After what felt like hours of soft sighs, shifting warmth, and the persistent pressure of Lirien’s chest against him, Adrian finally managed to peel himself away.

  Gently, he untangled her limbs, letting her sleep undisturbed. He slid out of the tent, the morning breeze brushing against his face like a reward for surviving the night.

  He stretched his arms, shoulders popping slightly.

  “That’s the hardest mission I’ve ever had…” he muttered, letting out a breath. “No sword. No monsters. Just a naked elf and zero escape routes.”

  As he rolled his neck, his gaze shifted to the surrounding area. The faint scent of blood lingered in the air.

  All around the perimeter where he had laid his traps, monster corpses littered the forest floor—burnt, pierced, shredded. Some impaled. Others dismembered.

  His lips curved into a grin.

  “Idiots,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Walked right into it.”

  With a satisfied smirk, he turned back toward the tent.

  Another day, another hunt.

  Adrian swiped open the interface with a practiced flick.

  "Weapon System," he muttered. "Food category."

  He scrolled past the usual bland options until his eyes narrowed on one.

  [Smoked Beast Jerky with Wild Herb Glaze] — rich in protein, preserved well, tough but flavorful.

  "Good enough for me," he said, clicking the order. The packet materialized in his hand, warm from recent fabrication.

  He took a bite—chewy, slightly spicy, a faint smoky aftertaste lingering. "Still better than most ration packs," he muttered, chewing as his eyes scanned the quiet forest.

  Then he paused. His thoughts drifted to the elf inside the tent.

  "Something good, even if it’s not warm…" he whispered to himself. He scrolled again, more thoughtful this time.

  [Forest Grain Riceballs with Dried Fruit Center] — nourishing, sweet, long-lasting.

  [Moonleaf Springwater] — clear, chilled, and enchanted to maintain freshness.

  He ordered two riceballs and one bottle of water, crouched near the tent flap, and gently placed the meal inside.

  "Rest easy, Lirien," he murmured.

  Without another word, he turned, stepped silently into the brush, and vanished into the wild. The hunt resumed.

  Adrian stepped into the clearing, sunlight catching the edge of his jawline. The breeze was calm, yet his instincts whispered otherwise. Danger wasn’t far—it never was.

  “Let’s do something light… and be on our way,” he muttered, eyes narrowing with focus.

  He raised his hand.

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  Weapon System – Activate.

  The interface shimmered into view.

  “Mid-tier… handgun category,” he commanded.

  His finger slid across the options until it landed on one.

  [Velstryx M9 Tactical Pistol]

  Sleek matte-black finish. Poly-steel alloy body—lightweight but sturdy. Built-in suppressor. 15-round magazine. Precision sight. Quick-draw grip. A killer’s tool for clean work.

  With a pulse of energy, it materialized in his hand.

  Adrian tilted his head, inspecting it as a veteran would. He spun it once on his finger, caught the grip flawlessly, then aimed with one eye closed—arm outstretched, posture solid, stance coiled and calm.

  He flicked the safety. Click.

  “Let’s see…”

  Ammo – Armor Piercing.

  [MK-X Pierce Rounds]

  Tungsten-core bullets. Designed to tear through beast hide and crude goblin scrap armor. Silent on entry. No exit needed.

  He loaded the mag with a clean motion, slid the chamber, and aimed at a distant tree. His fingers flexed slightly. No tremble. Only precision.

  “This will do,” he said under his breath, lips forming a half-smirk.

  Then he lowered the pistol, slid it into the back holster under his coat, and turned toward the thick woods once more. His hunt resumed—steps silent, breath steady.

  Time to paint the forest red.

  As Adrian walked, his senses sharpened. The faint sound of hooves reached his ears too late.

  Without warning, a boar charged from behind, its tusks gleaming in the dappled light.

  Adrian didn’t turn. He simply backflipped into the air, his movements controlled and precise, a dancer in the chaos of battle. As he flipped, his gun was already in his hand, aimed down at the charging beast.

  In mid-air, he squeezed the trigger.

  Bang.

  Bang.

  Bang.

  Each bullet found its mark, the first striking the boar’s skull with a sickening crack. The second tore through the skull, and the third buried deep into the brain. The boar’s charge faltered as it dropped like a sack of meat.

  "Didn’t even need to turn around."

  As Adrian landed behind the fallen boar, he didn’t waste a second. Without even glancing to his left, his hand moved instinctively to draw the pistol from its holster.

  Bang.

  A single shot rang out as the goblin’s head exploded in a burst of red, dropping it instantly to the ground. Adrian didn’t need to look. He already knew the shot was true.

  The smoke curled up from the pistol as he smoothly twirled it in his hand, flipping it back into place at his hip, the motion as fluid as breathing.

  "One more weakling down," he muttered quietly, stepping past the fallen goblin as though it were nothing.

  Ding! 320 points.

  "Not bad," Adrian muttered to himself, but before he could take another step, he felt a sharp sting across his cheek.

  Shing!

  A dark spear grazed his skin, narrowly missing his face but cutting deep enough to leave a trail of blood. The spear slammed into the nearby tree with a sickening crack, causing the tree to collapse, the trunk splintering from the impact.

  Adrian instinctively dropped into a combat stance, his eyes scanning the area.

  From the shadows, a humanoid figure emerged, its form cloaked in an oppressive shadow aura. The figure moved silently, its face hidden beneath a dark helm, but Adrian could feel the weight of its presence, the air around it thick with menace.

  Its claws gleamed under the moonlight, sharp and ready to shred anything in their path. The figure was covered in black armor, plain yet somehow exuding an aura of deadly intent.

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. "A real challenge, huh?" he muttered, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his katana.

  The dark figure raised his hand, and the dark spear twirled in the air with unnerving precision. In a single fluid motion, the figure grabbed the spear, spinning it like an expert. He pointed it directly toward Adrian, his posture firm, almost calculating.

  Adrian glanced at him, his gaze unwavering, as the figure’s white eye radiated a cold, unsettling light. The air between them crackled with anticipation.

  The figure’s silent challenge was clear. His stance was unyielding, his grip on the spear precise, almost effortless. Adrian smirked, his lips curling slightly at the sight. “A real challenge, huh?” he muttered to himself, the weight of the moment settling in.

  Without hesitation, Adrian drew his pistol, aiming with deadly accuracy.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Three quick shots fired in rapid succession, each bullet aimed straight for the figure’s chest. But the dark figure moved like lightning. With a swift spin, he whipped the spear forward, effortlessly blocking each bullet, the force of the impacts causing a slight vibration along the spear’s shaft, but not faltering in his defensive stance.

  The figure stood tall, unscathed, as he relaxed his posture, the spear resting on his back. He raised his right hand, palm forward, mocking Adrian in a silent challenge. His stance was almost taunting, as if daring Adrian to make the first move.

  Adrian’s smile deepened, and his eyes narrowed as he holstered his gun. “You’re on,” he said, voice laced with excitement.

  Weapon System