Tutorial (15)–bear heart....

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  Fiona and Bernet both stood silently in the observation chamber, the glow of the large floating screen illuminating their tense faces.

  The atmosphere was heavy.

  Neither of them could look away from the unfolding scene on the display before them.

  What was happening on the screen was beyond anything they could’ve imagined.

  "Is he a monster?"

  Fiona muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

  But Bernet couldn’t respond.

  His mouth was slightly open, but no words came out.

  His eyes were locked—wide and unblinking—on the player moving inside the screen.

  A dark night cloaked the forest in eerie shadows.

  Multiple wolves, their eyes glowing menacingly, surrounded a single player.

  Normally, such a sight would guarantee a brutal end for the lone challenger.

  There was no scenario where the player could survive.

  It should’ve been a massacre.

  Yet, contrary to all expectations, the player wasn’t defending.

  He was attacking.

  No—he was hunting them.

  It was shocking.

  Each swing of his blade was precise, each movement calculated and savage.

  His expression was calm—almost too calm.

  Who was the real monster here?

  "By the way, did he really say he will fight Hati?"

  Fiona asked suddenly, turning her head slightly toward Bernet.

  "Yes, my lady. He said it was a matter of pride."

  Bernet replied, his voice low, almost uncertain.

  "What pride? He is just seeking death."

  Fiona muttered out, grinding her teeth in frustration.

  "I also think so. But… my lady, how did Hati become the hidden boss of Howling Grove?"

  Bernet asked, turning toward her with a curious expression.

  "Oh! You don't know? Let me tell you. You must know about the two children of Fenrir."

  Fiona asked, folding her arms as if preparing to tell a story passed down through legends.

  "Yes, Hati and Sk?ll, right?"

  Bernet replied quickly, eager to show he wasn't completely ignorant.

  "Correct. So, it all began when Fenrir—their father—was chained and betrayed by the gods of Asgard. Hati and Sk?ll, upon learning of this, decided to take revenge and free him."

  Fiona said, her voice solemn and distant, as if recalling ancient history.

  "So what did they do?"

  Bernet asked, now fully engrossed.

  "Well, their plan was to devour the Sun and Moon… to use them as hostages and force the gods to release their father."

  Fiona continued, her voice carrying the weight of the lore.

  "It was a good idea."

  Bernet said, nodding slowly, knowing the importance of the Sun and Moon in mythology and the balance of the world.

  "Yes, I know. Sk?ll decided to chase Sol, the sun goddess, while Hati went for Máni, the moon goddess."

  Fiona continued.

  She stepped closer to the screen, watching the player fend off yet another shadow wolf with swift, brutal precision.

  "After a long and grueling chase, Hati was just about to devour Máni... but then Odin intervened. He protected Máni and wounded Hati badly—so badly that Hati barely managed to escape. He fled and ended up in this forest, trying to recover."

  Fiona said, her voice growing colder.

  "But Odin found him, didn’t he?"

  Bernet asked.

  "Yes. And because this forest is on a lower floor of the Tower, Odin couldn’t use his full divine power. So instead of killing Hati, he trapped him here and placed a curse on him. A curse that sunlight would become his and his warriors’ greatest weakness."

  Fiona explained.

  "So this is what happened?"

  Bernet said, his eyes now wide in realization.

  "Yes. Odin himself had to seal him there. And now this foolish player thinks he can fight him."

  Fiona muttered out, almost scoffing, but the tension in her voice was unmistakable.

  "Umm... my lady, if—just if—he managed to defeat Hati, then?"

  Bernet asked cautiously, not daring to let hope seep into his voice, but unable to ignore the possibility.

  "It would never happen."

  Fiona said flatly, without hesitation.

  "Just if, my lady. Hypothetically."

  Bernet asked again, braving a step closer, as though needing her to say it aloud.

  "If it happened… then something beyond a monster would take birth in the Tower."

  Fiona said.

  A long silence followed, only filled by the distant howls of wolves from the screen and the crackle of ambient mana in the observation chamber.

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  "Haa..! Haa..!"

  My breathing was uneven, ragged, and harsh in the still morning air.

  Every breath felt like fire rushing through my lungs.

  [Your fatigue has reached 80!]

  A dull ache had settled deep into my muscles—no, not dull.

  Burning.

  Every movement sparked pain that radiated through my limbs.

