The early morning mist still hung thick over the tree line as Arthur stepped onto the narrow dirt path leading away from the cabin.
The air was crisp and cool, carrying the sharp scent of wet earth and pine. Arthur drew a deep breath, feeling the air circulate through his lungs with an incredible, effortless clarity. His senses were sharper, his footfalls lighter, and his muscles thrummed with a steady, quiet power that hadn't been there two days ago.
He glanced back one last time.
Martha stood by the wooden porch, her hands resting against her apron and her silky white hair catching the golden gleam of the rising sun. Beside her, Robin waved enthusiastically, shouting words of good luck.
Arthur offered a warm, confident smile and waved back before turning toward the eastern trail.
Level 10, he thought, opening his mind to the familiar, floating interface that flickered into view before his eyes.
StatusNameArthurClassMagic Swordman(Passives- Dual Channeling, Mana-Muscle Conversion)Level10Title{Wandering Transmigrator}HP450/450MP300/300AttributeBaseStrength55Agility48Vitality50Intelligence40Unique Skill[Ancestral Synergy: Lv 1(Angel's Blessing)]Unlocked Magic[Fire Magic: Lv 1], [Body Reinforcement: Lv 1], [Mana Barrier: Lv 1]Unallocated points: 0
The boost from Martha was huge, Arthur mused as he picked up his pace, walking with swift, effortless strides. Not only did it jump my level straight to double digits, but it unlocked three active spells right out of the gate. Now I need to see how these stats actually feel in a real combat scenario.
The journey to the settlement was roughly a two-hour trek through the wild borderlands. The dense forest eventually began to thin out, revealing rocky terrain interspersed with tall brush and wild thickets.
About an hour into his hike, Arthur’s ears twitched.
Rustle.
A low, guttural growl echoed from behind a moss-covered boulder twenty paces to his right. Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, his hand instinctively dropping to the plain iron hunting blade strapped to his belt.
From behind the rock, a pair of glowing red eyes locked onto him. A moment later, a wild boar-like beast—nearly six feet long with thick, spiky bristles and dark yellow tusks—prowled into the open.
A razor-back beast, Arthur recognized from the descriptions Robin had shared during their evening chats. A standard low-tier monster in these borderlands.
The beast snorted, steam rising from its snout, and lowered its heavy head. Without warning, it kicked up dirt with its hind hooves and charged forward like a runaway wagon.
Arthur’s heart beat steadily. There was no panic, no hesitation—only absolute focus.
[Body Reinforcement: Lv 1]
Category: Active / Physical Augmentation
Mana Cost: 30 MP per activation
Description: Channels kinetic mana into the muscle fibers, tendons, and bone structure. Temporarily increases physical striking power by 25% and reduces minor impact damage while active. High stamina consumption with continuous use.
Arthur willed his magic into motion. A subtle glow rippled beneath his skin as magical energy surged from his core, flooding his legs, arms, and torso. Instantly, the charging beast seemed to slow down in his vision.
When the monster was barely three feet away, Arthur shifted his posture. He stepped cleanly to the left, dodging the heavy tusk by a hair’s breadth.
Before the beast could adjust its momentum, Arthur channeled a second spell into his right fist.
[Fire Magic: Lv 1]
Category: Active / Elemental Offense
Mana Cost: 20 MP per cast
Description: Manipulates thermal mana to generate small-scale flames, spark ignitions, or concentrated low-range heat bursts. Serves as the foundational building block for advanced fire spells and elemental weapon enchantments.
Fierce red flames ignited around his hand, swirling with intense heat. With a sharp exhale, Arthur drove his reinforced, flame-wreathed fist directly into the creature’s flank.
CRACK!
The impact echoed across the clearing. The sheer physical force combined with the burning magic sent the two-hundred-pound beast tumbling sideways through the dirt, crashing heavily into a nearby tree before slumping motionless.
Arthur lowered his hand, the flames extinguishing into thin wisps of smoke.
One strike, he noted, examining his knuckles. Not a single scrape. The physical enhancement multiplied my strength so smoothly that I barely felt the resistance. And the mana cost was negligible.
A brief chime rang gently in his mind as a faint trail of blue light drifted from the defeated monster into his chest.
Monster defeated. +15 EXP.
"Not bad," Arthur said softly to himself, a satisfied smirk touching his lips. "If a basic wild beast is this manageable, I'll be able to clear beginner contracts without any trouble."
He wiped the dust from his trousers and continued along the winding path.
Half an hour later, the thick canopy cleared entirely, revealing a striking view of the valley below. Nestled against the rugged foothills stood a bustling border town, surrounded by high wooden palisades and sturdy stone guard towers. Smoke rose steadily from chimney stacks, and a winding line of merchant wagons and travelers stretched outside the main wooden gate.
The Border Outpost.
Arthur took a deep breath, feeling his heart beat with fresh determination.
"Time to register," he murmured, picking up his pace toward the town gates. "And start making some real gold."