2025-04-08 18:04:25Leo stood frozen, the dense forest air heavy around him as he glanced nervously in every direction. The thick mist slithered between trees like silent ghosts, and every rustle of leaves made his nerves jolt. "Come on then! You think I'm scared? You ugly piece of oversized furball! I dare you to show your face!" he shouted into the trees, his voice trembling despite his attempt at bravado. "Yeah, I eat monsters like you for breakfast!" he added, waving his hands around. "You're just a glorified oversized raccoon!"
As if summoned by his taunts, the ground beneath his feet quaked slightly. A low, guttural growl echoed through the forest, causing birds to scatter in panicked flight. Branches snapped. Leaves rustled violently. Then—
BOOM!
From the dense underbrush, an enormous beast pounced out and landed a few feet from Leo, shaking the ground. Leo's legs nearly buckled under him as his eyes widened in horror. The creature was massive—easily three times the size of a bear, with rough, obsidian-black scales, yellow slit eyes that gleamed with hostility, and tusks that jutted from its lower jaw like jagged swords. Its drooling maw reeked of blood and rot, and Leo's gaze accidentally caught on the sight of his own torn shirt snagged between two of the beast's serrated teeth.
"Oh hell no! My shirt?! You wanna die, you dragon-faced flea pig?!" Leo shouted, flailing his arms, though his bravado cracked as his voice rose to a shriek.
Internally, Leo was spiraling. "This system... whoever's running it really wants me dead. First accident, now this kaiju-looking son of a bitch?! I take it back—I want to be broke and miserable in my old world, not dead in this one!"
The beast roared, a thunderous sound that sent a shockwave rippling through the trees. Then it lunged at Leo.
Leo screamed and covered his face, bracing for death. But death never came.
Instead, he heard a sickening squelch and the heavy thud of something large hitting the ground. Trembling, Leo peeked through his fingers.
The monster’s decapitated body lay sprawled in front of him. Its head was cleanly severed, and from its open neck, a shimmering green orb floated upward, pulsing with energy. Leo blinked in disbelief.
"What in the... did I do that? I mean, unless I’ve got ninja reflexes I don’t know about, that’s not me. Maybe I’m some kind of magical assassin now?" he muttered, watching the orb glow.
Cautiously, he stepped forward and reached out to touch the orb. But before his fingers could make contact, the orb floated higher, just out of reach.
"Hey! Come back here! I’m the one who screamed the loudest, I earned that!" Leo yelled.
Suddenly, laughter broke through the silence. He turned to see three people emerging from the mist, clad in sleek, high-end hunter gear that sparkled even in the dim light of the forest. Two young men flanked a woman with striking red hair tied into a tight braid. Her emerald green eyes were narrowed with disdain as she sized him up like he was a piece of gum stuck to her boot.
"Leonis Ardent. Still trying to claim other people's kills, huh? You're as pathetic as ever," she spat, her voice sharp and clear.
Leo furrowed his brows. "Leonis? Who the hell is Leonis?" he murmured as he pointed at himself. "Wait—you mean me?"
One of the guys beside her scoffed. He had slicked-back hair and a permanent sneer etched into his face. "Wow, not only did he survive a beast attack, but he also forgot how pathetic he is. Maybe the hit to your head knocked out the only brain cell you had."
Leo winced. "You know, that’s real lame. Did you come up with that yourself, or do you have a book of ‘Insults for Losers’ on standby?"
The second guy, stockier with a thick jaw and arms the size of Leo’s torso, took a step forward. His voice boomed. "Don’t get cocky, Leonis. You’re an orphan, a bottom-rung F-rank hunter who barely made it through the last trial. Whatever plan you have for getting close to Liora, forget it. You don’t belong in our world."
"Ah. So the girl’s name was Liora."
Leo glanced at her. She was glaring at him like he’d tracked mud into her palace.
"Listen," Leo said, scratching his head awkwardly, "I don’t know what your deal with Leonis is, but I’ve got bigger issues. Like what the hell just happened here."
The three exchanged glances. Liora stepped forward and smirked. "This orb is my kill. I’m a D-class hunter, and you're barely existing. Stay in your lane, Leonis."
With that, she plucked the orb from the air and turned, her two lackeys following her.
Leo watched them disappear into the mist. His fists clenched. He didn’t care about the orb. But being talked down to like garbage lit something in him. "Damn… the old Leonis must’ve really been a loser," he muttered.
Just then, a digital chime rang in his ears.
DING!
[System Notification: You have 4 days, 23 hours, and 11 minutes remaining to complete the First Mission.]
Leo groaned. "Oh come on! I just survived a kaiju! Can I catch a break?!"
He sighed and muttered, "System..."
Nothing.
