Ren leaned against the cave wall, letting the morning sun filter through the entrance. His body ached from the previous day's fights and hunts, but the Basic Recovery Potion he drank last night had eased the worst of the pain. His muscles were sore, his skin still tender where the wolves had clawed him, but he could move.
[Points Available: 19]
He stared at the translucent panel hovering in front of him. Nineteen points. Enough to buy something meaningful—if he knew what to spend them on.
Curiosity drove him to open the system shop. The interface shimmered and displayed a small but intriguing selection of items:
Teleportation Card – Use twice within 100 meters. Cost: 50 points
Flight Card – Use for 1 hour. Cost: 25 points
Disguise Card – Transform into anyone or anything. Duration: 30 minutes. Cost: 25 points
Ren's eyes scanned the options. Each card could drastically increase his survival chances. But with only nineteen points, there was no way he could afford any of them.
Then, a soft chime echoed in his vision—a notification he hadn't seen before.
[Survival Reward Granted: Free Dice Roll – 1 Use]
[Random Skill Unlock]
Ren blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected this. The system was giving him a chance, a free roll for surviving and pushing through the trials so far.
His heartbeat quickened. He didn't hesitate.
"Let's see what I get," he muttered.
He activated the dice. It spun in midair, colors flashing wildly—red, green, and gold. The spinning seemed to stretch time itself. Every second felt like minutes as Ren held his breath.
Then it stopped.
[Skill Unlocked: Assassin – Level 1]
Ren froze. Assassin. His heart skipped a beat. A real, combat-oriented skill. The system panel updated immediately:
Agility: 6
Strength: 8
Speed: 9
Mana: 15
Class: Shadow Operative
Skills: Martial Arts, Assassin Lv.1, Rapid Recovery
Hero Level: 1 (Peak)
Points Remaining: 19
[Peak – Close to Level 2]
Ren's lips curved into a small smile. This was the breakthrough he needed. For the first time, he felt like a player in this world, not just a helpless bystander.
Testing the Assassin Skill
Ren stepped outside the cave, dagger in hand, and crouched low. The jungle seemed alive around him, every sound amplified by the morning air.
He focused on moving silently. Normally, even stepping across sand and dry leaves would leave noise and footprints. Now… nothing. Each movement felt light, deliberate, and unseen.
Assassin skill working…
A bird startled nearby and took flight. Ren froze, then exhaled slowly. The skill wasn't just theory—it worked. Every step, every gesture, now carried weight and precision.
He realized what this meant: hunting, escaping, and fighting could be done more efficiently. He could strike before enemies even knew he existed.
Inventory and Planning
Ren opened the shop tab again. He had four points left, not enough for a card or another roll. He glanced at the system map. The jungle stretched endlessly in all directions, but the cave bear's territory remained nearby. Beyond that lay unexplored areas—dangerous, yes, but full of opportunity.
I can't waste these points. I need to survive, hunt, and grow stronger.
He flexed his fingers around the dagger, determination settling in his chest. Each point and skill now mattered more than ever.
Daily Goals:
– Train Assassin skills to improve stealth and evasion
– Combine martial arts with new assassin techniques
– Hunt for food and materials
– Explore jungle cautiously
– Save points for powerful cards like Teleportation or Flight
Every action would be calculated. Mistakes could mean death, but progress meant points, survival, and strength.
Morning Prep
The bear stirred nearby. Its single open eye watched him quietly. Ren considered it carefully.
"Rest here," he murmured.
The bear lowered its head slightly, then laid down. Ren stepped into the inner chamber of the cave, dagger within reach, preparing for shallow but necessary sleep. Every sound echoed in the cave, but the inner chamber gave him cover and a sense of safety.
Sleep came later than he wanted, shallow and alert—but he rested enough to push forward.
System Check
The interface popped again:
[Status Check]
Points: 19
Skills: Martial Arts, Assassin Lv.1, Rapid Recovery
Hero Level: 1 (Peak)
Inventory: Dagger, Crude Sword, Healing Elixirs
Ren flexed his fingers, imagining the possibilities. He could hunt silently, escape traps, and defend himself more effectively.
For the first time, the system felt like an ally instead of just a set of rules.
Moving Forward
Ren stood at the cave entrance, eyes scanning the jungle. Beyond the trees and riverbank, unknown dangers waited—predators, traps, monsters, and other surprises. But for the first time, he wasn't afraid to face them.
I have skills now. I have a plan. And I won't die because I have no interface.
Tightening his grip on the dagger, Ren stepped into the light of the jungle. Every leaf, every shadow, every sound could be a threat—but now he had the tools to survive.
The world was still unforgiving, but for the first time, he had hope—and power
Ren exhaled slowly as the system interface stabilized in front of him.
The dice he had rolled earlier—his free reward—was gone.
[One-Time Reward Consumed]
Free Dice Roll has expired.
No warning. No delay. Just gone.
Ren nodded faintly.
Figures. The system never gives without taking something back.
