My head felt as though it were splitting. Throb, throb. Pain like needles stabbing into my temples.
"Urgh."
Faint light seeped in from somewhere.
'Where am I...?'
My vision slowly adjusted. Stone walls. A jagged ceiling. A moss-covered floor. The smell of mold.
'A cave?'
I remembered the final moment when the tutorial forcibly transferred me.
'Am I really inside the planet?'
I felt the cold floor beneath my back. Hard ground mixed with dirt and stone. This was real.
The moment I put strength into my arms to sit up.
"Uugh!"
"Ooh."
A human sound came from right beside me.
"Aagh!"
A strange cry escaped me before I knew it.
At the same time, I turned my head.
"!"
People surrounded me.
Faint silhouettes in the darkness. Ten people? Twenty? No, there were more.
I could clearly see a few who were close by.
Their skin was bronze. Their hair was long and tangled. Their faces were no different from those of modern people.
But they were barely clothed.
All of them wore hides like cavemen.
'These are the Primitive Humans.'
Curiosity and fear mingled in their eyes. They watched me cautiously, as though I were a wild animal.
One man reached out.
"Uu ugh?"
It was not speech.
It was closer to a groan.
Swoosh.
First, I looked around.
The cave was spacious.
The ceiling was about 10 meters high.
It was as large as a school auditorium.
I could see the entrance in the distance.
'There are so many.'
More people were scattered across the floor.
Some crouched while others lay down.
'All 100 of them really are here.'
My throat tightened.
They were not NPCs in a game.
They were real people.
If I made a mistake, these people would die.
'A convenience-store clerk like me is responsible for 100 lives?'
My chest suddenly felt tight.
But what could I do?
This was the path I had chosen.
I had to do my best.
"Hoo."
I put strength into my legs and slowly stood. My body swayed, and I braced one hand against the cave wall beside me.
"Uugh!"
The man nearby recoiled in surprise.
More Primitive Humans gathered around. Every one of them stared fixedly at me.
[Tutorial: Ruler Authority]
You can declare yourself their ruler through your consciousness (thoughts).
Your species will understand you intuitively.
At that moment, the System told me what to do.
'Through my consciousness.'
I took one deep breath. Sweat beaded on my palms.
I looked at them again.
One hundred pairs of eyes watched me.
Slowly and distinctly, I thought.
'I am your ruler.'
I sent the thought from the depths of my mind.
In that instant.
The Primitive Humans' gazes changed completely. Light entered their once-dull eyes.
"Uugh."
The large man closest to me slowly knelt.
"Uugh! Uoh!"
He shouted loudly. The others began to kneel one after another.
"Uugh!"
"Oooooh!"
It spread like a wave. The Primitive Humans throughout the cave knelt and bowed their heads.
'Wow.'
My heart pounded. These people had accepted me. As their ruler.
My hands trembled. I felt the weight of it. The responsibility.
My vision blurred. I blinked and held back my tears.
'I have to protect them.'
My resolve hardened.
DING—
[Tutorial in Progress]
Current Species Status: Danger
Special Tutorial Support (One Time Only):
※ After this, only resources found on the planet may be used
1. [Weapon Support] ― 100 sets of primitive spear-making materials
2. [Clothing Support] ― 100 sets of animal-hide clothing
3. [Food Support] ― 3 days of dried fruit and jerky
Choose.
'One time only?'
I read the message again. "After this, only resources found on the planet may be used."
Those were exactly the same conditions as Extinction difficulty.
'So this choice is the last outside support I'll get.'
What should I choose?
Every option was good.
But.
'Predators.'
I remembered the predators listed as a threat. My decision was made at that instant.
'We need weapons now.'
They had to survive before they could develop.
They needed a means to fight right now.
I reached out and pressed the first option.
[Weapon Support Selected]
Providing 100 sets of primitive spear-making materials.
※ Tutorial support only
Beginning supply transfer.
Flash.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Objects piled up before me. A pile of stone spearheads. A pile of wooden shafts. A pile of fiber bundles.
