Jian was moving towards the noise coming from the forest, the closer he got, the louder the shrieks became. After what felt like an eternity, Jian spotted two silhouettes locked in battle. He exhaled in relief. A human and a beast were fighting. Hope flickered in his chest as he crept closer.
Peering from behind a tree, Jian eyes widened. The human was a delicate-looking girl, no older than sixteen, locked in a fierce struggle with a massive boar the size of a bull. The ground beneath them was churned and bloodstained. Though the girl's strikes were precise, the beast's immense size and strength kept the battle evenly matched.
For nearly an hour, Jian watched the grueling fight from his hiding spot. Neither side relented, their attacks growing more ferocious. Finally, the tide shifted. The boar let out a guttural roar, charging with terrifying speed. The girl was thrown against a jagged rock formation, blood dripping from her lips.
As the beast bore down on her, she staggered to her feet. A silver sword materialized behind her, floating in mid-air. Her aura flared as she prepared a desperate counterattack.
The air hummed with tension as the two opponents closed the distance. Then, just as they collided, a flash of light obscured Jian's vision. He ducked behind the tree, heart pounding, unwilling to see the outcome.
"System!" he whispered urgently. "What do I do now?"
The system's voice was calm, yet insistent. "Host, this is your chance."
"My chance for what? Dying?"
"Host should look behind."
Jian calmed himself and peeked at the battlefield. His eyes widened in shock as both the beast and the girl lay motionless, the silver sword still embedded in the beast's massive frame.
He hesitated but finally decided to approach. Each step forward was cautious, his breathing uneven. As he got within two meters, a low grunt escaped the beast's throat, sending Jian stumbling backward.
"System, what's happening?" he whispered, fear lacing his voice.
The system's solemn voice responded, "The beast is still alive, though barely. It is taking its last breaths."
Jian let out a relieved sigh and began retreating. "I'll just wait for it to die on its own."
But before he could turn back, the system spoke again. "Host, I suggest you kill it before it dies naturally."
"Why?" Jian asked, his voice wary.
"There will be rewards."
The word rewards struck a chord. Jian's hesitation melted away as greed and survival instinct took over. Gripping the hilt of the sword, he cautiously approached the dying beast.
Sensing its impending doom, the beast stirred, its body trembling as it attempted to stand. Panic surged through Jian as the massive creature thrashed about. Without thinking, he jumped onto the sword, driving it deeper.
However, Jian's frail, malnourished body lacked the strength to finish the job. The beast roared, its movements becoming more frantic as it struggled to throw him off. Jian closed his eyes tightly, his thoughts spiraling into despair.
"This is it," he thought, cursing the system. "Why did I even listen to you?"
Suddenly, the beast's pupil dilated. With a final, strained roar, it collapsed to the ground, throwing Jian off in the process. The heavy thud of its fall echoed through the forest.
A minute passed. Then five. Jian lay on the ground, trembling, his eyes shut tight. He didn't dare move, convinced the beast was still alive.
The system's voice broke the silence.
[Ding!]
[Detected: Host has killed a Peak 1-Star Poison Fang Boar.]
[Host's Cultivation: None.]
[Reward is calculating...]
Jian cautiously opened one eye, glancing at the screen, then at the beast. Its head had been severed cleanly. "How...?" he asked, bewildered.
"Stupidity," the system replied bluntly.
"What?"
"Host, when the beast stood up, the sword was forced deeper due to your weight. The angle caused its head to be lopped off."
Jian blinked in disbelief before shaking his head. "What are the rewards?"
"Host, complete your mission first. All rewards will be distributed together."
"Fine," Jian muttered. Turning his attention to the boar, he muttered, "How am I supposed to eat this thing?"
Gripping the sword, he began cutting into the boar's flesh. The task was grueling, his weak body slowing the process. It took an hour just to extract the legs. Exhausted but determined, Jian bundled the meat and prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to step away, a thought struck him.
"The girl!"
Embarrassed, he slapped his forehead. How could he forget about her? The system let out a sigh of disappointment, but Jian ignored it, hurrying toward where she lay.
She was still breathing, her pale face smeared with dirt and blood. Jian sighed in relief and gently shook her.
Before she could stir, the system's voice interrupted.
"Host, move quickly. Beasts are approaching."
Panic gripped Jian as he scooped the girl into his frail arms, along with the meat and sword. Staggering under the weight, he began retreating toward a cave he had discovered earlier while searching for food.
The journey back to the cave was arduous. The girl's limp body and the heavy boar meat tested Jian's endurance. Thirty minutes later, he stumbled into the safety of the cave, collapsing against the wall. The distant roars of beasts echoed through the forest, but after an hour, the noises faded.
Jian stepped outside to confirm the danger had passed. Seeing no sign of the beasts, he exhaled in relief and returned to the cave.
After setting the girl down gently, he gathered wood for a fire.
"System," he asked, "is it safe to barbecue the meat?"
The system's reply was immediate. "Host, make the fire strong enough to burn away the poison."
"Poison?!" Jian's voice rose.
"Host, this is Poison Fang Boar meat. Naturally, it contains venom. The fire will neutralize it."
Jian sighed and collected extra wood, dragging it to the far end of the cave. Using the sword and a stone, he sparked a flame and began grilling the meat. As the fire grew, a purple smoke rose from the meat. Jian leapt back in alarm.
"Host, remain calm. The smoke is the poison burning away."
Relieved, Jian settled down, keeping his distance.
"How long will it take to cook?" he asked.
"One hour."
Annoyed but resigned, Jian decided to ask something that had been nagging him. "System, you said the teleportation took one day because of a spatial storm. What does that mean?"
"Host, the teleportation was supposed to send you to the Central Continent. However, the spatial storm disrupted the process, redirecting you to the Southern Continent instead."
Jian frowned. "This isn't the Central Continent? What's the name of this place?"
"Host can find out for himself."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The name of this continent is irrelevant for now. As for the realm, you already know its name."
Jian's irritation flared. "What do you mean I already know?"
The system sighed audibly. "Host, this is the Ancient Sovereign Realm."
Jian froze, the name reverberating in his mind. "What?!"