Limitless Seas

Ethan stood at the edge of the forest, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The town was quiet, the distant waves crashing against the docks. He exhaled and called out in his mind.

"Status."

A glowing blue window appeared in front of him.

---

[STATUS WINDOW]

Name: Ethan

Level: 18

EXP: 2,350/6,000

HP: 320/400

Stamina: 150/180

Strength: 22

Agility: 24

Endurance: 20

Sword Mastery: Lv. 5

Skills: Quick Slash, Dash, Basic Guard

---

He studied the numbers. Not bad, but not great. His stamina had dropped from hunting earlier, but it would recover soon. The biggest problem was his strength—compared to real fighters, he was still weak.

He clenched his fist. That would change soon.

Ethan closed the window and turned toward the docks. He had no more time to waste.

Jade and the old man were already waiting in the shadows near the docks. The ship they were targeting hadn't arrived yet, but the guards were already patrolling the area.

Jade grinned when she saw Ethan. "Took your time."

Ethan ignored her and glanced at the old man. "Everything ready?"

The old man nodded. "The ship should be here in an hour. We stick to the plan. Get in, take what we need, get out before anyone knows what happened."

Ethan folded his arms. "And if something goes wrong?"

The old man adjusted his coat. "We escape. No fighting unless we have no choice."

Ethan nodded. That was the plan from the start—fast and quiet.

They waited in silence. Minutes passed, then an hour. Then finally, the sound of heavy waves reached their ears. A large merchant ship came into view, its sails catching the moonlight.

It was bigger than Ethan expected. Armed guards stood on the deck, watching the docks as they approached.

Jade nudged Ethan. "Looks like they're expecting trouble."

Ethan kept his voice low. "Doesn't matter. We stick to the plan."

The ship docked, and the crew began unloading crates. The old man signaled them to move. This was their chance.

Moving like shadows, they slipped onto the ship. The guards were focused on the cargo, barking orders and moving supplies. They didn't even notice the three intruders.

Jade led the way, ducking behind barrels. Ethan followed, keeping his steps light.

The old man pointed to a metal chest near the captain's quarters. "That's what we need. Get moving."

Ethan hesitated. "What's in it?"

"Information," the old man muttered. "More valuable than gold."

Ethan didn't ask further. He and Jade rushed to the chest. Jade pulled out a set of lockpicks, her fingers working fast. Within seconds, the lock clicked open.

Inside were sealed documents, rolled-up maps, and a small black notebook. The old man grabbed the notebook first, flipping through the pages with sharp eyes. His expression darkened.

"Got what we need. Let's move."

Ethan felt uneasy. He didn't know what was inside, but whatever it was, it was important.

Then, everything fell apart.

A deep voice echoed across the ship.

"Thieves."

Ethan barely had time to react before a massive fist slammed into his chest.

CRACK.

The force sent him flying like a cannonball. He barely registered the pain before his back smashed through the ship's mast.

Wood shattered around him as he tumbled onto the deck, gasping for air. His whole body screamed in pain. His HP had dropped to critical levels.

Through blurry vision, he saw the man who hit him.

A tall, muscular figure stood in the moonlight. His fist still raised, his eyes locked onto Ethan like he was an insect.

Above his head, glowing numbers burned into Ethan's vision.

[Level 60]

Jade cursed. "We need to get the fuck out of here!"

The old man's grip tightened on the notebook. "Move!"

Ethan forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain. The mission was over. Now, they just had to survive.