Redwood Forest,

6:45 am, 4 th Ryanem 1091.

Kashi hunted down the denizens of the forest of Redwood forest throughout the night to the early hours of the next morning. The night provided perfect cover for him as he used stealth to slither between targets, taking them out individually, and silently.

Occasionally, he would let himself get attacked then take advantage of his 92 points in agility to quickly escape if the situation turned hairy. He would then resume the stealthy approach until his HP fully recovered, at which time he would once again allow himself to get attacked.

Kashi willingly sustained injuries to increase his Endurance stat. The Endurance stat only increased when someone took damage. The body would then toughen up to better resist that particular damage in future. In this case, the wolves’ and hyens’ bites and claw attacks were a type of physical damage. As a result of the continuous damaging and rehealing, his skin’s toughness had increased, reflected by a rise in his Endurance Stat.

With the sun rising over the horizon, Kashi decided it was time to call it a night, He had leveled up to fourteen during the night. His skills, [Silent Feet] increased to Beginner Level 7 and [Stealth Takedown] increased to Beginner Level 4. [Silent Feet] increased rapidly because the daeben realized he could use the skill both in and out of combat. As a result, he ensured he was always using the skill.

Kashi pulled up his Stat Table and inspected his progress.

Name

Kashi

Alignment

Neutral

Level

14

Profession

None

Title

Wolf Slayer

Fame

0

Infamy

33

Health

1970

Mana

276

Ki

1970

Vitality

60

Stamina

60

Wisdom

16

Intellect

9

Strength

62

Agility

80

Dexterity

53

Endurance

Phys END

14

Mag END

8

Charisma

10

Charm

10

Stealth

23

Instinct

12

Fighting Spirit

24

Leadership

21

Luck

27

Attack

Phys AT K

279

Defense

Phy s DEF

150

Mag ATK

152

Mag DEF

144

Resistances

Poison Resistance

0%

Ice Resistance

0%

Electricity Resistance

0%

Light Resistance

0%

Fire Resistance

0 %

Dark Resistance

0%

As the sun rose, several monsters, including the wolves and hyenas (who at any other time would be ripping each other apart) gathered at the forest boundary and collectively let out sighs of relief as they watched the mass murderer exit the forest. There would be no attacks on each other or on the adventurers that day. There were many... too many to mourn.

Oblivious to the bleak picture behind him, Kashi arrived at Kerta and immediately made his way to the adventurer’s guild. The clerk stared wide-eyed as he submitted sets of wolf claws, rabbit pelts and feet, and other items he’d harvested from his kills. Kashi happily received 300 Syros for his troubles then exited the guild.

Kashi initially wanted to start his crafting monopoly but eventually decided against it. He was not sure if this Fladnag lead was time-based or not. The sooner he got it over with, the better. The daeben found a weapons shop and purchased one thousand arrows for the low price of thirty Syros. Usually, he would have crafted the arrows himself, but he did not have time for that at the moment.

Kashi mentally ran through the information on Nama Woods as he walked out of Kerta. Serti had seen direwolves as the most significant threat in the forest. Direwolves were in essence, demon wolves. It was unknown who was responsible, but eons past, a high-level demon kidnapped wolves from the earth and turned them into his minions. The wolves eventually evolved as a result of hell’s infernal mana-rich environment and assisted the demon in conquering the world. Unfortunately, the demon eventually lost the battle, and the direwolves scattered across the face of the earth.

Earlier, Kashi noticed some quests on the Adventurers Guild’s suggesting the level of the direwolves north of the town to be around level twenty. However, the daeben’s instincts suggested that the ones guarding Nama Woods were much more dangerous. This was because ever since the beginning of the game, no user had returned alive from Nama Woods. As a result, most adventurers headed north instead.

Kashi took his time walking across the plains south of Kerta. As usual, his soot-black skin drew unwanted attention, but he did not seem to care. This was because he was deep in thought on how to proceed. The biggest drawback of being one of the first players of a game with no beta test was finally beginning to show: Lack of information.

More than ninety-nine percent of the full continent was yet to be mapped. This meant players were forced to step into the unknown to obtain those maps,. This would not have been an issue if it were not for the promise of actual death. No sane person who had achieved a high level would want to lose their character after so much work put into it. This left the task of exploration the Residents, who, in turn, sold maps at exorbitant prices and a few crazy individuals like Kashi.

