ã€ŠAwakening of the Classless War Sovereignã€‹


 Chapter-1 The Beginning

    BzzzZZZzzzZZZ¡­

    A sharp buzz of an alarm broke the silence of the early morning. Noah groaned, slapping the top of the clock to switch off the alarm.

    A ray of sunlight cut through the curtains, illuminating a room that mirrored its owner''s unremarkable life¡ªa neatly made bed, a second-hand gaming console, and a desk cluttered with half-finished to-do lists and unopened mail.

    Rising from his bed, he stumbled into the bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror. In it stood an average-looking young man of around 21 years of age.

    His hair stuck out at odd angles, and his eyes carried the dull haze of someone who had never stayed up late for anything exciting.

    Downstairs, the faint clatter of plates and the murmur of voices drifted up. The smell of eggs and toast filled the air.

    "Noah, if you don''t hurry, you''ll be late!" his mother called, her voice held a faint hint of worry.

    "I''m coming!" he shouted back, his tone just as predictable.

    By the time he made it to the kitchen, his father was already seated, a newspaper folded neatly in his hands.

    Helen Starfall flipped another egg onto a plate and set it down in front of Noah without a word. The kitchen was warm, cozy even, but so familiar it felt like a scene played on loop.

    "Morning," his dad said, glancing up from the headlines. "You''re looking as dead as ever, huh."

    "I inherited it from you after all," Noah replied, brushing his hair back with his fingers and failing miserably.

    His father''s lips trembled but he ignored him and continued looking at the headlines.

    He picked at his toast while his mother poured coffee, the silence between bites and sips comfortable, almost too comfortable.

    "You''re going to be late for work again," his mother chided, her tone half-serious.

    Helen had a way of always sounding mildly concerned, even when everything was perfectly fine.

    "I know, I know," Noah muttered, shoving the toast into his mouth before rushing to get ready.

    He went back inside his room to dress himself before heading out the door. The same routine that he had followed more times than he could count.

    Walking out of the door, he headed for his job at a local electronics store, which was just as unremarkable as the rest of his life.

    "Let''s see if I can sell a few smartphones or not." He stretched his arms while muttering.

    Noah took a deep breath as the crisp morning air filled his lungs. He began walking towards the electronics store. The same gray buildings and familiar faces passed him by.

    As he walked to work, he paused, hearing a faint hum in the air. He frowned, but the noise disappeared as quickly as it came. Shaking it off, he kept walking.

    Arriving at StarTech Electronics, Noah pulled the door open, the jingle of the bell announcing his arrival.

    The smell of freshly unpacked devices and the faint noises of display devices filled the air.

    "Look who decided to show up on time for once," came a sarcastic voice from behind the counter.

    Noah sighed, already knowing who it was. Elliot, his self-proclaimed mentor and the store''s most senior employee, leaned against the counter with his signature smirk.

    His hair was a little too perfectly styled, and he always seemed to have an unshakable air of smugness.

    "Morning, Elliot. Don''t you ever get tired of being so predictable?" Noah replied, placing his bag down behind the counter.

    "Predictable? I''m the most exciting thing in this place," Elliot shot back, waving dramatically at the store, which was currently devoid of customers.

    "Sure, let''s go with that," Noah muttered, pulling on his employee badge.

    Just then, the back door swung open, and Sophia, the store''s newest hire, stepped inside.

    With her bright red hair tied into a loose ponytail and a pair of thick-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, she looked perpetually enthusiastic, a stark contrast to Noah''s general demeanor.

    "Good morning, Noah! Good morning, Elliot!" Sophia chirped enthusiastically, balancing a tray of coffee cups.

    "Morning, Sophia. Let me guess, you brought coffee for everyone again?" Noah asked, taking one of the cups from her.

    "Of course! It''s the least I can do for my team," she replied cheerfully, setting the rest of the drinks down on the counter.

    Elliot raised an eyebrow, taking his cup. "You''re way too nice for this job, Sophia. Give it a few weeks, and you''ll be as jaded as the rest of us."

    "I doubt that," Sophia said with a smile. "Besides, working here is fun! I mean, who wouldn''t want to spend their day surrounded by all this cool tech?"

    Noah glanced around the store, taking in the neatly organized shelves of smartphones, laptops, and accessories. "Yeah, it''s a dream come true," he said with lifeless eyes, taking a sip of coffee.

    Before Sophia could respond, the bell above the door jingled again. A middle-aged man walked in, looking slightly lost but curious. Noah straightened up, ready to approach the customer.

    "Alright, Starfall," Elliot whispered with mock seriousness. "Time to prove you''re worth that hefty paycheck."

    "Thanks for the vote of confidence," Noah replied, walking over to the man.

    "Good morning! Can I help you with something today?" Noah asked, his voice polite but lacking the bubbly enthusiasm Sophia always managed to exude.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    The man scratched his head, glancing at a shelf of smartphones. "Yeah, I''m looking for a phone for my daughter. She''s starting high school and wants something... trendy."

    Noah nodded, launching into the usual speech about the store''s best-selling models, his mind half on autopilot. As he helped the customer compare features, he couldn''t help but overhear Elliot and Sophia behind him.

    "See? He''s got potential," Elliot said, chuckling.

    "He''s good," Sophia agreed, her voice genuinely impressed. "But he could smile more and be a little more enthusiastic."

    Noah rolled his eyes but finished the sale with the customer, who left with a new phone and a satisfied smile.

    "See? Another happy customer," Noah said as he returned to the counter, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

    "Don''t let it go to your head, Starfall," Elliot teased. "There''s still eight hours left in the day."

    "Just another day at work," Noah replied, taking another sip of coffee.

    As the day continued to pass, Noah found himself following the usual routine of his work, but Sophia''s cheerful presence and Elliot''s sarcastic banter added a bit of color to his otherwise monotone world.

    ¡­

    "Uhm~ That was an uneventful day." Noah stretched while walking back towards his home.

    "I wonder what will be for dinner today." He rubbed his chin while wondering.

    Soon, he reached his home. Sweet aroma drifted from the kitchen as he smiled and went to eat food with his family.

    Later at night, "Ugh, what should I do? Doomscroll on MyTube or play some game?"

    He thought aloud before spending his night on his usual routine.

    ¡­

    His weekends weren''t much different. Occasionally, his friends would drag him out to a bar or a movie, but even those moments were his usual routine.

    Nothing ever changed in his life. And for the most part, Noah was fine with that.

    His parents were average, hardworking people who had never achieved anything extraordinary, but they had always been there for him.

    Their love was simple and unwavering, a constant presence that Noah had never thought to question.

    His younger sister, Mia, was just starting college, equally unremarkable in her studies and social life.

    The only thing not normal about them was their family name, which they had no idea where it came from.

    And together, they formed a family that was happy in its simplicity, a bubble of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic world.

    During one of the ordinary evenings, Noah was lying on the couch, lazily flipping through TV channels.

    Beside him on the other couch, his younger sister Mia was scrolling through her phone, the blue light reflecting off her glasses.

    Their father sat in his usual armchair, turning the pages of a thick book with the kind of deliberate slowness that suggested he was savoring every word. From the kitchen, the comforting smell of dinner drifted into the living room.

    "Are you even watching anything, Bro?" Mia teased, glancing up from her phone.

    "It''s called ''channel surfing,'' Mia. Look it up," Noah shot back, his tone filled with mock sophistication.

    Before Mia could retort, a sudden Boom reverberated through the house, loud enough to rattle the windows and send books tumbling from the shelves.

    "What the hell was that?" Noah blurted, sitting upright as the remote slipped from his fingers.

    His father stood abruptly, his book falling to the floor. "An explosion? Maybe a gas leak?"

    From the kitchen, Helen, their mother, stepped into the doorway, clutching a dish towel. "Was it an earthquake? Are you two okay?"

    "I''m fine!" Mia called, though her voice trembled. She slid her phone into her pocket and stood up, her wide eyes darting toward the windows.

    Before anyone could think about it further, the lights flickered and went out. The once-cozy hum of the house fell into an eerie silence.

    Even the faint sounds of city life¡ªthe distant noise of cars¡ªwere gone.

    "I don''t like this," Mia whispered, moving closer to Noah.

    Thomas walked to the window, pulling aside the curtain. His jaw dropped. "You''ve got to see this."

    "What is it?" Helen asked, hurrying over with their kids close behind. Mia peeked out cautiously from behind Noah.

    The sky had transformed. Blood-red clouds churned violently overhead, streaked with black lightning that illuminated the eerie sky.

    At the center of the chaos, a massive figure descended slowly, its form glowing with an ominous energy.

    And then he saw it.

    A scene which will forever be etched in his memories.

    A massive, towering figure descended from the heavens, its twelve wings split between six snow-white and six jet-black spreading out like a shadow that blanketed the earth.

    "Is that... a person?" Mia whispered as she instinctively raised her phone, trying to focus on the figure in the sky. Her hands shook as she saw the being''s face, and she nearly dropped it as the first beam of crimson light struck nearby.

    "No, it''s something else," Noah said, his voice barely above a whisper.

    The Seraph''s glowing crimson eyes swept over the Earth as if it were looking at ants.

    The sheer weight of its presence pressed down on everything, making the air heavy and hard to breathe.

    Then it spoke.

    [One billion humans shall ascend to the Eternal Bloodlands. This is your reckoning and your opportunity. Fight, grow, or perish. The choice is no longer yours.]

    The voice wasn''t just sound¡ªit was a force that resonated deep in their bones, rattling their entire bodies, being impossible to ignore.

    "What is it saying?" Mia asked, her voice trembling.

    Noah stepped back from the window, his heart pounding in his chest. "I don''t know. But it doesn''t sound good."

    Their father grabbed Noah''s arm, his face pale. "We need to stay inside. Lock the doors and¡ª"

    Before he could finish, the sky erupted. Beams of crimson light shot down, striking random locations across the world.

    Each impact was accompanied by an explosion that shook the house and sent tremors through the ground. In the distance, screams rang out, mingling with the sound of crumbling buildings and shattering glass.

    Mia clung to Noah''s arm, her face pale with terror. "Brother, what''s happening? Are we going to die?"

    "No one''s dying," Noah said firmly, though his voice wavered. "Just stay close."

    Another beam of crimson light slammed into the street outside their house. The ground cracked open with a deafening roar, revealing a jagged rift that seemed to stretch endlessly downward.

    Helen pulled Mia close, her voice trembling. "Stay together. Don''t go near the windows."

    Their father grabbed Noah''s shoulder. "We have to move. Get to the basement or¡ª"

    Before he could finish, a blinding light filled the room, forcing them to shield their eyes.

