"Mr Durand, what brings you to our house?" An old man looked shocked when he opened the door. After being discharged from hospital, this was the first place I wanted to go. I hadn't even had time to go home."Where is your son?" I asked, the very reason I had come. I am sure Horace knows where Ian is. He is the kind of parent who would defend his child no matter what. So even if this Ian were to commit a crime, he would turn a blind eye and protect him.The old man's eyes widened, as if shocked at what I had just said. "I don't know where Ian is. He has never come home since the police started looking for him. My wife is even going mad missing him."I chuckled. "I know you are lying, Mr Willis. Tell me where your son is or I will tear your family apart even more," I threatened the man who had insulted me. I remember him and his son arrogantly insulting me. They acted as if I was rubbish and did not deserve to live.When he heard my threat, his face immediately turned pale. He even pro
"Is he human too, Newt?"[I feel no energy, Master]"Is he one of the creatures?"[I don't feel any energy, human or creature]"What do you mean?" I frowned at Newt's answer. "Is he neither?"[I can't answer that because I can't feel any energy.]A long sigh escaped my lips. There are many mysteries about Smoky Hollow that have yet to be answered. I was sure that the creator of the system had a reason for not giving Newt full access to it."I must be more careful now."I raised my right hand, holding the gun, and supported my wrist with my left. I poured some energy into my eyes so that I could see objects from a greater distance.I glanced right, left and around to make sure there was no danger around me."Level 5 zombies!" I shouted as I saw the object about 50 metres in front of me. I ran towards the zombie and when we were close enough, I shot it.[LEVEL 5 ZOMBIE +10,000 COINS]I hurried to find another creature to level up. As I was walking, I felt something moving quickly from t
"That's what I'm looking for, Newt."I blinked a few times as I saw the tree trunk in front of me. "It's over 3 metres." Looking up, I was even more amazed to see that the tree was so tall that I could not even see the top of it."I'm sure it must be very tall." I took my bag and hoe from my inventory. I dug into the ground around the tree to get some of the roots."Huff!" I straightened my back and wiped my sweaty brow. I looked down and felt that what I had done was fruitless. I had dug about 3 metres and still had not found the roots of the tree.Looking at the size and height of the tree, I was sure that the roots were deep underground. But I had to keep at it.After a short break to eat and drink, I resumed what I had started. I'm used to manual labour, so this isn't a big deal. Besides, with the strength I now have, my speed has increased fivefold.Finally, what I had done paid off. After digging fifteen metres, the roots of the tree came into view. I paused for a moment before
Olivia was greeting me as I got out of the taxi. I frowned because I felt like I hadn't told anyone I was coming home from the hospital. I had just called Roberto and asked him to pick me up. I had a lot to talk to him about."What are you here for?" I asked, feeling strange in Olivia's presence. I walked past her and into my house."I called you, but your number was disconnected. I went to the hospital because I had something important to tell you, but the nurse said you had gone home to be picked up by your partner. I finally got to your house, but you weren't there yet. You don't know how worried I was, afraid someone would do something bad to you. They said you were picked up by your friend, but I didn't believe it at all, considering there were several times when someone tried to kill you. But you ask me why I'm here? You really are outrageous!"Olivia spoke without pause and with great emotion. I was forced to stop walking and listen to everything she said. We remained silent fo
"What is it, Mr. Durand? Is something bothering you?" Mr. Lanston asked me as it was obvious that I was confused.I shook my head and replied. "No, sir. Nothing." I then reached for the drink on the table that had just been served. This was really confusing.It was time for dinner, and we went into the dining room. The meal was served on the table. But I felt it was too much. There were only three of us, but the big table was full of dishes. I just shook my head, not used to the habits of rich people. Isn't it a waste of food?We ate quietly, although Mr. Lanston occasionally engaged me in conversation. I might even say that the man could break the ice. We were made to feel truly appreciated as guests.After dinner, Mr. Lanston took us on a tour of his house. He also took us to a room where there was a lot of art. I am sure Mr. Lanston is a connoisseur of art.Mr. Lanston invited us to look around the room. But when we came to a painting, Olivia looked at it for a long time. It was Ho
I breathed heavily as I lay down on the bed. The conversation with my ex-in-laws had indeed been very exhausting. Why did they come and claim me as their son-in-law when they had never even looked at me before?Both the daughter and the parents have no shame. All they think about is money. They only approach people who are useful to them, and when that person is no longer useful, they just throw him away.All the abuses of my in-laws are vividly recorded in my memory. As long as I was their son-in-law, they never once considered me a child.I even remember when Winslow introduced me as their driver at the beginning of my marriage to Sofia. Magdalena was no different from her husband. She even ordered me around like a maid when Sofia and I visited her house.Not to mention her nasty voice telling me I was a poor, useless man. If Sofia had not married me, they would have had a rich son-in-law.Sofia, who I first thought was different, turned out to be the same. It is true that blood is
