As soon as I stepped out of the biosphere, a sense of lightness washed over me, as if I could finally shake off the adrenaline that had accompanied every second of the battle. The golden light of Hexamia’s sun bathed me, making me squint. It was a stark contrast to the tense, enclosed atmosphere inside the biosphere. I glanced around, trying to adjust once again to the calm of the outside world. But deep down, I knew the peace wouldn’t last long.

“Not bad, huh?” I said to Roy as I walked, rolling my neck to loosen my muscles.

Roy's voice echoed in my head, carrying that familiar tone I had come to recognize as his trademark. "Not bad? If by ‘not bad’ you mean taking a lot of unnecessary damage and burning through our healing resources, then yeah, great job."

I was about to fire back when I noticed a figure approaching. It was Guenda. Her movements were precise, almost too perfect, as always. She stopped a few meters away from me, her eyes scanning me with that neutral expression, though it seemed to hide a trace of approval.

"Congratulations, Ekla," she said, with the professional tone of someone who had seen thousands of players overcome the same type of challenge.

"Thanks, it was... interesting." I responded, trying to mask the fatigue and tension. "So, what happens now?"

Guenda studied me for a moment, as if assessing my abilities before answering. “Now that you’ve proven you can capture your first MonMonster, there’s another challenge you must face.”

“And something tells me someone got stuck at this exact point,” I said, casting a glance skyward. Roy chuckled in my head, knowing full well I was referring to him.

Guenda remained unfazed. “Now that you're a MonMaster, you have a responsibility to this world. Here in Hexamia, MonMasters are not only MonMonster hunters but also defenders of the population. To prove you are worthy of the title, you must complete a mission from the outpost.”

“Outpost? Missions?” I asked, trying to figure out exactly where this was going.

Guenda turned, pointing to a building a few hundred meters away. It was a sturdy structure, made of wood fused with some kind of strange metallic alloy, a sort of headquarters that dominated the surrounding area. “That building is the town hall of Karkiff outpost. It serves as the operational base for MonMasters who ensure the safety and well-being of the population in these areas. Outside that building, you’ll find a board with various missions. By choosing one, you will prove that you're not only capable of fighting but also protecting the people of Hexamia.”

I looked at the building in the distance, a slight smirk of confusion on my face. “Wait a minute... am I supposed to do volunteer work now? What happened to the usual gameplay of fights and leveling up?” I said to Roy as I kept walking.

Roy, still amused, responded in my head, “Believe me, it’s not volunteer work. I couldn’t even get past the first part of my missions.”

"Well, then this is where the real game begins," I replied through gritted teeth.

Guenda, of course, was oblivious to my mental conversation with Roy and continued. “The world of Hexamia is vast and complex, and the local population relies on MonMasters to live in safety. Now it's your turn to take on that responsibility.”

"Alright, Guenda. Got it. Let's get to the action!" I urged her.

Guenda's eyes sparkled slightly, as if her programming had anticipated my eagerness. "There are missions of various difficulty levels. Are you going to take the easiest or the hardest? Think about it as we walk."

I sighed and looked up at the sky, asking Roy, "What do you think?"

“I think we should take it easy. Pick a simple mission, do what they ask, and complete our main objective. That way, we’re out before midnight.” Roy's voice was pragmatic, as usual.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to just play it safe,” I shot back.

Without even realizing it, we had arrived in front of the mission board. A holographic display activated automatically, projecting three floating interfaces before me. Each mission was accompanied by a number of stars indicating the difficulty level: one star for the easiest, two for intermediate, and three for the most challenging.

I examined the descriptions.

One-star mission: Collect medicinal herbs. The local herbalist is running low on supplies and has requested help gathering plants from a nearby area. The mission requires gathering at least three different types of herbs.

Two-star mission: Defend the caravan. Some raiders have been threatening a caravan passing near the outpost. Your task is to patrol the area and repel any attacks.

Finally, the three-star mission caught my attention.

Three-star mission: The missing shepherd. A local shepherd’s daughter has requested help after her father didn’t return from the fields. The area is infested with WoWolf, dangerous creatures that hunt in packs.

I paused, intrigued. “Interesting, the third one involves other MonMonsters.”

“Interesting? You mean dangerous?” Roy interrupted, his tone clearly alarmed. “You saw how many stars that mission has? We haven’t even finished the tutorial! We can’t just throw ourselves into danger.” His voice jumped with anxiety. “I’m telling you, I always failed the one-star missions.”