Before he could dwell on it, the interface flickered violently, and a much larger window unfolded—layer upon layer of glowing blue panels stacking into place.
[Multiple Tasks Issued]
Ren's pupils shrank.
Task 1: Enter the Gambling World
Objective: Survive for 1 day and win 1,000,000 Yen
Duration: 24 hours
Reward:
60 Points
Half of 1,000,000 Yen converted into world currency
Currency Conversion Rules:
2 Yen → 1 Bronze Coin
15 Yen → 1 Silver Coin (5 points)
35 Yen → 1 Gold Coin (15 points)
100 Yen → 1 Glow Stone (40 points)
Ren stared at the numbers.
"That's… insane."
A gambling world? Yen? Conversion rules? This task alone could push him far ahead—but it also felt dangerous in a completely different way.
He clenched his jaw.
Tomorrow. I'll deal with that tomorrow.
Task 2: Subdue an Alpha Wolf
Duration: 2 Days
Reward: 30 Points
Failure: Death
Ren's eyes darkened.
An Alpha wasn't something that fought alone. It would have followers—two, maybe three wolves backing it up. Stronger. Faster. Smarter.
And stronger than him.
Task 3: Kill the Cave Bear
Reward: 10 Points
Failure: Unknown
Ren's gaze drifted instinctively toward the cave entrance behind him.
The bear.
It was injured. Subdued. Sleeping under his command.
Killing it now would be easy.
Too easy.
Task 4: Upgrade Martial Arts to the Next Level
Reward: One Free Board Spin
The moment Ren focused on the reward, the interface shifted again.
A massive circular board materialized in the air, slowly rotating. Six glowing sections pulsed with different rewards:
2 Bottles of Healing Potion
70 Points
Level-A Dagger
Free Level Upgrade
Loss of All Current Points
Magic Shield (10m Radius, Level 3)
Ren swallowed.
"So it's luck-based…"
A free spin meant no cost, but also no control.
One wrong result, and everything he'd fought for could vanish.
The Dilemma
Ren sat back against the rock wall, head tilting slightly as thoughts collided in his mind.
"I have two choices…"
His eyes narrowed.
"I can kill the bear now—get the points, upgrade myself, and face the Alpha alone."
The image flashed in his head: blood, claws, exhaustion.
"Or…"
His gaze shifted again to the cave.
"I keep the bear alive… and fight the Alpha wolf together."
A risky gamble.
But also a powerful one.
A bear ally could change everything.
Ren exhaled sharply.
"Hah… this system really loves cornering people."
Preparation First
Before making any irreversible decision, Ren opened the shop interface.
[Shop Accessed]
His eyes scanned the limited list.
Basic Healing Potion — 5 Points
He didn't hesitate.
Purchased x2 Basic Healing Potions
Points Remaining: 9
Ren pulled one out immediately.
"I'm not risking moving around like this."
He uncorked the bottle and drank it down.
Warmth spread through his body almost instantly, seeping into his wounds. The deep claw marks burned, then dulled, flesh knitting together just enough to stop the bleeding and restore strength.
Not perfect.
But enough.
[Healing Potion Consumed]
Condition: Stabilized
Ren exhaled in relief.
"I'll save the other one."
Resolve
He stood slowly, rolling his shoulders, feeling his body respond—still weak, still injured, but alive.
"I'll do Task 1 tomorrow," he muttered. "That gambling world isn't going anywhere."
His eyes hardened.
"But first…"
He looked toward the forest.
"The Alpha wolf."
And then back at the cave.
"And the bear."
Ren clenched his fists.
"Whether I kill you… or fight beside you…"
His voice dropped.
"…depends on what happens next."
The system pulsed once, silently acknowledging his resolve.
[Tasks Ongoing]
The night wind stirred the leaves.
Somewhere deep in the jungle, a wolf howled.
And Ren knew—
The real hunt was about to begin.
Ren glanced up at the sky.
The moon wasn't full yet—just a pale crescent hanging low, its light weak and scattered. The darkness still ruled the jungle, but dawn was no longer far away.
He checked the time instinctively.
3:49 a.m.
Too early.
Fighting an Alpha wolf now would be suicide. Night favored beasts—sharper senses, faster reactions, and numbers hidden in the dark.
Ren exhaled and leaned back against the cave wall.
"Two hours," he murmured. "That's all I need."
The bear shifted slightly in its sleep, letting out a low, rumbling breath. It was still badly injured, but alive. Strong. Waiting.
Ren closed his eyes, keeping one hand near his summoned dagger.
He didn't fully sleep—just rested. Letting his body recover. Letting his breathing steady. Letting the system's warmth settle into his muscles.
At 5:00 a.m., when the sky would begin to pale…
That was when hunters moved.
Ren opened his eyes slowly, resolve sharpening in his gaze.
"When the sun rises," he whispered,
"I'll go and subdue an Alpha."
The system remained silent.
But somewhere in the forest, something answered.