The singing of birds outside the cave acted as nature’s alarm clock. The rays of the sun spilled through the foliage, creating blotchy shapes of light and shadow across the cave’s entrance. I stretched my limbs, shaking off the last fragments of sleep.

Today’s mission? Mastering the art of slingshot combat. I exited the cave and took my stance before facing a tree on the far edge of a small clearing. It stood there, all rough bark and stoic strength, just begging for a good challenge.

Locking my eyes on a small knot in the wood, I felt the world around me fade. I settled into a few deep breaths and pulled back the slingshot’s pouch, feeling the band grow taut beneath my fingers. “Sōten Ishi!” I chanted, releasing the pouch with a flick of my wrist.

With a satisfying whirr, the rock zipped through the air and struck the tree trunk dead center. A sharp crack followed, and swooshing leaves as the rock ricocheted into the underbrush. “Not bad for a beginner,” I said to myself, but I knew this was just the start.

I spent the next hour firing shot after shot. My muscles got used to the motions. Every pull, aim, and release became more fluid. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I pushed myself harder and faster, determined to hone my aim and speed. Each shot was a lesson. Each hit, a minor victory.

After enough practice, I surveyed my handiwork on the battered tree. I’d improved considerably. But let’s be honest, hitting a stationary target was just the tip of the iceberg. True mastery would require more than that. I needed to put my skills to the test in a dynamic environment where every shot counted. It was time to hunt.

Hunting wasn’t just a test of skill; it was a necessity. If I wanted to make this cave my base camp, I needed a reliable food source. The rabbits I’d caught before wouldn’t last long, and let’s be real. The prices in the online store? They were bloody outrageous. A single Kashipan bread cost seven gold. An absolute extravagance I couldn’t afford.

With breakfast in mind, I set off into the forest, navigating the undergrowth with ease. The sound of leaves rustled in the breeze and chirp of birds refined my senses, getting me ready for whatever lay ahead. Just your average day for a wannabe hunter.

As I moved through the trees, I felt an unusual pressure in the air, like unseen eyes were tracking my every move. I tightened my grip on the slingshot, preparing for any surprises. Then, just as I was getting comfortable, a shadow darted between the trees.

I sprang into action, my body moving on pure instinct. I ducked under branches and leaped over fallen logs, chasing after the target. As I drew closer, I could practically taste victory.

With a long leap, I burst into a small clearing and found my prey cornered against a moss-covered boulder. It looked like a porcupine but with sharp spines, its wide eyes pleading as it cowered before me. I initiated the Status Sight.

***

Brambler (Kiiroi)

Level: 2

Title: None

Description: A Kiiroi Ikimono creature resembling a porcupine with thorny quills. These vines can extend and entangle threats. Its meat is said to be extremely delicious and a delicacy among the Midoris. But be careful of its quills. Although not poisonous, they can be quite painful if you get hit.

***

Oh, pristine meat. I hoped it tasted like Kobe beef. I licked my lips. But the creature looked so cute, as if begging me not to kill it.

“Yo, Pokey,” I said, shaking my head. “Sorry, but cuteness doesn’t work on me anymore.” I raised the slingshot and aimed at the creature. My breath evened out. “Sayonara, dude,” I smirked as I released the pouch.

The marble rock flew, striking the brambler with a solid thunk. But to my utter disbelief, the rock bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground a few feet away. Seriously? Even with that force, my rock couldn’t penetrate its defenses?

Not one to back down easily, I fired again and again, each shot hitting its mark but producing the same futile result. The creature just stood there, its dark, beady eyes seemingly mocking me. Not a scratch. I stopped firing. What kind of creature could shrug off direct hits like that?

Just as I was starting to reconsider my strategy, the brambler began to shake its body vigorously. A whizzing sound filled the air as dozens of its quills shifted, their pointy ends suddenly aiming straight at me. “What the heck is this little guy trying to do now?” I squinted at it.

And then, out of nowhere, one of the spines shot through the air, catching me completely off guard. Wait, it can fire its quills? I sidestepped in time. The spine flew past my shoulder, barely missing me.

Scrambling to regain my footing, I realized the brambler wasn’t done. It unleashed a volley of spines, each one aimed with alarming accuracy.