Nama Woods lay to the east of Kerta. And no one had mapped the forest area. Hence, Kashi would effectively be going blindly into an area with a hundred percent death rate, looking for a man he had never met, who would probably kill him on sight.

"Difficulty E my ass." Kashi chuckled softly as he walked to the 'border' of the forest, formulating different scenarios in his mind.

Kashi's actions drew even more attention, and the adventurers close to the forest borders watched with pity as his figure was swallowed by the thicket.

"Another one bites the dust huh."

"Poor guy. No one must have told him not to go there."

"Dumb noobs. They never learn till they die."

Kashi did not pay attention to these side comments as he made his way to the heart of the forest. He could not help but notice the silence pervading the compact enclosure. No birds sang, no leaves rustled in the wind; it seemed time itself had stopped flowing. Despite the silence, every nerve in Kashi was on high alert. He felt eyes on him, but could not tell where they came from.

As the daeben progressed, the forest grew denser, the overhanging tree branches blocking the sunlight until it reached a point where only smattering rays of light permeated the foliage. The loss of light only served to heighten Kashi’s vigilance. He ensured [Silent Feet] was active at every single second as he explored the forest, and prayed he did not run into any foes.

Thwack!

Kashi stifled a shout as something heavy smashed against his back. The daeben fell forward but quickly rolled into a crouch. He grimaced as he realized he had lost over 100 HP. Kashi looked over his shoulder with caution in his eyes. "Who's there!"

Thwack!

CRITICAL HIT!

300 Health points flew off as another strike sent Kashi careening into a tree. The daeben quickly righted himself, turned off [Silent Feet] then ran with all his might through the forest, in hopes his agility would allow him to outrun his opponent. Kashi looked over his shoulder as he ran, and heaved a sigh of relief when he did not see anyone chasing him. But, just as he turned his sights back to the front.

Thwack!

Kashi saw it this time. He crossed his hands over his chest and jumped backward, softening the blow’s impact. His opponent was not a person; it was a tree. No, it was the forest.

Kashi peered at the surrounding trees and shouted. "I am aware of your presence. May I inquire as to why you strike me so?!"

Just as the daeben thought, the tree branch he had just blocked retracted behind a tree trunk. Kashi took a step back as a gigantic humanoid tree-like creature stepped out of the shadows, and glared at him

Suzuki had seen tree-folk in movies, pictures, and some video games but that did not stop the fear that crept up Kashi's back at the actual sight of one. It towered over him, standing almost thirty meters tall.

"Greetings." Kashi got down to one knee and bowed his head. This was, strategically a dumb move, because if he were attacked, he would not even see it coming. If I run, I'll die for sure. Let's gamble.

"You... You are of the accursed Dark race. Your kind laid waste to my brothers in their quest for power. Do not expect to leave here alive!" The tree spoke with a slow drawl that spoke of its old age. The hatred in its voice increased the tension in the air as it raised its 'hand' to strike the daeben.

"Wait!" Kashi yelled at the top of his lungs. Head bowed, Kashi did not see the attack coming, but Suzuki was well accustomed to the pause that occurred before a strike from an angry adult. His yell gave the tree pause.

"One minute," it said, lowering its hand.

Kashi groaned and inwardly cursed the daebens. ‘ Just how much damage did this bloody race cause?’ However, this was not the time for self-pity. The daeben pulled on the best of his acting skills to plead his case. "I wish words could convey my remorse over the past sins of my people and me, but alas our sins are as many as the leaves in a forest. I seek to repent for the sins of my clan, and my quest has led me here. I humbly request you let me pass."

"No,” the tree refused. “Your people are monsters who only destroy what they touch. We will never suffer any of you to leave. Consider this your penance, and rejoice over a righteous death."

It raised its hands again for a final strike.

Unpleasant memories rushed into the daeben’s head as he watched that hand rise. How many times had Suzuki helplessly watched the adults in his life raise their hands in the same manner? Always, they had the same righteousness in their eyes, believing what they said was right, and his opinions did not matter.

How many times had Suzuki sat there and taken a beating from his parents, whether it was his birth mother or his foster parents? Was Kashi going to sit there and let another stupid adult punish him for nothing? Was he once again going to allow his entire life to be controlled by their whims?

Staring death in the eye, an uncontrollable rage rushed over Kashi. "What kind of a joke is this!" Kashi screamed as he stood up straight and glared at the pair of wooden eyes. "That I would be killed over the sins of those before me?! Don't give me that crap! I served my penance in a dungeon for eleven years… eleven good years! I spent them watching my brethren perish around me!"