He tried again. "System interface. Pop up. Open sesame. Show me the money. Siri? Cortana?"
Still nothing.
"Goddamn it."
Frustrated, he began walking through the forest, hoping to find a way out and back to Leonis’s home. He needed information—fast.
But just as he turned toward what looked like a footpath, the system chimed again.
DING!
[System Update Complete.]
[New Feature: Punishment Protocol.]
For every hour that passes without accepting and progressing the first mission, host will suffer internal backlash. First symptom: coughing blood.]
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Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss CHAPTER FIVE: Sub Mission
[System Update Complete.][New Feature: Punishment Protocol.]For every hour that passes without accepting and progressing the first mission, host will suffer internal backlash. First symptom: coughing blood.]Leo stopped in his tracks."Wait—what?! What kind of messed up RPG is this?!" he yelled.His chest suddenly tightened. His vision blurred. Then—SPLAT!A spray of red splashed the forest floor.Leo stared at his hand, covered in fresh blood from his mouth."Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."The clock was ticking. The system was serious. And Leo was now racing against time in a world that already seemed determined to chew him up.He gritted his teeth. "Fine. You want me to complete a mission? Then tell me what it is!"And the forest remained silent.Until the system responded with a low hum.[First Mission: Investigate the Rift in Darkvale Forest.]Time Remaining: 4 days, 22 hours, 56 minutes.]Leo groaned. "Darkvale? That doesn't sound ominous at all."But with no better options
Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss CHAPTER SIX: Into the Rift
The spirit shot forward. He ducked and rolled, stabbing upward. The blade passed through but disrupted the spirit’s form.[Soul Damage Inflicted. Wisp Integrity: 72%]“Okay, I can hurt it!”The spirit countered with a psychic shriek. Leo clenched his teeth, blood trickling from his ears.“Not again—damn it!”He triggered Quick Strike, blinking behind the Wisp, then jabbed his dagger into the base of its form.[Soul Damage Inflicted. Wisp Integrity: 21%]The Wisp convulsed, then surged toward the shrine, trying to absorb its energy.“Nope!” Leo hurled a chunk of stone at the base of the shrine. The pulse stuttered.The Wisp screamed. Leo lunged in, stabbing once more.With a final keening wail, the ghost exploded into wisps of silver light.[Mission Complete: Echoing Shrine Activated. Rewards granted. Skill Obtained: Spirit Link (Passive) – Enables detection of spiritual entities within 10 meters. Intelligence +1. Luck +1.]Leo collapsed beside the shrine, gasping.“So that’s what a sp
Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss CHAPTER SEVEN: Bring It On
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Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss CHAPTER EIGHT: Survivor of the Abyss
Meanwhile, in a large, opulent office adorned with dark mahogany walls, gold trim, and shelves of ancient artifacts, a man stood tall by the full-length window. He looked to be around six feet, clad in a sharp black suit that hugged his muscular frame. His presence exuded authority. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon beyond the glass, lost in thought.Behind him stood a man with peach-colored hair slicked back neatly, a single monocle perched on his left eye, magnifying the sharp gleam in it. His name was Cassian Vale.“Mr. Ryu,” Cassian began, his voice polished, professional. “The situation in Darkvale Forest is becoming increasingly unstable. Reports suggest the Nightscale Crawlers are growing more aggressive.”Ryu turned slowly to face him, his jawline sharp, his expression unreadable. “Have we rounded up the D-class hunters?”Cassian nodded. “Yes, sir. They're assembled and awaiting your orders.”Ryu walked back to his grand desk, sitting down with a measured sigh. He laced his f
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Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss CHAPTER TEN: VISITOR
The first thing Leo felt was the stiffness in his limbs. Then the soft humming of fluorescent lights. The antiseptic scent of the hospital wafted into his nostrils, grounding him in the present. His body was oddly light, and his chest didn’t hurt as much as he expected. He blinked groggily, his vision sharpening just in time to catch sight of Captain Draegon and Vice-Captain Nyx standing at the foot of his bed.“You’re awake,” Draegon said, voice calm and composed.Leo opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a low groan. His throat was dry, and his head still felt like it had been through a war zone.Draegon stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Leo’s shoulder, keeping him from sitting up too quickly. “Easy. You’ve been out for two days.”Leo frowned. “Two days?”Nyx gave a curt nod. “We found you in the inner floor of a Rift in Darkvale Forest. Barely breathing. Your vitals were a mess, but… now?” She narrowed her eyes slightly. “It’s like your wounds vanished overni
Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss The Guild's Grasp
