Chapter 5: The Heart of Arz Woodland
Ginger's days in this new world had become an unrelenting test of courage and cunning. For ten days, he tackled Hard-Level Quests from the God Creation System, each pitting him against monsters more perilous than the last. Every victory brought him closer to his goal—becoming a true hero in the world of Lurra.
After grueling effort, he maxed out his base stats—*Attack,Magic, Mana Capacity, Strength, Agility, Defense, and Luck—at 1200 each. His mana had climbed to *2000/1200*, a testament to his relentless dedication.
Sitting on a rock near his hut, gazing at the stars twinkling above Barrio Tandang, Ginger felt the weight of his achievements—and the unease of what lay ahead. His battles in Tandang Forest and Shield Mountain were mere stepping stones. Lurra brimmed with mysteries and dangers beyond his imagination.
A notification from the system snapped him out of his thoughts. *"Ding! Random High-Level Item received: Teleportation Crystal."**l
A glowing blue crystal materialized in his hand, and the system explained: *"The Teleportation Crystal allows travel up to 1000 miles in minutes. Cost: 500 mana per use."*
"Teleportation?!" Ginger exclaimed, eyes wide with awe. In the webnovels he devoured, teleportation magic was a game-changer, offering unmatched advantages in combat and exploration. He gripped the crystal, feeling a warm energy pulse through his fingers, as if awaiting his command.
Then, the familiar Upgrade Button pulsed on his interface. Without hesitation, he spent 300 mana to activate it. A dazzling light enveloped him, accompanied by the system's authoritative voice.
**"Ding! Host upgraded to Level 4! Maximum stat limit increased to 3000. Ultra-Level Quests unlocked. Stats can now be enhanced with Ultra Points, earned through Ultra-Level Quests or defeating Level 10+ monsters."**
"Level 4!" Ginger shouted, his heart racing with excitement. Reaching a 3000 stat limit would be a daunting challenge, as his stats remained at 1200. He'd need to work harder to fill this new cap before aiming for Level 5.
Before he could plan, a new notification appeared, its tone distinct from previous missions. **"Ding! Special Quest Unlocked: Travel to the Land of Dawn using the Teleportation Crystal. Reward: 300 Hero Points, 200 Magic Points, Special Skill: Universal Language. Deadline: 24 hours. Penalty for Failure: All stats reduced to 600."**
"Land of Dawn?" Ginger frowned. The name tugged at a memory, like a half-forgotten dream from his life on Earth. "Sounds like something from a game I played…" he muttered, unable to pinpoint it. The mission seemed simple—use the crystal to reach a designated location.
"Nothing to lose," he told himself, his curiosity overpowering his nerves.
His current arsenal included powerful magic skills from past quests:
- Level 3 Wind Magic: Tornado Strike(500 Magic Points): Summons a small but potent tornado that pushes enemies back and deals area damage.
- Level 4 Earth Magic: Earth Spike Barrage(1000 Magic Points): Conjures sharp stone spikes from the ground, piercing enemies, ideal for groups or tough monsters.
- Level 5 Light Magic: Purifying Radiance (2000 Magic Points): A powerful spell that nullifies dark magic, curses, and debuffs, while providing minor healing. Cost: 1000 mana per use.
Ginger noted that Purifying Radiance was costly, nearly draining his mana pool in one cast. "1000 mana for one spell? I've got to be careful," he whispered. But with maxed-out stats, teleportation magic, and his new skills, he felt ready for any challenge.
Wasting no time, he activated the Teleportation Crystal (500 mana), willing it to take him to the Land of Dawn. A glowing magic circle formed beneath his feet, and a warm energy enveloped him, both thrilling and unsettling. His body seemed to dissolve into light, and in a flash, his surroundings vanished.
Seconds later, Ginger materialized in a forest unlike Tandang. Towering trees with leaves as large as tents loomed overhead, their roots twisting like giant serpents across the ground. The air was fresh, laced with magic, and unfamiliar bird songs echoed like otherworldly melodies.
Ginger stood in awe, heart pounding. "I did it! Actual teleportation!" he exclaimed.
**"Ding! Special Quest Complete! Reward: 300 Hero Points, 200 Magic Points, Special Skill: Universal Language."**
A new energy surged through his mind, granting him the ability to understand and speak any language. Testing it, he spoke a few words in an unknown tongue, the melodic sounds flowing naturally. "It's like an instant translator!" he said, eyes gleaming with excitement.