What the hell! I dodged and ducked, urgently trying to evade the prickly projectiles. If I was going to make it out of this, I had to think fast. This wasn’t just a hunt anymore; it was a test to see whether I could get out of this situation alive.

I continued to dodge left and right, avoiding those spines. Seriously, talk about a wake-up call. There was no need for a battle here. It was clear who had the better weapon. Gritting my teeth, I realized I was outmatched. I definitely wasn’t equipped to handle this, at least not yet.

I turned and ran. To my shock, the little creature pursued me with surprising speed, its quills rattling menacingly as it closed the distance. “What’s wrong with the creatures in this world?” I yelled as I sprinted through the trees.

“Ackkkk!” I yelped as a sharp pain pierced my butt; the brambler’s quill finally found its mark. Since when does prey turn into the predator? I grimaced as I kept running, the sting driving me forward. But the brambler wasn’t done with me yet. “Ackkkk!” Another quill struck near the same spot, and I stumbled, nearly losing my footing.

A quarter of an hour later, I was at the banks of the stream near my hideout. The cool water flowed gently by as I dealt with the aftermath of my humiliating encounter. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and my hands trembled slightly as I reached behind, wincing at the sharp sting. One by one, I carefully pulled out the brambler’s spines, each quill a painful recap of how I’d barely escaped from that little menace. The needle-like spines had dug in deep, and their removal brought a fresh wave of discomfort.

“Why do the creatures here like to aim their weapons at my butt?” I muttered through gritted teeth. Yanking out another quill sent a sharp jolt of pain. “Ouch!” I squealed, tossing the offending spine into the stream, where it floated away, carried by the current as if mocking my plight.

The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here I was, supposed to be the hunter, but instead, I had become the hunted. And by something no larger than a house cat. At least the spines weren’t poisonous, but their punctures made me wish I’d never crossed paths with that brambler.

With my body still aching and my pride in tatters, I had no choice but to admit defeat. My plans for a hearty, self-caught meal were dashed, leaving me with only one option. Reluctantly, I opened my inventory and purchased a Shokupan bread with chicken filling from the online store. The cost of ten gold felt like a slap in the face after the ordeal I’d just gone through, but my growling stomach left me little room to argue.

After an hour of rest, I decided to put my theory to the test. Could exercise really increase my STR and DEX points? I surveyed the terrain. A quiet forest trail about two miles long near the cave seemed perfect for my workout.

I began with sit-ups, and as soon as I hit twenty, my stomach urged me to stop. After a brief respite, I tried push-ups, but after just seven, my arms gave way. Darn it! Why am I so weak?

Taking another break, I remembered Mai’s advice that squatting could build up leg muscles. After completing ten squats, I lay on the ground, feeling like I’d just run a marathon.

“This is going to be tough,” I breathed heavily after my session. I took a longer respite before preparing for my last exercise, running.

Mai had told me that if I did a hundred sit-ups, a hundred push-ups, a hundred squats, and a six-mile run every day, I could become the strongest man in the world. I laughed at her back then, wondering where she’d heard this crazy training regimen. Don’t tell me she read it in online manga?

I began my run along the route I’d scouted earlier. When I completed a mile, I stopped, my hands clutching my trembling knees. I give up. I don’t think I can go for another mile unless there’s a busty deri jō spurring me on.

Suddenly, a sound made me raise my head. Ten yards away stood a brambler, staring hard at me. “Pokey?” I stuttered. “Is that you?”

The creature’s body began to shake, and its spines started to move, their ends pointing at me. Oh, no! I turned on my heels and ran as fast as I could. “What the hell is wrong with this world?” I bellowed while fleeing.

Half an hour later, I was back at the banks of the stream, pulling out the quills from my rear again. “That’s it. I can’t take any more of this suffering.” I sniffed, a tear running down my cheek. I think I’ll find a high cliff and jump. Maybe in the Live game, the quests would be much easier than the Tutorial. But just then, the system’s blue screen appeared, changing my mind.

Well done. You have increased your STR and DEX by one point each.

All right, this is what I’m aiming for! My theory had proven successful. Through rigorous exercise, I had boosted both my strength and dexterity. With fists raised, my face expressed pure joy, ready to face whatever came my way. Just you wait, Pokey. You will get what’s coming to you soon enough.