NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5: A Fateful Encounter
(Mailen's POV)
Mailen's breath burned in her chest as she sprinted through the ruined streets, her boots pounding against cracked asphalt slick with blood and debris. Zarah was right behind her, clutching her side where bruises bloomed beneath torn fabric. The deafening roars of the mutated, two-headed dog echoed through the city, each ground-shaking step a reminder that the nightmare wasn't over.
They had left Carlos behind.
Her heart clenched at the memory—his face pale with grief, eyes dark with determination as he turned back toward the charging beast. "I'll distract it! Run!" His voice still echoed in her head.
Then, like something out of a dream—or a hallucination born from exhaustion—they saw him.
A lone figure walked calmly down the street, completely indifferent to the chaos around him. The morning sun cast a faint glow on his black armor, scratched and dented from countless battles. His long, dark hair flowed freely in the wind, strands falling around a face that was almost too striking for this hellish world—sharp jawline, piercing brown eyes, and an expression of quiet confidence. His gaze was cold, detached, yet oddly serene. A blood-streaked sword hung at his side, its crimson stains catching the light with every step.
Mailen and Zarah skidded to a stop, hearts pounding—not from fear, but disbelief.
"Who the hell… is that?" Zarah gasped, her voice shaky.
Mailen's instincts screamed at her to run, but something about the man rooted her in place. He didn't just exist in this apocalypse—he owned it. His calmness wasn't arrogance; it was power.
And then came the roar.
The mutated dog burst into view, its two grotesque heads snapping and snarling, blood dripping from its jagged teeth. It was still chasing someone—Carlos. He stumbled around the corner, face drenched in sweat and desperation, his clothes torn, blood seeping from a gash on his leg.
"Mailen!" he screamed.
Mailen's heart twisted painfully. He was alive.
Without thinking, she shouted at the stranger. "Help us!"
The man finally stopped walking. Slowly, he turned his head, his sharp gaze settling on them.
His face remained unreadable, but his hand moved with fluid precision, gripping the hilt of his sword. He exhaled softly, as if annoyed by the inconvenience.
"…What a mess."
Then, with deliberate calm, he drew his blade.
(Charvet's POV)
Charvet walked through the desolate streets, his black boots crunching over shards of glass and dried blood.
With a casual thought, his system interface flickered to life, casting a soft blue glow before his eyes.
[System Notification]
Quest Completed: Survive the Night
Reward: 1 Skill Book - [Thunder Slash]
Curious, Charvet accessed his inventory and materialized the skill book—a weathered, leather-bound tome with faint golden runes etched into its cover. The book felt warm in his hands, pulsing softly with energy.
"Thunder Slash, huh?" he muttered, flipping open the book.
[Skill Book: Thunder Slash]
Would you like to learn this skill?
— [YES] — [NO]
Without hesitation, he selected [YES] with a thought.
[Skill Acquired: Thunder Slash (Active)]
Level: 1
Range: 500 meters
Cooldown: 1 hour
Effect: When activated, the user's body transforms into pure thunder, becoming immune to all attacks during the dash. The user instantly dashes to the target like a lightning bolt in the blink of an eye, delivering a devastating slash that guarantees a critical hit.
A pulse of raw energy surged through him, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. His grip on his sword tightened slightly, feeling the latent power now embedded within him.
Just as he closed the interface, a distant, bone-chilling roar pierced the morning air, followed by the sound of crumbling debris. His sharp gaze shifted toward the noise, instincts sharpening like a blade.
[System Alert]
Warning: Boss Monster Detected Nearby
Type: Mutated Two-Headed Hound (Level 10)
New Quest :
Defeat: Level 10 Mutated Two-Headed Hound"
Reward: Silver Chest
Instead of fear, excitement surged through him. His heart raced—not from terror, but anticipation.
"A boss monster, huh?" he whispered, his smirk widening.
"More experience… and more loot."
Just then, two figures appeared in the distance—running desperately down the street. The first was a woman with long black hair, her piercing green eyes filled with fear and determination. Sweat and streaks of dried blood smeared her dirt-streaked face, but her sharp features still held a fierce beauty. Beside her stumbled another woman, her short, ash-brown hair matted with sweat. Her pale face was twisted with exhaustion and terror, dark circles under her panicked eyes, and her trembling lips whispered frantic prayers as she struggled to keep pace.
a man was being chased in a different direction. Behind him, the mutated beast roared—a giant, two-headed dog the size of a small truck. Its body was covered in dirty fur with patches of exposed flesh and muscles. Both heads snarled fiercely, their red eyes filled with rage. Thick drool mixed with blood dripped from their sharp, yellow teeth as they chased him without stopping.
The woman screamed, her voice filled with desperation. "Help us!"
Charvet stopped in the middle of the street, completely calm. His dark eyes observed the scene without emotion, his face cold and unreadable.
But the thrill of battle was undeniable.
"…What a mess."
he muttered, shifting his sword from his shoulder. His heart beat faster—not from fear, but pure, unfiltered excitement.
Charvet's eyes narrowed as the mutated dog charged toward the man, its two heads snapping wildly, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth. Carlos stumbled back, terror-stricken, unable to escape. Time seemed to slow, and Charvet knew he had to act fast.
He glanced at the boss monster's size—it was big, and it had a level advantage. But Charvet wasn't worried. His First Hunter title had boosted his stats, and he felt the power surge within him. He needed to finish this quickly, and he had only one chance to use his Thunder Slash skill before its cooldown kicked in.