  [Please take some rest!]

  The system messages flickered in front of my eyes, a soft blue glow against the dark forest around me.

  But I ignored them for now.

  "Hooo! Is it over?"

  I exhaled deeply and looked around, finally allowing myself to take in the aftermath.

  The battlefield was silent.

  Lifeless bodies of the Shadow Wolves lay scattered around me in grotesque poses, vanishing slowly into motes of black mist.

  Blood stained the ground, mixing with crushed leaves and broken twigs.

  The scent of iron and fur still lingered in the air.

  For the entire night, I had been hunting them—relentlessly, without pause.

  I had chased them down under the light of the moon, striking with precision and fury.

  Not a moment of hesitation. Not a flicker of mercy.

  It had been exhausting.

  But not bad.

  I slowly straightened my aching body and turned my gaze upward.

  Above the tall trees, the thick fog had finally lifted.

  The sun had risen.

  Golden light spilled through the forest canopy, painting the world in soft hues of orange and gold.

  The sky was clear now, a pale, tinged blue that stretched endlessly above.

  "Rookie Guide!"

  I called out, my voice hoarse but firm.

  A flash of blue light shimmered in the air, and Bernet appeared from thin space, adjusting his monocle and scanning the area.

  He froze mid-motion, stunned at the sheer number of corpses around me.

  "Y–you really killed a lot of them!"

  He stuttered out, his eyes wide in disbelief.

  "Take those bodies away!"

  I commanded, pointing at the fading corpses.

  "Okay!"

  Bernet said quickly, still somewhat shaken.

  At his gesture, the remaining wolf bodies dissolved into black and silver particles, vanishing into the air like dust in the wind.

  [You’ve gained enormous TP!]

  The message popped up in the corner of my vision. I gave it a quick glance, but my focus was elsewhere.

  "Anything else?"

  Bernet asked, regaining his composure.

  "No. You can go."

  I said.

  Bernet nodded respectfully and disappeared as swiftly as he had arrived, vanishing into thin air with a faint shimmer.

  "Let’s go."

  I whispered to myself.

  But before that, I needed rest.

  I staggered to a large tree nearby and slumped against its sturdy trunk.

  The bark was rough, but it offered the support I needed.

  I let myself slide down slowly, careful not to cramp up my burning legs.

  'Inventory!'

  The flickering blue interface opened at my command.

  My hand moved slowly, selecting a piece of smoked meat and a flask of spring water.

  I bit into the meat—tough, but rich in flavor—and let the warmth spread through my tired body.

  Each chew, though painful with exhaustion, brought a sliver of strength back to me.

  Though I no longer got hungry the same way I used to, eating remained the most efficient way to reduce fatigue.

  After finishing my meal and taking a few long gulps of water, I closed the menu.

  [Fatigue reduced to 30.]

  A noticeable improvement.

  My limbs felt lighter, the stabbing ache now dulled to a manageable throb.

  It was good.

  And then, I began again.

  I took out the bear heart.

  It was large, still pulsing faintly with residual energy, dark red with thick veins crisscrossing its surface.

  I had forgotten to sell it earlier—and maybe that was fate.

  It was lucky.

  'Let’s do this.'

  I stared at the raw heart for a moment longer, feeling a knot of uncertainty twist in my stomach.

  And then I began to eat the heart raw.

  Gulp!

  The thick flesh tore between my teeth, metallic and warm, its texture grainy and sinewy.

  Blood ran down my chin.

  Gulp!

  I took another bite.

  The taste was wild, primal—coated in a thickness that made me gag, but I forced it down.

  Nothing happened.

  Gulp!

  But at the third bite, my throat suddenly flared up with an intense heat.

  It was as if I had swallowed coal.

  I coughed slightly.

  Gulp!

  At the fourth bite, the heat crawled from my throat down into my stomach, where it began to churn and twist violently.

  Pain surged like fire dancing across my nerves.

  Gulp! Gulp!

  But I didn’t stop.

  I clenched my teeth, eyes narrowing, sweat beginning to trickle down my forehead.

  The pain began to blossom deeper now, spreading outward from my core like wildfire.

  Gulp! Gulp!

  Finally, I had completely eaten the heart.

  And then—

  [You’ve eaten Ironhide Bear heart!]

  The world around me seemed to spin as unbearable pain and searing heat exploded through my entire body.