“Exactly,” I said, as my eyes gleamed with excitement. “That’s why we should avoid the one-star mission. You failed it multiple times. The third one is exactly what we need.”

“Ekla, listen to me,” Roy said, now more serious. “We don’t have the experience to take on a three-star mission. We don’t even have time to properly prepare!”

“Roy, if you’ve tried the one-star mission six times and failed every time, it’s a clear sign. Only a fool keeps doing the same thing and expects different results, right?”

“Playing it safe is what will keep us alive, Ekla. I remind you—”

I cut him off and selected the three-star mission.

There was a moment of silence. “I’ll make sure you write the best report of your life. I promise,” I said, staring at the mission board. Roy didn’t reply.

Guenda observed me with a barely perceptible smile, but her eyes gleamed with approval. “You’ve chosen the most difficult mission,” she said, with a calm tone that somehow conveyed admiration. I swelled with pride, despite still feeling the fatigue from the battle in the biosphere. The Omnigron on my wrist flashed an orange warning light, reflecting my and my BuBull’s low average HP in the Quantum Pack.

Without a word, Guenda pulled out a small, ethereal green battery. “This is an osmosis battery,” she explained as she connected it to my Omnigron. Immediately, a green light began radiating from the device, and within seconds, the Omnigron was fully charged. The battery dissolved into a shimmering dust, leaving us in a brief silence.

“Use it,” Guenda said gently. I turned my wrist and activated the Omnigron. A surge of energy coursed through me, and within minutes, I felt my strength return. Roy let out a relieved sigh. He wasn’t thrilled about tackling a mission with a nearly KO’d monster.

Guenda handed me a second identical battery. "Keep this for the journey, in case of emergency," she said, placing it in my hand delicately. "It might come in handy."

I nodded, grateful for her help. Before I could ask her anything else, Guenda continued, “To find the shepherd’s house, follow the path north. Cross the forest, but be careful: that area is infested with WoWolf. It won’t be easy, but I know you can do it.”

With one final encouraging smile, I turned and headed toward the indicated location, hoping I hadn’t bitten off more than I could chew. Roy’s silence was a clear sign of disapproval.

I walked along the dusty path that wound through the trees. The sunlight, which had filtered gently through the leaves earlier, seemed suddenly less bright. It wasn’t sunset, not yet, but the atmosphere was changing. A light mist began to creep between the tree trunks, wrapping the landscape in an almost surreal aura. The sound of cicadas, which I had taken for granted until moments ago, faded. In its place, an unnatural silence began to stretch like a blanket. Even the rustle of leaves under my feet seemed muted, as if someone had turned down the volume on the whole world.

I paused for a moment, letting the feeling of unease settle. A slight shiver ran down my spine. Was it just my imagination, or was the forest really getting darker?

"Roy..." I started cautiously, trying not to sound paranoid. "Something feels off here. Don’t you think everything's gotten a bit... heavier?"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Roy, who had been unusually silent, made a thoughtful sound before answering. "Yeah, I’ve noticed too. The brightness level has dropped, but it shouldn’t be sunset yet. Maybe we’ve entered an area with special environmental effects."

I grimaced. "Environmental effects? Like the ones that give you goosebumps?"

"Exactly," he replied bluntly.

"But as long as we don’t see anything hostile, there’s no reason to worry, right?" I asked, hoping for some reassurance.

“Keep your eyes open, Ekla!” he snapped back.

That didn’t exactly calm my nerves.

I kept walking, passing a large boulder shaped like a tombstone, with three stars carved into it. It was clear that whoever designed this level wanted to send an unmistakable message to players who had chosen this mission.

At that moment, a long howl pierced the silence. My eyes widened. Two more howls followed, coming from different directions. The sounds echoed through the trees, amplifying, as if the forest itself had come to life.

"Okay, now there’s a reason to worry," I muttered, quickening my pace and glancing around. The shadows seemed to shift, almost as if they had a will of their own.

"They’re WoWolf," Roy murmured in my head, his tone more serious than usual. “They’re not close yet, but keep an eye out. My notes highlight that these monsters hunt in packs, and they aren’t easy to deal with.”

I pushed forward, trying not to let panic set in. I could’ve picked the herbalist mission, but no, I had to be the showoff, I nervously reminded myself. The path ahead opened into a small clearing, and that’s when I saw them: large goats with thick white fur and imposing horns, grazing peacefully in the tall grass. Their muscles were well-defined, their legs powerful and sturdy. They seemed like peaceful creatures, almost domesticated, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they could turn into war machines if provoked.