    A searing pain shot through Noah''s chest, making him cry out. He looked down, expecting to see blood, but instead, an intricate sigil was carving itself into his skin, glowing with an ominous red hue.

    "Noah!" Mia screamed, grabbing his arm. "What''s wrong?!"

    Noah fell to his knees, clutching at the mark. "I don''t know! It burns!"

    Mia''s eyes filled with tears as she kneeled beside her brother, "Brother, Brother, don''t leave me!"

    Noah turned to his sister, forcing a weak smile through the pain. "Don''t cry, Mia. It''ll be okay¡ª"

    But before Helen and Thomas could look at their son, the Seraph''s voice returned, louder than before, echoing through their minds.

    [The chosen have been marked. Ten million of you shall ascend. Prepare yourselves for the Eternal Bloodlands. Your trials begin now.]

    Before anyone could react, a crimson pillar formed around Noah, engulfing his entire body as his body vaporized from the spot, all he could hear before it were the screams of his family which soon faded.

    As the crimson light swallowed him, Noah felt weightless, his body dissolving into the void. His last thought wasn''t of fear¡ªit was of Mia''s tear-streaked face, burned into his memory as everything else faded.

 Eternal Bloodlands

    As the crimson light faded from around him, Noah opened his eyes as he felt solid ground beneath him. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of morning dew and wildflowers.

    He placed a hand on his chest as he felt the place where the sigil was imprinted hurting slightly. Blinking, he realized that he was neither dead nor was he back at his home. ''Fuck, did I just get transmigrated to another world?''

    He slowly raised his head, the sky above him was a brilliant blue, but it wasn''t the same as his earth.

    Instead of one sun, there were three: one golden, one red, and one pale white, each casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. ''Fucking hell, 3 suns? How are they not colliding with each other from gravity? Or even how is this world even sustained?''

    But just then, the air buzzed with the murmurs of confused voices.

    Noah''s gaze lowered from the sky as he looked around himself. He was standing in the middle of a small village. Roughly constructed houses with thatched roofs lined the dirt path, and the villagers dressed in simple tunics and robes stared at the newcomers.

    Their expressions range from curiosity to pity.

    Around Noah, other humans were materializing in flashes of crimson light, each bearing the same sigil glowing faintly on their chests. ''More unlucky fucks.''

    As soon as getting a hold of themselves, some stumbled, disoriented from the sudden transfer, while others dropped to their knees, weeping or trembling. A few stood frozen, their eyes darting around in panic.

    Noah''s eyes widened as he instinctively checked his chest. The sigil was still there, etched into his skin, pulsating faintly as if connected directly to his heart.

    He swallowed hard, finally realizing the deep shit he was in. ''Fuck, I''m really not on earth? I just hope this world is not like Protect The Titan or Devilwoman Laughbaby.''

    The villagers began to gather around the newcomers, whispering among themselves. Some pointed at the weeping people, their faces showing either amusement or concern.

    From among the group of villagers, a man stepped forward. His thick beard and weathered face showed his years of experience, and his movements carried the confidence of someone in a higher position.

    The man coughed and cleared his throat, and the murmuring voices from the villagers quieted down.

    His voice was deep and calm, reaching the ears of even those who were going crazy due to the extreme simulation, "Everyone, listen carefully," he began, addressing the group of roughly 30 humans who had appeared. "I know you''re scared. I know you are confused. But you need to calm down and li-"

    "Calm down?" A fierce-looking man in his forties stepped forward, his face contorted with anger, "Are you with that monstrosity that brought us here?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air as he pointed a finger toward the man.

    ''Is this an idiot? If he was with that monstrosity he wouldn''t be calming down your ass.'' Noah thought to himself looking at the man.

    The bearded man''s expression didn''t change in the slightest. He raised his hand, palm outward, in a calming gesture, "I understand your anger," he said, doing his best to seem gentle, "But I assure you, we are not your enemies. We''ve been through this as well."

    "Through this?" a young woman from the group cried out, her voice trembling. "What is this? Where are we? Why did that thing choose us?"

    The bearded man nodded solemnly. "This is the Eternal Bloodlands," he said. His words were filled with such weight that they made everyone''s heart drop. "You''ve been brought here to survive. To fight. To grow stronger. It''s not fair, and it''s not kind, but it''s the reality you face now. The reality we faced long ago."

    ''Fuck, you could have softened your words a little.'' Noah groaned inwardly.

    Chaotic murmurs spread through the group as panic began to set in. Some shouted questions, while others clung to each other.

    Noah stayed quiet, his mind racing, ''Eternal Bloodlands? Fuck why does this name seem like the place I wouldn''t want to be in.''

    "Silence!" the bearded man bellowed, his voice booming over the crowd.

    The newcomers quieted down, their eyes locking onto him. "Listen to me carefully. If you don''t get a grip on yourselves, you won''t last a day here. The Bloodlands is not a playground. If you want to survive, you need to focus and work together."

    ''No shit,'' Noah clenched his fist while his gaze darted around, looking at the villagers who didn''t seem to want to die from despair, ''Phew, looks like this world isn''t that harsh if the villagers can have the spare power to show pity to us.''A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Noah thought before his gaze turned back to the bearded man. The bearded man continued, his tone softer now but no less strict.

    "My name is Garrick," he said. "I''m the head of this village. And like you, I was once brought here from another world. I survived because I listened and learned. You can do the same."

    A tall, thin man near Noah spoke up, his voice trembling. "What¡­ what happens if we don''t? If we can''t fight?"

    Garrick''s eyes hardened. "Then you''ll die," he said bluntly. "The monsters on the Eternal Bloodlands will not wait for you to improve by lazing around. Those mongrels roam beyond this village, ready to hunt and devour you at a moment''s notice."

    Noah''s lips trembled at Garrick''s blunt words, he took a deep breath and stepped forward, "Why us?" he asked, "Why were we specifically chosen?"

    Garrick''s gaze met his. "Chosen? Yes, you can indeed say you were chosen. But don''t for a second think it''s a second chance at life. I''m sure whatever life you had back on your home worlds was millions of times better than whatever you will have here."

    "As for why you were chosen?" He paused as if mulling over his words before he continued in a weary tone, "None of us know why the Seraph chooses its victims. But what I do know is this: you''re here now. And whether you like it or not, you will need to learn how to survive."

    The crowd fell silent, the gravity of Garrick''s words settling over them. Noah looked at the faces around him¡ªsome tear-streaked, others pale with fear¡ªand then back at Garrick. ''Survive huh,'' he thought, ''But how?''

    "Fine," Noah said, taking a deep breath, "How can we learn to survive in this world?"

    Garrick turned towards Noah, his gaze heavy, "The sigil on your chest," he pointed toward the chest of Noah, "That will help you to awaken the thing you need to survive in these Bloodlands."

    Noah raised an eyebrow and gently placed a hand on his chest. The sigil pulsed faintly.

    "What are we supposed to do next?" Noah raised his head and asked again.

    Garrick raised his head and looked at the suns high above the sky, "There is no time to rest, you guys need to head out before the sun sets or else the beasts in the wilderness will become far too active."

    Everyone''s on the scene began to panic as they knew nothing about what awaited them further. Noah took a deep breath, his heart beating wildly, ''Fuck, where are we heading out to?''

    "MEN! Bring out the weapons!" Garrick loudly yelled as the villagers scattered and began taking out a few racks of weapons.

    Garrick pointed at the racks, "Choose which weapon you want to take, all of them are specifically crafted by the village blacksmith for monster hunting. They might not be comparable to Soul Weapons, but they are good enough for newbies like you."

    The 30 or so Earth humans darted their gazes from one rack to another, not being able to understand why they had to choose a weapon.

    "NOO!! I don''t want anything of this! Give me my phone back!! My snap! My Ig! I don''t want to stay in this godforsaken world." A young woman broke down and cried loudly as she saw the lines of weapons neatly arranged in front of her.

    The surrounding people''s gazes filled with pity as they saw the girl.

    ''Is she an idiot?'' While Noah''s thought turned to another side as he looked at the girl weeping on the ground.

    "Godforsaken? We might very well be forsaken by the gods whom we prayed to in our worlds." Garrick''s heavy voice sounded again, this time showing his years of weariness.

    "There is no god in this world, as for those who proclaim themselves to be Gods? They are not much different than gods due to their absurd strength." His eyes shined as he reached to this point, "And the chosen ones can reach the realm of Divinity. Only if they get a high enough Class when they Awaken after gathering Soul Energy."

    Everyone''s breathing on the spot slowed, even the crying girl raised her head to stare at the old man.

    "Wh-what do you mean by this?" One of the bearded men among the group asked.

    "That''s why I said you guys don''t have time, if you don''t get your Class as soon as possible, you might die in a few days due to Soul Poisoning." He seriously said.

    Everyone stirred as the threat of death was not something they were willing to face so soon.

    "NOW! Choose a weapon for yourself, you don''t need to be proficient in it. You will learn slowly¡­as long as you don''t die." He finished saying and moved aside to let the people choose.

    The bearded man who questioned Garrick in the beginning was the first one to move, he looked at the weapons which ranged from Long Swords, Daggers, Short Swords, Bows, Spears, Shields, and a few more.

    "I will take this." The bearded man said, reaching out for a Greatsword from among the many weapons.

    It was a simple weapon, but with a sharp edge which flashed with a silvery hue.

    The others looked at each other before slowly moving forward and taking their weapons of choice, Noah being among them.

    ''What should I choose?'' Noah thought, looking at the choice of weapons in front of him.

    ''A greatsword like the previous guy will be too much for me, my body can''t handle it.'' He moved ahead from the greatsword and paused at the daggers.

    ''Hmm¡­if I''m going to fight monsters, then the range of these weapons will be quite problematical for me.'' He shook his head and inspected each weapon.

    ''Bow? Nah, if a monster got in close range I won''t be able to defend myself. Long Sword?'' He finally paused and took out the long sword from its sheath.

    He felt its weight on his hand before swinging it a couple of times to check its balance, ''This will do, it has both range and length for killing even large beast like a bull.''

    Noah thought to himself before sheathing his sword back and taking it.

    Soon, everyone chose their weapons and went back to their initial positions.

    Garrick stepped in front of them again, "So, looks like everyone has made their choices huh? Good." He nodded and counted the people.

    "Since there are 30 of you, you can make groups of 5 to hunt down monsters in the outside, but let me remind you. There are both pros and cons of hunting in a group, your progress will be low as the Soul Energy will be distributed between the 5 people based on their contribution. While hunting solo, all the Soul Energy of a beast will be gathered by a single individual."

