"Alright, here we go!" I muttered to myself, grabbing my oversized bag packed with snacks and water bottles. My homemade weapon, a spear crafted from a broomstick with a kitchen knife attached to it, was in hand. I chose this weapon not only for its simplicity but also for its versatility as a medium-range defense. Safety in encounters was paramount, according to my parents.
As I stealthily closed the door to my 35-square-meter room, I whispered to my sleeping parents, "Mom, Dad, I'm heading out..." My attire consisted of a dark-blue training short with a check logo engraved on the bottom left, and a tight black T-shirt bearing the "PUFFS" insignia on the chest, coupled with gray slip-on shoes. I braced myself for the challenging day ahead.
My name is Rama, and today marked the day of my first hunt.
I walked through the apartment building's corridor towards the stairs, my fear gnawing at me. Fighting real monsters was an intimidating prospect, and today could be the end for me. Yet, I had no choice; I had to do this to ensure my family's survival in this broken world.
I paused in front of a mirror on the wall and muttered to myself, "Hello, handsome." I had an oblong head with a medium-wide flat nose, slanted eyes, and a slightly thick, protruding lower lip. I couldn't claim to be a supermodel, but I guessed I wasn't that bad-looking. After all, the year-long rigorous training I'd undergone had trimmed most of the extra fat from my body, sculpting it into a more athletic figure. With my newfound physique, I was sure that many people, particularly the girls, would be quite impressed.
"You can do this, Rama. You can do this. C'mon, it's just a few ghoulies today. They're humanoid, so their movements are predictable. Remember your year-long training and know that you're a better fighter than you think." I offered myself some motivation and confidence before proceeding downstairs.
Each step down the stairs felt heavy. Leaving the safety of the settlement for the perilous zone inhabited by monsters was an ever-daunting task. When I reached the lobby and the gate came into sight, I controlled my breath, taking deep breaths one after another.
"Your hunter's pass?" Asked the gate guard as I approached. I handed it over, a coveted ticket that allowed free access in and out of the settlements. Obtaining it was no easy feat, as it required a year's worth of Hunter Association's rigorous training. A trial, held at the end of the training, was the ultimate test. Pass, and a hunter badge shall be bestowed on you. Fail, and choices shall be given to you: endure another year-long training, honing your skills to perfection, or simply walk away, leaving the hunter's path for the valiant and the indomitable.
"Good luck on your hunt!" the guard said as he returned my hunter's pass. This pass was like a badge of honor, a symbol of strength and endurance. While it gave me some confidence, there was always room for first-time experiences.
Before venturing further, I checked my status window:
Name: Rama Kusuma
Attributes:
Strength 9
Vitality 9
Agility 6
Endurance 6
Intelligence 7
Willpower 3
Body Mass 80 kg
Height 170 cm
Age 25
Core Skills:
Combat 18
Athletic 15
Cognitive 35
HP 90/90
SP 60/60
MP 70/70
Exp 235/400
Encumbrance 0/90
Body Condition:
Hunger 75.5%
Thirst 35.14%
Sleep 100%
I felt reasonably confident in my stats. My strength and vitality scores of 9 each meant I could deal damage and withstand blows effectively. My endurance and agility, at 6 each, might be average, but they were more than sufficient for one-on-one combat situations. My 7 intelligence indicated that I had mental clarity and judgment abilities.
I exited the gate, and thus, my first hunt began.
Walking along the main road towards an intersection, I observed the remnants of a broken world. Debris from old buildings littered the streets, which had transitioned from bustling to eerie silence after the blast. Today, I aimed to hunt ghoulies, the weakest among the monsters, despite being top predators before their mutations.
"Where are you, ghoulies?" I muttered, feeling foolish for provoking the creatures. It was a tactic to ease my tension, though the sing-song tone was less than subtle. Nonetheless, I needed courage as I continued.
After taking a deep breath, I decided to explore one of the road branches. Staying vigilant and gripping my spear tightly, I watched for any movement around me. The Hunter Association mentioned that ghoulies often hid in old buildings. However, I knew raiding a building alone was risky; it was typically done by a group or raid party. Occasionally, the association organized such raids to reclaim the fallen lands and expand their territory.
"Look at that," I said, gazing at the vast factory building to my left, a legacy of a past raid. The building was a grim reminder of the harsh battles hunters had faced. With the building's extensive grounds and a significant number of ghoulies, it had taken nearly three days to clear despite the fact that it was near our base. It's as if the strategic advantage of the location served no benefits against the grueling battle.
I continued to walk down the road, arriving at the Sunter reservoir to my right, once a peaceful spot for leisure and now a battleground for hunters. Water monsters lurked within, a nightmare for those with thalassophobia.
I passed by an old church building, which was remarkably reminiscent of an office structure next to the factory. It, too, could serve as a ghoulie's lair, but I hesitated to enter. I chose to stay outside.
"Huff… I can't keep wandering around like this," I murmured, finally deciding to enter the church. I was fully aware that it was a risky move, but finding ghoulies on the street was equally as challenging.
"Well, the front yard is empty. They must be sleeping inside. Perfect time for an ambush," I whispered to myself, determination setting my every step as I entered the building, my feet echoing on the stairs leading up to the main entrance.
"I'm in..." I uttered softly as I scanned the interior. It was eerily empty. A receptionist table stood on the left, flanked by stairs ascending to both upper levels and the basement, I presumed. Ahead, a corridor stretched into darkness, leading to a hall and various rooms.