'This is the last of it.'
There would be no more support like this. From now on, we could use only what we found on the planet.
'Then I have to teach them properly with these materials.'
I had to teach them how to make and wield spears correctly on the first try.
"Uugh!"
"Kyaah!"
The Primitive Humans cried out in surprise. A few backed away, but most watched with curious eyes.
"Move aside."
I walked through them toward the pile of materials. The Primitive Humans cleared a path.
Swoosh.
I picked up a stone spearhead. It was cold. Sharp.
I also picked up a wooden shaft.
180 centimeters.
It was sturdy.
"Let's see."
Looking closely at the end of the wooden shaft, I saw a V-shaped split.
"They made this easy."
When I placed the stone spearhead against the split, SLIP! It went in at once without catching on anything.
It fit perfectly.
Press!
This time, I pushed the spearhead firmly into place and gave it a shake.
It felt as though it might come loose.
'I need to secure it.'
I used the fiber to wrap the joint where the wooden shaft met the spearhead.
Tight!
Then I pulled hard and cinched it firmly.
Finished.
"Hoo."
A spear rested in my hand.
I shook it.
The spearhead no longer wobbled.
"Uugh!"
"Oooooh!"
The Primitive Humans made sounds of wonder. Their eyes shone as they stared at the spear in my hand.
'How do I teach them now?'
Acquiring knowledge was easy, but teaching it to someone else was another matter.
Just as I was beginning to agonize over it.
Step!
The large man closest to me stood and walked toward the pile of materials.
'Huh?'
He picked up a stone spearhead. He also picked up a wooden shaft and some fiber.
"Uoh! Uu!"
Then he inserted the stone spearhead into the split in the wooden shaft.
'Wait.'
He unwound the fiber and began wrapping it around the shaft.
One turn. Two. Three.
It was exactly what I had done. Precisely the same.
He wound it 10 times and tied a knot.
Finished.
"What?"
I had not explained it. I had not instructed him. He had simply watched me do it once?
RUSH!
Then the other Primitive Humans began to move as well.
They rushed toward the pile of materials.
Before long.
"That's crazy."
Spears began piling up inside the cave.
"Their ability to learn is incredible."
Once. They had watched me make a spear only once. Without a single word, they copied me perfectly.
'Is this S-rank Adaptability?'
The ability to observe and learn. Skill Acquisition.
If I demonstrated something, they would copy it on their own.
Thump, thump.
Excitement surged through me. At this rate, we really could do it, couldn't we?
Something similar had happened in the game, but I had assumed it was merely a gameplay concession.
It was not.
Hunting techniques. Combat techniques. Civilizational technologies. I only had to show them once.
"This is amazing."
I laughed. I really had chosen well. Primitive Humans.
'We can do it. We really can.'
I looked around the cave. One hundred Primitive Humans were making spears, focused and diligent.
I gripped the spear in my hand. It felt cold and solid.
This spear would protect us.
At that moment.
"Grrrrrk."
A sound came from outside the cave. A low growl that drew steadily closer.
'What is that?'
The Primitive Humans stopped too. They stopped making spears and raised their heads.
I looked toward the cave entrance. Fear filled their eyes. The children clung to their mothers.
"Grrrrrk, gruuurgh."
The sound came closer.
DING!
[Warning! Primeval Bear Pack Approaching]
Distance Remaining: 200 m
Number of Individuals: 12
Estimated Arrival Time: 3 minutes
Threat Level: Extreme
A System message appeared.
But it was not welcome.
'Damn it, not even a wolf pack but primeval bears? And why do we get only 3 minutes?!'
"Fall back! Take the children and retreat deeper inside!"
"Gruoh?"
I immediately gave the primitive tribe an order, but there was no way they could understand my words.
'Fall back, go deeper, fall back.'
Only after I sent the thought did they begin to retreat hesitantly, but.
"GRUUUURGH!"
It was already too late.