  [Your body is reacting to it!]

  "Uggggh!!"

  A growl of pain escaped my lips, my muscles tensing violently.

  I gritted my teeth hard, trying to prevent myself from screaming.

  [Your body temperature has risen up a lot!]

  [Your body is experiencing immense pain!]

  My vision blurred as my skin flushed red.

  Veins bulged across my arms and neck.

  My body trembled under the pressure as if I was being boiled alive from the inside.

  The pain… it wasn’t just inside.

  It was everywhere—under my skin, in my bones, crawling through my blood.

  My heart felt like it might burst.

  [Please look for healer!]

  'Damn it!'

  I collapsed to my knees, gasping for breath.

  My hands clawed at the earth, nails digging into the soil.

  The heat was unbearable—like magma was coursing through my veins.

  [Your body is in grave stage!]

  [Your HP is decreasing!]

  [Your fatigue is rising!]

  "AARGHHH!!"

  I couldn’t hold back anymore.

  Screams tore out of me as I rolled over, my back arching.

  My skin felt like it was on fire, my blood boiling.

  It was as though every cell in my body was resisting, screaming, rejecting what I had consumed.

  I clutched my stomach—it felt like something was trying to claw its way out from within.

  But still… I held on.

  'Inventory.'

  "Uggg!!"

  I could barely focus as I pulled up the menu with shaking hands.

  My fingers felt stiff, heavy like stone.

  I took out a potion, uncorked it with my teeth, and forced it down.

  The cool liquid felt like a drop of water on a raging inferno—it barely helped.

  My vision dimmed again as the pain surged harder.

  "Gaaahh!!!"

  My body spasmed.

  So did my screams.

  I had no sense of time.

  But the torment dragged on.

  Half an hour passed—though it felt like eternity.

  Then slowly, slowly, the heat began to die down.

  The fire that had nearly consumed me dulled into a smolder.

  My breathing steadied, though my chest still heaved.

  "Hoo!"

  I released a long, shaky breath, steam practically leaving my mouth.

  My entire body was drenched in sweat, my clothes soaked and clinging to my skin.

  I felt like I had emerged from a furnace.

  [Your body has gone through tedious change!]

  [Congratulations! Your vitality has increased!]

  The glowing messages danced before my blurry eyes like a cruel joke.

  But—!

  "Tch! So it was failure."

  I clicked my tongue, wiping the blood and sweat from my lips.

  The messages should have been: “You’ve received Ironblood Regeneration.”

  But it wasn’t.

  "Damn it! So it was waste!"

  I cursed loudly, slamming my fist into the ground.

  The pain I had endured, the fire that nearly tore me apart—it was all for an increase in vitality.

  That was nothing compared to what I aimed for.

  Of course, my stats had grown.

  But that wasn’t the point.

  "No other choice. Let's hunt another bear."

  I said and pushed myself up on wobbly legs.

  But my body wasn’t in the condition to move much.

  [Your fatigue has reached 80!]

  I groaned, nearly collapsing again.

  My arms shook.

  My legs barely held me.

  It was one of the reasons I didn’t want to do such things.

  It would take hours to recover, even with potions and rest.

  And the success rate? Just 10%.

  It would’ve been better to hunt monsters and level up instead—more efficient, more reliable.

  ‘But what choice do I have?’

  I pondered, my breath still shallow.

  And so, I rested—back against a tree, closing my eyes as the pain still echoed faintly in my body, like the memory of fire.

  After my fatigue dropped to thirty again, I moved out—my target clear.

  The Ironhide Bears usually roamed near the riverside, where the water was deep, and the land was wild and thick with trees.

  So, I went there first.

  The morning fog clung to the ground as I crouched near the bushes, taking out slabs of raw meat from my inventory.

  The smell wafted into the air—rich, bloody, and irresistible to predators.

  Luring them wasn’t hard.

  I scattered the bait and backed off, hiding in the brush.

  Soon, heavy thuds echoed through the trees.

  Thud… Thud… Thud…

  Then—CRASH!

  Branches snapped, and the first Ironhide Bear emerged—massive, hulking, its iron-like fur glinting slightly under the filtered sunlight.

  Then came another.

  And another.

  Four in total.

  At the scent of meat, their low growls began.

  "Krrrrrrgh…"

  "Guuurrrhh…!"

