I still remember how painful it was. The rain was pouring down in torrents, blurring the road ahead until visibility was nearly impossible. But the downpour was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me.

"I don't like you anymore." Her words, sharp and final, pierced through me like a dagger. I was left stunned, unable to move, as she turned and ran away, disappearing into the storm. The pain of her rejection felt more intense than the relentless rain that battered the world around me.

We had been happy for two years, but then she changed overnight. I wondered why—was it something I did? I felt like a blind man, groping in the dark, trying to understand what had gone wrong.

After that day, she was gone from my life. The days dragged on, and every time I passed the fast food chain where we used to eat, I would glance inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But she was never there. The year that followed was plain and empty without her, until one fateful day.

As I was about to cross the road near that same fast food chain, I saw her walking along the pedestrian line. My heart skipped a beat. But then, a truck, rushing and seemingly out of control, bore down on her. It was clear it wasn’t going to stop.

A vivid scene flashed through my mind: the promise we had made to protect each other, no matter what.

Driven by instinct and desperation, I sprinted towards her. My legs felt like lead, but I pushed through. When I finally reached her, I grabbed her in a frantic embrace. She looked up at me, shocked and bewildered.

But it seemed we were too late. The truck was closing in fast, and there was no time to leap out of the way. I braced myself, closing my eyes, as the impact loomed closer, knowing that there was nothing more I could do.

***

Here I am, finding myself plummeting from the sky, the wind roaring past my ears as we descend at an alarming speed. The ground below rushes up to meet us, and the fall only seems to accelerate as we draw nearer.

Just when it seems like we’re about to crash into the earth, a powerful gust of wind surges beneath us. It catches us mid-air, slowing our fall with an unexpected gentleness. The sensation shifts from a freefall to a controlled descent, and then, just as we’re about to touch down, the wind lifts us slightly, like a gentle bounce after a jump.

Finally, our feet touch the ground softly, the danger of the fall completely gone. The surreal nature of the experience leaves me breathless, but at least we’re safe for now.

I glanced at Eliza to check if she was okay. Her face was serious, her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made me uneasy.

“Why did you try to save me?” she asked, her tone flat and emotionless.

I smiled, trying to ease the tension. “Of course I would save you. I remember our promise—”

“Don’t do that again,” she cut me off, her voice cold and firm. The air between us seemed to shift, growing heavy and uncomfortable. She stared at me, her eyes now dull and distant. “I already told you, didn’t I? I don’t like you anymore.”

Her words hit me like a wave, dragging me back to that stormy day when she first said those same crushing words. The memory of the pain I felt then threatened to resurface, clawing at the edges of my heart.

As she slowly walked away from me without looking back, I stood there, stunned, reliving the hurt from that day, now doubled by this moment.

The heavy atmosphere was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice, breaking through the tension.

"Hello, Divine Commander," the shopping system announced cheerfully, completely at odds with the mood. "As the start of your journey as a Divine Commander, you will be given a chance to choose a main skill of your own to help you with the hunt."

A menu screen popped up in front of me, displaying an array of skills to choose from. Each one seemed more impressive than the last—life generation, god strength, and other abilities that could undoubtedly make me powerful. The options were overwhelming, each one holding the potential to shape the course of my journey.

But this was important. This choice could make all the difference in my ability to hunt and survive. So, despite the urge to rush, I decided to take my time, carefully weighing each skill's merits before making my decision. This was a choice I couldn't afford to get wrong.

One skill immediately caught my attention: Three Moons.

Three Moons

• Type: Versatile Skill

• Description: Grants the user three orbs, each serving a unique purpose in battle:

• Defense Orb: Transforms into various types of defensive equipment, such as shields or armor. The rarity and effectiveness of the equipment increase as the skill level rises.

• Offense Orb: Transforms into a range of weapons like swords, bows, lances, and more, offering diverse attack options tailored to different combat scenarios.

• Support Orb: Provides various support abilities, including healing, scouting enemies from afar, and other essential utilities that aid in both battle and strategy.

This skill stood out to me, offering a balanced and adaptable approach to combat with its combination of defense, offense, and support capabilities. It seemed like the perfect choice to help navigate the challenges ahead.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to actually open the shop. "Open shop... shop open?" I muttered, feeling a bit foolish. But before I could try another awkward command, the shop responded with a calm, robotic voice.