    He paused, looking at the conflicting faces of the people as they considered making groups or not. "This is my advice as someone who has survived in these desolate lands, make a team and hunt together. Now the rest is up to you guys."

    Sighing slightly, he sat down on a nearby chair, waiting for the people in front of him to make their choices.

 Entering The Forest

    Noah silently looked at the people around him, observing their hesitation and fear of the unknown. The bearded man who had chosen the greatsword stepped forward again with a confident posture.

    "I''ll go alone," he loudly said, gripping his greatsword tightly. "I don''t trust any of you to watch my back. If I''m going to survive, it''ll be on my own terms."

    His words caused the rest of the group to become unease. Some nodded in agreement with his boldness, while others shook their heads and muttered quietly about his recklessness.

    Garrick looked at him with both pity and disappointment, "Suit yourself," he slowly said, "But don''t expect any help from us. It''s not that we are heartless but we ourselves are barely surviving."

    The bearded man shrugged and strode off towards the village gates without another word.

    Noah looked at the fading back of the bearded man, his thoughts churning as he calculated his own chances of survival alone in the wild.

    But before he could think further, three others from the group stepped forward with similar words as the bearded man. A lean man with daggers, a muscular woman with a spear, and a quiet teenager carrying a short sword all decided to part ways with the others.

    Each one of them wore varying levels of expression that ranged from grim determination to excitement of exploring a new world.

    Garrick sighed heavily, his face filled with pity, "Alas, all we can do is pray for them."

    Meanwhile, the remaining people began forming small groups. Two groups of five quickly formed, consisting of those who seemed to share the same ethnicity or had similar interests. The rest of the crowd hesitated, unsure of whom they could trust.

    Noah observed the faces of the remaining individuals, weighing his options. He knew going solo wasn''t an option for him. Even during his previous life, he was at most an average human, he had never killed a chicken, much less faced monsters.

    He didn''t even know whether he would be able to adapt to this new world or not. Especially hearing about the unknown amount of dangers.

    "Hey," a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see a young woman with short, messy brown hair and sharp eyes.

    She carried a bow slung over her shoulder and a quiver of arrows strapped to her back. "Wanna team up? You at least seem like a level-headed guy. The rest are either losing their minds or already formed teams."

    Noah hesitated for a moment, but as his gaze landed on the other quickly forming teams, he nodded his head. "Sure. I was thinking the same thing."

    She extended a hand. "Leah."

    "Noah," he replied, shaking her hand firmly.

    Two more people approached them. One was a broad-shouldered man with blond hair wielding a sword and a shield, his face calm and thoughtful. "Mind if I join? Name''s Victor. I don''t wanna die alone in the wild."

    The other was a thin, lean man with brown hair and a set of throwing knives strapped across his chest. He had an easygoing smile but sharp, observant eyes. "Do you guys mind if I join in as well? Name''s Daniel. I''m quite good with knives if I say so myself."

    Noah raised an eyebrow at Daniel. "Oh? Were you an athlete back on Earth?"

    Daniel smiled and shrugged, "Nah, nothing like that. But I was quite good at throwing cards, so I''m pretty confident in my ability."

    Noah and the other two''s lips quivered as they heard his words, but none of them decided to mention it as Noah exchanged glances with Leah before nodding. "Alright, that makes four of us. We just need one more."

    As they looked around, a petite woman with long black hair and a bow stepped forward cautiously. "I-I can help in treatment," she said softly. "At least, I think I can. I''ve always been good at first aid back on Earth. Maybe it will come in handy here."

    Emma gave her a calm smile. "Medic, eh? You''re in. What''s your name?"

    "Emma," the woman said, her voice becoming a bit more confident.

    "Welcome to the team, Emma," Noah said. He turned to the group. "Alright, we''re five now. Let''s stick together and figure out what to do after this."

    Garrick watched as the group of five approached him. He raised an eyebrow and nodded approvingly. "Good. At least some of you have sense. You''ll last longer as a team."

    He gestured toward the village gate. "Out there, you''ll find Soul Beasts. Stick to the outskirts at first. The closer you get to the forest''s heart, the stronger the beasts will be. Don''t get cocky, and don''t bite off more than you can chew."

    "Understood," Noah and the group replied, their voices resolute despite the burning anxiety clawing at their hearts.

    The group of five exited the village together. Noah raised an eyebrow as he saw the wooden fortifications outside the village.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "Looks like the Soul Beasts are more dangerous than we thought," Leah said softly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the village defenses.

    Daniel yawned, "Well, there are Soul Beasts in this world; I doubt the nights will be peaceful."

    Victor nodded his head, "Yes, we know next to nothing about this world. Maybe we should first ask the villagers for the details of the beasts."

    Noah shook his head, "It wouldn''t be helpful, as Garrick had said, we don''t have enough time. We might die in a few days to a few hours due to the Soul Poisoning. We need to hunt some beasts first."

    They continued chatting while moving towards the open plains some distance away from the village. There, they met the other humans who had gone out to hunt as well.

    But none of them interacted as everyone was either occupied looking for beasts or nervously walking around.

    "There, you see that forest?" Leah said, pointing towards the dense forest in the distance.

    Noah and the others turned their heads and looked at where she was pointing. "Ohh, a forest. Perfect! There should be a lot of beasts inside."

    Daniel nodded his head, "That''s indeed quite a good place, but we need to make sure some beast doesn''t sneak up on us."

    Emma nervously said, "Th-there can be poisonous animals there as well. W-we need to be prepared."

    Noah glanced at his group, "Then we should proceed with caution, but we need to head inside anyway. We can''t find beasts to hunt in these plains."

    The group discussed for a bit before walking towards the forest. There, they saw the bearded man who went solo heading into the forest.

    "Quite the reckless guy, I would say," Daniel commented with an amused smile on his face.

    "Leave him be; we can''t help those who don''t want to be helped." Victor shook his head while adjusting his shield. "I will take care of the front; you guys cover the back."

    Noah and the others nodded their heads as they got into position. Leah went to the back of the group while taking out her bow. Daniel, Noah, and Emma stood in the center.

    "Let''s flank Emma. She can''t fight much with her weak body, and we can keep her safe for emergencies like that." Noah said while walking towards the left of Emma.

    Daniel nodded as he shared similar views to Noah.

    "Wh-I-N-" Emma couldn''t form words as she saw the two of them flanking her to keep her protected.

    Noah''s lips curled into a gentle smile as he said, "No need to fret over it. We will need your help later if someone among us gets injured."

    Emma tightly clutched her hand and nodded her head hard.

    Leah and Victor smiled, seeing the scene, and the group soon started to advance through the dense forest.

    The terrain was rough, with overgrown roots jutting out of the ground and vines dropping down from the trees.

    "Stay alert," Victor said, his shield raised as he led the group. "We don''t know what might jump out of the forest at us."

    Leah walked at the rear, her bow half-drawn and an arrow nocked, her calm eyes scanned their surroundings. Noah, Daniel, and Emma stayed in the middle, looking for any possible ambush.

    A low growl suddenly echoed through the forest, freezing the group in their tracks. The sound was low and guttural, sending a chill down their spines.

    It seemed to come from ahead, growing louder with each passing second. Each member of the group exchanged nervous glances, their hot breaths visible in the cold air.

    "There¡­" Leah whispered, her voice trembling as she pointed a shaky finger at a shadow moving between the trees.

    The leaves rustled, parting to reveal a massive wolf stepping out of the darkness. Its glowing red eyes stared at them, filled with malice. The beast''s fur was so black it seemed to swallow the light around it, and its sharp fangs gleamed as it snarled.

    "Fuck, fuck, fuck, why the hell is this beast so big??" Victor said with a panicked voice, his grip on his sword and shield tightening to the point his knuckles turned white.

    His legs felt like lead, but he forced himself to step forward. "Stay in formation! Don''t let it separate us!" His voice cracked, betraying his fear.

    The wolf''s snarl deepened, and without warning, it lunged. The sheer speed of the beast was almost beyond their comprehension.

    Victor barely raised his shield in time. The impact was bone-shaking, forcing him to stagger back with a grunt as his knees nearly buckled. His shield arm screamed in pain, but he held on.

    "Sh-shit! Attack it! Now!" Victor roared, his voice breaking as he braced against the beast''s immense strength.

    Leah''s fingers fumbled as she drew an arrow, her breaths coming in sharp gasps.

    She stretched the bowstring to its limit, her arms quivering from the effort. Taking a shaky aim at the wolf''s side, she released the arrow. It struck the beast, embedding itself in the beast''s shoulder.

    The wolf let out a piercing howl, but instead of retreating, its rage seemed to grow. Its murderous eyes locked onto Leah, and it lunged again, its speed almost a blur.

    "Bloody hell!" Noah shouted, stepping in its path, though his own legs felt like they''d give out any moment.

    His heart pounded in his chest as he swung his longsword, the blade glinting in the faint light. His attack barely grazed the wolf''s thick hide, and the beast snapped its massive jaws at him, forcing him to stumble back in panic.

    Daniel''s eyes darted wildly, his breath coming in short bursts. He fumbled with his throwing knife before hurling it with a desperate yell, "Take this, you oversized mutt!"

    The blade struck the wolf''s hind leg, but the hit was far from clean. Still, the beast staggered for a moment, its snarl turning into a guttural growl as it whipped around to face him.

    "Shit! Shit!" Daniel yelled, diving behind Victor''s shield. "Why is it looking at me now?! Someone get it off me!"

    "Fuck, why are you hiding behind me??" Victor shouted through gritted teeth, his shield still trembling under the wolf''s earlier blow. "Do you want to get me killed so bad?"

    Emma stood frozen, her bow trembling in her hands. Her breath hitched as tears welled in her eyes. "I-I can''t¡­ it''s too fast¡­"

    "You can," Noah shouted, his voice rising above the chaos. "Aim for its legs! We need to slow it down!"

    Emma swallowed hard, her fear nearly overwhelming her. But as the wolf growled and charged toward Victor again, she took a deep breath, her fingers tightening on the string.

    She released the arrow, her hands shaking as she watched it fly. The arrow struck the beast''s front leg, and to her astonishment, it faltered.

    "Good shot!" Leah called, her voice tinged with desperation. She loosed another arrow, which sank deep into the wolf''s ribs. The beast howled in agony, staggering but refusing to fall.

    "Keep hitting it!" Noah yelled, circling the wolf nervously with unsteady steps. His palms were slick with sweat, his sword wobbling in his grip. "Daniel, don''t stop now!"

