Code Collector

The dusk was setting. The orange skies signalled the start of twilight, and the fierce nocturnal beasts were starting to wake up. But a frail young boy was still out in the middle of the woods alone.

His group had left him in the First World called Haven intentionally. They saw it fitting for him to just die instead of holding their group down like he always do. His silver white hair would always attract beasts that made their hunts difficult. He was also weak, only reaching up to Level 3 after years of being a Hunter.

And to make everything worse, ugly scars of what seemed to be claw marks littered his throat. He wasn't able to speak up to them, making communication difficult.

This young man was Allen Vermillion. He couldn't find a job after finishing high school, so he became a Hunter to make ends meet. He was still in the first of the six new worlds or the Otherworlds, and was barely surviving with the minimum income he earns.

Becoming a Hunter was what makes up half of humanity's economy after the gates to the Otherworlds opened. After humans received a mysterious system that allows them to gain abilities or weapons from the beasts they kill, most of the population ventured in this line of field instead.

Another thing that Hunters saw as light with their darkness were the abilities and weapons they gain from the Otherworlds, these are called Codes. With these Codes, the strong ruled over the weak.

The Codes are earned after a Hunter deals the final blow to a beast from the otherworld. They will have a chance of getting a Code that will significantly decrease as the quality of the Code increases.

Yet after all this time, Allen was unable to gain any Code because he could barely deal the final blow. The beasts needed a weapon from a Code to be killed, so even slimes were a difficult to hunt for him.

It was a good thing that Codes were transferable through either trades or bought in shops. With this, he purchased a Code for a Basic grade dagger with his years of savings.

Allen glanced at the weapon and flattened his lips tightly. It was his first day of getting the dagger and he was excited to test it out. After all, he was only using made-up weapons that had almost zero damage on the beasts. He would only use sticks as swords or throw stones at the beasts to distract them, leaving the final blow to the ones who has actual weapons.

After their hunt, they would usually sell the Basic Codes they earned or trade them. They will then split the profit depending on their contribution. Since Allen has the least contribution, he would have the least amount of money.

He had lived his entire life with this same old circle. Wake up, hunt, become the pawn, earn the tip of their income, and then repeat it the next day. It was a wonder how Allen saved up for his new dagger.

His groups miraculously allowed him to hunt with them even though he's nothing but a heavy baggage to them. He had hoped it would stay like that for a longer time, but everyone has their limits. It would seem like his group passed theirs.

[ Name: Allen Vermillion, Level: 3 (EXP: 260/300) ]

[ Stats ]

Health: 100/100

Strength: 5

Agility: 5

Endurance: 5

Damage: 10 (+5)

Defense: 5

[ Foxground Dagger ]

Type: Weapon

Grade: Basic

Damage: 5

Effect/s: None

He watched his data interface helplessly. Levels would increase the stats of a Hunter, even changing their physical appearance once they reach certain levels. The higher the level, the stronger the Hunter would be. He was only at Level 3, so his strength was nothing short from an athlete. The small EXPs he gained after all these years were a share from their hunts.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Hearing a buzzing noise from behind him, Allen quickly spun and raised his weapon. The night was approaching and he was still lost in the middle of the forest. If he can't find a way to get out now, he couldn't make it until morning.

Stepping closer to the sound, Allen was ready to fight. The low buzzing sound made it obvious that the beast was a Basic grade beast. With his dagger, he should be able to kill it without breaking a sweat.

The buzzing continued until Allen was a step away from the bush where it came from. With a gulp, the young man opened the bush with a long stick he got from the ground.

He wasn't able to close the bush back because a swarm of wasps flew out of the bush. Each wasp was the size of a fist, and that wasn't the main problem. The number of wasps that were swarming towards him was overwhelming.

"Too late to back out now!" Allen screamed in his mind even when his mouth only let out a muffled noise. His hand gripped on the dagger and found themselves performing a swift slash in the air.

'Purple Wasp killed. +10 EXP.'

'Purple Wasp Code gained.'

'First Basic grade beast killed. 100 EXP is rewarded.'

The voice rang inside Allen's head like it was the sound of bells from the heavens. A grin was plastered on his face as he continued to wave his hand in the air in hopes to kill more. The wasps were many but they deal little to no damage. He knew he can do this.

'Purple Wasp killed. +10 EXP.'

'Purple Wasp killed. +10 EXP.'

'Purple Wasp killed. +10 EXP.'

'You have leveled up. Health replenished.'

'Purple Wasp killed. +10 EXP.'

'Purple Wasp Code gained.'

…

After what seemed like eternities, Allen fell to his knees in exhaustion. The swarm of wasps dispersed after he killed more than half of them. He would gain EXPs from killing the wasps and would level up, replenishing his health to its brim only for the wasps to slowly sting it all away again. He was lucky the wasps went away before he could lose all his health since he was far away from leveling up this time.

