The wind carried a silence too perfect to trust.
Riku stood near the massive ancient tree in the heart of Verdant Hollow, its roots spiraling across the mossy forest floor like veins of some long-slumbering beast. He tightened his grip on the Shadowsteel Dagger holstered to his thigh, scanning the mist-blanketed surroundings. Beside him, Kira crouched low, her hand brushing the ground. A faint trail of disturbed grass led deeper into the dense woods.
"Whoever—or whatever—was watching us... it didn't leave long ago," she murmured.
"I know," Riku replied, tapping into his system.
> [Skill Activated: Danger Sense Lv. 1 – Threat proximity: Moderate. Source: Unknown.] [Energy Signature Detected: Active Surveillance Magic.]
His brow furrowed. The system's passive detection revealed traces of enchantment woven into the mist. Something was watching from a distance, but unlike a beast's primal gaze, this felt... calculated.
"Someone marked this place before we arrived," he said, brushing a glowing glyph on a nearby tree trunk. "This isn't just unclaimed land. Someone's been here—or tried to claim it."
Kira stood, eyes hard. "You think it's another system user?"
"I don't know. But if they're here, they're not playing tourist."
He opened the interface and summoned the territorial control panel.
> [Verdant Hollow – Status: Claimed] [Sanctuary Status: 24 Hours of Protection Remaining] [Warning: Intrusion Detected Beyond Buffer Zone – Entity Unknown]
So much for peace.
Still, they'd prepared for this. Riku had converted a portion of their portable inventory into basic defenses earlier that morning. Auto-scout drones, motion detectors, and temporary shielding nodes had been deployed to create a perimeter. Nothing powerful, but enough to stall or alert them in time.
"We need to push deeper into the valley. The heart of this place may hold clues or a central point of power," Riku said.
Kira nodded. "And we need to find who's been tampering with it before they find us."
The two moved in sync—quiet steps, hands always near their weapons. Every crunch of leaves felt exaggerated beneath their boots. The deeper they went, the thicker the trees grew, until the sky vanished behind a lattice of emerald foliage. The mist began to take on unnatural hues—purple swirls, flickers of gold, like oil floating over water.
They arrived at a wide clearing.
At the center stood a stone monolith, cracked and covered in glowing runes.
> [System Notification: Ancient Marker Detected. Origin: Unknown System-Level Artifact. Analysis… 34% Complete…]
Kira reached out, but Riku caught her wrist.
"Let the system finish scanning first."
She nodded, lowering her hand. The runes began to shift, as if reacting to their presence.
Suddenly, from the trees—a blur.
Riku's Danger Sense flared too late.
He turned, raising his arm just in time to block a flying projectile. It exploded against his forearm barrier with a flash of light, sending him stumbling back. Kira spun around, drawing twin daggers.
"Show yourself!" she barked.
A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, holding a curved, shimmering blade. Their presence felt off—too quiet, too calculated.
Riku's eyes narrowed. "You're not from around here."
The figure tilted their head. "Neither are you, System-Bearer."
The term made Riku tense. So it was true—others existed. And at least one had followed him here.
"I'm claiming this territory," Riku said, voice firm. "Leave now, or we fight."
The figure laughed, low and dry. "You've barely scratched the surface of what this valley hides. And you think it's yours? Cute."
He lunged forward—fast. Riku barely deflected the blade with his dagger. Sparks danced between them. Kira joined instantly, slashing at the figure's side, forcing them back.
Riku activated his combat buff.
> [Skill Activated: Physical Sync Upgrade – Boosting Reflexes +35% Temporarily.]
The battle heated up—flashes of blades, punches, dodges. The stranger was good, but not overwhelming. Their style was built around evasion and sudden attacks—not durability.
After a sharp exchange, Riku feinted a low strike, then brought his dagger up, slicing the attacker's shoulder. The cloak tore, revealing silver armor with runes etched deep into its plates.
System-enhanced.
"Who sent you?" Riku asked, panting.
The figure smirked under their cracked mask. "No one. I'm just... harvesting what's owed."
And with that, they dropped a smoke talisman to the ground. The area exploded into fog. Kira ran toward the edge, coughing. "He's gone."
Riku swore. "But he'll be back."
The system pinged again.
> [System Update Complete: Monolith Scanned.] [Artifact Origin: Forgotten System. Residual Data Detected. Warning – Fragmented Code May Attract External Interference.]
Riku stared at the monolith. It was more than a relic—it was a beacon.
They had just painted a target on their backs.
—
Later that evening, Riku and Kira returned to the makeshift base near the base of the ancient tree. The initial shield system was still up, offering a temporary sense of security. Riku sat by the fire, reviewing logs from the encounter.
Kira handed him a heated pack of food. "Still taste like survival?"
He smiled wearily. "Still better than street cart leftovers from the city."
She sat beside him. "So what's next?"
"We fortify. Upgrade our defenses. And find out how to unlock whatever's hidden in that monolith before someone worse shows up."
Kira leaned her head against his shoulder. "And if more system users come?"
"Then we play smarter. I'm not letting this place fall."
They sat in silence for a while, the crackling fire the only sound. In the distance, faint whispers echoed through the mist—maybe the wind, maybe something else.
Riku opened his system again.
> [Current Points: 1,050] [Inventory: Skill Sync Voucher, Physical Synchronization Upgrade, 2x Random Coupons, Territory Ward Token (Unclaimed Bonus)]
He hovered over the Territory Ward Token and activated it.
A glowing sigil rose over the tree, pulsing outward in waves. A soft ring of energy spread over the area, reinforcing the base.
> [Verdant Hollow Central Node Reinforced – Passive Barrier Increased. Tracking and Surveillance Blocked.]
Kira blinked. "You just pulled that out now?"
"I wanted to save it," Riku admitted. "But it's time to start using what I've earned. This isn't just about exploration anymore. It's survival."
Her smile was small but proud. "You're growing into this. I can see it."
"Maybe. Or maybe the system's just dragging me deeper."
"No," she said firmly. "You're the one choosing your path."
He leaned back, the glow of the ward shimmering in his eyes. For the first time since arriving, he felt a strange calm. Not because they were safe—but because they were finally fighting for something real.
—
Far beyond the cliffs of Verdant Hollow, the cloaked figure knelt in front of a crystalline altar. A shadowy form loomed above.
"You confirmed it?" the voice asked.
The figure nodded. "A new System Bearer. Strong. But still green."
"Good. Keep him distracted. We have plans for that valley... and the one who dares to claim it."
The game had only just begun.