    "Yeah, yeah, I''m on it!" Daniel forced a grin, though his hands trembled as he pulled out another knife. His throw lacked power, but the blade found its mark, embedding in the wolf''s side. "Eat that, you bastard!"

    The wolf''s movements became erratic, its injuries slowing it down. Victor seized the chance, surging forward with a roar that was more fear than courage.

    He slammed his shield into the beast''s face, the impact reverberating through his arm. The wolf stumbled, shaking its massive head in disorientation.

    "Noah! Finish it!" Victor shouted, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

 Improvements

    Noah hesitated for a fraction of a second, his legs quaking as he moved in. The wolf was massive, and up close, it radiated a terrifying presence. But he gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the longsword.

    He raised it high and, with every ounce of strength he could muster, slashed at the wolf''s exposed neck.

    The blade cut deep, a spray of blood staining the forest floor. The wolf let out a final, haunting howl before collapsing with a heavy thud, its glowing eyes dimming.

    For a moment, no one moved. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, and the silence of the forest seemed even more dangerous.

    Then, a faint azure mist rose from the wolf''s body, swirling into an orb before splitting into uneven parts. The mist was drawn toward each of them, sinking into their bodies.

    "What¡­ was that?" Emma whispered, her voice shaky.

    Noah''s hands trembled as he wiped the blood off his blade. "I¡­ I think we survived¡­"

    Daniel fell to his knees, laughing hysterically. "That''s it? Just one monster and I''m ready to quit. What fucking world is this?!"

    Victor groaned, clutching his shield arm. "Shut up and thank your luck you''re alive." But his lips twitched into a weak, relieved smile.

    Noah soon felt surprised as he sensed his body being rejuvenated, filling with energy. He raised his hand as he felt himself getting noticeably stronger than before.

    The others had similar reactions as they looked at their own bodies getting stronger.

    "Is this what Garrick said about us being granted a chance?" Leah softly said.

    Noah clenched and unclenched his fist. "Looks like this is the so-called Soul Energy he was talking about. We need to kill more beasts to get this."

    Daniel took out a throwing knife and aimed at a tree. He threw it with all his strength.

    Boom!

    The knife flew through the air before strongly hitting the tree, making a loud noise. "Woah! Looks like we are really getting stronger," Daniel said in a surprised tone.

    The others flexed their weapons as well, and everyone noticed clear improvements in their strength, agility, endurance, and perception, among other things.

    "What should we do about this wolf?" Victor asked, pointing toward the giant wolf lying down.

    Daniel collected all of his throwing knives from the body of the wolf while saying, "What else? We leave this shit here and move on to fight something else. This feeling of improvement is really crazy."

    Victor looked at him for a moment as if looking at a moron before turning to the others. "What about you guys?"

    Noah shook his head. "We should head back for now. The sun is already setting, and we have already hunted a beast for now. That Soul Poisoning thing shouldn''t happen for a while."

    Leah agreed with him. "True, and we need to find out how we can improve our strength or if we should look out for something while absorbing the Soul Energy."

    Emma nodded her head along, clearly wanting to leave the forest as soon as possible.

    Daniel also calmed down. "I guess that''s true. We should leave from here for now. I was getting too intoxicated in the feeling of getting stronger."

    "Okay, now back to the first question. What should we do about this wolf?" Victor asked with a shake of his head.

    Noah looked at it for a while before saying, "We should take it back, even if it''s useless. We can at least earn some respect from the villagers, and they won''t see us as absolute waste of space."

    "That''s good. We can show the others who got here with us who''s the boss, heh," Daniel smirked and went toward the wolf. "But holy hell, it will be a pain in the ass to transfer this to the village."

    Noah and Victor reached the sides of the wolf before Victor said, placing his shield on his back, "It might have been nearly impossible before, but with the enhancement of the Soul Energy, we should be able to do it now."

    Daniel nodded before the three of them crouched down and grabbed one corner of the wolf. "Ugh, fuck this heavy bastard," he cursed, picking up the wolf.

    "We¡­ just need to take it back to the village," Noah said as the group began moving soon.

    Leah and Emma looked at each other before following after them.

    ¡­

    "Woah, look at those guys," the other returning people said, pointing fingers at Noah and the group as they were the first ones to return among the large groups.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Others who went in smaller groups couldn''t take back the prey they had killed, while some others didn''t return altogether.

    The villagers stared in surprise, whispers spreading among the crowd.

    "They actually brought one back?" someone murmured.

    "They actually managed to kill a Soul Beast on the first day?" another voice said, filled with curiosity.

    Garrick approached the group, nodding his head in recognition as he looked at the wolf. "You people have done well. Killing an E-Grade Beast on your first day is commendable."

    Noah set down his part of the carcass and wiped his brow. "It wasn''t easy, but we managed to do it somehow."

    Garrick''s gaze moved among the group, looking at their tired yet excited expressions. "Looks like you guys have had your taste of absorbing Soul Energy. Good. This will help you all understand what''s necessary to survive in this world. Follow me, we''ll process the beast."

    The group followed Garrick to a makeshift processing area near the village''s edge. Several villagers joined in to help skin the wolf and extract its valuable parts¡ªteeth, claws, and fur¡ªwhile another villager prepared the meat for preservation.

    Noah and Daniel looked especially closely as if memorizing how the villagers were processing the beast''s carcass.

    "What''s all this for?" Leah asked, watching as the villagers worked efficiently.

    "Soul Beasts have parts that are useful for crafting and survival," Garrick explained. "Fur for clothing, claws and teeth for weapons or tools, and the meat is far more nourishing than regular food or normal small beasts. Eating it also helps in nourishing your body, though the effects are barely noticeable."

    Noah''s group exchanged glances, realizing that the beast was far more useful than they had thought.

    "What about the Soul Energy we absorbed?" Noah asked. "What can we do with it now?"

    Garrick''s expression grew serious. "Soul Energy is your lifeline here. As you grow more, you''ll eventually reach a threshold. After that, you will enter E-Grade and awaken a Class. That Class will define your combat abilities and could determine whether you survive in this world. Keep hunting, keep absorbing, and reach E-Grade as soon as possible. That''s the only way to let go of the worry of dying from Soul Poisoning."

    Emma fidgeted nervously. "How do we know when we''ve gathered enough?"

    Garrick glanced at her. "The sigil. It will burn and transform into your Class, among other things. Your body will begin to change when you awaken. But be warned: the process isn''t easy. It''ll test your willpower, and if you fail¡­" He trailed off, his silence more ominous than any words could be.

    "Great," Daniel muttered, rolling his eyes. "My life became a fucking LitRPG game."

    Despite his sarcasm, the group couldn''t deny the weight of Garrick''s words. The path ahead was dangerous, but they had no choice but to walk it.

    Once the wolf was fully processed, Garrick handed them a small bag filled with the beast''s teeth and claws. "Take these as proof of your kill. You can trade them with the villagers for supplies or save them for crafting an E-Grade weapon later. Either way, they''ll be valuable."

    Noah accepted the bag with a nod. "Thanks. We''ll keep that in mind."

    As the group left the processing area, they felt the eyes of other humans on them. Some gazes filled with envy, others with respect or curiosity. One man approached them, his expression hesitant.

    "How did you manage to take it down?" he asked, his voice filled with desperation. "We couldn''t even bring back the rabbit-like thing we attacked. It was too fast to catch properly."

    Daniel grinned, "Skill issue, bitch. Get good."

    Noah shot him a stare. "No need to be rude. We wouldn''t have been able to do it as well if we weren''t in a group."

    Daniel turned his head away, not engaging further.

    Victor glanced at Noah, silently asking if they should share. Noah nodded and stepped forward. "You guys need coordination in your attacks," he said, addressing not only the young man but all the people from Earth who couldn''t hunt down a beast.

    "We managed to kill this beast not because we were strong, but because we worked together. One tanking the beast, another distracting it, some dealing damage to it. That''s the key. Coordination with your group."

    He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "As for you guys, your groups are far too small to do everything on your own. I would advise you to make at least a 4-man group so you can effectively hunt down beasts."

    The man nodded slowly, his eyes lighting up with hope as he hurried back to his group, eager to discuss their next plans.

    Leah looked at Noah, a smile formed on her lips. "How generous you are with your advice. I didn''t think you would be one to help others so easily."

    Noah shook his head. "What else do you want me to do? We all are from the same world. The least I can do is advise them on how to move forward."

    Emma nodded her head in agreement. "T-true, it would be a pity if all of them died due to beasts."

    Noah smiled and turned back to his team. "Let''s rest for now. We need to be ready for tomorrow."

    The others nodded, but everyone paused as they realized one problem. "¡­And where will we rest?" Leah asked slowly.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    Everyone got silent, looking at each other speechlessly.

    "¡­Umm, maybe there is like a tavern in this village? We can use the Soul Beast part to take a room," Emma slowly said, glancing at the group.

    Noah''s eyes lit up. "Yes! We can look around for a tavern here. There must be one with the way they were prepared for newcomers to come here."

    "We can ask a villager for the location," Victor said, looking around to see a nearby villager.

    They spotted a man basking in the evening sun outside of his house. The group glanced at each other before Noah moved toward the man.

    "Excuse me, do you know where we can find the tavern?" he politely asked the middle-aged man.

    "Yes, go straight before taking a right turn. There, you will find a two-story building. That''s one of the taverns," the man lazily replied without even opening his eyes.

    Noah nodded his head. "Thanks for the help," and soon returned to his group.

    "Let''s go," Noah said before moving to the front of the group.

    ¡­

    The group soon arrived in front of the tavern, a decent two-story building with a wooden sign saying ''open,'' swinging gently in the breeze.

    "So this is the tavern or inn, huh," Leah said while looking at the tavern.

    "Let''s head in and see what they''ll charge us," Noah replied, pushing the door open. The group followed him inside.

    The interior of the tavern was cozy but bustling with activity. Several villagers and adventurers were seated at tables, sharing drinks and stories.

    A young woman stood behind the counter, her gentle eyes and warm smile welcoming them. She wore a simple but neat dress.

    "Welcome," the woman said, noticing their weird choice of clothes. "How can I assist you?"

    Noah stepped forward. "We''re looking for rooms. What''s the price?"

    The receptionist glanced at the group, her eyes briefly pausing on the bag of beast parts they carried. "Rooms here are one E-rank Beast''s tooth per night per room. We provide basic accommodations, meals, and access to the bathhouse."

    Daniel raised an eyebrow. "A tooth for a room? Isn''t this daylight robbery?"

 Making Plans

    The woman smiled softly and explained, "Looks like it''s your first day here. This is the cheapest price you can get for a room. After all, the E-rank beasts are the weakest, and you can defeat them in a group easily. But if you still think it''s expensive, then you are free to negotiate accommodations elsewhere."