His body felt like it was about to give up, like he was being pulled by gravity to kiss the dirt beneath him.

"I need to continue," Allen said in his mind. He pulled himself up and raised his head, panting as he watched the skies turned darker and darker.

Clank. Clank. Clank.

Snapping his head to the direction of the metallic sound, Allen took all the energy he got and ran. It was already nightfall and the deadlier beasts of the night will hunt him down if they see him.

He needed shelter, and he needed it fast.

The Codes they earn will become part of their bodies. With this, they could summon or hide a Code weapon at will. But in this situation, hiding his weapon will not be the best idea. Any moment now, a beast could step out of the darkness. He needed to have his guard up in case something happens.

After half an hour of running, Allen found himself a small cave as a shelter. The cave was shallow and it provided enough space for him to hide, but at the same time it wasn't too deep.

The boy sat on a rock of the shallow cave. Putting on a fire will be too dangerous for him, especially at his condition. He had reached three levels up, but his stamina was drained because of the number of wasps. They even gave him five Codes which Allen was glad he got. He can sell the Codes when he get back to Earth.

It was also a mystery why he didn't die from wasp poison. Purple Wasps are known to kill weaker Hunters considering they have weaker defense stats. A few sting should have made him kick the bucket, but Allen was still standing.

He opened his interface from the system of the Hunters. Each Hunter could see their own data that was displayed in a large blue holographic box. No one can see the data except for the Hunters themselves.

In the box were three tabs, the profile, the stats, and the Codes. Allen first opened his profile to see what level he is after the fight.

[ Name: Allen Darkshade, Level: 6 (EXP: 10/600) ]

After reading this, Allen immediately went to his Codes. The system informed him earlier that he got a new Code from the wasps.

[ Foxground Dagger]

Type: Weapon

Grade: Basic

Damage: 5

Effect/s: None.

[ Curse of the Purple Wasp ] (5)

Type: Skill

Grade: Basic

Effect/s: Immunity to Purple Wasp poison.

A light laugh escaped from Allen's lips. He shook his head and was about to close his data when he felt a pain in his back. It wasn't long after that he heard a sound from his side.

Hiss. Hiss.

His eyes widened after hearing the snake. Allen looked around but saw nothing. When he sat down on the rock again, the hissing sounds came back.

Allen stood again and looked for the snake. The sound was loud and it seemed close, so he didn't want to let his guard down. The snake could be very poisonous and it could mark the end of his life.

Thinking he was just hearing things, Allen sat back down. He placed his hand behind him when he felt a soft flesh-like object. It had hard scales on its back, but its belly was like it was a fragile yet calloused human skin. Allen gulped and tapped the thing again, making sure it was the thing in his mind.

Hiss. Hiss.

Screaming in fear, Allen conjured his dagger and spun. Without any hesitation, he flipped the snake on its back while holding its neck. He stabbed the stomach with his dagger as hard as he could, the bone blade digging through the flesh that created a splurging sound. It doesn't matter if the snake was Basic or not, he had to kill it with all he had.

'Primordial Snake killed. +0 EXP.'

'Primordial Snake Code gained.'

His eyes widened after hearing the notification. In the Codes tab of his interface had a small number 1 icon, meaning there was something new there.

[ Primordial Snake's Blessing ]

Type: Skill

Grade: Celestial

Effect/s: (1) For every three beasts killed, the chance of getting a Code is increased by 300%.

(2) Locked

(3) Locked

(4) Locked

(5) Locked ]

'Congratulations, you have earned a new title.'

[ Name: Allen Darkshade, Level: 6, Title: Code Collector (EXP: 10/600) ]

–

In an ancient ruined temple, people were panicking. People with armor, people in suits, and even Hunters were running around with shocked faces.

A woman with a black ponytail hair just arrived at the temple when she pulled one man aside, "What is happening here?"

"Oh, Miss Lin, t-the Primordial Slate…" the man stuttered.

"What is happening with the Slate?" Lin pushed the man away, and ran inside the temple. The people inside all bowed down after seeing the woman, shaking in fear that Lin didn't understand. Not long after, she arrived at a large circular courtyard were people surrounded a large flat rock.

"Lin!" a man in a red suit called out. His suit composed of a large golden dragon on his chest. This man was named Drake Nelson. "Lin, the slate, something had happened to it."

"Sir Drake, please tell me–"

Lin's eyes widened in shock after her gaze found its way on the twelve animals engraved in the stone slate. She ran to one of the animals and traced her hand on the glowing figure.

Lin sighed and looked back at Drake, "T-The Snake has been found."