"Opening menu."

A new menu popped up, filling my vision with an expansive list of skills, each accompanied by a soul energy value. As I scrolled down, I couldn’t help but feel amazed. The shop was incredibly detailed, with tabs and filters for everything—magic types, rarity, effectiveness, and so much more. It was like browsing through an enormous online store, except this one was full of powers and abilities beyond my wildest imagination.

The sheer variety was overwhelming. I could see skills that could reshape entire landscapes, summon powerful creatures, or even manipulate time itself. But despite the excitement, I couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty. The soul energy values listed beside each skill didn’t mean much to me yet. I had no idea how much energy I could harvest in a day or how long it would take to gather enough for the more powerful abilities.

This was a huge list, and while the possibilities were endless, I knew I had to be strategic about my choices. But first, I needed to understand just how this energy system worked.

"Three Moons!" I shouted, and instantly, three glowing orbs materialized around me, each radiating a different color—red, blue, and green. They began orbiting my body like celestial satellites, which might explain why the skill is called "Three Moons." The red one must be offense, blue for defense, and green for support.

I needed to gather information about the area, and I recalled that the support orb mentioned something about scouting.

Unsure of how to proceed, I extended my arm and opened my hand upward. As if responding to my intent, the three orbs flew above my hand, circling in the air. The green orb hovered closer, practically within reach. Without overthinking it, I reached out and grabbed it.

The moment my fingers closed around the green orb, it pulsed with energy, almost like it was acknowledging my command. I could feel a connection forming between us, as though it was waiting for my next move.

“Scout the area,” I commanded, hoping it would understand my intent.

The orb glowed brighter for a moment before shooting off into the sky. It moved with incredible speed, weaving through the air as it began scanning the surroundings. The green orb was like an extra set of eyes, allowing me to see through its perspective. I could feel the information flowing back to me, details about the terrain, possible threats, and other crucial data that would help us navigate this unfamiliar world.

This was going to be more useful than I had imagined.

As the green orb scouted the area, I marveled at the sights it revealed. This world was unlike anything I had ever seen, filled with towering trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky and strange animals I couldn’t even begin to identify. Everything about this place felt surreal, yet oddly captivating.

Moments later, the orb’s vision caught Eliza moving steadily towards the north. She looked determined, focused on whatever task she had in mind. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of insecurity—Eliza was always the strong one, the one who could handle anything thrown her way. I knew she could fend for herself. For now, my priority had to be strengthening myself.

As the orb continued its surveillance, it identified a group of small, green-skinned creatures clustered together in the distance. Above them, names and levels floated in the air like a heads-up display: "Goblin," followed by their respective levels.

There were too many of them. Attacking now would be reckless, especially with my limited experience and skills. I needed to bide my time, wait until their numbers thinned out, and then strike when the odds were more in my favor.

This world was full of dangers, but it also held opportunities. I just had to be patient and smart about how I approached them.

I reached out and touched the red orb. “Sword,” I commanded. The orb responded instantly, morphing into a long sword that fit perfectly in my hand. I wasn’t exactly skilled in aiming or archery, so close combat felt like my best bet. At least with a sword, I could swing wildly and hope to connect, right? Yozak had mentioned that the beings here were of lesser intellect, so maybe—just maybe—they wouldn’t be too skillful in a fight. Otherwise, I’d be in serious trouble.

The blue orb, not wanting to be left out, transformed into a sturdy shield, which I gripped tightly in my other hand. Armed with both sword and shield, I felt a small surge of confidence. I just needed to wait until the goblins thinned out a bit before making my move.

But then, the ground beneath me began to tremble. At first, it was subtle, just a slight vibration, but it quickly grew stronger. Something heavy was approaching, and it was coming from behind.

I turned around, and my heart nearly stopped. There, lumbering towards me, was an ogre-like creature, towering over everything around it. Its skin was a mottled green, and it carried a massive bat-like club, each of its footsteps causing the earth to quake.

This wasn’t just any ordinary monster—this was a serious threat, and it was heading straight for me.

My mind raced. This was no goblin horde I could wait out; I had to think fast, or I’d be crushed before I could even lift my sword.

Before I could even react, the ogre raised its massive bat high into the air, preparing to smash me into the ground. Instinctively, I raised my shield, praying it would be strong enough to withstand the impact.