It looked almost harmless, like some oversized stuffed animal brought to life.
The fluffy fur still flickered faintly with heat, the residue of sun mana lingering in its body.
Isaac crouched down, examining the creature more closely.
The mask on his face didn’t stop his curiosity from leaking through in his tone.
"This is what I was chasing? Something that looks like a giant pillow with legs?"
Isaac shook his head.
He had seen the monster’s speed.
If that thing rammed into someone, it could throw them to kingdom come.
"It’s cute on the outside, but deadly on the inside."
Leaning closer, Isaac noticed something glinting faintly beneath the creature’s fur near its chest.
A small shard, glowing faintly.
He reached forward and pulled it free.
[Map Fragment (1/7) acquired.]
He held the shard up.
It was smooth, shaped like part of a puzzle piece, glowing softly with embedded mana.
"One down," he muttered.
His eyes went back to the fluffy monster.
Even burned and broken, the fur looked soft. If he touched it, it would probably sink under his hand like a cushion.
He chuckled under his breath.
"If Alice and Emily saw this thing, they would want to keep it as a pet."
The thought lingered for a moment before he stood up, pulling his spear free from the ground.
He checked the timer again.
Forty minutes until the ranking board opened. That meant he had to move fast if he wanted more fragments before his performance became public.
His gaze swept the forest once more as his mana spread outward.
He didn’t have the luxury of underestimating any of these creatures again. Fluffy or not, they were built for survival in Hell difficulty.
Isaac tightened his grip on the spear.
"I need to hunt them faster."
Just as he was about to move, a voice rang in his head.
Isaac, did you start the trial already?
He blinked. "Huh?"
His hand went to the soulbind pendant.
"Celia?"
Oh, wait. If we can talk, I suppose the trial didn’t start yet—
"It started already," he cut in.
What?
There was a short pause, and then the air around the pendant shimmered. A ripple spread like heat waves, and Celia appeared in front of him.
Her eyes widened.
"It worked!"
She spun slowly, taking in the tall trees and bright leaves.
The air filled her lungs, and she let out a small laugh.
"This place is amazing. The air is so fresh, and it feels cool. I’ve never been anywhere like this."
She immediately reached into her spatial ring, pulling out her device.
The click of a camera followed as she snapped photos of everything she could see.
She was about to take a selfie when she stopped, stepped closer to Isaac, and looped her arm around his.
"Say cheese!"
Before he could react, she snapped a few pictures, beaming.
Only after her excitement calmed did she finally tuck the device away.
She tilted her head, looking at the forest again.
"What is this type of place called? With air this fresh?"
"It’s a forest."
"Forest?" She frowned, surprised. "That doesn’t sound right. Aren’t forests supposed to look... darker? Twisted?"
He wasn’t surprised at her reaction.
The forests she knew were warped, stripped of life by the apocalypse. This one was untouched, and vibrant.
"I didn’t think I’d ever be able to see a place like this," she admitted softly.
Isaac gave a small nod. "The trial doesn’t seem to restrict the ranks of the participants. Some of the others will be Champions, some Initiates. That must be why you’re here. Since there are no restrictions, the equipment we carry works too, including Soulbind Pendant."
"That’s good." Celia folded her hands behind her back and studied him. "So, what’s this trial about?"
Isaac explained the objective. The map fragments, the monsters, the time limit. When he finished, she looked thoughtful.
"So you need to finish everything in twenty-four hours, but the monsters don’t fight back. They just run as soon as you show up?"
"Yes."
She rubbed her chin. Then her eyes lit up with mischief.
"You’re in luck, Sir Isaac. I have a way to help you."
Isaac raised a brow. Her tone was exaggerated, almost dramatic. Still, he played along. "And what’s your great plan, O Great Star?"
She lifted a finger with mock seriousness. "Simple. Let’s chase a monster together. I’ll show you my plan while we run."
Isaac gave a short laugh. "Alright. But first—"
[1,000 Constitution stat has been deducted.]
Constitution: 1,000 [9,000] → 1,000 [8,000]
[Mask of Unknown acquired.]
He handed the mask to her.
"Wear this. It’ll hide your appearance."
He was not worried about the lost stats. He could gain them with a single harvest.
It was better to invest in safety than being a cheapskate.
She slid it on without question.
The smooth white surface settled over her face. After a moment, she drew her katana from the spatial ring and strapped it at her waist, shifting her posture as if she were stepping onto a stage.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat. "How do I look?"
Isaac’s lips curved slightly. "Like a cool ninja samurai."
"Perfect answer Sir Isaac. You get a ten out of ten for it."
Isaac chuckled and moved his senses outward with Sovereign of Land.
Before long, he caught another monster’s mana signature.
"There’s one ahead."
They took off together.
At first, Celia ran beside him with determination. But within minutes, the gap widened. Her breaths grew short, and her steps became heavier.
She began to fly, but even then, she was not able to match up to Isaac’s speed.
"W-wait... Huff... slower!"
Isaac slowed.
The monster kept running, widening the distance, but Celia needed his attention.
Unlike Isaac and the creature, Celia left a visible path of destruction in her wake.
The speed she forced from her body broke branches, kicked up dirt, and snapped roots. Anyone tracking would see it clearly.
She stumbled to a stop, leaning forward, panting hard.
"I’m s-sorry. But... let’s rest for a bit."
The mask slipped upward like a cap as she wiped sweat from her forehead. Even like that, it still worked, shielding her identity.
Isaac pulled out a vitality grain and a bottle of water from his spatial storage.
He held them out.
"Eat this."
She accepted quickly, chewing and drinking with gratitude.
After a few breaths, her face steadied.
"Thanks."
Her eyes flicked back to him.
"The monster...?"
"It got away. But there’ll be others."
He expected disappointment to show on her face, but instead, her lips curved in a sly smile.
The expression disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
She straightened, brushing hair from her face.
"I can’t keep up with you," she admitted. "But I can still help. Please carry me on your back, it should be easy for someone like you. When we get near a monster, I’ll support you."
Isaac studied her quietly.
Then he activated his system scan.
[Status: Happy and excited that her plan is working. She knows only those who work hard to achieve their goals succeed!]
’This girl really is...’
Celia wasn’t holding back anymore.
She had decided to press forward without brakes.
’At this rate, it’s going to be hard.’
Celia was beautiful, charismatic, admired by countless people.
She was an idol that many coveted, but none could reach.