Ryo walked forward again, the vine whip folding itself neatly and strapping around his hips like a serpent resting. Without pause, he knelt and plucked more blades of grass—casually, almost bored. But his fingers shimmered faintly with aura as the grass leaves began to harden, their edges sharp like forged daggers.

  He flicked his hand—shhk!—a dozen sharpened grass blades sailed through the air and vanished into the thick bushes ahead.

  A second passed.

  Then came a chorus of screeches. Three distinct howls erupted in response, followed by a violent rustling and the sound of something heavy slamming against the ground.

  > System Notification:

  [C-Rank Threats Detected]

  — Venomtooth Bramblecrawler

  — Burrowling Tuskmole

  — Sporeback Howler

  > System Commentary:

  “He just weaponized lawn trimmings… Somebody nerf this man before he crafts a rocket out of weeds.”

  Ryo cracked his knuckles. “Looks like we’ve got company.”

  A monstrous shadow loomed as a gargantuan, man-eating grass creature emerged from the bushes, its massive body built of thorned vines and thick grass. Its wide, gaping maw was lined with sharp, leaf-like teeth, and its eyes glowed with a feral hunger. With each step, the earth trembled beneath it.

  The monster roared.

  It was charging toward Ryo with terrifying speed, its vines snapping like whips as they lashed through the air.

  Ryo didn’t flinch.

  He simply stepped aside with a casual sidestep, his body blurring as he dodged effortlessly. The massive beast’s slap of twelve vines swung past him, barely missing as Ryo blinked and moved out of the way, like he was swaying to an invisible beat.

  Then, he casually plucked more grass.

  He stood in front of the creature now, completely unfazed, his hands still collecting blades of grass as if he were in a park and not facing a monstrous predator.

  System Notification:

  “Monster Detected: [Man-Eater Bramble Giant]

  A C-Rank elite, capable of devastating attacks using vines to crush or entangle its prey.”

  System Commentary:

  “In the presence of a walking lawnmower and this guy’s just... picking weeds.”

  The Man-Eater Bramble Giant roared again, but this time, its vines lashed forward faster, aiming to wrap around Ryo. Yet, Ryo, as if disinterested in the monster’s fury, merely glanced at the incoming attack and blinked again, leaving only a blur of movement behind.

  “Is this the best you’ve got?” Ryo muttered to himself, plucking even more grass. His focus was unbroken, his hands moving skillfully as he prepared more of his new “weapon.”

  Ryo's eyes glimmered with quiet concentration as he enhanced the blades of grass in his hands once again. They shimmered with a solid, crystalline sheen before becoming sharp and unyielding, each one ready to strike.

  He didn't wait for the Man-Eater Bramble Giant to make the next move. Ryo vanished.

  In an instant, afterimages of his figure appeared all around the monster, spinning in a vortex of motion. He was everywhere, his speed defying logic as he rotated around the Man-Eater, creating a blur of movement. The creature, confused and enraged, swung its thick vines to try and catch him, but Ryo was too quick, dodging and weaving with ease.

  Then, the ground around the Man-Eater erupted.

  Dozens of sharp, green, pointed grass blades shot up from the earth at every angle, forming a circle that surrounded the beast. It was as if Ryo had woven an intricate web of nature, ready to snare and pierce the monster from all directions.

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  Ryo casually walked through the field of sharp grass as it pulsed with energy, closing the distance between him and the giant. Without even glancing up, he flicked his fingers and murmured the words, “Fael.”

  The grass that had surrounded the Man-Eater suddenly surged forward, piercing through its tough, vine-covered skin, finding their mark and continuing deeper with every strike. The creature howled in pain, its body convulsing as the sharp blades of grass stabbed through it relentlessly, like a thousand needles.

  System Notification:

  “Skill Activated: Fael – A piercing grass attack, enhanced to cut through tough hide. The Man-Eater Bramble Giant is suffering continuous damage.”

  System Commentary:

  “Who knew grass could be such a deadly weapon... It’s like Ryo’s turning the whole damn forest into his personal weapon rack.”

  The Man-Eater Bramble Giant’s movements grew sluggish, each scream of agony only fueling the relentless barrage of sharp, piercing grass that kept coming, each blade finding new angles to tear through the creature’s massive form.

  Ryo’s eyes narrowed as he grabbed his thorn whip, the weapon now glowing faintly with energy from the battle.

  Without hesitation, he swung the whip in a powerful arc, the sound of a thousand whips cracking in unison. The sharp, thorn-covered tendrils cut through the Man-Eater Bramble Giant's remaining vines and flesh, each strike like the sting of death itself.

  With a final, resounding swish, the beast disintegrated, its massive form breaking apart into fine particles. It was as though the creature was turned to dust, blown away by the wind, scattering into nothingness.

