After a long moment of hesitation, the girl finally spoke.
"My name is Rita," she said softly. "My class is Clerk."
Arjun didn't react. He simply waited.
Rita took a breath and continued. "I have a skill called Minor Heal. It can treat small injuries—bleeding, shallow cuts, things like that." She hesitated, then added, "My talent is Basic Mana Control. It does exactly what it sounds like."
She lifted the wooden staff she carried—nearly identical to Divya's staff.
Divya noticed immediately and gave her a small nod. Rita seemed to relax just a little.
Next, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward. His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
"I'm Raya," he said. "My class is Berserker."
He rested a massive sword against his shoulder—its blade nearly as tall as he was.
"My skill is Frenzy. It boosts my strength and speed," he said bluntly. "But it drains my health when it's active."
Divya's eyes widened slightly.
"And my talent is Physical Strength."
Arjun studied him for a moment. High risk. High output. Useful—but dangerous if misused.
The third person, a lean boy with sharp eyes, spoke next.
"I'm Tim," he said. "Assassin class."
He shifted subtly, and for just a second, it felt like his presence blurred.
"My skill is Blend. It lets me merge with my surroundings." He paused. "My talent is Enhanced Speed."
Arjun nodded once. Mobility. Stealth.
Then a young man holding a crossbow stepped forward.
"I'm Koushik," he said. "Archer class."
"My skill helps stabilize aim," he explained. "And my talent is Eagle Eye—enhanced vision."
He hesitated, jaw tightening.
"But… there's a drawback to my class."
Arjun looked at him. "What is it?"
Koushik exhaled. "I only have a limited number of bolts. I have to retrieve them after every fight—or make new ones."
Arjun frowned slightly.
Koushik immediately raised his hands. "But I know how to craft bolts myself," he said quickly. "Using wood, metal scraps, even monster materials. So it won't be a long-term problem."
The frown eased—but didn't disappear.
Finally, the last man stepped forward.
Rohit.
What caught Arjun's attention instantly wasn't the man—but the weapon.
A pump-action shotgun rested in Rohit's hands.
"…Gunslinger," Rohit said. "That's my class."
Arjun's expression darkened. "Let me guess, Limited ammunition?" he asked immediately.
Rohit nodded. "Yes."
Divya felt her stomach tighten.
"But," Rohit continued, "it is not a problem because instead of a combat skill, I received knowledge." His eyes sharpened. "I know how to craft basic bullets—from monster parts and other compatible materials."
Arjun and Divya both stiffened.
"That's rare," Divya said quietly.
Rohit nodded. "My talent is Basic Mana Control. I don't know how I can use it to my advantage yet, but I will figure it out soon enough."
Silence followed.
Not awkward—evaluative.
Arjun exhaled slowly. "Alright."
He and Divya then shared their own information—classes, skills, talents—briefly but clearly. The group listened with rapt attention, especially when Arjun finished.
Something shifted.
Hope—small, fragile, but real.
Divya looked at the group. "From this point on, we move carefully."
As they moved beyond the town's protective perimeter, the atmosphere subtly changed.
The air felt heavier. The sounds of Maple Town faded behind them, replaced by rustling leaves and distant, unfamiliar cries. Every step was measured. Every pair of eyes scanned the surroundings.
No one spoke unnecessarily.
After a few minutes, Arjun broke the silence.
"Rohit," he asked casually, without slowing his pace, "that gun—was it given to you by the Tower?"
Rohit glanced at the weapon in his hands. "No," he replied. "It's mine. I owned it before entering.And bought it inside the tower for safty"
Arjun's eyes flicked toward him. "Then why does it work here?"
"When I opened the beginner's gift box," Rohit said, "the system enhanced it. Reinforced the parts."
Arjun nodded slowly.
So that's how it works, he thought. 'So it was possible to use technology inside the tower'
He didn't share the realization.
Instead, he stopped walking.
"Alright," Arjun said, turning to face the group. "Listen carefully. This is how we fight."
Everyone straightened instinctively.
"We split into four roles," he continued. "No one breaks formation."
He pointed ahead. "First—Scout. Tim."
Tim nodded immediately.
"Use Blend to Move ahead of us. Locate monsters and lure only one at a time. Do not engage alone."
"Understood," Tim said, already shifting his posture.
"Front line," Arjun continued. "That'll be myself and Raya. Once Tim pulls the target, we intercept and hold it."
Raya grinned grimly. "Finally."
"When the fight starts," Arjun added, "Tim rejoins and strikes from the blind spots."
Tim gave a short nod.
Arjun turned next. "Middle line—Divya and Rohit."
Divya raised an eyebrow. "Support and suppression?"
"Exactly," Arjun said. "You attack from behind. Keep pressure on the monster. Rohit—short, controlled shots."
Rohit tightened his grip. "Got it."
"And last," Arjun said, looking at them seriously, "Back line. That will be Rita and Koushik."
Rita stiffened slightly.
"Rita, you don't have offensive power," Arjun said calmly. "Your priority is healing and staying alive."
She swallowed, then nodded.
"Koushik, you have the longest range. Cover everyone. If anything breaks through, you warn us first."
"I won't miss," Koushik said quietly.
Arjun swept his gaze across all of them, then landed on Rita
"Rita, I want you to concentrate on Raya because his skill drains his health"
"And even during the combat, pay attention to the surroundings"
"We don't know who will attack or what will attack during the fight"
A moment of silence followed.
Then Arjun nodded once. "Let's move."
Tim vanished into the undergrowth, his form blurring until he was gone.
The group advanced cautiously.
And then—
CRASH.
Branches snapped
.
A flash of blue fur dropped from above, landing directly in front of them with a shrill screech.
A blue monkey—muscles taut, eyes glowing with feral intelligence.
Raya raised his sword instinctively. "Target confirmed."
Arjun stepped forward, calm and focused.
"Formation," he said.
The hunt had begun.