Michael woke up in the cave, feeling more refreshed and focused than he had in days. The past few weeks had been grueling but transformative, and now he was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. Uriel, ever vigilant, watched him closely as he prepared for the day's hunt.
After a brief breakfast of dried rations, Michael and Uriel set out to explore the rift. It wasn't long before they came across a bear, similar to the one Michael had killed weeks earlier. But this time, Michael was determined not to hide or wait for the perfect moment. He brandished his knife, feeling the familiar weight in his hand, and prepared to attack.
With a deep breath, he began channeling his light element techniques. The golden glow enveloped his body, turning him invisible, while he simultaneously activated his movement skill. Several afterimages of light trailed behind him as he moved faster than the eye could see, closing the distance between himself and the bear in an instant. Before the beast could react, Michael plunged the knife into its throat, killing it with a decisive blow.
(That was a decisive kill,) Uriel thought, impressed with Michael's growing skill. She knew the average champion would take much longer before they were ready to hunt like this.
(Let's go up to the high ground and hide. I want to see if I can get a new weapon soon from some passersby.) Michael had been considering his options and realized his knife was getting dull. Since he and Alicia were orphans and lacked resources, looting was the only viable option for them.
Following his request, they both jumped high into the trees, hiding among the leaves and branches, keeping a close watch on the area below. Michael knew it might take some time for other adventurers to show up, so he settled into a meditative position, focusing on learning a new skill.
He recalled a basic technique from his memories that allowed a user to coat their weapon with light mana, sharpening the blade and reducing wear and tear. It was exactly what he needed until he could acquire a higher-grade weapon. As he delved into the memory, he saw the familiar young man again, dressed in gold and black, with his hair tied in a high ponytail. In a grand room with high ceilings and opulent red and gold décor, the young man sparred with four adults, each of whom easily parried his attacks. In frustration, the young man began to coat his twin short swords with light mana, hoping to inflict some damage. Just as he was about to land an attack, the memory faded.
Michael was intrigued by this figure—this young man who seemed to be a part of him, yet distinct. Who was he? And why was he so skilled? Michael knew that the answers would come with strength and that there was no point in asking Uriel just yet. She would likely tell him to get stronger before seeking answers. With a sigh, Michael opened his eyes, just in time to hear the sound of footsteps approaching.
Below them, three young men who appeared to be around eighteen years old entered the clearing. The apparent leader had black hair cut short and wore a blue tracksuit with a black backpack. The other two, shorter and heavier, followed closely behind, both wearing standard white shirts and blue jeans.
"Greg, who do you think killed this bear? It was done in one hit, and with a hunting knife at that," one of the sidekicks asked, sounding nervous.
"There are dozens of kids awakening and coming here every day. How should I know which rich kid's bodyguard got bored?" the leader responded in annoyance.
"Do you think it was one of those Worldview High kids? I heard they're all monsters compared to everyone else," said the other sidekick.
"Why would one of those freaks be in a beginner's rift? They all awaken straight to E Rank, so what's the point of them coming to an F Rank rift?" Greg, the leader, retorted as he squatted down and began searching the bear for its core and valuable body parts.
As they focused on the bear, they failed to notice Michael silently descending from the trees. He stood behind them, arms crossed, watching as they worked.
"Excuse me, do you have any swords on you?" Michael asked, his voice calm but commanding.
Startled, all three jumped up and drew their weapons, getting into defensive stances. The two sidekicks pulled out guns, while Greg unsheathed a black sword from his backpack.
"Who are you, kid?" Greg asked, suspicion etched on his face. He wondered how a boy who looked no older than twelve had managed to sneak up on them. The kid had an air of authority that made him uneasy.
"I just wanted to know if you have weapons," Michael said, his tone even and unthreatening. "Since I see you pointing them at me, I'll ask you kindly to let me borrow them."
Greg and his companions couldn't believe their ears. A child was trying to rob them? The absurdity of the situation made Greg smirk.
"Pfftttt, hahahaa, hey dude, just go home to your parents. This rift is dangerous, and trying to become a bandit is even more so. We're doing you a favor by not beating you up," Greg sneered, clearly amused by the situation.
"I told you we should've just quickly killed them and taken everything they have, no, Michael?" Uriel's voice cut through the tension as she emerged from the shadows behind the group. They spun around, shocked to see her, and quickly repositioned themselves, standing back to back to avoid being ambushed.
"Who the hell are you kids? You really think you can kill us when we are years older than you?!" Greg shouted, his frustration turning into anger. He hated the idea of being belittled by two preteens.
"Okay, we'll do it your way. I don't have time for more nonsensical conversation, so let's make this quick," Michael said, his voice dropping into a deadly serious tone. As he spoke, his body vanished from sight, leaving the three adventurers visibly frightened and on high alert.
(He has a stealth skill—it's about a C Rank talent, but it's too damn useful and hard to guard against. This may be toug—) Greg's thoughts were cut short as a hard blow struck the back of his head, knocking him out cold. Thud! Thud! The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed as Uriel incapacitated the other two in a similar fashion. It seemed they had forgotten about her in their shock over Michael's stealth ability.
"Why didn't we kill them, human? You could've devoured them," Uriel asked as she began inspecting the guns they had looted.
"We just needed the weapons, money, and gear. There's no need to kill them over that. Besides, devouring humans without useful talents doesn't sit right with me. I'd rather devour monster cores since I get more from them," Michael replied, now examining the black sword with approval.
"Good point. I'll just go with using twin guns from here on out. These should make hunting together more fun," Uriel said, her excitement palpable as she handled the guns.
"What will you use when you run out of ammo?" Michael asked, still skeptical about the usefulness of guns in a society dominated by personal power.
"These babies run off of mana, not bullets. They're perfect for me!" Uriel explained, her enthusiasm undiminished. Michael stared at her for a moment before deciding to let her enjoy her new toys without further comment.
"Alright, now that we're armed, let's massacre the monsters in the forest before taking down the boss. It's about time we got back to the city," Michael declared, his tone filled with determination and a hint of excitement.
With their new weapons in hand and a renewed sense of purpose, Michael and Uriel set off into the forest, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. They had grown stronger, more skilled, and more prepared. Now, it was time to put that power to the test.