“Hey, Roy,” I whispered, studying one of the goats that had wandered away from the group. “Do you think these could be useful MonMonsters? Maybe I could catch one and add it to the team. We might need some brute strength.”

Roy, in my head, paused thoughtfully. “I don’t see their HP bar. Hang on, I’ll check the list.”

The sensation of waiting stretched on for a few seconds, and I felt as though Roy had momentarily left my mind. Meanwhile, I continued watching the goats as they moved slowly through the meadow. Their horns shimmered in the weak sunlight that still managed to filter through the growing mist.

“No,” Roy finally said, sounding a little disappointed. “These aren’t capturable. They’re livestock creatures. The game’s AI uses them for transporting goods and wool production. Basically, they’re here to fill out the environment.”

I sighed, frustrated. “So no free brute force?”

“Nope. Just pack animals. You can use them to carry heavy stuff if you need, but they won’t be joining your squad.”

"Great," I replied sarcastically. "At best, we’ll use them as bait for the WoWolf."

I moved on past the herd, still on guard. Even though I knew they wouldn’t attack, their size alone was intimidating. A couple of them lifted their heads as I walked by, their eyes following me with that placid curiosity typical of domesticated animals. One of them let out a deep grunt, as if to warn me to keep my distance, but otherwise, they remained still.

Finally, the shepherd’s house came into view in the distance, a small wooden structure wrapped in thick, healthy ivy that seemed to blend into the surrounding environment. The roof was covered in moss, and vines crawled up the walls as if nature had decided to reclaim the structure. I sighed in relief. At least here, there didn’t seem to be anything threatening. I approached the door and knocked gently, trying not to appear too nervous.

“Come in,” a voice answered from inside. I stepped in.

Inside the house, the air was still, almost heavy. The scent of old wood and dried herbs filled the space. In the center of the room, a young woman was pacing nervously around the table, glancing occasionally toward the window. The interface above her head displayed the name 'Agatha'—she was undoubtedly the shepherd’s daughter. She had dark hair and a slight frame, but her face was tense, her eyes clouded with worry.

"Are you the MonMaster they sent?" she asked without preamble, stopping her pacing to give me an anxious look.

I nodded, trying to appear more confident than I actually felt. "Yes, I'm Ekla. I was told your father is missing."

Agatha nodded quickly, letting her hands fall to her sides. "Yes, he went out last night to take the rams to graze behind the hill. He usually returns after a few hours, but he hasn't come back. I didn't have the courage to go look for him on my own, with all those..." She gestured vaguely toward the outside. "Those noises I heard during the night."

An image of sharp, hungry fangs immediately popped into my mind. I tried to keep my tone light.

"Maybe he just went out to buy some pipe tobacco, huh?" I said with a half-smile.

Agatha didn't catch the joke, but Roy chuckled in my head. "Come on, don't ruin the tension, buddy," he added, then with a more serious tone, "Let's do this mission properly. You picked the three-star one, right? So act like a three-star MonMaster!"

He was right. I turned to the young woman. "Well," I continued, becoming more serious. "Don't worry, Agatha. I'll go look for him. Tell me exactly where he might be."

Agatha sighed, visibly relieved by my readiness. "He was taking the rams up the hill behind the house. He usually moves north, along the slope. That's where you should start searching."

I nodded. "Alright, I'll take care of it."

At that moment, a new holographic interface lit up in front of me, projecting a message into the air: Mission accepted: "The Missing Shepherd - Difficulty: 3 stars."

"We're officially in the game now," Roy commented, his voice filled with concern. "This won't be easy."

"When is it ever?" I replied, stretching and adjusting the Quantum Pack on my shoulders. I gave Agatha a nod as I headed back outside.

The daylight seemed to grow dimmer, and the path leading to the hill was covered with a layer of dry leaves that crunched under my boots. There was no time to waste; midnight was approaching, and the sun wouldn't last forever.

With quick steps, I climbed those hills, following the direction Agatha had given. The forest opened up in front of me like a maze of winding trails, but thankfully, my trusty blue arrow appeared at my feet, projected from the Omnigron. The path twisted north, but at every fork or suspicious deviation, that little light guided me without hesitation, saving precious time. I couldn’t afford to get lost, not now.