    Victor shrugged. "It''s fair enough. We can afford it for now."

    Noah nodded and handed over five teeth from the bag. "We''ll take five rooms."

    The woman accepted the teeth and placed them in a small chest behind the counter. She handed them five wooden keys with a bright smile on her face, each engraved with a number. "Your rooms are on the second floor. Enjoy your stay."

    Each of them took a key before ascending the stairs, splitting off to find their respective rooms. Each room was small but clean, with a simple bed, a desk, and a small window that offered a view of the village.

    Noah sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his longsword standing against the wall.

    His mind kept replaying the events of the day, thinking about how everything had changed abruptly.

    "Mom¡­ Dad¡­ Mia¡­ I wonder how they are doing currently," he said with a soft sigh. "Maybe¡­ maybe the life in my last life was better, even if it was uneventful."

    "¡­"

    "Sigh, no point thinking about it. I need to first survive in this hellhole. Those guys aren''t half bad. I can team up with them for now and hunt," he said to himself.

    "But Daniel¡­ why does that bastard seem so unreliable, even though he was useful? Haa¡­" He released a tired sigh as his mind replayed the events of the day.

    After a while, another thought crossed his mind as his gaze landed on the sword again. He had never wielded a sword before, and his clumsy movements during the fight had been painfully obvious.

    He couldn''t afford to rely solely on luck and the others'' skills.

    "Fuck it, I need to survive first if I want to even survive," Noah said with a determined tone. Standing up, he grabbed his sword before leaving his room.

    The hallway was quiet, with the others already settling in for the night.

    He made his way downstairs and exited through the back door of the tavern, finding himself in a small open area that seemed to be used for storage and deliveries. It was quiet and dimly lit, perfect for practice.

    Standing in the middle, Noah took a deep breath, unsheathing his longsword as he prepared for training.

    He planted his feet firmly and tried to recall what little he knew about swordsmanship from movies and books.

    "Alright, let''s start with the basics," he muttered to himself.

    He practiced holding the sword correctly, adjusting his grip until it felt natural. He then moved on to basic stances, trying to balance his weight evenly and keep his posture steady.

    The sword felt heavier than he expected, and his muscles hurt with each swing.

    "Bloody hell, this is harder than it looks," Noah grumbled, sweat forming on his brow as he repeated the motions.

    His swings were slow and awkward at first, but he focused on improving his form rather than speed. Each movement became a little smoother, a little more precise.

    The sound of the sword cutting through the air filled the quiet backyard of the tavern, accompanied by Noah''s rough breaths.

    He lost track of time while being immersed in his practice. His arms ached due to overexertion, but he pushed through the discomfort, knowing that solidifying his basics could mean the difference between life and death in this world.

    Unbeknownst to Noah, a pair of eyes watched him from one of the tavern''s second-floor windows. Emma stood at the window, her eyes bright with admiration as she looked at Noah''s dedication.

    "I-I need to be like him. I can''t keep dragging my team back," she softly whispered, her fists clenched with determination. But looking at the late night, she sighed and closed the curtains.

    Back in the courtyard, Noah finally lowered his sword, panting heavily. His muscles screamed in pain and exhaustion, but his eyes flashed brilliantly as a faint smile formed on his lips.

    "That''s enough for tonight," he said, sheathing the sword and heading back inside. His form had visibly improved, as his control over his body was far greater than an average human due to Soul Energy.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "If my stance was half as good as right now back when we were fighting that wolf, I wouldn''t have suffered as much as today." He took a deep breath before heading back inside.

    Soon, he reached his room and dropped down on the bed, the day''s exhaustion finally hitting his body as his eyes grew heavy.

    The warm rays of the morning sun came through the thin curtains, casting a soft golden glow across Noah''s room.

    His eyes fluttered open. Stretching his sore arms, he slowly sat straight.

    "Ugh, fuck, did I overdo my training yesterday?" Noah muttered while flexing his arms, remembering the intense training he did yesterday.

    Noah took a deep breath while rubbing his face before freshening up and taking a bath.

    ¡­

    Soon he returned to his room and wore his old clothes, which were already looking worn due to yesterday''s hunt.

    "Haa¡­ I don''t know how long these clothes will last." He sighed before putting on his shirt and pants. His gaze landed on his longsword propped against the wall. With a determined look on his face, he stood and strapped it to his waist before heading downstairs.

    As he slowly descended the creaking wooden stairs, the sound of conversation came from downstairs. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meat wafted from the tavern''s kitchen, making his stomach growl.

    ''Looks like we can finally eat,'' he thought before hurrying downstairs. Soon, he entered the main hall and saw his team already gathered around a table near the corner.

    Leah waved him over with a smile. "Morning, Noah. You''re up later than I expected."

    Noah chuckled, taking a seat beside her. "I might''ve overdone it yesterday. Needed the extra sleep."

    Daniel smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Practicing your swordsmanship in the dead of the night, eh? Your grunting was loud enough to reach the second floor yesterday. It really pumped me up to train as well."

    Victor shook his head with a chuckle. "Stop your bullshit. You went straight to sleep as soon as we got here."

    Daniel''s eyes twitched. "You can keep quiet, and no one will think you''re mute."

    Emma, sitting quietly at the table, gave a small nod. "I-I saw you practicing too. It was... inspiring." Her voice was soft but filled with determination, a stark contrast to her usual timid demeanor.

    Noah turned his head to Emma before giving her an encouraging nod. "You should practice as well. We need to improve as much as we can to survive in this accursed world."

    The rest of the group nodded their heads as their expressions turned serious.

    Noah raised an eyebrow as he saw the atmosphere shifting. "Anyways, what''s for breakfast?"

    "Good enough to fill our stomachs," Leah said, passing him a plate of bread, eggs, and a strip of smoked meat. "The tavern is quite generous with their food. The meals are enough to power a hunter throughout the day since the meat is from the beast we killed yesterday."

    Noah looked at Leah in surprise. "Oh? You got the meat of that beast? I thought Garrick took all of it."

    Victor shook his head. "No, he only took the payment for dismantling the wolf without destroying its precious parts like claws, teeth, and other things. He came to give us our part in the morning."

    Noah''s eyes flashed with surprise. "Oh? That''s quite generous of him."

    As they ate, Victor cleared his throat. "We need to make plans for today''s hunt. We barely survived yesterday, but with that success, we can hunt a beast like that much more easily. We need more Soul Energy if we want to reach E Grade as soon as possible."

    Leah nodded, her expression growing serious. "Yes, the outskirts of the forest were doable, but we need to push deeper if we want to face stronger beasts and improve rapidly."

    "Deeper means riskier," Noah said, chewing thoughtfully. "We barely managed with that wolf yesterday. If we run into a pack or something stronger, it could be the end of us. And we have yet to know what level of beasts are there in the forest."

    Daniel shrugged, tossing a piece of bread into his mouth. "We''ll just have to be smarter. Stick together, and plan better. Besides, we''re already stronger than we were yesterday, thanks to that Soul Energy."

    Emma fidgeted with her fork. "M-maybe we should stay near the outskirts a little longer? Just to be safe."

    Victor gave her a reassuring smile. "We''ll take it step by step. We''re not going to rush deep into the forest."

    Noah finished his eggs before exhaling a breath. "Let''s set clear goals first. We need to decide how many beasts we need to kill before heading deeper into the jungle. I remember Garrick mentioning that beasts also have grades, and E-tier beasts can be multiple times stronger than the one we faced."

    Leah pulled out a rough map the villagers had provided. "Here''s the forest layout. The outskirts are marked in green, and the deeper zones are in red. I say we hunt at least three more beasts before heading further into the red zone tomorrow."

    "Sounds reasonable," Victor agreed. "We''ll focus on killing the lone beasts on the outskirts first, then retreat before nightfall."

    Daniel grinned. "Perfect. This will help us grow strong enough to face beasts at the outskirts of the red zone."

    Emma hesitated but finally nodded. "I-I''ll try my best."

    "Good," Noah said, standing and placing his plate aside. "Let''s finish up and get moving. The sooner we start, the more kills we can get."

    The group nodded in unison before quickly finishing their meal. They double-checked their weapons and supplies before heading out.

    All the passing people looked at them with shining eyes.

    "Look! That''s the first group who returned with a Soul Beast," one of the crowd members muttered while pointing at Noah''s group.

    "Yes, I heard two more groups returned with a successful hunt," a young man said with admiration in his eyes.

    "But I heard the bearded man, another lean man, and the muscular woman who left alone never returned. Most are saying they died inside," a villager said with a look of pity on his face.

    "Yes, but the young man who went solo returned alive, albeit barely and heavily injured, but he had successfully killed a weaker Soul Beast," another one shared an astonishing piece of news.

    Noah raised his eyebrow, hearing the villagers'' words. "So those guys died, huh?"

    Victor shook his head with pity. "They could have lived far longer if their arrogance hadn''t blinded them."

    Daniel, on the other hand, looked surprised as he said, "That young man actually managed to kill a Soul Beast all on his own."

    Noah shook his head. "That''s useless. He''s already heavily injured. Who knows how long he''ll take to heal? And in that time, if he dies from Soul Poisoning¡­"

    His words trailed off, but everyone understood their implications. Their hearts beat faster as they thought about what would have happened to them if they were injured.

    "Anyways, let''s go. We need to find beasts to hunt as well," Daniel quickly said before rushing forward.

    Noah shook his head with a smile before following after him.

 Fighting in the Forest Again

    Soon, everyone reached the edge of the forest. Noah looked at his group for a bit before saying, "Now, we need to move forward carefully. We were lucky yesterday that we managed to come back alive."

    The others nodded their heads firmly before slowly following him inside the forest.

    Everyone quickly faded into the dense forest. The faint chirping of the birds and the rustling of the leaves filled their surroundings, but an eerie sense of danger hung in the air.

    Sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, casting weird shadows that played tricks on their eyes.

    Noah tightened his grip on the hilt of his longsword, glancing at the others. "Stay in formation. Victor at the front, Leah in the back for support. Daniel and I will handle mid-range. Emma, stay protected and ready to assist if needed."

    Victor nodded, raising his shield and leading the way cautiously. Leah grabbed her bow tightly and drew it to a comfortable point while scanning their surroundings.

    Daniel had his throwing knives ready, sharply observing the area, while Emma stuck close to the center, her hands trembling slightly but holding her position.

    After several minutes of careful trekking, a low growl broke the silence. Everyone froze, their eyes darting toward the sound.

