Chapter 32: A Feast Before the Hunt
Crackle. Crackle.
Golden-orange flames danced atop a makeshift bonfire, their crackling echoing softly through the otherwise quiet clearing. A savory aroma filled the air—rich, meaty, and tinged with a faint, electric undercurrent, as if the mana embedded within the flesh was seeping into the atmosphere itself.
Above the fire, skewered on a sturdy branch, a massive haunch of a Goregutt Bison sizzled. Fat dripped onto the flames, causing them to roar higher in brief bursts, releasing mouth-watering plumes of smoke that rose into the clear blue morning sky.
Surrounded by gently swaying fields of grass, Lei Feng sat leisurely on a fallen log. Sunlight filtered through sparse tree canopies, scattering light across his worn clothes and tousled hair. His sword—the Nameless Sword—rested against the log within arm's reach.
Munch. Munch. Munch.
He tore into the freshly roasted meat with gusto, savoring each bite with slow, deliberate chews.
Lei Feng let out a soft, satisfied hum, his blue eyes half-lidded in pleasure.
"I thought this would taste awful without seasoning," he murmured around a mouthful, smiling lazily, "but it's the opposite. Probably because of the mana in the flesh... I feel rejuvenated just eating it."
A visible glow of vitality returned to his cheeks. Every bite seemed to nourish not just his stomach, but his very bones and muscles, filling him with life on a deeper level.
He swallowed heavily, then raised a greasy hand, still holding a chunk of meat, and half-mumbled through his mouthful:
"Syysteemwhh!"
The System, ever attuned to his intentions, responded promptly.
Ding!
> ━━『 OmniClass God System Interface 』━━
> [Status Panel]
Name: Lei Feng
Level: Awakener Lv. 9 (Magic Initiate)
Talent Rank: ???
Mana Core: ??? (Special)
Class: None
Elemental Affinity: None
EXP: 35 / 300
HP: 180 / 180
MP: 130 / 130
> ━━『 Attributes 』━━
Strength: 34 (+1)
Agility: 18 (+1)
Endurance: 18 (+1)
Intelligence: 9 (+1)
Perception: 15 (+1)
Free Stat Points: 10
Lei Feng chuckled, a deep rumble from his chest.
"Hehehe... I'm surprisingly strong now," he said, licking grease off his thumb. "It's only been two days since I entered Whispering Hollow. Meanwhile, the System gave me seven days to complete the class unlock quest."
He leaned back slightly, a rare look of satisfaction crossing his face.
"Looks like I'll be finishing much earlier."
His mind drifted to the opponent —a Terrainian Bear he had faced the earlier—a beast clad in rocky armor, with hide as tough as iron.
"That Terrainian Bear was no joke," he muttered, his eyes darkening slightly at the memory. "Its earth abilities nearly caught me off guard. If I hadn't been stronger... I might've ended up as its lunch."
A savage grin curled his lips.
"Fortunately, it became my EXP."
A grimace flickered across his face.
"But damn... its armored hide made it impossible to eat. Like chewing on stone."
He reached for another chunk of the Goregutt Bison, biting into the juicy flesh that practically melted in his mouth.
"Fortunately, this guy," he said between bites, patting the charred carcass with affection, "put up just enough resistance to make the meal worthwhile."
The bison's meat was thick with mana, each mouthful pulsing warm energy into his veins and muscles, making him feel even more alive.
Lei Feng laughed again, shaking his head as if scolding himself.
"Don't get cocky now, Lei Feng. Don't get cocky."
He paused mid-chew, his mind drifting toward a figure etched into his memory—Zhan Xi'an.
"If I remember right... Zhan Xi'an is already above Level 30. A Magic Elite," he said softly, the weight of reality settling onto his shoulders.
"We're the same age."
A flicker of frustration crossed his eyes, but it quickly transformed into burning determination.
"I have to close the gap," he murmured. "Me reaching Level 10... that's only the beginning."
He stared into the fire, the flames reflecting in his blue eyes.
"In this world, even fifteen-year-olds have already broken through Level 10…"
For a moment, Lei Feng's expression softened—the face of Orion, the naive, mysterious boy he had saved, flashing across his mind.
The memory made him smile.
---
After eating his fill, Lei Feng rose to his feet, wiping the grease from his mouth with the back of his sleeve. His hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword—a motion born of habit and necessity.
He glanced toward the large, half-eaten carcass of the Goregutt Bison. Despite how much he had eaten, he hadn't even finished a third of it.
"I couldn't even finish one-third of the meat," he muttered with a small, wry smile.
He considered storing it, but shook his head.
"I'll find something else later... maybe some wild fruits."
His gaze turned toward the horizon. Beyond the clearing, endless rows of trees loomed, dense and wild. Lush grasses covered the terrain like an emerald ocean, hiding unseen dangers beneath.
