As Adrian pulled aside the flap of the [Tactical Shelter: TerraForm Tent], the warm light inside spilled out. He froze.

  The dark elf stood there—freshly cleaned, her silky obsidian hair damp and cascading down her shoulders. Her bare, delicate figure was silhouetted by the glow of the shelter’s internal lighting. Her skin shimmered softly, smooth and pale with an otherworldly glow, the curve of her back and gentle contours of her form leaving nothing to the imagination. She looked over her shoulder, startled, her silver eyes widening.

  Adrian’s stoic mask twitched slightly. His eyes flicked away immediately.

  “…Oh.”

  He turned around and stepped outside, calm but clearly retreating.

  The elf stood stunned for a moment, then clutched the blanket closer to herself, her cheeks flushed scarlet. She opened her mouth as if to say something to him, then paused, biting her lip, heart pounding.

  Outside, Adrian kept his eyes toward the forest, arms crossed.

  Behind him, a soft voice broke the silence.

  “…How can I repay you for all of this?”

  Outside the tent, Adrian exhaled slowly, letting the cool forest air settle the moment. The night was quiet. Stars shimmered above like a distant battlefield of their own.

  With a low mutter, he raised his hand.

  “Open Weapon System.”

  A familiar digital shimmer pulsed in the air before him—icons flickered, categories streamed in vertical columns, and the HUD stabilized.

  “Activate: Weapon Enthusiast Mode.”

  The interface shifted. A deeper hue colored the menu, and a calm, intelligent voice echoed softly in his ear.

  > Weapon Enthusiast Mode engaged. Welcome back, Adrian.

  Adrian narrowed his eyes. “What do elves excel at?”

  The system responded almost instantly.

  > Primary racial specialization: Long-range precision weaponry. Most compatible with: Bow-class weapons. Preferred for agility, stealth, and fatal accuracy.

  He nodded once. “What kind of bow would be optimal for a swift, high-perception unit with night vision and forest mobility?”

  > Searching...

  The loading icon spun for barely a second before the system locked in with a solid ding.

  > Recommended weapon: [Myrrhveil Eclipse Bow]

  Cost: 1000 Points - Permanent Acquisition

  Would you like a detailed breakdown?

  Adrian gave a small nod.

  > Affirmative.

  The Weapon Enthusiast’s voice became smooth, almost reverent, like it was introducing a legendary relic.

  > [Myrrhveil Eclipse Bow]

  Crafted from the spectral wood of the Myrrhveil Tree, which only grows under a permanent lunar eclipse, this recurve bow resonates with ambient magic, increasing arrow velocity with each drawn breath.

  – Draw Weight: 70 lbs, allowing for high penetration power with minimal recoil due to spectral damping.

  – Frame: Lightweight obsidian-laced wood reinforced with blacksteel filament. Nearly unbreakable under physical stress.

  – Grip: Padded in darkscale leather with memory-fit texture for optimal handling even in wet conditions.

  – Sight Line: Integrated night-vision aimer rune carved in the wood grain—glows when locked onto a target’s heart.

  – String: Soulfiber weave, never frays, self-adjusts to ambient humidity and tension stress.

  Special Effect: Silent release—arrows fired make no sound. Perfect for ambushes and assassinations.

  Includes a quiver of 30 [Whispering Shade Arrows]—carbon-core shaft with piercing obsidian tips, capable of penetrating monster hide.

  Would you like to purchase this item?

  “Buy it,” Adrian said without hesitation. A flash of blue light shimmered, and the [Myrrhveil Eclipse Bow] appeared beside him, sleek and lethal.

  As he picked it up, he admired the smooth curve, the quiet hum of energy vibrating from its core. Efficient. Elegant. Silent death.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Then he added, “Show me any specialized arrows—something… toxic. Preferably devastating.”

  > Searching…

  Result: [Venomspike Bloom Arrows]

  Cost: 200 Points for a set of 5

  Adrian raised a brow. “Details.”

  > [Venomspike Bloom Arrows]

  Forged by Venari alchemists of the Shadow Groves, these arrows are tipped with micro-fracture heads and coated in [Bloomspike Serum], a volatile compound derived from the Bloom Widow plant.

  – Tip: Tri-prong fracture design—upon impact, the head shatters, embedding sharp crystalline splinters deep into the flesh.

  – Effect: Within seconds, the venom spreads through the bloodstream. Upon full saturation, the toxin triggers explosive cellular rupture—effectively detonating the target from within.

  – Ideal Use: Large monsters, hardened beasts, or targets requiring rapid neutralization.

  – Warning: Not recommended in close quarters due to splash potential.

  Would you like to purchase this item?

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed in approval. “Buy it.”

  Another shimmer. A black-leather side quiver appeared with five blood-dark arrows gleaming inside—each one humming softly like they hungered for a kill.

  He equipped both items, shoulders relaxing slightly as he completed the loadout. The bow on his back. The poison arrows at his side.

  Adrian stood just outside the tent, the [Myrrhveil Eclipse Bow] now strapped across his back. The stars above shimmered coldly as his mind processed the earlier scene. That flash of pale skin, the silhouette in the dark, her startled breath—and his awkward retreat.

  Footsteps rustled softly behind him.

  He didn’t turn. He already knew.

  A gentle voice, shy but trying to be steady:

  “I… I didn’t mean for you to see that,” the dark elf said, stopping just a few steps behind.

  Adrian kept his gaze ahead. “I know. Wasn’t my intention either.”

  She hesitated, then, voice barely a whisper, cheeks still flushed with heat.

  “…How can I repay you for saving me?”

  Adrian finally turned, eyes calm and unreadable. In one fluid motion, he slid the bow from his back and extended it toward her.