After that night, the discovery of unnaturally dead human bodies resumed. Their deaths followed the same pattern. The police suspected they had been attacked by bears. People were afraid to go out at night. The streets became quieter than usual, although some people ignored what was going on."Another body was found. This time ....""A male body has been found in a rubbish dump."Every time I changed the TV channel, it was all about this. This was the third time a body like this had been found in Midtown, with the body torn to pieces and the brain removed.I kept up with the developments because I was curious about who had killed these people. Somehow, I wasn't sure if the culprit was a bear, as had been reported."I didn't know you were so interested in such things, sir." Olivia held up some photos showing the victims that had been found in the last few days.Every time she returned from work, Olivia always came home to report on everything that was happening in the company. And this
The equipment I needed had arrived. I turned one of the rooms in this house into a place to make potions. Although at the moment I could only make neutralising potions,. I began to measure the ingredients.This potion is only made from the roots of the amerta tree boiled with water at the right temperature and boiling time.It has been half a day since I was in this room, but I have yet to get any results."The liquid will be clear purple in colour if the manufacturing process is successful." I remembered and recited the sentence at the bottom of the potion recipe I was making. The book had disappeared, but I still remembered what was in it.This was the third attempt, and I had yet to find the desired result. "Argh...! It is a very dark colour, almost black. I thought it would be easy because I remembered all the steps of making the potion, but in fact, it is not as easy as it is written.[There is no one who succeeds on one try, Master. Even if he does, luck is on his side.]What Ne
After that day, I couldn't see Olivia anymore and Tarron could truly dominate all the territories. Me and some other Hunters hid while making plans. The whole world was already in Tarron's hands. He turned other humans into slaves and also as experimental objects.We always moved around because the Black Hunter was still after us. For several months, I was devastated after Olivia's departure. What about our child in her womb? Did Olivia still keep it or had she already taken its life?I rubbed my face in frustration as memories of our last meeting flashed through my mind. Despite her continuous attacks on me, my inner self always told me that she did it for a reason."When will you return to being the old Leon?" I turned and found Eren standing not far from me. His hands were folded in front of him, and he looked at me with disappointment. "We need our leader, Leon. Stop thinking about Olivia. She has left you!"I could see the despair in his face. It had been more than 3 months since
I've been in this state for a long time. Just silent, staring blankly ahead. I woke up a while ago, shirtless, with a potion placed on the spot where I was stabbed. When I sat up and the potion fell, the wound on my chest was gone.“Leon! Thank goodness!” I turned towards the door. Eren and Jovian entered, immediately showing relieved expressions. “Your wound is healed?” Eren’s brow furrowed. “It seems your hunter abilities have returned.”I just remained silent and didn't respond to Eren's words. I was still in shock, knowing the truth that Olivia tried to kill me. I couldn't even find a reason why she would do this to me.Eren came closer, a look of awkwardness on his face. “We've been looking for Olivia, but we haven't found her.” He looked very regretful, as if he had made a big mistake. I didn't answer immediately and just stared at him with feelings that were hard to interpret.I had no intention of doing anything. I even lost my will to live now. The person I loved and trusted
I entered the building where you've been living all this time. I was so worried about Olivia and our child in her belly. But the place was so quiet when I entered.“Olivia! Eren! Jovian!” I searched for them all over the room, even in hidden places, but I couldn't find them.I stood still and tried to concentrate to feel their energy. But I couldn't sense it. I tried to use my telepathic skills. But after a while, no one answered my call.I looked around with a sense of unease. What had happened here while I was gone? I started looking for clues and traces left behind.This place was in disarray, as if a battle had just taken place. From some footprints below, I saw many shoe prints on the floor. I was sure that not just one or two people had come in, but a whole force. My brow furrowed when I saw the bloodstains on the floor. My heart raced when I saw the blood. There were many speculations in my head about whose blood it was.I crouched to examine the blood. It was still sticky and