“Well, at least there’s the arrow. Imagine if we had to do this like in the old games, without any indicators, just a paper map,” I said to Roy, trying to break the tension.

“Don’t even remind me!” Roy replied in my head, with a hint of relief in his voice. “With that arrow guiding you, I’d say we’ve got a better chance of not ending up as WoWolf food.”

After several minutes of walking, I heard a light rustling among the branches. It didn’t seem threatening, but my instincts made me pause for a moment. The wind carried the fresh scent of earth and moss, but there was something strange in the air. A latent tension, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something. Without thinking too much, I decided it was better to be prepared.

"Maybe I should bring out BuBull," I suggested to Roy, tapping my Quantum Pack. "Sorry, I meant UngratefulRoy," I added with a grin to lighten the mood.

"Good idea," Roy responded, his tone a bit more relaxed. "It’s always nice to have a big guy watching your back."

With a quick flick of my wrist, I activated the Omnigron, and within seconds, a blue light materialized in front of me, solidifying into the imposing figure of BuBull. The MonMonster, as massive as ever, shook itself once freed from the Quantum Pack, staring at me with its fierce eyes and menacing horns. I instantly felt more at ease. With BuBull by my side, nothing seemed like an insurmountable threat.

"Now I feel safe," I commented, glancing at the giant creature a few steps away. "With you here, not even a pack of WoWolf would worry me. Well, maybe a whole pack would, but a few lone wolves... poof."

Roy laughed in my head. "Only you can be this cocky while literally walking into a den of wolves."

With BuBull walking beside me, I continued along the path, still guided by the blue arrow. The sounds of the forest slowly returned, although there was still something unnatural about the atmosphere, as if we hadn’t fully shaken off the oppressive feeling that had followed us up to this point.

After several minutes, I finally arrived at a small clearing—the spot Agatha had described. The ground was clearer here, and the short grass contrasted with the towering trees standing guard around us like sentinels.

My gaze immediately fell on a group of rams, some wandering aimlessly, as if lost. Others grazed calmly, while a few seemed agitated, nervous. I approached slowly, scanning the area carefully. Something was off. The rams shouldn’t have been alone, and the shepherd’s absence made the situation even more suspicious.

"Roy, something feels wrong here," I said, lowering my eyes to the ground. My attention was quickly drawn to a series of marks in the grass. Something had happened, and it had happened recently.

"I see it too," Roy responded, his tone growing more serious. "Looks like signs of a struggle. Look there, there’s some torn fabric."

I crouched down to inspect it more closely. A piece of cloth lay on the ground, torn and dusty. Next to it, a deep groove stretched toward the edge of the clearing, as if something—or someone—had been dragged into the forest.

"This isn’t a good sign," I muttered, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.

I knelt beside the groove, touching the soil. The ground had been disturbed recently, fresh. Whatever had happened, it hadn’t been too long ago. Roy, in my head, was unusually silent, likely also trying to figure out what could have caused this.

As I continued to examine the tracks, the previously calm rams started moving nervously. Their heads shot up suddenly, ears twitching. Their wide eyes were fixed on something in the forest.

"Roy, what’s happening?" I asked, standing up quickly.

The rams began to scatter, fleeing in every direction as if seized by panic. One of them brushed past me as it bolted, its heavy body nearly throwing me off balance. Something had spooked them, and it was no coincidence.

"Ekla, stay sharp," Roy warned, and before I could ask for more details, I heard it.

A low growl coming from the dense forest, followed by rapid movement between the trees. I spun around and saw it: a WoWolf, large and menacing, advancing toward us. Its dark fur blended with the shadows of the forest, but its eyes glowed with an unnatural green light. Its bared fangs gleamed under the faint light still filtering through the trees.

"Great," I whispered, taking a step back. "Looks like we’ve found today’s challenge."

The beast advanced slowly, but with determination, its muscles coiled, ready to strike at any moment. Every step it took was accompanied by a deep, threatening growl. BuBull immediately moved in front of me, its horns pointed toward the creature, ready to defend me.

"This is one of the big ones," Roy noted, his tone filled with concern. "This isn’t an enemy to underestimate."

The WoWolf paused for a moment, scrutinizing us with its hungry eyes. Everything felt so real. My heart pounded harder, and the tension in the air was almost tangible. I could even sense BuBull’s unease.

I took a deep breath. It was time to end this tutorial in the best way possible.