But confusion followed. The system offered no new quest to guide him in the Land of Dawn. "Now what?" he muttered, trekking through the forest, carefully avoiding roots and rocks. His Mana Sense detected faint mana signatures from animals and plants, but no immediate threats.
As he walked, a colossal tree dominated the forest, its canopy dwarfing the others. At its top was a wooden house, adorned with curtained windows and a rope ladder dangling to the ground. It looked like a hidden refuge from a fairy tale. "I sense a presence inside," Ginger whispered. "Should I try talking to them?"
Curiosity won over caution. He climbed the swaying rope ladder, his Hero Agility ensuring steady footing. Within minutes, he reached the house—a simple yet tidy space with handcrafted wooden furniture and decorations. But it was empty. "This is odd," he murmured, scanning the room.
Unnoticed, his foot brushed a thin tripwire on the floor. A clatter of tied cans echoed through the silent forest. "What was that?!" Ginger yelped, heart racing. He froze, fearing he'd triggered an alarm.
Before he could move, a massive boomerang shot from the doorway, striking his chest. The force knocked him back, and his precarious position near the platform's edge sent him plummeting 15 meters. "Aaaah!" he screamed as the wind whipped past.
In a panic, he activated Tornado Strike. A small whirlwind enveloped him, slowing his fall and allowing a safe landing. His Mana-Infused Cloak softened the impact, but the boomerang returned, spinning toward him from the forest's shadows.
"What's happening?!" Ginger shouted, dodging with Hero Agility. The boomerang pursued, as if guided by intent. "Who are you?!" he called into the forest, but only the weapon's hum answered.
Desperate, he fled, using Hero Agility to weave through the trees. But a small, blue, rabbit-like creature dropped in front of him, its large eyes glowing with an eerie aura. Before he could react, it leaped onto his chest, and a strange energy engulfed him. His body shrank, his limbs became soft paws, and his vision shifted—he'd transformed into a blue rabbit.
"What is this?!" Ginger cried, his voice a high-pitched squeak. Confusion and panic overwhelmed him. Before he could process it, a figure leaped from the tree—a young woman with pink hair, cat-like ears, and a swaying tail. With a swift kick to his head, darkness claimed him.
---
When Ginger awoke, he was human again, bound to an iron chair in a small room. The ropes dug into his skin, and his body ached from the fall and kick. His Mana Sense flared—a powerful mana signature filled the room, far from ordinary. He swallowed hard, heart pounding with fear and confusion.
The door creaked open, revealing the pink-haired woman. Her sharp eyes glinted, her cat-like ears twitched, and a bushy, fox-like tail swayed behind her. She carried a massive boomerang on her back and a knife in hand, dressed in a short, tribal-style outfit adorned with forest motifs. The design struck Ginger as familiar, though he couldn't place why.
"A cat person?! Who are you? Why am I tied up?!" Ginger shouted, his voice a mix of shock and indignation.
She approached, planting the knife into the chair near his hand, her tone fierce. "I should be asking you that! You trespassed in my territory and tried to kill me! What's a human doing here?"
"Kill you? I didn't do that!" Ginger protested, eyes wide. "I was lost! I didn't mean to steal or hurt anyone! Look at your house—it doesn't exactly scream 'treasure trove'!" He regretted the words instantly as her eyes flared with anger.
"What? Are you insulting my home?!" she snapped, grabbing his hair. "You've got some nerve!"
"No, wait! I didn't mean it like that!" Ginger pleaded, trying to defuse the situation. "I just meant I had no reason to steal. I climbed up because I'm lost and had nowhere else to go!" He knew she wouldn't believe a system sent him, so he stretched the truth.
She laughed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Lost? In the heart of Arz Woodland? Impossible! This forest is crawling with monsters—no ordinary human could wander in so easily!" She leaned closer, her knife hovering near his throat. "Tell me, are you from the Abyss? Or the Morgan Kingdom?"
"Abyss? Morgan?" Ginger's brow furrowed. The names rang a bell, but he couldn't place them. "I swear, I don't know what you're talking about! I'm just a guy, totally lost!" he begged, his voice desperate.