Hot tears streamed down the daeben’s face as he challenged the tree. "If you truly believe you are just for punishing me, then you are both a fool and an egoist. You sit here in the comfort of your home attacking those who dare to dream of a life beyond the four walls of their cities, and you dare call me a monster?!" Kashi spat on the ground and faced his foe with a burning rage.

Kashi spread his arms and bared his chest. He did not look away but glared right at the tree. "If you wish to strike, then strike! Just know you do not slay a demon daeben but an honest adventurer interested in the ways of the world."

"..." Silence reigned over the forest as the guardian studied the trespasser, deep in thought.

"What are you waiting for?!” Kashi roared. “I shall not disgrace myself by pleading if that's what you wish."

"Silence Dark One!" The tree suddenly rebuked. "I am deep in thought."

Tree-folk had lengthy thought processes, and Kashi learned this the hard way. Thirty minutes later, the guardian finally made his decision.

The tree lowered its hand and looked at the daeben. "Your spirit has impressed me Dark One. Tell me what it is you seek for."

Kashi released a sigh of relief. It seemed today was not his day. "The wizard Fladnag. I was told he would be able to help me."

"Hmm... yes, the Old One. You would do well to avoid him, but it appears you know that yet still seek an audience." It gave Kashi one last look-over then retreated into the darkness. "Follow the path Dark One, it will lead you to the one you seek."

"What path - aah," Kashi muttered as the trees retracted their branches, creating a small path of light ahead of him. He bowed toward the trees "You have my gratitude."

Kashi swallowed hard as he walked along the path. ‘ I can't believe that actually worked!’

Suzuki had met all kinds of bullies, both at home and at school; He learned some relevant facts from his experience. Everybody in the world (bully or otherwise) reacted to certain traits of their victims differently. Some could not stand crying, while it turned others on; some reacted violently to direct opposition while others ceased their acts and several other little factors. It was just a matter of finding out what their weak point was.

Kashi had used this knowledge when confronting the guardian. When apologizing failed, he switched to direct opposition mixed with some crocodile tears. Despicable, yes, but Kashi did not care. He would survive by any means possible, no matter how low he had to go. Well, the rage wasn’t entirely fake. The tree had dug up some unpleasant memories which did force Kashi into the direct opposition route.

Luckily, it worked out.

The path led to a clearing with the broadest and oldest looking tree Kashi had ever laid his eyes on. Its width was easily that of a large hall, and the height close to three stories high. The tree had windows and a door carved into it, leading Kashi to believe it must be the rumored Fladnag's home.

"Goodluck, Dark One." A voice called from the forest.

Kashi waved over his shoulder as he walked towards the tree-house. When he was a few dozen meters from the house, the ground around him suddenly glowed bright, revealing an intricate mandala (magic circle).

"Crap!" Kashi cursed as he realized he had been caught in a trap. He tried to jump out but found he could not move a muscle.

"Heads or tails!" a voice boomed from inside the house.

"Release me!" Kashi screamed in return.

"Hohoho... time's running out elf,” the voice joked. “Look up."

Kashi did as instructed and raised his head. "You've got to be kidding me." All color drained from the daeben’s face and his eyes shrunk to dots once he saw what was above him. A giant gold coin spun in the air as it fell towards him. "I can't die like this!" Kashi suddenly cried, real tears pouring down his face. The shadow it cast over him was growing bigger by the second.

"Nokonokonoko," the voice laughed. "Choose quickly boy; Head or tails?"

"Tails! Tails!" Kashi screamed, but the coin’s descent only picked up speed. "You've got to be kidding me." Kashi fell to his knees in defeat and closed his eyes as the coin landed on him.

"..."

"Who are you praying to?"

Kashi looked up as the voice’s mocking question pulled him back to reality. The daeben saw the coin had stopped just above him, heads down. The daeben suddenly gained a new appreciation for life as his heart found its way back to his chest. ‘ I'm alive. Felt my soul leave my body for a second there.’ Life had never felt so good, and Kashi laughed like he never had. To think death could be so scary.

The door to the tree-house opened and out stepped an old man in grey robes clenching a wooden stick. The old man was a chocolate-skinned mertian with the bushiest, longest and whitest beard Kashi had ever seen.

The old man looked at the daeben with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Fififififi, you chose correctly, but I'm sorry to tell you... YOU SHALL NO-" Whoosh! An arrow suddenly whizzed by and scratched the old man’s cheek before shattering against the tree trunk. The mertian looked at the daeben with an incredulous gaze. "Now what was that for?"

