Cade stepped out of the swirling portal and froze. In front of him lay a small village bustling with life. People walked through the dirt streets, carrying goods, chatting, and tending to animals. Wooden houses stood in uneven rows, their roofs patched with straw. Smoke rose lazily from chimneys, and children ran barefoot, laughing. Cade's cold expression shifted into one of surprise as his eyes roamed the scene.
"A village?" he muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes. "How far did that dungeon teleport me?"
He called for the system. "Show me the map."
[System Notification: Current Location – Outskirts of Giantwood Hollow Village.]
The map displayed a sprawling forest labeled "Giantwood Hollow" just beyond the village, along with several other locations marked in faded outlines, indicating areas yet to be discovered. Cade smiled faintly. "It's about time I saw some human life."
As he approached the village, the state of the place became clearer. The wooden gates were barely standing, held together by makeshift repairs. Two guards stood at the entrance, their shabby armor mismatched and dented. They gripped rusted spears and looked more like farmers than defenders.
[System Notification: NPC Scanned.]
Name: Willem
Level: 1
Strength: 2
Agility: 3
Skills: None
Name: Edgar
Level: 1
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Skills: None
Cade didn't bother remarking on their pitiful stats as he walked past them. Inside, the village wasn't much better. Wooden stalls lined the streets, some half-collapsed, others nearly empty of goods. Vendors called out to him with forced enthusiasm, trying to sell bread, fruit, and other meager items.
"Fresh bread, sir! Just baked!"
"Care for some dried meat? Finest in the village!"
Cade ignored them, his cold gaze fixed ahead. But his stomach had other plans, grumbling loudly, reminding him he hadn't eaten since the dungeon. He sighed, glancing around before his eyes landed on a small food stall run by a middle-aged woman.
[System Notification: NPC Scanned.]
Name: Clara
Level: 1
Strength: 1
Agility: 2
Skills: Cooking (Basic)
"Guess this will do," Cade muttered, walking up to the stall. The woman greeted him warmly.
"Hello there, young man! What can I get you? I've got roasted potatoes, rabbit stew, and fresh bread rolls. Only the best!"
"I'll take the stew," Cade said. The woman quickly ladled the thick, steaming soup into a wooden bowl and handed it to him.
"That'll be ten coppers," she said, smiling.
Cade froze. He didn't have a single coin to his name. His brows furrowed until the system chimed in.
[System Notification: Reminder – 1000 Hunter Coins acquired from defeating Umbrix the Eternal Shadow.]
Cade's eyes widened slightly as he recalled the currency. "That's the in-game money… and it's so expensive to earn," he thought, remembering how 50 coins cost 2,000 dollars back in the real world.
He opened his inventory, pulled out a single Hunter Coin, and placed it on the counter. The woman's eyes widened as if she had just seen gold.
"A Hunter Coin?! This—this is worth a hundred silver coins!" she stammered, her voice carrying across the street. A crowd began gathering, villagers murmuring among themselves and pointing at the coin.
"Is that real?"
"Who is this guy?"
"No one in this village is that rich!"
Cade clicked his tongue in annoyance, grabbed his bowl of stew, and disappeared into the crowd before the scene could escalate further. He ate as he walked, the rich, savory flavor of the stew filling his mouth.
After a while, he turned into a quiet alley, leaning against the wall to finish his meal. The alley was narrow and damp, with crates and barrels stacked carelessly along the walls. Shadows stretched from the buildings, creating a sense of unease.
Just as Cade set his empty bowl aside, he heard footsteps. Three men stepped out from the shadows in front of him, while a fourth blocked the exit behind him.
[System Notification: Players Detected.]
Name: Jarred (Warrior)
Level: 15
Hunter Rank: E-Rank
Name: Lyle (Rogue)
Level: 9
Hunter Rank: E-Rank
Name: Damien (Warrior)
Level: 8
Hunter Rank: E-Rank
Cade stiffened, his eyes narrowing. These weren't NPCs—they were players. Real players like him. He stared at them, his cold demeanor faltering for a moment.
"Are you…" He paused, his voice cautious. "Are you from the real world too? Did you get warped into this game?"
The men exchanged glances, then burst into laughter. Jarred, the leader, stepped forward, his grin smug. "What, have you been living under a rock? You think you can fool us with that act? Drop your coins and whatever loot you've got, or you're dead."
Cade's jaw tightened. "I'm serious. Don't you want to know how to escape this place? To get back to the real world?"
The men didn't answer. Instead, they drew their weapons. Jarred hefted a massive sword, while Lyle twirled a pair of daggers, and Damien cracked his knuckles.
"We warned you," Jarred said, his grin turning predatory. "Hand it over, or we'll take it."
Cade sighed, his expression darkening. "System," he muttered under his breath, "prepare to summon—"
Before he could finish, a flash of light lit up the alley. Cade's eyes widened as a blur of motion tore through the three men in front of him. Jarred swung his sword, but it was too late. A figure appeared behind him, delivering a single, precise strike that sent him crashing to the ground.
Cade squinted, catching a glimpse of golden hair as the figure moved with mesmerizing speed. Lyle and Damien barely had time to react before they were taken down with swift, calculated strikes.
[System Notification: Player Detected.]
Name: Lyra
Class: Advanced Class: (Blade Dancer)
Level: 25
Hunter Rank: C-Rank
Strength: 32
Agility: 45
Skills: LOCKED
When the last man hit the ground, the figure turned to Cade, her golden hair swaying as she sheathed her blade. Her soft blue eyes met his as she spoke in a sweet, almost cheerful voice.
"You okay?"