  Their yellowed eyes locked onto the food and then onto each other.

  Without warning, chaos broke out.

  ROOOAAARRRR!!

  Two bears lunged at the same time, crashing into each other with bone-shaking force.

  Claws swiped, teeth gnashed, and earth tore beneath their massive paws.

  "Graaagh!!"

  "KRHHHHAAA!!"

  Blood sprayed as one bear’s shoulder was torn open.

  Another was slammed to the ground with a deafening thud.

  They fought savagely—like mindless beasts driven by hunger and dominance.

  Soon, two lay dead—ripped apart in a savage frenzy.

  The remaining two staggered, bleeding heavily, deep claw marks slashed across their chests.

  Perfect.

  I stood from my hiding spot.

  With a flick, I pulled my short sword into one hand and a dagger into the other.

  Their weight felt natural in my grip.

  I dashed forward.

  Their heads snapped toward me, but they were too slow, too weak.

  Slish! Slash!

  Steel tore into wounded flesh.

  The first bear collapsed with a groan, and the second barely managed to snarl before I drove my dagger into its throat.

  [You’ve slain a Ironhide Bear!]

  [You’ve slain a Ironhide Bear!]

  Blood sprayed.

  The ground turned red.

  Silence.

  I didn’t waste time.

  I quickly reached into their chests, pulling free their hearts—still warm, thick, and pulsing with dying energy.

  Their bodies I sold on the spot—particles of light rising into the air as they vanished.

  And then…

  I began to eat the two Ironhide Bear hearts together.

  The flesh was denser than before, the blood thicker.

  The heat from the meat alone seemed to scorch my tongue.

  Gulp!

  Gulp!

  I chewed and swallowed, pushing the raw organ meat down my throat, ignoring the instinct to vomit.

  Gulp! Gulp!

  Then it hit.

  AARGHHH!!

  I dropped to my knees.

  The pain was worse than before—a volcanic surge of heat and pressure that tore through my organs, bones creaking under the force.

  [Your body temperature has risen!]

  [Your body is in immense pain!]

  My skin flushed red.

  My veins lit up like molten wires.

  The blood inside me felt thick, boiling, trying to burst from every pore.

  I slammed my fist into the ground, gritting my teeth hard enough to crack them.

  My heart pounded violently—thud-thud-thud—as if it would rip out of my chest.

  I roared through the agony.

  GAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!

  My back arched, my mouth foaming slightly as every nerve in my body screamed.

  [Your HP is decreasing!]

  [Your fatigue is rising!]

  And then—finally—the storm began to fade.

  I lay there, panting, vision spinning.

  [Congratulations! Your vitality has increased!]

  [Congratulations! Your endurance has increased!]

  "Tch! Another failure!"

  I muttered between clenched teeth, fury bubbling beneath my skin.

  All that pain—again—for just minor stat boosts.

  Still not the regeneration I was after.

  I swallowed back the bitterness and stood again, my legs shaky but determined.

  I took out the hearts of the other two bears and repeated the process.

  And again, pain consumed me.

  The second wave was even more excruciating.

  My insides felt like lava.

  My muscles spasmed uncontrollably.

  My voice was hoarse from the screams that followed.

  And again, all I got were:

  [Congratulations! Your vitality has increased!]

  [Congratulations! Your endurance has increased!]

  "Let’s do this again!"

  I growled, refusing to stop now.

  I began to rest beneath a tree, breathing deeply, eyes half-closed.

  Sweat dripped from my chin.

  My clothes were soaked.

  I waited, watching my fatigue drop slowly.

  It lowered to 50.

  Just 20 more and I’d go again.

  But then—

  Thud.

  Thud.

  Heavy steps approached.

  Slow. Deliberate.

  I stood, immediately gripping my weapons.

  From the other side of the trees, a huge figure emerged.

  An Ironhide Bear.

  But this one was different.

  Its size was enormous—larger than the others.

  Its fur was a deeper red, almost crimson, like blood dyed into steel.

  Its eyes glowed faintly.

  Its muscles were thicker, and its breathing—louder.

  It must’ve been drawn by my screams… and the blood.

  "Whatever! Let’s do it!" I shouted, adrenaline surging.

  "KrrrrAAAAAAAAGH!!"

  The bear roared, shaking the trees.

  Its eyes locked onto me.

  And I lowered into my stance, ready for the challenge.