Before she could respond, Ginger's **Mana Sense** flared—a swarm of mana signatures approached. "Wait! I sense danger outside!" he shouted. "Five monsters, ten meters from that window, closing in! And three more in the trees to the west, holding position!"
She eyed him skeptically. "What are you babbling about? Trying to trick me?"
"It's true!" Ginger insisted, his voice steady despite his fear. "My senses are sharp—I feel them! Five Level 3 monsters and three others, plus a stronger one nearby!"
She smirked, but her eyes held a glint of menace. "If you're lying, I'll cut off three of your fingers," she said, grabbing her boomerang and leaping out of the house.
From the window, Ginger watched her peer below, her ears twitching as if catching the monsters' movements. Her expression shifted—eyes sharpening, tail lashing with anger. "Well, look at that," she muttered, before vaulting from the tree, boomerang in hand.
The forest erupted with battle sounds—monster roars, the boomerang's whir, and magical explosions. Ginger glimpsed her fighting five creatures with scaled skin and razor claws, resembling stronger Tandang Scale-Wolves. His **Appraisal** provided details:
Enemy: Arz Scale-Beast
- Level: 3
- Description: Ferocious creatures of Arz Woodland, fast with tough scales.
- Weakness: Vulnerable to fire and piercing attacks to the stomach.
The woman was a formidable warrior, moving with speed and precision. Her boomerang sliced through the air, striking the beasts with bursts of blood. She dispatched three of the five with ease, then glanced toward the west, recalling Ginger's warning about the three monsters in the trees. Using her claws, she scaled a tree to confront them.
The tree-top battle was intense. The remaining Scale-Beasts, with longer claws and glossier scales, dodged her boomerang and attacked from the branches. But she was faster. She imbued her boomerang with pink energy, amplifying its impact, felling two beasts in one arc. When a third lunged, she dodged with her tail's agility, then struck its neck, sending it crashing.
The final beast was cunning, hiding among the leaves for an ambush. She countered with a spell, summoning a blue rabbit-like familiar that transformed the beast into a rabbit. With a swift boomerang throw, she struck its heart, ending the fight.
Seizing the moment, Ginger used Basic Combat Mastery to cut his ropes with a small knife from Create Item. He bolted to the back window and leaped, using Tornado Strike (50 mana) to slow his descent. He landed safely, but fear gripped him. "I don't know what I did, but I've got to get out of here!" he whispered, sprinting into the forest.
His Mana Sense flared again—hundreds of mana signatures surrounded him, from Level 3 monsters to a chilling Level 5 presence nearby. "Too many! And a Level 5 monster's close!" he thought, freezing in terror.
The boomerang's hum returned, and Ginger dodged with Hero Agility, but it curved back, anticipating his move. The pink-haired woman descended from a tree, cracking her knuckles as she approached. "Thought you could escape that easily?" she said, her voice brimming with confidence.
She attacked, hurling the boomerang at blinding speed. Ginger used Tornado Strike to deflect it with a whirlwind, but she was relentless, leaping forward and grabbing his throat. She tripped him, pinning him to the ground with a knife near his face.
"I don't hurt humans—my mother taught me that," she said, her tone cold but amused. "But you seem untrustworthy. You defied me and tried to run."
"Please, calm down! I was just scared!" Ginger pleaded. "I didn't mean to trespass! Can't we talk this out?" His Mana Sense screamed—monsters were closing in. "There are monsters all around us! Ten meters away, hundreds of them across the forest!" he shouted, pointing to their locations.
"What are you going on about?" she snapped, smacking his head. "Quiet down!"
"It's true!" Ginger insisted, eyes desperate. "Level 3, Level 4, and a Level 5 nearby! We're in danger if we don't move!"
She laughed, unfazed. "Monsters are normal in Arz Woodland. They've plagued this forest for ten years. Why would I be scared?"
"You don't get it—we're surrounded!" Ginger urged, but she only stared, her confidence unshaken.
She extended her claws, grazing his cheek to silence him. "Monsters are everywhere here," she said, her body glowing with energy. "But the most dangerous creature in this part of the forest," she added, her voice low and proud, "is standing right in front of you."
"What?! Who are you?!" Ginger demanded, his mind reeling.
Blue rabbit-like creatures appeared around her, and a powerful aura enveloped her. "I'm Ana, the Feline Wizard of Arz Woodland," she declared, her smile enigmatic.
