The Next Day...
With the morning sun casting a golden hue across the rooftops, Yuki adjusted the strap of his borrowed travel pack and stepped out through the city gate. Only a basic F grade sword and some rations were there in the name of gears.
The massive iron doors slowly closed behind him with a dull groan, cutting him off from the safety of the Fortress City. Before him stretched a quiet path winding through dry plains and patches of dense woodland.
In his pocket, he carried a rolled-up parchment. A basic F-Rank quest issued by the Hunter Association. His task was simple on paper: scout the nearby ruins of Old Kraymore, a long-abandoned village three miles to the northeast, and confirm the presence of any Hollowfied creatures. No engagement was required, only observation and a brief report. Reward: 50 Silver
"Not bad for a warm-up," Yuki muttered to himself, his voice calm but alert.
The journey was quiet, save for the rustling of trees and the whisper of wind against his clothes. The sun filtered through the shifting canopy, painting patterns of gold on the dirt path ahead.
Along the way, Yuki spotted other hunters. Some moved in tight-knit groups, sharing laughter and weapons. Others traveled in pairs, their eyes sharp and conversations hushed. A few, like him, walked alone, silent shadows threading through the wilderness on paths of their own.
He would not have minded some company. A voice to share the silence, a blade to guard his back. But he had too many secrets. His dragon blood, his transformation, his origins — any of it could bring disaster if whispered into the wrong ears.
For now, solitude was his shield.
So with steady steps and a quiet resolve, Yuki walked forward alone.
Every few steps he took, he scanned the surroundings with his heightened senses. Though in his human form, his hydra bloodline kept his instincts razor sharp. He passed by broken fences, toppled signposts, and the eerie remnants of a forgotten civilization buried in dust and time.
As the sun climbed higher, he finally spotted the edge of Old Kraymore. The ruins were mostly collapsed stone houses, some half-swallowed by roots. Nature had begun reclaiming what man had once built.
Yuki crouched behind a wall of cracked stone and focused his gaze. Then he saw them. Two hollowfied deer-like beasts grazing near a well. Their eyes glowed with faint crimson and their antlers bore unnatural, jagged twists. Their presence confirmed the quest's objective.
"Two infected targets confirmed," Yuki whispered as he slowly backed away.
He did not need to fight them yet. That was not part of the mission. The standard protocol for any new hunter was simple: observe, avoid, and report back to the Hunter Association. That was the safest and most logical course of action.
But Yuki was not ordinary, and neither were his ambitions.
He was going to hunt the Hollows.
[ Crystal Horned Deer – Level 3 ]
[ Extractions Available ]
[ Warning: Corrupted Creature. Caution is advised. Maintain distance. ]
The appraisal gave him what he needed. These creatures were not only hostile but contained extractable traits. That was all the confirmation he required.
There was no room for hesitation.
With a sharp breath, Yuki charged forward like a wild storm. The wind screamed past as he ambushed one of the deer, charging like a reckless warrior fresh out of myth. His grip tightened on the sword's hilt, unfamiliar and awkward way. He had no formal training, no elegant sword style or honed reflexes.
But he believed there was no better teacher than the battlefield itself.
"Grrr!"
Instead of fleeing, the deer bared its fangs and lunged at Yuki like a mindless beast, more zombie than animal.
"Clang!"
His sword met the creature's jagged fangs, not its neck. The impact sent a jarring vibration through his arm, and the blade clattered to the ground. In the next instant, Yuki found himself stumbling forward, straight toward the gaping maw of the Hollowfied deer.
He had never underestimated these corrupted creatures. His ambush had failed, but the fight was far from over.
With a sharp exhale, Yuki morphed into his original dragon form just in time, narrowly escaping the creature's deadly bite.
But he was not retreating.
[ WindLeap Dash ]
[ Phantom Claw ]
With a burst of wind, his wings launched him upward. Then came the dark shimmer of his spectral claws. He dove toward the beast, slashing with deadly precision. The creature tried to defend, swinging its antlers in a wild arc, but the Phantom Claws phased through them like mist.
"Slash!"
Five clean claw marks tore across its neck. Blood gushed in a red stream.
"Slash!"
Another strike followed, swift and unforgiving. The Hollowfied deer collapsed, motionless.
But his battle was not over. The other deer, stirred by bloodlust, charged like a stampede of mad bulls.
Yuki rose into the sky and spun, slashing downward with elegance. During the past two days, he had not remained idle. He had trained, studied, and experimented. He had learned how to read the rhythm of his new skills.
Phantom Claw was an E-Rank ability. Its reach, its speed, and its phasing ability were devastating against lower-level beasts.
That mastery, and not just brute strength, was what allowed Yuki to dispatch the monsters so swiftly. For most others, taming a new skill would take days, if not weeks.
But for Yuki, it had already become second nature.
So, it could be said that F-Rank creatures, those falling under Level 10, were manageable opponents. As long as he stayed cautious and used his abilities wisely, Yuki had a solid chance at defeating them.
As the second creature's body thudded against the forest floor, its corrupted breath fading into silence, Yuki wasted no time. He approached both of the fallen beasts and activated Dragon God Codex.
[ Extraction Initiated ]
[ Extracted Bloodline: Crystal Horned Deer (F) ×2 ]
[ Extracted Skills: Horn Reinforcement (F) ×2 ]
> Grants 15% extra durability on the user's horns while active.
The gains were not much, but he could not complain. He was just starting. For a beginner, it was not a bad start.
Without hesitation, Yuki sent the shriveled corpses into the Fusion Lab. Most of their essence had already been drained, but he would not waste even a single cell. Every fragment mattered. Every drop of potential pushed him one step closer to evolution.
The hunt continued.