"Shit!" Orion growled as his limbs felt sluggish, his body refusing to respond the way he needed. The oppressive Fear Effect from the Savage Monkeys' screeches was taking its toll, weighing him down like lead."I can't falter here," he muttered through clenched teeth, his gaze darting around the forest for anything he could use to turn the tide. But what was there to find in a forest? Trees? More trees? Moss? He cursed under his breath.What the hell am I supposed to do with moss? Knit them a sweater?!Whatever was chasing him had the clear advantage. They knew this terrain better than he ever could, and they likely had the strength to back it up. If this was a poker game, his hand was garbage, and they were holding a full house.As if on cue, the underbrush rustled violently. Orion stopped dead in his tracks, his breath hitching. Shadows darted through the trees, and then—Thud, Thud, Thud.Three figures dropped from an overhanging branch, landing directly in front of him."Screech!!

— In the Headquarters of the C-Rank Guild 'Black Sparrow' in Downtown Hoshito — "A Sudden Gate!? At Hoshito General Hospital!?" "Yes, sir! It was just reported! We have approximately twenty minutes before the first wave breaks out!" Two men in black suits, one a superior and the other a subordinate, exchanged frantic words. The superior, seated behind a cluttered desk, ran a hand through his graying hair, visibly agitated. "Of all times..." he muttered, glaring at the piles of paperwork threatening to topple over. "A Sudden Gate appears when most of our manpower is out dealing with the B-Rank Gates in Kyoto..." His voice rose sharply. "Get the newbies on the line and anyone else within range! I want them at Hoshito General Hospital NOW! They are to fend off the first few waves. Under no circumstances should they enter the Gate! Hold the line until reinforcements arrive!" "Yes, sir!" The subordinate bolted from the office, shouting orders as he sprinted through the multi-floored buildi

Ding! [For reaching Lvl 6, you have unlocked the second system feature of the Idle Evolution System, following the Inventory Space feature.] [Unlocked 'Item Crafting'] —[Like the caveman in your blood dictates, try smacking things together to craft something superior! Return to Monkee!] "..." Orion stared at the system notification, his expression unreadable. He had grown somewhat accustomed to the system's bizarre tone, yet it still managed to catch him off guard. "Caveman... Really?" he muttered, rolling his eyes. Still, despite the system's obnoxious phrasing, the feature itself intrigued him. Item crafting wasn't something he expected to unlock this early, and the possibilities it presented could prove invaluable. Without wasting time, he decided to test it out. Following the system's instructions, he placed a Deadly Panther Nail against the staff he had been safeguarding. BAM! The two items collided, and a bright, pearlescent light erupted from the point of impact, enveloping bot

"I thought I was going to die," Orion said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "But now..." A faint smile crossed his lips. "I feel alive. That feeling I felt earlier... It has multiplied." The Savage Fur Devil charged, its claws slicing through the air with devastating speed. Orion dodged to the side, his movements a blur as his enhanced Agility stat came into play. He retaliated with a sharp thrust of the Deadly Spear, the weapon's jagged tip biting into the monster's thick hide. The Bleed effect activated instantly, crimson lines spreading across the beast's body as its health began to tick down. "ROOAAARGHH!!!" The creature roared in pain and fury, swiping at Orion with wild, frenzied strikes. But he was ready. Each dodge, each counterattack was precise, calculated. The Savage Fur Devil was lar

"Do you honestly think dying like they did is what you'll receive...?" Orion sneered, controlling his Devil Blade to hover just above the Dark Ape's third leg. "...Well, think again." SPURT! The Dark Ape's third leg was slowly shredded, reduced to a mangled, unrecognizable mess. It endured a level of pain so intense it passed out multiple times, only to wake up almost immediately each time. The gruesome cycle persisted for a few agonizing seconds that felt like an eternity. Finally, when the Dark Ape was teetering on the verge of death, Orion struck it in the same spot it had slapped Maya. The impact caused its head to explode in a visceral spray. POP! Orion emotionlessly watched as the Dark Ape's eyeballs and pink brain matter splattered against the collapsed hospital wall. His face briefly twisted in disgust before he took off