Chapter 11: Into the Unknown

The wind carried the scent of damp earth and distant fire as Kim Sehan crouched low, his sharp gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar terrain.

Valtaros was unlike anything he had seen before—a sprawling land of towering stone formations, dense forests with glowing flora, and distant ruins whispering of civilizations long gone.

He adjusted his grip on Void Edge, its dark blade absorbing the dim light of the world's twin moons. There were no immediate threats in sight, but Sehan knew better than to let his guard down. If the tutorial was any indication, this **game—no, this reality—**would only grow more brutal from here.

Activating Predator's Instinct, his vision sharpened as faint traces of movement flickered in the distance. Shadows danced between the trees, too fluid to be the wind. He narrowed his eyes—beasts, or worse, other players?

His thoughts drifted to the system notification from earlier.

[System Alert]
You have entered Valtaros, the World of Ruins.
Survive, grow stronger, and carve your path.

Current Objective: Establish a foothold.
Rewards: ???

Unlike the tutorial, this world had no set instructions. There were no guiding hands or safety nets—only the unknown and the dangers lurking within it.

Sehan exhaled, moving with measured steps toward a vantage point atop a jagged rock formation. His steps barely made a sound, a habit drilled into him by years of playing stealth-based games—now reinforced by the instincts honed in the tutorial.

From this height, he took in the vast landscape.

To the east, a river cut through the land, glimmering under the night sky.
To the north, crumbling ruins stretched across the horizon, remnants of an ancient city.
But it was the flickering lights beyond the trees to the west that caught his attention—campfires.

"Players?" he mused.

If so, they either had the same idea as him—to regroup and assess their surroundings—or they were already forming alliances. Sehan had no intention of joining them, but information was invaluable.

With a quiet breath, he activated Void Step, his body flickering into motion as he descended the rock formation with inhuman agility. Each step carried him forward with unnatural fluidity, allowing him to navigate the uneven terrain with ease.

He needed to get closer—observe, not engage.

Then—

A low snarl echoed through the night, and Sehan's instincts flared.

His eyes darted toward the darkened forest ahead, where a pair of glowing red eyes locked onto him from the shadows.

A predator.

Sehan smirked, tightening his grip on his sword.

"Good. Let's see what this world has to offer."

He stepped forward.

The hunt was about to begin.