Larry had barely slept the entire night. It felt as if his body refused to let him rest, and each time he found some sleep, he'd wake almost immediately, drenched in cold sweat. His mind was racing with too many thoughts—his new life, his uncertain future, the people around him, and most of all, the hunger gnawing at his insides.
His stomach growled audibly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. Hunger wasn't a stranger to him, but it was particularly intense this time, enough to make sleep impossible. He rolled on his side, trying to ignore the pangs, but the moment he did, he remembered something that struck him like a flash.
"The quest…" he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper.
Yesterday, the system had mentioned a quest—something about a reward. That made him remember the first time the system had awakened inside him. He had almost died before he could even hear what the reward was. Now, with no distractions in the dark, he clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, he could learn more.
He closed his eyes and focused. He thought about the system—willing it to respond. A second later, a familiar mechanical voice rang out in his mind, accompanied by the ever-present ding.
[The Daily Requirements to Access the System:]
[Drink two cups of water: Pending.]
[Rest for 4 hours: Completed.]
[Meditate for 2 hours: Completed.]
"When did I meditate?" Larry mumbled, trying to make sense of the message. He couldn't recall any moment when he deliberately meditated for two hours, but his body did feel a strange sort of restfulness. Maybe it had happened unconsciously, but that wasn't important now.
Larry took a deep breath and exhaled. The only thing left to do was drink two cups of water. He'd have to wait until morning for that, but the anticipation made sleep an even more distant possibility.
The hours passed by slowly, and eventually, dawn broke. He heard the sounds of people moving around, the camp coming to life. The bounty hunters began to prepare for the hunt—packing up supplies, donning their armor, and dismantling tents.
Larry forced himself up from the makeshift bed he had been given, his body feeling as heavy as lead. He could hear the distinct noises of weapons clanking, the rustle of fabric, and hushed voices all around him. He stretched out his senses to the movement, trying to navigate.
As he emerged from the tent, a soft breeze touched his face, the morning air carrying a sense of adventure that reminded him of the stories he'd heard as a child. The others were already clad in their battle suits—crafted from the cores of fallen meteor beasts. Each of them wore intermediate-tier battle suits, their armors distinct in color, reflecting their individual personalities.
His own battle suit was far different from theirs. It was an old, basic-tier suit that had belonged to Garrett. Although worn, it had a certain comfort to it—like it was now a part of his own skin. Larry brushed off any thoughts of self-consciousness and walked toward the group.
"I thought you'd have trouble fitting into Garrett's suit, but it actually looks good on you," Victor was the first to comment, his tone cheerful.
"Oh, so that's Garrett's suit, huh?" Sean added, giving Larry a once-over. "It almost looks like it was made for him, apart from the fact that it's a little ancient."
Larry couldn't help but smile at their words. The teasing wasn't meant to be unkind—it was their way of including him. But one face among them didn't seem as amused. Garrett wore a conflicted expression as he looked at Larry. Rina had told him about Larry's story, and he felt a deep sense of responsibility for the young, blind boy standing in front of him.
Garrett sighed, muttering under his breath, "I just hope I don't regret this."
He glanced at Rina, who was approaching with two cups of water in her hands. She offered them to Larry, who took them gratefully, drinking each cup quickly. She observed him closely, especially the strange blindfold that covered his eyes. It looked unusual, unlike anything she had seen before. The fact that it hadn't been there when they found him had piqued her curiosity, but before she could ask, Larry returned the empty cups with a polite nod.
"Aren't you scared, kid?" Garrett asked, his voice gentle but carrying an underlying seriousness.
Larry shook his head and smiled faintly. "I won't slow you guys down, Garrett. I promise."
With that, they set off, the final tent packed away, and a supply bag handed to Larry while another went to Rina. They moved cautiously, the atmosphere shifting as they approached the hunting grounds.
As they walked, Larry attempted to access the system again. He focused, trying to establish the connection he'd felt the previous night, but each attempt was met with silence. Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair.
"Is it because I didn't drink the water properly? Or maybe the meditation was fake?" he wondered aloud, though no one else heard him.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when he stumbled over a loose stone, falling face-first into the dirt. He heard the rest of the group halt, and before he could get up, Rina was at his side, helping him back to his feet.
"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned about lacing her voice.
Larry could feel his face grow warm, both from embarrassment and the trickle of blood running down his forehead. Before Rina could unstrap her bag to help, he quickly wiped the blood away.
"I'm fine. Just a minor scrape," he insisted, giving her a forced smile. "We can't afford to slow down."
Garrett stepped forward, his eyes narrowed as he assessed Larry. "You sure about that, boy?"
Larry nodded, determination etched on his face. Garrett sighed but didn't say more, and they continued, moving along a narrow path through the woods. Victor took the lead, followed by Sean, then Larry, with Rina behind him and Garrett taking up the rear.
The path forced them into a straight line, the forest thick and dense on either side. Larry was lost in thought, his mind wandering back to the mysterious system. He kept reaching up to touch his forehead, expecting to feel the injury, but strangely enough, it seemed to have already healed.
"Is this the work of the Blood Energy?" he wondered, astonished at how quickly the pain and numbness had vanished. The system had mentioned blood, and Larry couldn't help but think back to the blindfold. "Do I need to soak it in blood?"
Suddenly, a strange scent filled his nostrils—powerful and overwhelming. It was different from anything he had experienced. Unknowingly, he began to draw on something deep within, activating an energy within him that seemed to awaken.
[Your Blood Skill: Blood Sense has been activated.]
[Host can now sense the presence of nearby living creatures by detecting their blood flow.]
[Range of Skill: 1 meter.]
[Blood Skill: Blood Sense is now Level 1.]
Larry's senses heightened, and the world around him seemed to shift. He could feel the rhythmic pulse of the people traveling with him—the steady thrum of blood coursing through their veins. It was both exhilarating and comforting. He extended his awareness, attempting to feel the life around him. He sensed a toad nearby, its tiny heart pulsing, and then small creatures scurrying about. But when he reached out to a tree, nothing happened.
"Of course. Trees don't have blood," Larry thought, chuckling to himself. Just as the amusement settled in, the powerful scent from before overwhelmed him once again. He halted in his tracks, his nose twitching, the smell almost unbearable.
Garrett stopped behind him, his sword ready. "What is it?" he asked.
"There's something here," Larry announced, his voice unwavering.
The others paused, looking around. Victor turned, annoyance evident on his face. "I don't see anything."
The rest of the group scanned the area but found nothing unusual. Even the scanners showed no signs of danger, but Rina continued her search, her face twisted in concentration.
"Larry, what is it?" Rina finally asked, her voice serious.
"I… I don't know," Larry admitted, but he could feel it—there was something, something alive. He turned his head toward the strongest presence and pointed, his hand trembling slightly.
"There," he said.
Sean let out an exasperated laugh. "That's just a tree, kid."
"A tree… with flowing blood?" Larry thought, his brow furrowing.
"Spread out! It's a beast!" Larry shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Suddenly, a loud snap echoed through the forest as a thick branch broke off and plummeted towards Victor. Everything happened in slow motion as Victor looked up, his eyes widening.