  The moonlight caught on the polished blacksteel of the frame, making it gleam like something ancient and noble. The elven girl’s eyes widened, breath catching in her throat.

  He said nothing at first. Just held it out like a quiet offering.

  Then, softly, he spoke. “I figured… you’d use it better than me. Elves are good with bows, right?”

  She stared, stunned, her hands trembling as she slowly took the [Myrrhveil Eclipse Bow] from him. Her fingers ran across the grip like it was sacred.

  “This is… incredible,” she whispered. “You… you’re giving this to me?”

  Adrian shrugged, glancing away. “Think of it as… a sorry. For earlier. I didn’t see much, anyway.”

  He lied. She could tell.

  But instead of saying anything, she clutched the bow to her chest and nodded, her heart pounding. “Thank you, Adrian.”

  He started to walk off again, the faintest smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

  In the shadows, she whispered to herself.

  “He looked away… but still brought me something like this…”

  Adrian leaned against the tree just outside the camp, arms folded as he eyed his point balance with a small grunt.

  “Down to 1700 points, huh…” he muttered, his tone unreadable. “Permanent arrows and bows… Guess I gotta earn half of it back tonight.”

  He stood straight, rolling his shoulders with a quiet pop. His hand lifted.

  “Weapon System—Katana category. Low-tier. Show me something practical.”

  DING.

  A soft shimmer pulsed in front of him as a holographic display spun open, revealing a horizontal rack of blades—each one gleaming, named, and deadly. He tapped the third from the left.

  The air cracked faintly as the weapon formed in front of him, hilt-first. He caught it without looking.

  The katana was lean and aggressive. A subtle black wave pattern etched along the edge of the blade, the hamon line, rippled like smoke caught in steel. The grip was bound in dark indigo rayskin and tight black ito wrap. No gold, no ornament—just utility and murder.

  He drew it slowly, the whisper of steel sliding free was almost sensual.

  “This one’s… beautiful,” he said under his breath, tilting the blade slightly to catch the moonlight. “Looks like a Nameless Forge design. Single-bevel grind. 70 cm of folded carbon alloy—hand-laminated. Razor-thin kissaki.”

  He shifted into a sideways stance and made a slow, precise downward slash through the air.

  The cut was clean. The leaves behind him, still 10 meters away, fell in half.

  “Weight distribution’s flawless. Blade wants to move forward… like it’s begging to draw blood.”

  He gave a soft exhale, stepping forward, then stopping on a dime.

  “This isn’t a beginner’s toy. You don't use this to clash—you use it to end things.”

  He looked at the edge again. “It’ll slip through a throat like warm silk. Tendons, arteries, even bone if I hit the neck seam right. A true one-slash kill tool.”

  He sheathed it slowly, the click at the end of the draw sharp and final.

  “Alright,” he whispered. “Let’s go hunting.”

  Adrian perched silently atop a thick tree branch, crouched like a shadow. His legs were coiled tightly beneath him, katana sheathed at his hip, eyes scanning the forest floor below.

  Ten goblins milled around in the clearing beneath—squabbling, laughing in their guttural tongue, slapping one another and grunting like filthy animals. They had no idea they were being watched. Hunted.

  Adrian’s fingers brushed the hilt of his katana.

  Whisper.

  A breeze passed.

  Leaves fluttered.

  Then—FLASH.

  The sound was silent to the untrained ear, but the result was chaos.

  Branches shook violently. Blood sprayed in arcs across the undergrowth.

  Ten heads rose into the air, spinning like thrown stones—eyes wide in shock. By the time they hit the ground, the bodies had already collapsed.

  Adrian stood behind them, blade drawn, a fine red mist clinging to the air around him. His katana gleamed crimson at the edge, dripping a line of blood that curved down into the grass.

  DING.

  +300 Points.

  He exhaled through his nose and flicked the blade in one practiced motion—shlick—the blood sliding off cleanly before he sheathed it with a sharp metallic click.

  “Figures,” he muttered, his voice low and indifferent. “Just weaklings after all.”

  The silence of the forest had shifted.

  A cool breeze whispered past Adrian’s cheek, carrying with it the scent of damp moss and fading blood. The once amber-hued sky had fully given in to the night—a vast ocean of deep indigo cloaking the treetops. Tiny stars blinked into view like old scars opening one by one. The moon hovered low and silver, veiled faintly by thin, drifting clouds.

  He crouched down and placed a palm on the forest floor. The earth was cold now—heat drawn out by the creeping chill of night. He narrowed his eyes.

  “Crickets are louder. Wind’s dropped. Shadows aren’t stretching anymore…” he murmured to himself, gaze drifting upward. “The bite in the air… sky’s deepened… yeah. Must be just past 8 p.m.”

  The system chimed quietly in his head.

  DING.

  +1000 Points

  Adrian rose to his full height, stretching his limbs with quiet precision. The katana at his hip glimmered faintly in the moonlight, fresh blood still trailing from its edge. He exhaled slowly and tucked his arms behind his back.

  His steps were silent but deliberate as he turned and began walking—his boots barely disturbing the forest floor. The tall trees swayed gently overhead, casting long, jagged shadows that danced across his path. Fireflies flickered to life in the underbrush, like wandering spirits trailing behind him.

  As he stepped past a final bush, his gaze landed on the small campfire ahead—and beside it, the silhouette of the dark elf.

  She was standing just outside the tent, the fire casting golden light across her silver hair. Her posture was unsure, her arms lightly hugging herself. She hadn’t noticed him yet.

  Adrian’s expression remained unreadable, but his pace slowed.

  He didn’t say a word.