The beast lunged, its two heads snapping towards Carlos. Charvet activated Thunder Slash. In an instant, his body crackled with electricity, his muscles strengthening as he became one with the thunder. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, moving faster than the mutated beast could react. In a blink, he closed the distance between them.
Charvet's sword, now glowing with a brilliant crackling light, slashed through the first head of the monster. There was a deafening crack of thunder as the beast howled in pain. The cut was deep, the head slashed clean off, but the monster's second head was still thrashing wildly.
Charvet was already on the move again, using the momentum of his lightning-fast dash to strike again, this time cutting through the second head. The beast let out a horrendous screech, its massive body lurching and falling. The electricity around Charvet's body slowly faded as his Thunder Slash skill's effect wore off.
But he wasn't done yet.
With the creature reeling from the brutal blows, Charvet knew this was his chance. The boss had staggered but wasn't down yet. He didn't need the Thunder Slash for this final blow. His enhanced strength from the First Hunter title made the difference as he lunged forward, driving his sword straight into the beast's heart.
The mutated dog let out a final cry before collapsing to the ground, dead. Charvet stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving as the tension of the battle slowly dissipated. His sword was slick with the beast's blood, the battle over in a matter of moments thanks to his precise use of Thunder Slash.
A system notification popped up:
Quest Complete!
"Boss Monster Killed: Level 10 Mutated Two-Headed Hound"
Reward: Silver Chest
"Level Up!""Level Up!"
"You have reached Level 11."
"2 Stat Points Earned!"
"Use thunder slash more to level up"
He opened the silver chest, and inside were a pair of basic pants and basic boots. They were more durable than ordinary clothes and surprisingly comfortable. The material was tough enough to block attacks from level 1 zombies, providing both protection and ease of movement. Along with the gear, he also received 5 God Coins.
With no hesitation, Charvet allocated both stat points to Dexterity, feeling his body grow even lighter. His reflexes sharpened, and he could already sense an increase in his agility.
The system then sent out another announcement:
"First Player Reaches Level 10: StormBringer!"
"Congratulations! Your achievement is recorded in the system's history.
"Congratulations! You got Legendary Chest"
"Congratulations! You got a New Title First Ranker"
Title Effects: All Stats +10, Drop Rate +5%
The chest materialized in front of him, its golden surface gleaming with an ethereal glow.
Charvet's gaze shifted to the fallen creature. Among the remains, a shimmering object caught his eye. Stepping forward, he crouched down and picked up a ring, its surface glowing faintly with an intricate pattern.
Storage Ring
Rare Item
Allows the user to store items by thought. Maximum storage capacity is 1000 Cubic ft. Only the wearer can access it.
Curious, Charvet slipped the ring onto his finger. He focused on the supplies in his backpack, and to his surprise, they disappeared instantly, stored away in the ring without a single movement from him. It was a convenient tool, one that would make scavenging a lot easier.
"Not bad"
Charvet smiled to himself at the recognition. The benefits from being the "First Hunter" were clear—additional stats and more advantages that put him ahead of others.
Next he opened the Legendary Chest, anticipation pulsing through him. As the lid creaked open, a soft golden glow spilled out, illuminating his face. Inside lay a breathtaking pair of earrings shaped like tiny swords. The swords were crafted from gleaming, shiny gold, their slender blades perfectly smooth and polished. At the top of each sword, where the handle met the blade, a small red gem sparkled brilliantly, catching the light with every slight movement. The combination of rich gold and vivid crimson made the earrings look both elegant and powerful—an item truly worthy of legend.
Without hesitation, Charvet equipped them. As soon as the earrings touched his ears, a system notification appeared before his eyes.
[Legendary Item Equipped: DragonSlayer Earrings]
Description:
Crafted from the tooth of a True Golden Dragon and forged by a master dwarf blacksmith over 1 million years ago. These earrings carry the essence of ancient power and unyielding strength, passed down through forgotten ages.
Effects:
Grants complete immunity to all forms of fire damage.Increases critical hit rate by 20% (approximately 2 out of every 10 attacks will be critical hits).
Set Bonus:
This item is part of the DragonSlayer Legendary Set. When all pieces of the set are collected and equipped, the true power of the set will be unleashed, revealing hidden abilities far beyond its individual effects. The set's full potential remains a mystery until completed.
Charvet's eyes gleamed as he read the description. Immunity to fire? That was an incredible defensive advantage. And the 20% boost to critical hits would make his attacks even deadlier. But the part that intrigued him most was the set bonus. Hidden abilities once the set is complete? That meant there were other pieces out there—armor, weapons, maybe even more accessories. Collecting them would unlock powers beyond what he could imagine.
But the surprises didn't end there. Another notification appeared.
[Bonus Reward: 10 God Coins Acquired]
He now had 20 God Coins, which he stored inside his storage ring.
A satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Between the earrings, the level-up, and the God Coins, this day had been more than rewarding. His strength was growing rapidly.
Sliding his sword back into place, Charvet glanced at the horizon, his black hair flowing slightly in the breeze. "Let's see what else this world has to offer."
[Player Status]
Titles: First Hunter, First Ranker
Name: Stormbringer
Level: 11
HP: 150/150
Strength (STR): 28
Dexterity (DEX): 31
Intelligence (INT): 25
Endurance (END): 26
Additional Stats: +5% Exp, +5% Drop rate
Stat Points: 0
Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Passive): Can be upgraded by practice, Thunder Slash level 1
Equipment: Iron Sword , Basic Black Armor, Basic Pants, Basic Boots, DragonSlayer Earrings