    "There," Leah whispered, pointing at a patch of dense undergrowth ahead. The leaves rustled, and a beast slowly emerged¡ªa massive feline creature with sleek, black fur and glowing yellow eyes.

    Its claws dug into the ground as it let out a guttural snarl, baring sharp fangs.

    "Another E-tier beast," Noah muttered, gripping his longsword tightly. "Same formation as before. Don''t let it separate us."

    The beast crouched down, its muscles compressing like springs, ready to pounce.

    Without warning, it lunged at Victor with incredible speed. He braced himself, raising his shield just in time to absorb the impact. The force of the blow pushed him back a few steps, but he withstood this attack much easier compared to the wolf.

    "Now!" Victor yelled, shoving the beast back with his shield.

    Leah released an arrow with precise aim. The projectile struck the beast''s side, causing it to growl in pain, but it did not retreat.

    Daniel seized the opportunity, hurling a knife that embedded itself in the beast''s shoulder. "Take that, you oversized cat!"

    The beast''s glowing eyes locked onto Daniel, and it leaped toward him with a vicious growl.

    Noah intercepted, slashing with his longsword. His blade grazed the creature''s side, forcing it to redirect its attack and narrowly miss Daniel.

    "Emma, aim for its legs!" Noah shouted as he positioned himself between the beast and the group.

    Emma''s hands trembled, but she quickly nocked an arrow and pulled back the string. She aimed at the beast''s lower leg, releasing the arrow, which struck the beast a little above its leg. The creature roared in pain, stumbling slightly.

    "Good shot!" Leah encouraged, releasing another arrow that hit the beast in the side.

    Victor charged forward, using his shield to slam the creature''s head before slashing with his sword. The beast staggered, and Noah saw his chance.

    "Daniel, hit it again!" Noah yelled.

    Daniel grinned, throwing another knife that pierced the beast''s neck. Blood spurted from the wound, and the creature let out a guttural howl.

    "NOW!" Noah roared, gripping his sword with both hands. He lunged forward, slashing at the beast''s exposed neck. His blade hit deep, severing vital arteries. The beast let out a final whimper before collapsing to the ground.

    The group stood there for a moment, panting heavily as the adrenaline coursed through their veins.

    As the beast died, it released the familiar azure-white mist, forming an orb that split into five uneven parts and was absorbed by the group.

    Noah felt the energy flow through his body, rejuvenating him and sharpening his senses. His grip on his sword tightened as he felt his strength and control improve further.

    "That¡­ wasn''t as bad as yesterday," Leah said, her breathing heavy. "We''re getting better."

    "Yeah, but it still wasn''t easy," Victor replied, inspecting his shield for any damage. "We can''t afford to relax, or else even our equipment might break."

    Daniel retrieved his knives from the beast''s body, smirking. "Hey, we''re alive, and we got stronger. That''s what matters."

    Emma knelt beside the beast, her hands shaking slightly as she touched its fur. "W-we''re improving, but it''s still so¡­ intense."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Noah placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod. "You did great, Emma. That shot to its leg gave us the opening we needed."

    She nodded, a faint smile breaking through her nervous expression.

    "Alright," Noah said, standing up. "Let''s dismember this beast first and take all its valuable parts."

    Noah unsheathed his longsword, ready to start the gruesome task. He glanced at the group, noting their varied reactions. Leah and Emma both had their faces scrunched up in clear disgust.

    "Do we really have to¡­ cut it up?" Leah asked, her voice filled with reluctance as she eyed the beast''s lifeless body.

    Emma took a step back, covering her nose. "I-I don''t think I can handle this. The smell alone is enough to make me gag."

    Victor shook his head with a wry smile. "Honestly, I don''t know the first thing about dismembering a beast. It''s not like I ever had to do this back on Earth."

    Noah sighed, rubbing his temples. "Figures. Guess it''s up to me and Daniel."

    Daniel grinned, playing with one of his knives in his hand. "I''ve got the tools for the job, and I''m not a pussy. Let''s get to work."

    "HEY!" Leah and Emma both shot him a glare, which he conveniently ignored.

    "Right," Noah said, rolling up his sleeves. "You focus on the smaller, precise cuts¡ªclaws, teeth, and fur. I''ll handle the larger parts like skinning and separating the meat."

    Daniel nodded, crouching beside the beast. "Got it. Let''s do this quickly before the smell gets worse."

    As Noah and Daniel began their work, Leah and Emma stood at a safe distance, their faces pale. Victor stayed nearby, his shield and sword at the ready in case another beast decided to attack.

    Noah started with the beast''s fur, using his longsword to make long, clean cuts along the beast''s back. The hide was thick and resistant, but with his enhanced strength and sharp blade, he managed to peel it off in large sections.

    Meanwhile, Daniel worked with precision, expertly prying out the creature''s claws and teeth. "These are in pretty good shape," he remarked, holding up a fang that glinted in the sunlight filtering through the trees. "Should fetch a decent trade or be useful for crafting later."

    "Good," Noah replied, grunting as he sliced through a particularly tough section of muscle. "We''ll need these for crafting later. I heard you can use them for forging weapons."

    Leah tried to look away, but her curiosity got the better of her. "How do you even know how to do that? It''s not like we ever had to dismember animals back on Earth."

    Noah shrugged, his focus never wavering from his work. "I don''t know how to do it as well. But I remember watching the villagers do it, so I guess I picked it up from there. Either way, we have to do it, even if the work is not good or if it gets messy."

    Emma, still looking queasy, muttered, "Messy is an understatement¡­"

    After what felt like an eternity, they finished. The beast''s fur, claws, teeth, and a portion of its meat were neatly packed into bags the group had carried from the village.

    The group decided to discard the rest of the carcass, which was too heavy and cumbersome to bring along.

    Noah stood, wiping the sweat from his brow. His hands were stained with blood, but his expression was calm. "Alright, we''re done. Let''s head out before other beasts get attracted due to the smell of this mess."

    Daniel slung the bag of claws and teeth over his shoulder, giving a satisfied nod. "Not bad for our first attempt. You''re a natural, Noah."

    Leah and Emma hesitantly moved closer, careful to avoid stepping in any of the blood. "Thanks for handling that," Leah said, her voice still tinged with disgust. "I don''t think I could''ve done it."

    Noah looked at her in amusement for a bit before shaking his head. "No problem. We all have our roles. Let''s move."

    The group chatted for a short bit before quickly gathering their belongings and moving deeper into the forest.

    The air grew cooler, and the shadows cast by the dense canopy above seemed to stretch endlessly. Every rustle of leaves and crack of twigs set them on edge, their hands gripping their weapons tightly.

    "We need to be careful," Victor warned with a heavy voice, his shield raised as he led the way. "The more we venture in, the higher the chances of running into a higher-grade beast."

    Leah nodded, her bow ready. "I''ll keep an eye on the rear. Let me know if anyone spots movement."

    Noah moved beside Victor, his longsword resting against his shoulder. "Let''s stay focused. Two more beasts, and we can head deeper to check it."

    The group continued cautiously for several minutes, the silence broken only by the occasional broken twig beneath their feet. Suddenly, Emma''s voice came in a hushed whisper. "T-There''s s-something ahead. Movement in the bushes."

    Everyone froze, their eyes locking on the patch of dense bush Emma had noticed. A moment later, a creature emerged¡ªa hulking boar-like beast with tusks the size of daggers.

    Its hide was covered in coarse, bristle-like fur, and its eyes glowed faintly red.

    "That''s an E-tier beast, all right," Noah muttered while exhaling a sigh of relief, gripping his sword tightly. "Formation! Same as before."

    The boar snorted, pawing the ground as it prepared to charge. Without warning, it rushed toward Victor with surprising agility.

    Victor braced himself, planting his shield firmly into the ground just before the boar struck.

    BOOM!

    The impact was deafening, the force nearly knocking him off his feet. "It''s stronger than it looks!" he shouted, gritting his teeth.

    Leah fired an arrow, aiming for the boar''s side. The arrow struck, but it barely seemed to faze the beast. Daniel followed up with a knife, which embedded itself in the creature''s neck. The boar let out an enraged squeal, turning its attention to Daniel.

    "Fucking hell!! Do these beasts love me or what," Daniel shouted, dodging to the side as the boar charged at him. "A little help?"

    Noah took the opportunity to attack, slashing at the boar''s hind leg. The blade cut deep, causing the beast to stumble and lose its balance. "Emma, now! Go for the other leg!"

    Emma trembled, but her gaze, filled with determination, nocked an arrow and released it. Her shot hit precisely, striking the boar''s other hind leg.

    The creature roared in pain, collapsing to its knees due to the double attack, despite Emma''s shot not causing much damage.

    Victor stepped forward, with his shield raised, and delivered a heavy blow to the boar''s head with his sword. The beast''s movements grew sluggish, its strength fading.

    "Finish it off!" Victor yelled.

    Noah didn''t hesitate. He swung his longsword in a wide arc, the blade biting deep into the boar''s neck. With a final, guttural squeal, the beast collapsed, lifeless.

    The familiar azure-white mist rose from the beast, forming into an orb that split unevenly among the group. Each member felt the surge of energy course through their bodies, their fatigue melting away as their entire physique grew stronger.

    "Two down," Leah said, panting heavily. "We''re doing better."

    "Yeah, but we''re not done yet," Noah replied, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let''s take what we can from this one and move on."

    Once again, Noah and Daniel got to work, dismembering the beast with much more efficiency. They collected its tusks, hide, and a portion of the meat, packing everything into their bags.

 Awakening

    "We''re getting the hang of this," Daniel said, hefting his bag with a grin. "One more, and we can scout ahead."

    The group continued deeper into the forest, their spirits boosted by their progress.

    After another twenty minutes of cautious trekking, they encountered their third target: a large, bird-like creature with talons that gleamed like steel and feathers that shimmered in the faint sunlight.

    "Fuck! A flying beast, be careful," Noah warned. "That thing looks fast."

    The bird let out a piercing screech, its wings spreading wide as it prepared to attack. Without hesitation, it dove toward Leah, its talons aimed directly at her.

    Leah hurriedly rolled to the side, shooting an arrow while rolling on the ground targeting the bird. The projectile grazed the bird''s wing, causing it to veer off course.

    "Keep it on the ground!" Victor shouted, charging forward with his shield raised. He slammed into the bird as it landed, throwing it off balance.

    Daniel hurled a knife, aiming for the creature''s chest. The blade struck, but the bird retaliated with a sharp peck, forcing Daniel to hurry back.

    Noah took advantage of the distraction, circling behind the bird and slashing at its legs. His strike connected, but the bird let out a furious screech, spinning around to face him.