I followed the path ahead.
Each step was deliberate, my senses on high alert. The time read 5 AM, the world outside still cloaked in darkness. The absence of sunlight cast a dim, ghostly atmosphere inside the building, amplifying the tension in the air. Every shadow seemed to hold secrets, every faint echo of my footfalls intensified the silence. Yet, I pressed on, my determination outshined the creepy ambiance.
Ssssskkkk…
I gently pushed open the glass door on my left and discovered a small hall filled with scattered chairs and round tables, likely once used for meetings. Nervously, I greeted the empty room aloud, only to realize that such a move could compromise my stealth. Taking a deep breath, I explored the hall, checking every corner, but it held nothing of interest. As I turned to leave, my path took an unexpected turn.
Srakkkk…
Ghhrrrrahhhgghhaa…
"What the—"
GHRAAAA!!!
Swooop.
A ghoulie had attempted to ambush me. I rolled forward to dodge its diagonal swipe before turning around, swiftly launching a counter jab with my spear. However, the ghoulie executed a second swipe with its other arm.
Swooopp!!
Brakkk!!
"Ah! Shit!" My attack was parried, and the ghoulie managed to disarm me. My spear flew to the side. When the ghoulie readied another swipe, I backpedaled, turned, and bolted for the front yard. My escape was not out of fear, but for maneuverability and to prevent other ghoulies from detecting our fight.
"Huff, huff, huff, hmmmmpphhh, fwuhh…" I controlled my breath, taking deep, measured breaths as I moved towards the open space.
Gleaghhhh… Ghwaaggooooo…
I was being chased by the ghoulie, and there was a gap of around five meters between us. Upon reaching the yard, I threw my bag to the side and pivoted to confront my pursuer. What I saw was a creature exhibiting a grotesque-distorted visage, lengthy arms, fingers tipped with sharp claws, and a spine protrusion on its back. It sported gray hair, pale skin with scales extending from the forearms downward, and fin-like structures on its forearms.
"Dammit!" I realized I had to fight the ghoulie unarmed. I had some unarmed combat training, but this was different. I was capable of boxing due to prior training, but I was still apprehensive. "Fine. Come on, you ugly bastard!" I taunted, assuming a standard Boxing squared stance with hands up, fists clenched, left leg slightly in front of the other, a classic orthodox style.
The ghoulie lunged, its right arm slashing diagonally downward. I swiftly slipped to the left, dodging the attack, and countered with a straight using my right hand, a slip strike.
Bam.
Ghhraaahhghaaa…
I then weaved to the right, evading the ghoulie's next move—a horizontal swipe with its left arm, and retaliated with a right and left body shot, followed with a right uppercut before stepping back.
I skillfully weaved to the right, evading the ghoulie's next move—a horizontal swipe with its left arm. Swiftly, I countered with a precise combination: a powerful right body shot followed by a left hook, and then a swift right uppercut. After the strikes, I smoothly stepped back, maintaining my distance from the ghoulie. My movements were a seamless blend of instinctual reaction and keen observation, one honed through relentless training.
Bam bam buagghh.
Grooghhhkk… Ghraaagghoooo!!!
"Shit." The ghoulie was enraged, launching a barrage of quick diagonal swipes. I managed to dodge the first three swipes by leaning and stepping back twice before slipping to the right. But this time, I made a wrong move. The ghoulie swiftly redirected its attack horizontally. I hadn't even had a chance to counter or reposition myself before…
Scratch.
"Arghh…"
I took the hit, staggered, and the ghoulie struck again with an upward diagonal swipe, continuing with another series of diagonal swipes. This time, I blocked them, feeling the impact of each blow through my arms.
"Hahh… Hahh… Hahh…" I was tiring rapidly. Dodging and blocking took a toll on my stamina, but I couldn't afford to stop. It was my turn now.
The ghoulie hopped backward, and I seized the opportunity, leaping forward and delivering a superman punch. It connected, and I followed it with a left body shot and a right straight, knocking the ghoulie back.
Bump bam bam.
Gleaggghhh!
"Heyahhh!!!" I leaped forward, pursuing the ghoulie, which retaliated with a diagonally upward swipe using its right arm. I decided to brace the attack and retaliated with an uppercut.
"Heyaaahhhh!!!"
Ghaaaaaaaghh!!!!!
Bamp!
Scrattch…
"Hoshh… Hoshhh…" Pain radiated from my chin, and I felt blood trickling down my skin. I took the hit, but so did the ghoulie. We stood there for a moment before…
Bump…
The ghoulie collapsed, and I emerged victorious. It was dead.
"Ahhhh…."
Bump…
I collapsed to the ground, sprawled out with my arms and legs spread apart. I lifted one hand to my forehead, closing my eyes, reveling in the triumph of my first battle.
"Ahh… Ah…. Damn, that was intense." I tried to steady my breath as I spoke.
"Shit… It's only one ghoulie, but it wore me out already." I sighed, checking my condition on the HUD. My HP stood at 76.76, and my SP at 7.16. I still needed to carve the carcass for materials and the heart, the main source of income, but that could wait.
I moved my hand slightly, leaving a gap for my eyes. Gazing up at the sky, I saw white clouds filling my view. The sun had begun to radiate the day, making the clouds resemble cotton candies. Memories of a past trip with friends flooded my mind. We visited a countryside waterfall, laughing and singing throughout the day, creating unforgettable memories.
"Hhhh… How did the world become like this?" I wondered, contemplating the drastic change in the world's fate.