just as the wolf's claws swiped through the air, crashing into the dirt.
"I'm fast!" Ginger exclaimed. Using his newfound speed, he sprinted to the trap, hoping to lure the beast. He looped the sturdy rope around the trap's perimeter, guiding the scale-wolf toward it. The monster pursued, snarling and baring its teeth.
With a swift maneuver, the scale-wolf triggered the trap. Metal snapped shut, the rope tightening around its legs. It thrashed and howled but couldn't break free.
**"Ding! Mission complete! Reward: 30 mana, Basic Skill Creation permanently unlocked."**
Ginger collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. His mana rose to 80/15, and though shaken, he was alive. That was what mattered.
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Back in Barrio Tandang, Ginger dragged the dead scale-wolf to the market. The villagers gaped—scale-wolves rarely ventured near the village, and their hides were prized for crafting armor. A merchant bought the hide for 2,000 pesos, far exceeding his mission's reward.
The victory wasn't easy. His body ached, and the terror of facing a monster lingered. In his hut that night, the system spoke again.
**"Ding! New mission: Hunt three minor monsters in Tandang Forest within five days. Reward: 100 mana, one random skill."**
"Are you kidding?!" Ginger groaned. One monster had nearly scared him to death, and now three? But the permanently unlocked *Basic Skill Creation* gave him hope. He could acquire skills to make hunting easier.
Opening the interface, he used 15 mana to acquire Basic Trap Mastery. A flash of light filled his mind, flooding it with knowledge—how to set traps, track animals, and craft improvised weapons from the environment.
"It's like I downloaded a survival guide," he muttered, a grin creeping onto his face. Yet the unease remained. The scale-wolf was only Level 1, and tales spoke of stronger monsters deeper in the forest.
The next day, Ginger returned to the forest, armed with his new *Trap Mastery* skill. He spent 10 mana to create two additional traps and 8 mana for a Sturdy Spear with a sharp metal tip, far superior to his old knife. His amulet continued to provide minor protection, but he knew caution was key.
Near the stream, he set his traps strategically, using his skill to conceal them under leaves and branches. As he waited, the forest grew quiet again, a now-familiar omen.
**"Ding! Warning: Two minor monsters approaching—Scale-Wolf and Horned Boar. Danger: Level 1 and Level 2."**
"Two?!" Ginger swallowed hard. His Trap Mastery knowledge revealed the Horned Boar was larger, with tough hide and a horn capable of piercing armor.
Hiding behind a tree, spear in hand, he waited. The scale-wolf arrived first, falling into a trap. But the Horned Boar charged like a runaway train. In a panic, Ginger activated Basic Agility Boost and leaped aside.
Using his Trap Mastery, he flung the sturdy rope at the boar's legs, slowing it down. With a swift thrust, he drove the spear into its neck. The beast collapsed, blood pooling, while the trapped scale-wolf howled.
**"Ding! Two monsters hunted! Mission progress: 2/3. Bonus Reward: 20 mana."**
Exhausted, Ginger slumped against a tree. His mana dropped to 60/15, but the victory bolstered his confidence. The God Creation System wasn't just about creating items—it was about forging his own destiny.
On the final day, Ginger grew bolder. Determined to complete the mission, he used 12 mana to create a Mana-Enhanced Trap, stronger and capable of capturing larger beasts.
Deep in the forest, he encountered the final monster—a Shadow Viper, a serpent as thick as a man's arm, its venom slowing its prey. With Trap Mastery and the enhanced trap, he captured it effortlessly before it could strike.
**"Ding! Mission complete! Reward: 100 mana, 500 pesos, Random Skill: Mana Sense."**
Ginger's eyes widened. A free skill? Mana Sense allowed him to detect mana in his surroundings—from monsters, magic, or even people. Sitting in the forest, he sensed a powerful mana source deeper in the woods—something larger, more dangerous.
"There's something stronger out there," he whispered. But instead of fear, a spark of excitement flickered within him. With the God Creation System, he was beginning to wield true power in this world of monsters and magic.
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End of Chapter