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Monster Hunter: Broke to Boss CHAPTER ONE: Rent, Rage, and Regret
The air in Xuan Street, a crowded borough on the outskirts of New Xi'an, was thick with the scent of fried oil, wet pavement, and bad tempers."LEO!"The guttural bellow of Master Chu, the round-bellied tyrant of Golden Pot Diner, echoed through the narrow alley like a firecracker in a tin can. “You deaf fool! I said Mr. Prann’s order is ready! Get your lazy legs moving!”Leo Kim blinked, half chewing on the straw of a bubble tea he hadn't paid for yet. “I heard you the first five times, old man.”Master Chu's face turned a deeper red beneath his sweat-glazed bald head. “Don’t 'old man' me, you punk. Last time I sent you to that customer, you nearly broke his jaw!”Leo groaned, slamming his drink down on the counter. “He tried to cheat me! Said the chicken was too cold and refused to pay. I don’t work for free.”“You won’t work at all if you keep this up!” Chu snapped. “You bring your temper into my business again and you’re out! This time, you go, you apologize, you smile, you bow if
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The Guild's Grasp
At exactly one hour past Kale’s departure, the silence outside the infirmary shattered with the synchronized thud of boots. Five men dressed in pitch-black uniforms approached Leo, each one towering over him like walking tanks. Their suits shimmered faintly in the sun, armored yet seamless. Black combat gloves, steel-toed boots, and dark shades that masked their expressions — the complete image of elite enforcement.Compared to Leo’s lean frame, they were gargantuan, with shoulders so broad they could cast shadows over him. The emblem of the Central Government Guild was etched in silver on their left shoulders. One of them motioned, and without a word, Leo fell into step, flanked on all sides as they guided him toward a waiting black van. The same emblem was displayed boldly across the doors — a silver eye encased in a circle, watching everything.Leo felt their aura — steady, cold, suffocating. These men were far above his level. He could sense the difference, even if he couldn’t qua
CHAPTER TEN: VISITOR
The first thing Leo felt was the stiffness in his limbs. Then the soft humming of fluorescent lights. The antiseptic scent of the hospital wafted into his nostrils, grounding him in the present. His body was oddly light, and his chest didn’t hurt as much as he expected. He blinked groggily, his vision sharpening just in time to catch sight of Captain Draegon and Vice-Captain Nyx standing at the foot of his bed.“You’re awake,” Draegon said, voice calm and composed.Leo opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a low groan. His throat was dry, and his head still felt like it had been through a war zone.Draegon stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Leo’s shoulder, keeping him from sitting up too quickly. “Easy. You’ve been out for two days.”Leo frowned. “Two days?”Nyx gave a curt nod. “We found you in the inner floor of a Rift in Darkvale Forest. Barely breathing. Your vitals were a mess, but… now?” She narrowed her eyes slightly. “It’s like your wounds vanished overni
CHAPTER NINE: Did He Take Them Down?
The air was thick with tension as the team of D-class hunters approached the source of the unstable energy. The team halted in front of a small opening, eyeing the swirling, unstable void that stretched open before them. It was a mysterious phenomenon, one that none of them had encountered before, and the air felt charged with danger.Captain Alexander Draegon stood at the front, his sharp green eyes scanning the Rift. At 6'2", he was a tall, imposing figure with short-cropped dark brown hair and a chiseled jawline that hinted at his no-nonsense attitude. His combat specialization was swordsmanship, and he wielded a long, sleek blade that hummed with an ancient aura."I don't like this," Captain Draegon muttered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, instinctively ready for a fight. "There's something off about this Rift."Beside him, Vice-Captain Nyx frowned, her piercing amber eyes flicking to the swirling Rift. Elara was young but capable—quick-
CHAPTER EIGHT: Survivor of the Abyss
Meanwhile, in a large, opulent office adorned with dark mahogany walls, gold trim, and shelves of ancient artifacts, a man stood tall by the full-length window. He looked to be around six feet, clad in a sharp black suit that hugged his muscular frame. His presence exuded authority. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon beyond the glass, lost in thought.Behind him stood a man with peach-colored hair slicked back neatly, a single monocle perched on his left eye, magnifying the sharp gleam in it. His name was Cassian Vale.“Mr. Ryu,” Cassian began, his voice polished, professional. “The situation in Darkvale Forest is becoming increasingly unstable. Reports suggest the Nightscale Crawlers are growing more aggressive.”Ryu turned slowly to face him, his jawline sharp, his expression unreadable. “Have we rounded up the D-class hunters?”Cassian nodded. “Yes, sir. They're assembled and awaiting your orders.”Ryu walked back to his grand desk, sitting down with a measured sigh. He laced his f