"I... I don't know. I just felt that was a very dangerous statement right there," Kashi replied, sweat pouring down his face.

"True. You're on the verge of being serialized right? Afraid of copyrights and all that... I see."

"Huh?” Kashi muttered, utterly lost. “I'm afraid I do not understand you."

"No, no. No need to pretend. It's only your tenth chapter. You don't want to be deleted; I completely understand." Fladnag folded his arms across his chest, nodding like he had just said the smartest thing in the world.

The more Fladnag spoke, the less Kashi trusted Bert’s recommendation. What?! What the heck is he talking about? Serialization, chapters. Is he madder than his name suggested? Can this guy really help me?

"My apologies, I really do not understand you." Kashi noticed he could move again, but did not take a single step.

Fladnag studied his visitor closely and sighed. "Wrong one. When will that fellow come for tea?" He turned to head back into his home. "Go home young daeben. Yanakal will not attack you on your way out."

"Wait please!" Kashi called. "I was told to give you this." He took out the branch he had received from Bert and presented it to Fladnag.

Fladnag’s countenance suddenly changed from indifference to pure shock. He dashed over to the daeben at a speed that left young Kashi shaken and yanked the branch out of his hand. Fladnag’s hand shook as he inspected the branch. After confirming its authenticity, he looked up at the daeben and asked. "Where did you get this?!"

"I received it from a kafu called Bert," Kashi answered, puzzled by the old wizard's reaction. ‘Is the stick so important?’

"Come, child, I will hear your story." Fladnag led Kashi into his home.

Kashi cringed as he examined the interior of the wizard's home. There was absolutely no order to the placement of items. Papers, plates, paintings and several other objects he did not recognize littered the floor. The chairs were placed randomly around the room, and there was no table to speak off. Several pieces of paper and some articles of clothing lined a flight of stairs that led to the upper floors.

Fladnag took a seat on one of the chairs and motioned for Kashi to come closer. "Now tell me your story. And do not lie; I detest liars."

Kashi obediently narrated his story, from waking in prison to reaching Fladnag's doorstep.

"Interesting tale,” Fladnag mused. “So, you wish to find a class in which you can use your bow as a primary weapon, but still possess the option to fight close range if you wish?"

"Yes. I do not believe in relying on others for help except absolutely necessary."

"And what would you do with such power. Think carefully before you answer." The wizard's eyes seemed to bore into Kashi's soul. It unnerved him.

What to do indeed. Kashi had not really thought of it till then. Maybe he should rule the world? Finish what Razznik failed to do. But somehow, his instincts told him that would be a terrible answer.

"You are undecided I see, but I can tell you wish for destruction, not restoration." Fladnag stood up and picked up a book from the several littered across the floor. "Say, have you heard the creation story?"

"Yes, I have,” Kashi replied. “It's a tragic tale."

"You do not know the full story. The goddess Aethir did not leave the earth. No, she loved mankind too much to leave." The wizard suddenly looked very old and frail as he sat back on the chair, turning the leaflets of his book.

"What happened to her?"

"Her sorrow over what she did to the earth caused her to go to her husband for comfort."

"... Don't tell me he killed her"

"No, for all his pride and arrogance, Ferulic loved Aethir. He accepted her back into his arms." A look of pure hatred twisted the wizard's expression, and Kashi feared for his life. "In his second of weakness, the Destroyer, who had been waiting for such an opportunity, cut him down. He stole Ferulic's powers and locked the two of them in his castle in Merta."

"Why did he do that?" Kashi who had unknowingly become interested in the tale questioned.

"He sought power. If there was anyone stronger than him, he cut them down without hesitation. He did not have a reason to search for power; except to gain more."

"What happened next?" Kashi sat on the messy floor, too engrossed in the tale to care.

"All of Aethir's children were imprisoned in special dungeons around the continent. They were in charge of several core functions in the realms, and with their imprisonment, the world fell into chaos. The war eleven years ago was just the worst of many earlier wars."

"Wow,” Kashi could not hide his amazement. “Do you happen to know the destroyer's name?"

"How could I forget. The name of the beast who brought the nine realms to its knees was..." Fladnag paused. His distressed visage made it seem like saying the name itself was poison to his tongue.

"Yes...?" Kashi encouraged.

"Razznik," Fladnag eventually spat. "The rogue's name is Razznik."