Chapter 10: The First Hunt

Moments later, Team Four gathered. Servants bustled about, preparing tea and various refreshments.

"Eric West, swordplay specialist," introduced a short-haired man in his twenties. Conspicuous scars crisscrossed his arms. After speaking, he sat silently, sword cradled in his lap – clearly a man of few words.

"Laura Young, tracking expert," said an unexpectedly ordinary-looking woman with cropped hair. Her unremarkable appearance belied her exceptional skills.

Oliver noted that she seemed to be the only woman in the entire Hunter's Hall. Whether due to innate factors or deliberate exclusion, female practitioners were exceedingly rare.

Laura's expression remained neutral as she sipped her tea, neither welcoming nor dismissive.

"I'm the captain, Luke Irving. My specialty is monster-slaying swordplay," Luke stated matter-of-factly. His rise to the third level of cultivation spoke to both talent and determination.

"Oliver Greene, newcomer. I look forward to learning from you all, seniors," Oliver introduced himself humbly, implying his lack of specialized skills.

"Ha! Don't underestimate him," Luke interjected. "This genius cultivated basic internal energy in just a year. In a few years, he could become our team's powerhouse, filling our combat gap."

Luke's words hinted at modest expectations for Oliver. In their small village, even hunter families were only marginally stronger than farmers. While cultivated members showed prowess, they weren't overwhelmingly superior.

Their potential was limited, but Oliver clearly had room for growth. He was a budding talent.

For top-tier teams, such promising recruits might be commonplace. For Luke's team, however, Oliver was a valuable find.

"Now that we're at full strength, we can resume hunting," Luke continued. "Focus on your swordsmanship and Energy Cultivation. Be ready to depart in seven days."

Luke, eager to return to work, planned to hone Oliver through direct combat experience.

His lingering presence at Hunter's Hall had been solely to recruit. With that accomplished, it was time to start earning again.

Oliver nodded in agreement.

Over the next week, the team briefed Oliver on hunting essentials. Luke offered specialized guidance on the Monster-Slaying Sword Technique, providing intensive training.

As the adage goes, "A whetted spear shines before battle." Oliver felt he'd gained invaluable insights. Combat skills, he realized, truly benefited from expert instruction. Each movement's purpose became clear, illuminating his future training path.

Self-practice and rote memorization paled in comparison to this focused tutelage.

...

The week passed swiftly. The team donned leather armor, packed weapons, dried meat, and water. They set out towards areas where monster encounters were likely.

Their village nestled within a dense forest. Even with Oliver's enhanced physique from Energy Cultivation, traversing the complex terrain proved challenging.

Some areas required internal energy expenditure to pass, explaining the ample dried meat provisions. Restoring physical strength, while easier for cultivators, still demanded sustenance.

As his first hunt, Oliver brimmed with excitement. Unlike his teammates, however, he remained acutely aware of potential dangers. His focus never wavered, wary of unexpected threats.

His "Mayfly Fate" – that cursed destiny that invited peril at every turn – kept him vigilant.

Yet, contrary to Oliver's expectations, their journey proved uneventful.

They found no monster traces, only a few ordinary animals. A handful of rabbits provided a meal, but little else.

Luke seemed unsurprised. As night fell, he ordered a campfire built.

"Monster encounters are rare," he explained. "You often need to actively track them. We might go ten days or more without results. Consider this time to acclimate to the wilderness."

"Future hunts may keep us out for days or weeks. If you're not adapted to these conditions, your performance will suffer. Mistakes in battle could prove fatal."

"The rabbits are ready. Eat and rest. We'll take watch shifts!"

Luke divided the roasted meat, his portion largest, decreasing down to Oliver's modest share.

Yet even this small amount of well-seasoned, fatty rabbit meat left Oliver satisfied. He finished his portion cleanly, then took first watch with Eric as instructed.

...

"Captain, these bite marks look monster-made. We may have a lead," Laura announced, examining scattered bones. The crushing damage indeed suggested monstrous origin.

"Let's investigate!" Luke's team perked up. Three days of fruitless wandering had yielded little beyond small game. A promising lead was welcome news.

"We're nearing the middle layer," Eric observed, consulting a map. "Likely a monster that slipped in from there. We'll need to pursue it deeper. There's also a river ahead – we can't rule out aquatic creatures."

Oliver glanced at the cryptic map, barely deciphering a winding "Middle Layer River" with countless tributaries.

He noticed the village's surroundings labeled as "edge lands," the outer forest as "outer layer," and the vast region beyond the river as "middle layer" – stretching hundreds, perhaps thousands of kilometers.

Beyond that lay the ominously blank "deep layer," marked simply as "inaccessible."

The map's most prominent feature was "Yan Village" – their longtime rival. Their chosen route deliberately avoided Yan Village's territory.

Monster hunting offered great rewards, but clashing with Yan Village posed unacceptable risks for minimal gain.

Laura's tracking skills led them to the Middle Layer River, where the trail abruptly vanished.

After extensive searching, she concluded: "It seems we're after an aquatic monster. Unless it's lurking nearby, we're unlikely to find it."

"This is just the outer layer. Monster scarcity is normal," Luke mused, gazing into the distance. "Let's secure some ordinary prey. We can't return empty-handed."

Oliver followed Luke's gaze, spotting a massive, black-skinned, pig-like creature rooting in the soil. It easily weighed several hundred kilograms – an excellent catch.

"Black boar," Luke identified. "Low monster-birth probability, but prolific breeders. We're in luck!"

"Surround it!"

The team stealthily encircled the boar before charging in unison.

Startled, the beast attempted to flee, but found itself cut off at every turn.

Eric struck with lightning speed, his blade flashing.

The boar's head separated cleanly from its body, toppling lifeless to the ground.

Ordinary creatures stood no chance against cultivators. The disparity in physical prowess was simply too great.