As though announcing that our worst fears had become reality, an enormous roar erupted from the entrance.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The ground shook.
Heavy footsteps. Several sets.
Enormous shadows emerged from the darkness.
"Primeval bears."
Twelve shadows covered in brown fur.
"Grrrrr."
The cunning beasts began surrounding the cave entrance one by one.
"Kyaah!"
"Uugh! Uuuugh!"
Screams erupted behind me.
The Primitive Humans were terrified.
'We're screwed.'
All 100 of them had been seized by fear. Their eyes held nothing but despair.
At this rate, we would be wiped out.
They would crumble before they even fought.
'No.'
I clenched my hands.
This was when I had to step forward.
'I'm their ruler.'
That was right. I was their ruler. I was responsible for 100 lives.
If I gave up here, it was over.
I drew a deep breath.
"Hoooh."
Something boiled up from deep within my chest. Something hot.
"Grab your spears and come out!"
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
At the same time, I sent my consciousness outward.
'Stand. Fight. Follow me.'
"!"
The Primitive Humans' eyes changed. Their wavering gazes steadied.
"Uu ugh!"
The large man picked up the spear he had dropped. The others began to move one by one too.
"Everyone who can fight, follow me!"
I walked without looking back.
Toward the cave entrance.
Toward the bears.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps sounded behind me. The Primitive Humans were following.
'Thirty—no, 40?'
Every adult man and woman capable of fighting followed with a spear.
"GRUUUURGH!"
The bear in front growled and raised one forepaw.
A single rake from those enormous claws could tear a person apart.
I faced a beast like that from 10 meters away.
Swoosh.
I looked back.
The Primitive Humans watched me. Their eyes trembled, but behind that fear was their desperate struggle to survive.
'I have to show them.'
If I taught them how to fight and win, they would willingly do it.
"Watch closely."
I spoke in a low voice.
I raised the spear above my shoulder.
Right hand toward the rear.
Left hand at the midpoint.
I turned my body slightly.
Shifted my center of gravity backward.
"Grrrrr."
The nearest bear stepped forward. Drool dripped from its mouth.
'That one.'
I held my breath.
Focused.
Fortunately, I had thrown javelins before.
I might not have been Awakened, but how hard had I worked to become a Hunter?
How many times had I practiced during the post-Gate training programs meant to prepare people to hunt monsters?
...In the end, non-Awakened Hunters had been abolished on the grounds that only the Awakened could kill monsters.
But that did not erase what I had learned.
WHOOSH!
I swung my arm with all my strength.
SWISH!
The spear cut through the air.
THUNK!
"GRUURGH!"
The spear lodged in the bear's shoulder.
Deep.
Blood burst from the beast's flesh.
"GRUUUURGH!"
The beast screamed, but what else could it do?
This cave had never been large enough for several enormous primeval bears to enter at once.
They had probably planned for one to enter and slaughter us all while the others surrounded the entrance.
"That was too stupid of you!"
"!"
I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me.
The Primitive Humans' eyes were wide. Their mouths hung open, and their gazes sparkled.
'Yes. This is it.'
I demonstrated the motion I had just made with my hands.
Slowly raise the spear above the shoulder.
Turn the body.
Then throw.
"This is 'Javelin Throwing.'"
I even said the words, whether they understood me or not.
What mattered was the action.
I had to prove that they could kill those things.
"Uu ugh!"
The large man nodded. He raised his spear over his shoulder.
He turned his body exactly as I had.
WHOOM!
Then he threw the spear.
"GRUOH!"
It embedded itself in another bear's flank.
DING-DING!
At that moment.
[Primitive Humans have acquired the 'Javelin Throwing' technique]
Technique Grade: E
Proficiency: 1%
Effect: Attempts attacks using a spear.
Effect: Spear-related Awakened can now emerge.
A System message appeared.
It worked.
This was the beginning.
"UOOOOOH!"
"KUOOOH!"
"AOH!"
The Primitive Humans roared.
More spears flew toward the bears.
Humanity's counterattack began.