    "Emma, aim at the bird''s feathers or leg!" Noah shouted.

    Emma hesitated for only a moment before firing an arrow. Her shot hit the target, and the bird stumbled, its movements becoming frantic and disjointed.

    Victor stepped in, delivering a crushing blow to the bird''s side with his shield. The creature collapsed, its wings flapping weakly.

    "Finish it!" Victor yelled.

    Noah lunged forward, driving his longsword through the bird''s chest. The creature let out a final, pitiful cry before falling still.

    The group stood there, catching their breath as the bird''s azure-white mist rose and split among them. The surge of energy was exhilarating, their bodies feeling stronger and more capable than ever.

    "That''s three," Noah said, sheathing his sword. "Leah''s attack really made this one easier. If the bird was still in the sky, it would have been much harder for us."

    Victor nodded along, "True. And we are really fortunate to have you with us. A damage dealer is really necessary to deal some decent damage. And you are the only good damage dealer we have."

    "Hey! The fuck, I also deal decent damage," Daniel huffed and said.

    Victor chuckled and shook his head. "The only thing you are good at is distraction. Your weapon is too weak to deal fatal damage."

    Daniel''s lips twitched as he turned his face away.

    "Anyways," Noah said, pointing at the carcass of the bird, "First, let''s dismember it and then head deeper to scout. We will return tomorrow to hunt at the edge of the red zone."

    Noah crouched beside the bird''s carcass, examining its shimmering feathers.

    "These feathers are something else," he said, running his fingers over one. "They''re tougher than they look. We can use them for throwing weapons with minor improvements, maybe even lightweight armor."

    Daniel smirked, playing with one of his knives. "About time I got an upgrade. These knives aren''t cutting it."

    Leah rolled her eyes but nodded. "I can see the potential for some decent gear. Let''s pack up as much as we can carry."

    Noah and Daniel began methodically removing the feathers, placing them into a separate bag. Victor worked on extracting the talons, which were sharp and durable, ideal for crafting weapons. Meanwhile, Leah and Emma kept watch, their bows loaded with arrows.

    Emma hesitated, glancing at Noah. "D-Do you think it''s safe to go deeper after this? What if we encounter something we can''t handle?"

    Noah paused, giving her a reassuring look. "That''s why we''re just scouting after this. If it''s too dangerous, we''ll retreat. No risks, Emma. We''re in this together."

    Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she nodded. "O-Okay."

    After they finished dismembering the bird, their bags were nearly full. The feathers, talons, and a small portion of the bird''s meat were carefully packed away, leaving behind the rest of the carcass.

    Noah stood up, adjusting his bag. "Let''s move now. But stay sharp¡ªthings will only get tougher from here."

    The group continued further, venturing deeper into the forest. The atmosphere grew heavier, the sounds of wildlife fading into an eerie silence. The trees were thicker here, their roots snaking across the ground like veins.

    Victor raised his shield, his expression tense. "This place feels¡­ different. Like something''s around us."

    Leah nodded, her bow drawn. "I feel the same. The atmosphere is heavier."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Noah held up a hand, signaling the group to stop. He crouched down, his keen eyes scanning the ground. "Something''s nearby. Stay low and quiet."

    They advanced cautiously, their steps light. The forest seemed to hold its breath, and then they saw it¡ªa massive, bear-like creature with thick, rocky scales covering its body.

    Its eyes glowed with a menacing red light, and its claws looked like they could tear through steel.

    "Holy shit," Daniel whispered. "That''s an E-tier beast? It looks more like an elite boss."

    Noah''s grip tightened on his sword. "This one''s different. Stronger. We can''t take it lightly, we need to ret¡ª"

    Noah barely had time to finish his warning before the massive bear-like creature roared as it noticed the group, the sound reverberating through the forest. The beast''s sheer size and presence sent chills down everyone''s spine.

    "Formation!" Noah shouted, unsheathing his longsword. "Victor, shield up! Leah, Emma, keep your distance and fire at its weak points! Daniel, distract it when you can!"

    Victor braced himself, planting his feet as the bear charged. Its claws struck his shield with earth-shaking force, sending him skidding backward. "FUCK! This thing is stronger than all the previous bastards!" he yelled, gritting his teeth.

    Leah shot an arrow, aiming for the creature''s joints. The arrow struck but barely penetrated its rocky hide. "It''s too tough!" she shouted, already nocking another arrow.

    Daniel flung a knife, precisely aiming for the bear''s glowing red eyes. The knife struck directly, causing the beast to let out a furious roar, but it only seemed to enrage it further. "That''s not good," Daniel muttered, stepping back quickly.

    Noah darted in, aiming for the beast''s exposed flank. His longsword struck with all his strength, but the blade skidded off the creature''s glowing hardened scales, leaving only a shallow cut. The beast turned its rage toward him, swiping with its massive claws.

    "Noah, watch out!" Emma screamed, firing an arrow that grazed the bear''s shoulder, diverting its attention for a split second.

    The creature lashed out wildly, its glowing claws catching Victor''s shield and sending him crashing into a tree. He spurted a mouthful of blood, slumping to the ground, his shield cracked.

    "Victor!!!" Leah shouted, her voice filled with panic. She fired another arrow, but the bear swung its massive paw, deflecting it in mid-air.

    Before she even had a chance to catch her breath, the bear broke a giant branch off a tree before shooting it toward Leah like a throwing spear.

    Leah''s eyes widened in fear as she jumped back. The shockwave flung her back as she hit a tree, breaking a few of her bones as she slid down and fell unconscious.

    Daniel attempted to stab the beast''s leg, but the creature kicked out, sending him tumbling across the ground. "AUGH!" he shouted as he skidded on the ground before silently lying still.

    Emma trembled as the bear charged toward her, its glowing eyes filled with rage. She released an arrow, but her trembling hands made her aim waver. The arrow missed entirely.

    The beast smashed the ground in front of Emma, sending her flying as she fell unconscious. But just then, Noah lunged forward, slamming his longsword into its side with all his strength.

    "Over here, you bastard!" Noah shouted, drawing its attention away from the unconscious Emma.

    The beast roared, its claws slashing at him. Noah barely dodged, the wind from its attack grazing his face. His breathing was ragged, and his muscles seemed to break down, but he refused to retreat.

    Noah staggered back, gripping his longsword tightly. His mind raced as he assessed the situation.

    The bear was unlike anything they had faced before¡ªits sheer size and the rocky scales made it nearly impervious to regular attacks. The others lay unconscious, and he was alone.

    "I can''t retreat now," Noah muttered, wiping blood from his brow. His eyes burned with resolve. ''I can''t leave behind these guys even if we only met a few days ago. And there is nearly no chance for me to run from that bastard.''

    The bear roared again, charging forward with its massive glowing claws raised. Noah sidestepped at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the attack. He slashed at its exposed body, but the blade barely left a scratch on its rocky hide.

    "Fuck¡­ this thing''s armor is too tough." He glanced around, spotting Daniel''s throwing knives scattered nearby. Without hesitation, he rolled toward them, scooping up three knives in one swift motion.

    The bear lunged at him again, but Noah hurled the knives in quick succession. One struck the beast''s eye, making it roar in pain, while another embedded itself in a gap between its scales near the neck. The third knife bounced off its rocky armor.

    "Fuck, need to aim for the weak spots," Noah muttered, sprinting to Victor''s side. The cracked shield lay beside his unconscious body. Noah grabbed it, positioning it defensively as the bear charged again.

    The beast''s claws slammed into the shield with a deafening crack. Noah gritted his teeth as the force sent him skidding backward. The shield splintered further, barely holding together.

    "Just hold a little longer," Noah whispered to himself, his arms trembling under the strain.

    As the bear struck again, he used the shield to deflect the blow, angling it upward. The maneuver caused the bear''s momentum to work against it, momentarily staggering the beast.

    Seizing the opening, Noah sprinted forward, slashing at the beast''s injured eye. His longsword bit deep, and the bear howled in agony, thrashing wildly.

    The beast lashed out, hitting Noah''s side with a glancing blow. He stumbled, blood dripping from the fresh wound, but his body refused to fall. "Stay focused," he told himself, his breathing rough.

    Spotting Leah''s bow and arrows nearby, Noah darted toward them, narrowly dodging another swipe from the bear. He grabbed the bow and one remaining arrow, quickly aiming for the creature''s exposed neck.

    "Come on, hold steady¡­" he whispered, his hands shaking from exhaustion. He released the arrow, and it struck precisely due to his enhanced body, embedding itself in the beast''s neck where Daniel''s knife had already created an opening.

    Blood gushed from the wound, and the bear let out a guttural roar, its movements growing slower.

    Noah didn''t stop. He grabbed another of Daniel''s knives and charged forward, leaping onto the bear''s back. He plunged the knife into the gap in its scales, driving it deep into the creature''s flesh. The beast thrashed violently, trying to shake him off, but Noah held on, his knuckles turning white with strain.

    With his free hand, he drew his longsword and aimed for the base of the bear''s skull. "Fucking DIE!" he shouted, driving the blade down with every ounce of strength he had left. The sword pierced through, sinking deep into the creature''s vital point.

    The bear let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground with a massive thud. The forest fell silent, save for Noah''s ragged breathing.

    Noah rolled off the beast, landing on his back. His entire body ached, and blood dripped from multiple heavy wounds. He stared up at the canopy of trees, his vision swimming. "It''s¡­ over," he muttered, a faint smile forming on his lips.

    The familiar azure-white mist rose from the bear''s body, forming a massive orb. The energy split unevenly, with a large portion flowing into Noah and the remainder to his unconscious teammates.

    As the energy surged through him, Noah felt something stir on his chest.

    Noah gasped as the Soul Energy coursed through his entire body, a torrent of raw power searing its way into his very being.

    The azure-white mist enveloped him, its glow intensifying as his chest burned with an unbearable heat.

    His vision blurred, and he could feel the energy concentrating on the sigil etched into his skin, its light growing brighter with every passing moment.

    The sigil pulsed violently, with a rhythm that seemed to sync with the pounding of his heart. His mind flashed with images¡ªflashes of memories, moments of his life back on Earth, each as mundane and forgettable as the last.

 War Sovereign

    There was nothing extraordinary, no grand ambition or defining trait to anchor his identity. Just... ordinariness.

    The sigil pulsed brighter, the white light growing so intense it felt as though it would consume him.

    Then, abruptly, it faltered. Cracks began forming across the sigil''s intricate design, the edges curling and blackening as if consumed by fire.

