It was an ordinary morning when golden light spread in every direction.

  —Records of the Golden Dawn

  After arranging the bait, Nick hid behind the thickets with his makeshift bow and arrows. As he waited patiently, his back itched under his shirt, sweat dripped down his chin, and an annoying mosquito buzzed over his head. Fortunately, it wasn't mutated.

  Time passed, Nick fiddled with his bow, but even half an hour later no prey took his bait. Across his face, though, no impatience was visible. Patience was the greatest virtue of a hunter. And Nick had acquired it with his many outings into the forest.

  A disturbance came from the shrubs. Nick tightened his grip on his bow, his heart raced, and peered at the moving shadow in the distance under the foliage.

  A lone wolf cautiously traipsed towards the meat, looking around it now and then. The creature appeared hungry and beaten. Marks of battle were visible all over its furry body and saliva dripped down its ugly muzzle.

  Nick activated his skill and a light flashed over the monster’s head.

  Nick nodded and straightened his bow in his hand.

  The monster couldn’t control its hunger and lunged at the chicken, tearing the meat with its sharp fangs. However, as it was drunk in the ecstasy of the tender and juicy meat after days of scavenging here and there, an arrow bolted from behind the thickets and pierced its neck.

  A painful howl of a monster echoed in the surroundings. And as the beast clawed the ground, struggled, and whimpered, another arrow found its way into its neck. The creature produced another mournful cry and twitched a few times before becoming still.

  Nick eyed the message flashing in front of his eyes and smiled. He could feel the monster's energy coursing through his body. He’d taken out another beast. All alone. Not that someone would allow him to join their team with his shoddy skill.

  He shook his head and pulled out his status window.

  Nick eyed his Talent and sighed before looking with expectant eyes at the end of the screen.

  When he’d Awakened three years ago, the Chaos Pearl was already there—with sixty percent assimilation. He’d no idea what it did and where it had come from. Maybe it had something to do with his… parents? Not that it mattered...he shook his head and shoved away all the distracting thoughts.

  He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a dagger. He pierced the monster’s skull and dug out a blue gem. Then he collected beast blood in a jar before proceeding to skin it. They were all valuable materials. With them he’d be able to pay his sister’s school fee—

  Hisss!

  When he was halfway through, a terrifying hiss sounded which was not too far away from him. He flinched and veered around, finding a gigantic python staring at him with its green and beady eyes, flicking its nasty tongue.

  All the color drained off his face. The monster was too strong. The dark scales covered its body and green slitted eyes gleamed with wild ferocity. He could not even see its level, only a huge question mark.

  To defeat a level 1 monster he had to use all his tricks. No way he stood a chance against this beast.

  He gritted his teeth and threw the bag away before dashing in the opposite direction.

  The monster hissed furiously and slithered after him. It wasn’t willing to let its prey escape, no matter how meager meat he carried.

  Nick bolted through the woods, wheezing. He dared not slow down. His life was on the line. He could feel a tingling sensation on his neck. The monster was just a few meters behind him.

  The burning pain in his chest intensified and his legs began to slow down. It was only a matter of time before he got devoured by the python.

  Suddenly, the trees parted and revealed a massive waterfall roaring before his wide eyes.

  “Oh, oh shit!” he cursed and tried to stop his sore galloping feet, but the momentum dragged him forward, forcing him to summersault before halting at the edge of the cliff. As he took a deep sigh of relief, the twisted shadow of the python emerged from the undergrowth.

  And it wasn’t willing to slow down.

  Nick jerked back in fear, completely forgetting where he was standing. Then he heard cracking sound of a rock and began descending down the cliff.

  He eyed the vast sky and felt himself flying. It was an amazing feeling. Though what came after that was not so amazing.

  His body smashed on water and a terrible pain invaded his body. He was still dizzy when something collided with his skull. And on the verge of losing his consciousness, a message flashed in front of his eyes.

  Before he could read the full notification, he lost himself in darkness.

  Nick coughed out a mouthful of water as he dragged his beaten body out of the plunge pool. After stumbling a few meters, he tripped and fell on the ground. He wiped his wet face, adjusted his soggy long hair that hindered his vision, and continued sprawling with a pale face, groaning.

  He peered at the sky with his dark eyes and sighed in relief. The sun was a few hours short from setting. Then he felt a throbbing pain from his skull. He reached out with his hand and felt a coarse crust underneath his damp hair. He could also feel sticky blood that was yet to dry.

  Taking a deep breath, Nick dragged his aching body off the ground and eyed his surroundings. After determining his location, he began to move alongside the stream. This place was not far away from Aston. After all, with his lousy strength, Nick dared not roam too far away from the town.

  And as he walked the knee of his left leg began throbbing in pain. Earlier he failed to notice but the area around his knee had swollen. Though not a fracture, he would still require medical attention. That's what happens when you make bricks without straw.

  Every now and then he took rest due to his poor shape. And when the sun began setting, a colossal gate of the town revealed in the distance. A cathedral spire reached for the sky, and under its shadow, on the western side of the town, stood a cluster of chimneys, continuously puffing out smoke.

  As he limped towards the entrance, the guards eyed him up and down, vigilantly.

  “Who the fuck aa'ye, boy?” asked one of them.

  Nick eyed the guard and revealed his white teeth underneath his smudged face. He knew the man.