His lips curled into a small, eager smile.
"I'm already deep in the core area of the Beginner Zone," he mused aloud. "Should be encountering goblins soon."
The thought made his pulse quicken.
He had read about goblins countless times in Earth's fantasy novels—mischievous, cruel little creatures, infamous for ambush tactics and bloodthirsty raids.
A glint of curiosity flashed across his eyes.
"I wonder how they look in this world?" he mused, sheathing his sword before venturing into the thick bushes ahead, each step firm and steady.
Behind him, the fire still burned low, and the aroma of roasting meat lingered in the air like a nostalgic farewell—a reminder of the feast he had earned through blood, sweat, and survival.
A new hunt awaited him.
And with it, a new chapter of his awakening would unfold.
---
Crunch. Crunch.
Lei Feng moved carefully through the whispering woods, each step sinking slightly into a thick bed of dry, brittle leaves. Twisted roots snaked across the ground like ancient veins, while vines dangled from towering trees, their bark rough and gnarled, some exuding a faint mist.
The air smelled of damp earth and moss, but there was something else—something missing.
His boots pressed down again—Crunch—and the sound echoed too clearly.
Too clearly.
Lei Feng paused, blue eyes narrowing.
"Strange..." he thought.
"No birds... no critters... not even the buzzing of insects."
The forest felt empty. Hollow.
A dead silence pressed against his ears, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Inventory."
A flick of his wrist, and a familiar ripple of light bloomed beside him. His phone materialized from thin air, floating lightly into his waiting palm.
Without hesitation, he tapped into the map interface. A faint, three-dimensional projection of Whispering Hollow hovered above his screen, shimmering like a ghost.
His gaze sharpened as he spotted the pulsing red zone ahead.
> ━━『 Zone: Depth of Core Beginner Zone 』━━
> [Goblin Territory]
Warning: Goblins from Level 10 to Level 16 dwell here.
Recommendation: A party of Level 16 Awakeners or higher, coordinated with magic classes.
Tier: 1.5 (Tier 1–Tier 2 Transitional Zone)
Beast Respawn Time: 12 Hours
Hierarchy:
• Goblin Scout (Lv 10–11) – Swift, agile, and perceptive.
• Goblin Archer (Lv 12) – Lethal marksmen from afar.
• Goblin Warrior (Lv 13) – Brutes of unrestrained ferocity.
• Goblin Shaman (Lv 14) – Dark mystics of unpredictable sorcery.
• Goblin Chief (Lv 16) – Ruthless tyrants leading their kin with brute strength and cunning intelligence.
Lei Feng let out a low whistle.
"Respawning beasts? Hierarchy? This is almost like a mini dungeon instance..."
A grin tugged at his lips, but there was no real humor in it.
"Not going to be easy."
He gave the map one last glance and, with a mental command, sent the phone flickering back into his inventory.
The weight of the silence returned, heavier than before.
Flexing his fingers around the hilt of his sword, he felt the pulse of power beneath his skin.
"Strength. I need more strength if I'm going to survive this."
Suddenly remembering something, Lei Feng muttered aloud:
"System, assign free points: Five to Strength, three to Agility, and two to Endurance."
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
> +5 Strength
+3 Agility
+2 Endurance
> ━━『 Updated Attributes 』━━
Strength: 40
Agility: 22
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 10
Perception: 16
Free Stat Points: 0
At once, a wave of heat flushed through his veins.
His muscles tightened—denser, more coiled with latent power—and his bones felt lighter yet sturdier. Every breath he took filled his lungs like a roaring bellows, and when he shifted his stance, the earth itself seemed to respond, grounding him firmer than before.
Lei Feng closed his eyes, savoring the transformation.
"Ahh~ I'll never get tired of this feeling..." he murmured, thick with satisfaction.
But the serenity shattered.
The air shifted.
It grew heavier, thicker—as if an unseen predator had fixed its gaze on him. The hairs on his arms rose. Instincts, sharpened by his heightened Perception, screamed a warning.
His hand flashed to his sword just as—
Whoosh!
A shrill, deadly hiss tore through the air.
An arrow, almost invisible to the eye, ripped toward him with brutal speed.
Without thinking, Lei Feng pivoted.
His left hand snapped up with blinding speed, two fingers pinching together—
Clang!
The arrowhead quivered between his fingers, its wicked tip inches from his forehead.
His gaze snapped up, icy blue and merciless.
Across the misty undergrowth, shadows moved—small, twisted figures, crouched and feral, their yellow eyes glinting with primal hunger.
Lei Feng let the arrow fall from his fingers.
His voice, low and cold, cut through the thick air.
"Goblin Archers..."