The name "Ana" hit Ginger like a bolt. Her tribal outfit and cat-like features clicked—he activated **Appraisal** to confirm:
**Appraisal Activated: Ana, Feline Wizard**
- Level: 10
- Age: 16
- Description: A Leonin from Arz Woodland, a chosen hero of the Land of Dawn, blessed by the Moonlight God to protect the forest. Skilled in magic and long-range combat, wielding an enchanted boomerang and summoned familiars.
- Weakness: Vulnerable to strong dark magic and crowd-control abilities.
"Impossible!" Ginger gasped, eyes wide with disbelief. Ana was a character from *Legend of Heroes*, a mobile game he played on Earth. Her iconic pink hair, cat ears, and boomerang were unmistakable, but in the game, she was a six-year-old child. Here, in the Land of Dawn, she was a young woman—real, breathing, and wielding power beyond his imagination.
Before he could process this, his **Mana Sense** flared—a massive mana signature emerged, joined by hundreds of smaller ones closing in. "Ana, it's real! An army of monsters is coming, led by something huge!" he shouted, voice trembling.
Ana's ears twitched, scanning the forest. Her eyes narrowed, catching distant sounds. "Well, you're not entirely useless," she said, leaping onto a tree with her boomerang ready. "Let's see why they call me the Feline Wizard."
From the ground, Ginger saw a wave of monsters emerge—Arz Scale-Beasts, venomous giant spiders, and a towering creature with horns and stone-like skin. His **Appraisal** identified it:
**Enemy: Arz Horned Titan**
- Level: 5
- Description: An elite monster of Arz Woodland, with tough skin and powerful physical attacks.
- Weakness: Vulnerable to earth-based magic and attacks to its eyes.
"Level 5!" Ginger cried, heart racing. But he knew he had to fight. "Ana, I'll help!" he shouted, activating Earth Spike Barrage. The ground quaked, and sharp stone spikes erupted, striking the Scale-Beasts and sowing chaos.
Ana glanced at him, surprised but focused. She cast a spell, summoning pink energy rabbits that attacked the monsters. Her boomerang spun, hitting weak points, while Ginger's Tornado Strike pushed the spiders back.
The Horned Titan charged Ginger, its horns gleaming under the moonlight. Using Hero Agility, he dodged, but the beast was fast, its fist nearly crushing him. He activated Mana Shield, blocking the next blow.
"Ana, its eyes!" Ginger yelled, confirming the weakness with Appraisal. Ana nodded, hurling her boomerang into the Titan's left eye. The beast roared in pain, and Ginger seized the moment, casting Flame Burst. A fiery explosion weakened the Titan's hide.
Together, they pressed the attack. Ana leaped onto the Titan's back, clawing her way up and plunging her knife into its neck. Ginger used Earth Spike Barrage to target its legs, bringing it down.
"Get back!" Ana shouted. She unleashed a massive pink energy spell, creating a blinding explosion that finished the Titan.
The remaining monsters fled, as was typical when their leader fell. Ginger collapsed, panting, his mana at *500/1350*. Adrenaline and confidence surged through him. "We did it!" he exclaimed, though his senses remained alert to lingering mana signatures.
Ana turned to him, her eyes holding newfound respect. "Still claiming you're ordinary?" she teased. "My mother taught me not to judge too quickly, but you've got some explaining to do. Who are you, really?"
Ginger sighed, a wry smile forming. "I'm Ginger, a hunter from Barrio Tandang," he said, his mind still reeling. "But you… you're Ana, the Feline Wizard from *Legend of Heroes*! How are you real?!"
Ana laughed, her tail swishing. "*Legend of Heroes*? Never heard of it. I'm the guardian of this part of Arz Woodland, and you're the first human to reach its heart alive. But I still don't fully trust you."
Before Ginger could respond, the system chimed: *"Ding! New special Quest: Help Ana build a new place on her teritory for tribes on Arz Woodland to protect her teritory from the Dark Invasion of the Abyss. Reward: 10000 mana,2000 Hero Points, 700 Magic Points, Random Legendary Item. Deadline: 10 days. Penalty for Failure: All stats reduced to 1000."*
"Dark Invasion? Abyss?" Ginger whispered, his eyes filled with fear and determination. His journey to the Land of Dawn was no accident—it was the start of a greater battle, one that would shape his destiny as a hero.
--- End of Chapter