At the border of the world, outside the Land of Mist.
Laka Forest
The scorching sun already hangs high, casting its rays upon the earth.
A dense forest, where even the midday light can only throw thin beams through the leaves.
"Snap"
A giant insect resembling a spider, over a meter in size, is gnawing at something. The sound of feeding mingles with a scent that fills the air with a hint of sweetness.
On a nearby branch, hidden among dense foliage, lies a young boy.
He is the hunter who laid the bait to ambush this giant insect.
He slowly draws a feathered arrow from his waist and places it upon the bow.
"Eagle Eye"
A brief spell slips from his lips.
Upon uttering the spell, he swiftly draws the bow, shooting the arrow toward the spider.
"Whizz"
The sound of the arrow piercing flesh rings out, proving a perfect hit.
The flying arrow firmly lodges itself in the gap of the spider's head armor.
The full-body armor must allow for joint movement, hence it has some gaps.
These very gaps become its weakness.
"Hiss!"
A piercing cry emanates from the position of the spider's massive fangs, its eight limbs frantically waving and struggling around.
The force of its struggle sends leaves and wood chips scattering around. Its survival instinct drives it to flee this perilous place.
Yet the running, struggling, and screaming did not last long. Soon, the area quiets down, revealing the giant armored spider curled into a ball, its armor still tightly protecting it.
Of course, the arrow stuck in the gap of its head is particularly noticeable.
Perhaps it has already perished from this single arrow.
"Whizz"
Another feathered arrow fiercely plunges into the gap in the spider's head, but aside from the impact causing a slight tremble, there is no further movement.
The branch's rustling
A boy appearing to be around sixteen jumps down with the fallen leaves.
He is Kane, Kane Lafray.
With short black hair, he holds a glossy hunting bow, suggesting its owner treasures it dearly. Dressed in a forest-action and concealment-friendly brown-green hunting attire, he carries a quiver filled with exquisite arrows on his back.
Notably, his eyes gleam with a faint green light resembling that of an eagle, although reverting to blue, human-like eyes upon opening.
The young man slowly reaches towards the corpse.
He slowly kneels down beside it, confirming the prey's death repeatedly, ensuring it is indeed a corpse.
Kane removes a cylindrical copper gemstone from his neck, placing it on the corpse.
"Absorb"
Upon speaking, a faint glow rises from the corpse like grains, flowing into the gemstone, rapidly filling the remaining transparent section with copper color.
The giant spider's corpse, though unchanged, gives off a sense of no longer being formidable.
"Splendid! A week well spent tracking down and hunting this Copper Magic Powered Armor-Forger Spider."
Observing the now completely copper-filled gemstone in his hand, Kane joyfully exclaims.
He takes out a hunting knife, swiftly removing and placing the corpse's armor into his pack.
This is good stuff indeed, not to be wasted; this one alone is worth at least 16 gold.
Of course
For others, the Armor-Forger Spider's armor is the only trophy, whereas for Kane, it's merely a by-product.
His main trophy is the energy generated from the soul fragments mixed with magic power upon a creature's death.
Originally, he was just an ordinary employee on Blue Star, going home to play games, watch anime, and follow series after work.
Who would have thought, one day after coming home from work, just as he was about to play some games on his computer, everything suddenly went black, and he peacefully passed away.
In his foggy state, he only felt terribly tired.
Opening his eyes again as a fourteen-year-old boy, born into another world, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
"But having been in this world for two years, it's not bad given the extraordinary powers it holds."
Thinking this, Kane places his hand on the gemstone hanging from his neck. It's precisely the item from the game he played after work, the Magic Stone.
His cheat or rather system, aligns with the system from the game character he controlled.
[Book of Adventure]
A device designed by the game creator to rationalize players' systems and backgrounds.
All functionalities opening and usage require filled Magic Stones, while the book produces blank Magic Stones.
By relying on produced Magic Stones, he absorbs the energy from the slain creatures.
These Magic Stones now allow him to extract useful Skill Stones within the system for use.
Of course, this is merely its basic function.
Kane grips the Magic Stone, instantaneously characters appear in his sight.
[Copper Magic Stone*1]
[Able to randomly extract one Copper Skill Stone]
[Yes][No]
"Yes"
[Extracting...]
[Maiden praying...]
[Completed]
The Magic Stone vanishes from his hand, and simultaneously a square coin-sized copper piece appears in Kane's hand.
Fixing his gaze on the skill stone, he begins examining its details
[Name: Spider Nest Weaver]
[Category: Active Skills]
[Color: Brass Color]
[Attached: Jet Ports 2]
[Explanation: Spend magic power/physical strength to release spider silk from the jet ports, the silk's strength determined by the energy spent, but there are certain limits]
[Introduction: In the dark spider nests, the weaver is an indispensable member of the Empire, always the pinnacle of spider silk artistry, weaving the fabric of continuity for the Empire]
This is the first skill he's extracted since arriving in this world, now itching to try it out.
But it's not safe to do so now.
Better to check it out slowly upon returning, for now, he must hurry back; otherwise, even more dangers will be attracted by the scent.
...
The sun partially hangs, slowly setting toward the mountain, burning half the sky red.
Dusk arrives
Kara Town's gates stand open, welcoming those needing the night's rest. After all, staying outdoors at night is not very safe.
Kane, with a sheepskin pack on his back, arrives at the town's entrance.
"Hey! Kane, how's it been? I see you've been busy all week, haven't caught your prey yet?"
From a wooden guard post at the gate, a burly middle-aged militiaman holding a long spear shouts to Kane.
"Here's my prey, Uncle Ge Mu."
Kane pats the pack on his back to signify.
"Oh! Blessed by the Mist, next time at the tavern, you must tell us all about this hunt. The first hunter of Kara Town spent a whole week, haha."
"Haha, alright, I'll head back first, Uncle Ge Mu."
"Alright, hurry along, look at you covered in dirt."
Farewell to Uncle
Greeting familiar passersby one by one
Gently passing through the town to its far end.
Standing before him is the stone house, the home in this life, and the sole possession left by the parents of this body.
Recalling it
Two years ago, upon his initial crossing, the original Kane fell by the town's stream, discovered by Uncle Ram, and helped back home.
Awakening, he was now the present Kane.
Delving into the body's memory revealed the original Kane was actually killed by being struck by a stone fruit from a tree.
It sure is striking
This person seemed quite unlucky indeed.
Entering the house, granting the spoils under the bedroom bed.
Washing up a bit
Lying in bed, beginning to review the skill extracted at noon.