  “Well, it’s done,” Ryo muttered to himself, turning away from the site of destruction as the remains of the monster were swept away by the breeze. “Let’s go home.”

  System Notification:

  “Quest Complete: Man-Eater Bramble Giant Defeated”

  System Commentary:

  “And that’s how you end a monster. Ryo’s like ‘Bye bye, big guy!’ with a swipe of his whip.”

  As Ryo and the system walked toward the exit, he casually asked, “How many minutes has it been?”

  System: “It’s been 8 minutes. It took a little longer because of the wide area inside.”

  Ryo nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Despite the time it took, he had made quick work of the monsters inside. His mind was already shifting to his next challenge, but for now, he let his footsteps guide him toward the exit, the whip still hanging by his side.

  System Commentary:

  “8 minutes, huh? Not bad. A lot of people would've taken much longer. But not you, Ryo. You’re just breezing through.”

  As Ryo jumped up and rested against a tree, closing his eyes, he muttered, “I’m gonna sleep for a while...” His body relaxed, and soon, the sounds of the world around him faded into a soft background hum. Without realizing it, an hour passed in a blink.

  Suddenly, the sound of a television broadcast interrupted his rest. The voice on the TV crackled through the air, catching Ryo’s attention. The broadcast showed footage of Velmond City in chaos.

  TV Anchor (shaken): "We have just received breaking news—Velmond City has been attacked by a horde of Lizardmen. Hundreds of them have stormed the city, and the leader... is a Lizard Emperor, known as Shikavas! The city is being destroyed in mere minutes! Authorities are urging all citizens to evacuate immediately, but... there may not be enough time."

  Ryo opened his eyes slowly, the words echoing in his mind. His gaze turned to the screen. He could see the Lizardmen wreaking havoc—buildings crumbling, fires raging in the streets, and people running for their lives.

  System (with an amused tone): "Well, that's a bit of a problem... don't you think? Looks like Velmond is going to need more than just a B-Rank hunter to deal with that."

  Ryo sat up, still watching the chaos unfold. His fingers drummed lightly against the tree branch beneath him.

  Ryo (muttering): "A Lizard Emperor, huh? Interesting... but not my problem right now."

  As the chaos raged on in Velmond City, a lone Lizardman stalked the streets, its reptilian eyes scanning the area for prey. The thick smoke in the air and the distant roars of its comrades made the city feel like a warzone. Suddenly, the Lizardman froze, its keen senses picking up something unusual—a faint sound, like the sobbing of a child.

  Curious and hungry for easy prey, the Lizardman hissed softly and turned its head toward the sound. It slithered swiftly through the wreckage, moving closer to the noise. As it rounded the corner of a burning building, its eyes locked onto a small child, crouched and crying in the street.

  The Lizardman grinned wickedly, its sharp teeth gleaming. It raised its spear, ready to strike down the helpless child.

  With a swift motion, the Lizardman lunged forward, spear aimed straight at the child’s heart. But just as the spear was about to connect, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the streets. The air twisted, and before the Lizardman could react, a powerful tornado of energy appeared out of nowhere.

  Swishhh— The tornado ripped through the Lizardman, shredding it to pieces. The force of the winds tore apart its flesh and vaporized its body into nothingness. The child, unscathed, was left in the middle of the street, still crying but now unaware of the danger that had just been eliminated.

  From the debris, a figure emerged, standing tall and composed. Her long, gold hair fluttered in the wind as she stepped forward, her piercing black eyes scanning the area.

  Seraphine—the S-Rank Hunter, known for her control over wind magic, stood with an unwavering presence. The tornado, still spinning slightly around her, dissipated into the air as she casually lowered her hand.

  She glanced down at the child, who had stopped crying and now stared up at her with wide eyes. Seraphine gave a soft, reassuring smile before turning her gaze back to the ruined city.

  "This isn't over. But at least the child is safe."

  She vanished into the chaos, disappearing among the wreckage as the storm clouds above the city gathered ominously.

  Seraphine exhaled slowly, her eyes fluttering closed as the world fell silent around her. The wind responded to her will, surging outward in invisible waves. She stood still in the heart of Velmond’s ruins, yet her magic swept across the city like a breath of the gods.

  Every breeze carried information—movements, heartbeats, hostile intent. And now, she could feel them all.

  Lizardmen. Hundreds of them. Crawling through alleys, scaling buildings, hunting survivors. She sensed their claws, their bloodlust, their vile breath fouling the wind. And at the center of it all... one aura blazed like a tyrant flame.

  Shikavas. The Lizard Emperor.

  Her brow furrowed as her wind trembled.

  Suddenly, the sky darkened. Clouds churned unnaturally, thickening and spiraling above the ruined city. The sun disappeared behind an angry veil of gray. A rumble rolled across the heavens, low and growling.