    A sudden jolt tore through Noah, a raw, biting pain that sank deep into his very soul. It was as though something had latched onto him, rupturing his very soul.

    "No!" Noah choked, clutching his chest as agony wracked his body.

    The sigil flickered one last time before disintegrating entirely, burning into ash and leaving only charred, raw skin in its place.

    A heavy silence followed, broken only by his ragged breaths. He stared down at his chest, where the sigil had once been.

    Now, there was nothing¡ªno mark, no sign of the awakening. He felt... hollow, an absence in his very being. A void he couldn''t describe.

    He was Classless.

    "No¡­ this can''t be it," he coughed out, his voice shaking. The surge of power he had felt moments ago was gone, replaced by an ache that went beyond physical pain.

    His hands trembled as despair clawed at his mind. He could feel it¡ªthe absence, the damage. A part of his soul was missing, taken by something he couldn''t fully understand.

    But then, deep within him, something stirred.

    A faint, rhythmic thrum echoed through his mind, like the beat of a distant drum.

    It was faint at first like a whisper carried on the wind, but it grew louder, stronger, until it filled his mind completely. The pain in his chest dulled, replaced by a warmth spreading through his core.

    A voice¡ªcold, mechanical, and absolute¡ªspoke directly into his mind.

    [System initializing... Synchronizing with host''s soul orientation and injured soul...]

    Noah''s eyes widened as the warmth intensified, centering deep within his soul. The voice continued, emotionless but that voice filled Noah''s heart with hope.

    [Host''s Soul detected as partially absorbed. Critical injury identified. Conventional Class Awakening impossible. System activation compensating¡­]

    Before he could react, a translucent interface flickered into view before his eyes, its azure-white glow reflecting the same mist that had surrounded the sigil.

    Symbols and text scrolled rapidly across the screen, too fast for him to comprehend.

    [System fully integrated. War Sovereign System activation complete. Welcome, Host.]

    Noah blinked, his mind struggling to process the events unfolding before him. He instinctively reached out, his hand passing through the glowing screen as if it were made of air.

    "What¡­ what is this?" he muttered mindlessly as the injuries on his body seemed to slow his mind.

    The system responded, its tone cold yet oddly reassuring.

    [Your injured soul has been partially absorbed to awaken the War Sovereign System. As a result, you cannot form a conventional class. This system is designed to compensate for your injured soul, granting you the authority to adapt, evolve, and command. You are no longer bound by the constraints of conventional classes. You are Sovereign.]

    Noah sat up slowly, his body still aching from the aftermath. His mind raced, trying to comprehend what the system had just said.

    "My soul¡­ injured?" he whispered, his hand clutching his chest. He could feel it now¡ªthe hollowness, the fractured state of his essence.

    The system hadn''t just awakened¡ªit had bonded with his Soul Essence. And because of that, he couldn''t awaken a class like everyone else.

    The interface shifted, displaying a simple menu with several options:

    [Status]

    [Skills]

    [Authority]

    [Inventory]

    [Points]

    He hesitated, then looked at the [Status] option to open it. A new screen appeared, displaying his current stats.

    [Name: Noah Starfall]

    [Title: Classless]

    [Grade: E]

    [Class: None (Classless)]

    [Soul Energy: 11 / 1,000]

    [Species: Human]

    [Strength: 10]

    [Agility: 10]

    [Endurance: 10]

    [Energy: 10]

    [Intelligence: 10]

    [Special Note: Due to the host being Classless, all stats have been divided equally. The current stats are equal to a Common Grade Class.]

    He stared at the screen, his gaze lingering on the word Classless. It wasn''t just a label¡ªit was a stark reminder of what he had lost. Yet, beneath the despair, a flicker of hope stirred within him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "Classless¡­ Sovereign¡­" Noah whispered, the words tasting strange yet encouraging. He closed the interface, turning his gaze to his unconscious teammates.

    Their chests rose and fell steadily, the Soul Energy clearly having healed some of their wounds. They had all fought bravely, but without him, they wouldn''t have survived.

    Noah''s hands clenched into fists. ''Fuck, I nearly died to this stupid beast. I need to get stronger, faster, to survive here.''

    His gaze fell back on the system screen. ''I will explore later what I can do with it. But it seems like my cheat isn''t any minor ability, huh.'' His face formed a tired yet excited smile.

    He pushed himself to his feet, his muscles aching and his body screaming for rest. He turned his gaze to the massive corpse of the bear-like beast, its rocky scales gleaming in the dim forest light.

    The creature''s blood pooled around it, seeping into the ground.

    He glanced at his unconscious teammates, their injured bodies lying all over the forest floor. Victor''s shield was in pieces, Leah''s bow broken, and Daniel''s knives scattered across the ground. Emma''s quiver was empty, and her arrows were spent in a desperate attempt to protect the group.

    Noah exhaled a long breath. He knew he couldn''t leave the others here for long. The smell of blood would undoubtedly attract other predators, and they were in no condition to fight.

    He crouched beside Victor first, carefully lifting him onto his shoulder. Despite his thin build, Noah found unexpected strength coursing through his limbs, perhaps due to his enhanced grade.

    One by one, he dragged or carried each of his teammates to a safer location¡ªa small clearing about a hundred meters away, hidden between thick trees with decent cover.

    Breathing heavily, he laid Leah down last, using a piece of cloth from his tattered sleeve to cushion her head. He checked each of them quickly. They were bruised and injured, but their breathing was steady. The Soul Energy had done enough to stabilize them for now.

    Noah glanced back toward the direction of the beast''s body, the distant outline of its massive form barely visible through the trees.

    His heart pounded as he considered his next move. The beast''s carcass was a treasure trove of resources¡ªits scales, talons, and even its blood could be invaluable. Leaving it behind was not an option.

    "I need to move fast," Noah muttered to himself. He picked up his longsword, still stained with the beast''s blood, and turned to his unconscious teammates. "Stay safe¡­ I''ll be back."

    With one last look, he sprinted back toward the beast''s corpse with light steps.

    The eerie silence of the forest pressed down on him, and every snap of a branch or rustle of leaves set his nerves on edge. He tightened his grip on the sword, ready for any surprise.

    When he reached the beast, he paused, taking in its sheer size. Up close, it was even more imposing. Its rocky scales seemed almost impenetrable, and its claws gleamed like polished obsidian.

    He knelt beside it, running his fingers over its hide. The texture was rough and hard, like chiseled stone.

    "I don''t have much time," Noah whispered, glancing around the forest for any signs of approaching danger. He unsheathed a small knife he''d taken from Daniel''s stash and began his work.

    Noah started with the beast''s scales, prying them off one by one. It was slow, grueling work.

    The knife barely made a dent at first, but after targeting the joints between the scales, he managed to remove a few. Each scale was heavy and thick, a perfect material for crafting armor or shields.

    He piled them into a makeshift sack made from a torn piece of his shirt, as the other beast''s sack had been destroyed by the bear.

    Moving to the talons, he used the knife to sever the tendons holding them in place. The claws were as sharp as they looked, cutting through even the tough bark of nearby trees with ease. He wrapped them carefully, knowing their value for weapons or trade.

    The beast''s blood pooled in a large cavity beneath its body. Noah used a small, broken flask he''d scavenged from Leah''s gear to collect the dark, viscous liquid. The blood had an odd, faint glow, and he suspected it held some unique properties.

    Finally, he carved out chunks of the beast''s flesh, selecting portions from areas less affected by the battle. The meat was dense and tough, but it would serve as valuable food for the group.

    The process was exhausting, and by the time Noah had finished, his arms felt like lead.

    He stood, wiping sweat from his brow, his gaze flickering to the pile of resources he''d gathered. It wasn''t everything the beast had to offer, but it was all he could carry for now.

    As he looked at the corpse one last time, he felt a pang of regret. The creature had been a formidable beast, and its death was a testament to their struggle. Yet, in this brutal world, survival demanded pragmatism.

    Noah tied the makeshift sack securely and slung it over his shoulder. The weight of the sack pressed down on him, but he grit his teeth and began to walk back to the clearing where his teammates rested.

    ¡­

    Noah pushed through the thick grass, his muscles aching as the weight of the sack and the tension of the battle weighed on him.

    The clearing came into view, and he spotted movement. Daniel was stirring, his eyes fluttering open as he pushed himself into a sitting position.

    His gaze darted around the clearing until it landed on Noah, who was trudging toward him with the sack of beast parts slung over his shoulder.

    Daniel blinked, his face a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Noah?" His voice was hoarse. "You¡­ you''re alive? We''re alive?"

    Noah set the sack down gently and crouched beside him. "Yeah, we made it." His voice was calm, but the exhaustion was clear in his eyes.

    Daniel ran a hand through his disheveled hair, letting out a shaky laugh. "I can''t believe it. That thing¡ªit was¡­ it was like a nightmare. How did you¡­?" He paused, his gaze shifting to the sack. "Wait, you went back for the beast?"

    Noah gave a faint smile. "It was too valuable to leave behind. We''ll need everything we can get to survive out here."

    Daniel shook his head in disbelief. "You crazy bastard. How insane are you? But¡­ thank you. Seriously." His voice broke, gratitude replacing his usual cocky tone. "If it weren''t for you, we''d all be dead."

    Noah shrugged, trying to downplay the praise. "We''re a team. I wasn''t about to leave anyone behind."

    Daniel smirked weakly. "Team, huh? I guess we owe you big time." He pushed himself to his feet with a wince, his body still battered from the fight. "So, what''s the plan now?"

    Noah glanced at their unconscious teammates. "We need to get back to camp before anything else shows up. Can you carry Victor?"

    Daniel nodded, rolling his shoulders despite the pain. "Yeah, I can manage."

    Noah moved toward Leah and Emma. He carefully lifted Emma first, cradling her in a princess carry. Her head lolled against his chest, her breathing steady but shallow.

    He adjusted her body before kneeling to check on Leah. With some effort, he shifted Leah onto his back, using strips of cloth to secure her in place.

    The sack of beast parts hung at his waist, swaying slightly as he stood.

    Daniel watched him, a mixture of admiration and amusement in his eyes. "Carrying two women and a bag of loot? You''re really going all out, aren''t you?"

    Noah rolled his eyes but couldn''t suppress a small grin. "Just focus on carrying Victor. We don''t have time to waste."

    Daniel chuckled, bending down to hoist Victor onto his back. "Got it, boss."

    The two of them began to walk back through the forest slowly, the weight of their teammates making every step heavier than the last.

    The eerie silence persisted, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional heavy breath of the two of them.

    As they walked, Daniel glanced at Noah. "So, about that beast¡­ how the hell did you take it down? I thought we were done for."