"Newt! Use the Happy Spirit Pendant!" At the last moment, I want to try using the pendant I got from Bbird earlier. I was desperate, and it seemed like I was hoping for some luck at this moment.[USING HAPPY SPIRIT PENDANT][CONTINUE?][YES] [NO]Without hesitation, I pressed the 'yes' button. I waited for a moment, but nothing happened. Suddenly, I felt my nose itching, as if I was about to..."Achoo...!" After sneezing, I felt my body slowly shrinking back."What's happening?" I was confused because the effect of the dark elixir suddenly disappeared, and I returned to my original size. "Could it be that the Happy Spirit Pendant doesn't work?""Darn it!" This is not a luck potion but a misfortune potion. With this tiny size, how could I possibly defeat the zombie king? "No!" I shook my head. "I have to stay happy even if I die at the hands of the zombie king."Initially, I felt annoyed, but afterwards, I felt happy as if there was a great reward waiting for me ahead. My heart felt li
I gasped, staring at the horde of zombies before me. Every time I wiped out one group, another would appear from the other side. I couldn't tell how long I'd been in this room—just constantly hunting, endlessly, it seemed."Only one weapon left to unlock." I glanced at the transparent screen in front of me, focusing on the amount of coins I had. Over 12 million coins, and I'd already maxed out all the weapons I had. "Special Item." I read on the corner, the words stretching and catching my attention.I flinched as a few zombies suddenly floated around me. I quickly shut down the holographic screen in front of me and swung my sword at them. But they dodged quickly.I traded my sword for an arrow. I aimed five arrows simultaneously at them. The arrows sped forward, hitting three of them. I repeated the process again and again.[SHADOW CLOAK UNLOCKED][Can absorb energy from low-level creatures. Can only be used by hunters with magic skills][PRICE 12,000,000 COINS]My jaw dropped at the
I flinched as my body seemed to be sucked in by something. The scenery before me changed again. I turned my head and found Eliot beside me. I had returned from diving into Eliot's memories. I regulated my laboured breathing, as if from a long journey."That was the end of my life." Eliot broke the silence that had lasted for a while."But how could you die? Shouldn't a hunter's body have the ability to heal itself? And I thought your death seemed very easy."Eliot cleared his throat lightly. "The sword Tarron used to stab me in the heart wasn't just any ordinary sword.""Wasn't that your sword?" I saw clearly when Tarron took Eliot's sword and stabbed him in the chest.Eliot nodded. "It's the Soul Reaper. The sword I got after defeating the zombie king.""Zombie king?" This was the first time I'd heard about a zombie king. I often hunted zombies, but I'd never heard of him."If your hunt is perfect, you can face him. But the reward for that isn't the same. If you defeat him, you might
"Eliot." I walked towards the river, where a man with long white hair stood in the middle. His feet floated above the water as if his weight was no issue.I was a little startled to be here suddenly. This was one of the places in Smoky Hollow that I often visited. As I recall, I was resting under a large tree. How could I be here all of a sudden?I hesitated as my feet were about to step into the water. However, the hesitation disappeared when I felt something holding my feet from below. With confident strides, I walked closer to Eliot. I stopped when I was right behind him."Come forward! I've been waiting for you." I was surprised because it seemed my presence was expected by him. I stepped forward to be level with him. As I turned, I could see his handsome face with skin as white as snow. Thinking back, this was the first time I could see Eliot's face up close. I wasn't sure if this was a dream or reality, but I could feel a very strong energy."I've been waiting for this moment t
POV 3"Have you found Leon?" Tarron sat arrogantly in a chair, his back against the backrest, one leg crossed over the other, and his interlocked hands resting on his chest."Not yet, sir." Tarron's sharp gaze pierced Ian, who dared not lift his head. He had deliberately spared Ian's life back then, knowing they were both enemies. He wanted to use Ian to destroy Leon. Now, Ian was one of his trusted men, alongside Rakkan. Fuelled by his vengeance against Leon, Ian learned quickly, acquiring special abilities.After 1000 years of researching the system, Tarron had managed to cheat it. He could add others to become hunters. Since they weren't official hunters, they didn't have companions. Still, they could earn coins and skills like other hunters.Hearing Ian's answer, Tarron's gaze sharpened, his displeasure evident. Knowing Tarron was staring at him unblinking, Ian lowered his head further, his eyes fixed on the tip of his shoes, like a boy who had been caught doing something wrong."
Point of View 3Tarron descended the moss-covered stone steps leading to an underground chamber, with Ian following closely behind. The air grew colder as they descended further down. The atmosphere was denser than on the surface.Once Tarron's feet reached the bottom, he halted. His eyes immediately focused on an old man inside a giant aquarium. Upon seeing Tarron, the old man, named Calatius, shot him a glare filled with hatred.“Why do you never seem pleased to see me, Calatius?” With a mocking expression, Tarron questioned the man, moving closer until they were only a few metres apart.From where Tarron stood, the creature Calatius was clearly visible. He was a centaur, but all his legs had been severed. His crippled body lay upon a large rock."Why have you come to see me, Tarron? Haven't you taken all my strength?" Despite appearing elderly, Calatius's voice still carried a powerful tone. Even the glass of the aquarium vibrated from his voice."You never change. Yet, that is in