CHAPTER SEVEN: Bring It On
Leo walked with calculative steps, his grip tight around the hilt of his light dagger. Before him stretched a gaping, worm-like tunnel, wide and pulsating faintly with an unnatural energy. The air felt colder the closer he got to it, as if the tunnel exhaled death itself. He paused at the entrance, his eyes narrowing at the darkness that stretched downward in a spiral."If this is the second floor," he muttered, "then it's probably ten times worse than the last."Every sense screamed caution, but Leo knew he had no choice. The mission must be completed—and besides, that damn internal backlash wasn't going to give him much of a break. He tiptoed forward, dagger poised, feet silent against the stone.The walls shimmered faintly with embedded stones—some dull, others glowing faintly with colors ranging from icy blue to pale green. As he walked deeper, he noticed the luminous stones were getting smaller."Wouldn't hurt to take a few," he muttered, reaching up to pry three larger stones fr
CHAPTER SIX: Into the Rift
The spirit shot forward. He ducked and rolled, stabbing upward. The blade passed through but disrupted the spirit’s form.[Soul Damage Inflicted. Wisp Integrity: 72%]“Okay, I can hurt it!”The spirit countered with a psychic shriek. Leo clenched his teeth, blood trickling from his ears.“Not again—damn it!”He triggered Quick Strike, blinking behind the Wisp, then jabbed his dagger into the base of its form.[Soul Damage Inflicted. Wisp Integrity: 21%]The Wisp convulsed, then surged toward the shrine, trying to absorb its energy.“Nope!” Leo hurled a chunk of stone at the base of the shrine. The pulse stuttered.The Wisp screamed. Leo lunged in, stabbing once more.With a final keening wail, the ghost exploded into wisps of silver light.[Mission Complete: Echoing Shrine Activated. Rewards granted. Skill Obtained: Spirit Link (Passive) – Enables detection of spiritual entities within 10 meters. Intelligence +1. Luck +1.]Leo collapsed beside the shrine, gasping.“So that’s what a sp
CHAPTER FIVE: Sub Mission
[System Update Complete.][New Feature: Punishment Protocol.]For every hour that passes without accepting and progressing the first mission, host will suffer internal backlash. First symptom: coughing blood.]Leo stopped in his tracks."Wait—what?! What kind of messed up RPG is this?!" he yelled.His chest suddenly tightened. His vision blurred. Then—SPLAT!A spray of red splashed the forest floor.Leo stared at his hand, covered in fresh blood from his mouth."Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."The clock was ticking. The system was serious. And Leo was now racing against time in a world that already seemed determined to chew him up.He gritted his teeth. "Fine. You want me to complete a mission? Then tell me what it is!"And the forest remained silent.Until the system responded with a low hum.[First Mission: Investigate the Rift in Darkvale Forest.]Time Remaining: 4 days, 22 hours, 56 minutes.]Leo groaned. "Darkvale? That doesn't sound ominous at all."But with no better options
CHAPTER FOUR: Punishment Protocol
Leo stood frozen, the dense forest air heavy around him as he glanced nervously in every direction. The thick mist slithered between trees like silent ghosts, and every rustle of leaves made his nerves jolt. "Come on then! You think I'm scared? You ugly piece of oversized furball! I dare you to show your face!" he shouted into the trees, his voice trembling despite his attempt at bravado. "Yeah, I eat monsters like you for breakfast!" he added, waving his hands around. "You're just a glorified oversized raccoon!"As if summoned by his taunts, the ground beneath his feet quaked slightly. A low, guttural growl echoed through the forest, causing birds to scatter in panicked flight. Branches snapped. Leaves rustled violently. Then—BOOM!From the dense underbrush, an enormous beast pounced out and landed a few feet from Leo, shaking the ground. Leo's legs nearly buckled under him as his eyes widened in horror. The creature was massive—easily three times the size of a bear, with rough, obs
CHAPTER THREE: Rebirth of the Underdog
Darkness.That was Leo’s first conscious experience. Not the poetic kind of darkness—no gentle metaphors or soft lullabies. This was void. The kind of black that made blackholes seem like well-lit bedrooms.He was floating in nothing, no pain, no sound, no rent reminders, no Chef Chu screaming about unpaid deliveries. For a fleeting moment, Leo thought: So this is it, huh? Death. Kinda cozy.Then, reality dropkicked him.A blinding pain detonated in his skull like a mini-nuke. His eyes snapped open with the grace of a drunk goat. The world above him was no hospital ceiling. No angelic chorus or haloed nurses. Just a blood-orange sky—an ominous kind of orange, like the sun was bleeding out—and the canopy of twisted, horror-movie trees, their violet leaves swaying like they were whispering dark secrets.Leo groaned. “If this is hell, the devil needs a serious landscaping consultant…”He tried sitting up. Bad idea. Every nerve in his body screamed like a toddler denied candy. He collapse
