The deeper I walked into the zone, the weirder everything got.
The trees looked like they were whispering to each other. The sky had this weird purple tint. The grass still made suspicious rustling noises. And I… I was tired. Emotionally, physically, and also mentally because, you know, talking to a floating trashcan named Patch all day does things to a person.
"Are we there yet?" I groaned.
Patch didn't even look at me. "Nope."
I sighed and dragged my sword behind me. "You could've just lied."
Suddenly, the bushes in front of us shook.
My body froze. "Please let that be a bunny."
It wasn't a bunny.
A guy burst out from the bushes, tripped on a root, and face-planted right in front of me.
"…Hello?" I said, blinking.
The guy groaned and lifted his head. He looked about my age, maybe a little older. His hair was a mess, and he wore simple leather armor. There was a wooden spear lying next to him.
He pushed himself up and glared at me. "What are you staring at?"
"I'm trying to figure out if you're a monster or just clumsy."
"I'm not clumsy," he snapped. "I was being chased."
"By what? Bad decisions?"
Patch chuckled. The guy did not look amused.
"I'm Kairo," he said, standing and dusting off his clothes. "I'm another player. You're a player too right? Glad I found one. I've been stuck in this jungle alone."
"Nice to meet you, Kairo. I'm Ren. I've been here for, like, two hours and already got attacked by a mushroom, a vine monster, and my own stupidity."
Patch floated between us. "He's improving though. Only cries once an hour now."
I ignored him. "So you're a player too?"
Kairo nodded. "Yup. I played MLBB back home. I was a support main."
I stared at him in horror. "Oh no."
"What?"
"You're one of those people."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just… don't try to heal me during fights unless you have real magic. Support mains and their weird savior complex, I swear—"
Before he could punch me, the ground rumbled.
All three of us looked around.
Patch's eyes widened. "Uh-oh."
"That's never a good sign," I said, holding up my sword.
From the shadows of the trees, something big moved. Something tall. And heavy. And angry.
Then it stepped out.
It was like a tree had come to life—but with arms. And legs. And glowing yellow eyes. Its bark-covered body creaked as it walked, and its wooden fingers flexed like they were itching to crush something.
[New Monster Detected: Forest Golem]
Type: Mini-Boss
Danger Level: Very Unfair
Weak Spot: Chest Core
Special Skill: Tree Slam
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS TREES!?" I yelled.
The golem roared. And by roared, I mean it sounded like someone smashing a log against a metal trash can.
Kairo grabbed his spear. "I guess this is our mini-boss."
"Cool. Awesome. Love this. So fun."
The golem charged.
I barely jumped out of the way in time. The ground cracked where it slammed its fist.
Kairo stabbed its leg. The spear bounced off.
"Uh, that didn't work."
"No kidding!" I shouted, swinging at its side.
My sword made a small scratch, and the golem barely reacted.
Patch called out from above, "Aim for the glowing part on its chest!"
"Great idea!" I yelled back. "You try doing that while it's trying to squash you like a bug!"
I ran to the side, trying to circle behind it. Kairo did the same from the opposite direction. The golem turned its head, confused for a second. Then it roared and slammed its fists into the ground again.
The shockwave hit me like a truck.
I flew back and landed hard.
[HP: 54/100]
"Ow," I groaned, tasting dirt.
"Ren!" Kairo shouted. "Get up! I've got its attention!"
The golem was chasing him now. He was fast, darting between trees and bushes, while the golem stomped after him like an angry uncle looking for his missing TV remote.
I stood up, grabbed my sword, and sprinted toward the golem's back.
The glowing core on its chest pulsed. That was it. That was the target.
"HEY WOODFACE!" I screamed.
The golem turned.
I leapt forward, sword raised high, and slammed it straight into the core.
[CRITICAL HIT! Damage: 21]
The golem screeched.
Kairo jumped in and jabbed his spear right under my sword.
[CRITICAL HIT! Damage: 17]
The core cracked.
[Forest Golem HP: 0/100]
[Mini-Boss Defeated!]
The golem let out one last groan before falling to its knees and collapsing into a pile of glowing bark.
[EXP +40]
[Item Acquired: Bark Shard]
[Soul Shard: +8]
[You now have 10/10 Soul Shards]
I dropped to the ground, breathing hard. "Did… did we win?"
Kairo collapsed next to me. "Yeah. I think so."
Patch floated down with a proud grin. "Well done, boys! Not totally useless after all."
"Gee, thanks," I muttered.
We sat in silence for a few moments, just catching our breath.
Then a new notification popped up.
[Skill Unlock Available!]
As an Unbounded, you may now choose one of the following:
Shadow Step – Teleport a short distance instantly. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
Stone Skin – Reduce damage by 20% for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 15 seconds.
Quick Heal – Instantly recover 25 HP. Cooldown: 20 seconds.
I blinked. "Whoa. I actually get to choose?"
Patch nodded. "Yep. Your first Unbounded skill. Choose wisely."
Kairo looked over my shoulder. "Cool dude."
"I kinda like Quick Heal," I said, rubbing my bruises.
"What about Stone Skin?" Patch added. "That's what I'd pick."
I stared at the options. This wasn't just about fighting. It was about building me. My own style.
I smirked.
"Alright," I said. "Let's get serious."