That sentence replayed over and over in my mind as we walked in silence.
Rejected.
Why? For being undocumented.
What the hell does undocumented mean? I was human, wasn’t I? And even if I wasn't, why reject me? Just lump me in with the rest of humans, I’d easily fit in.
I let out a long, frustrated groan.
“You okay, Elias?” Rok asked, glancing over.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I mean, I was actually looking forward to this. And to suddenly get rejected for what, being slightly different?”
I hesitated, then turned to him to ask.
“Rok… am I different from other humans?”
He slowed his steps and studied me carefully.
“No,” he said honestly. “You look the same as every human I've ever encountered.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
So it wasn’t my appearance. Then what was the issue?
Questions piled up with no answers in sight. My most logical guess was something internal like different skin or blood, but even that felt weak.
Then one thought surfaced.
The book.
Maybe, just maybe this had answers.
I reached into my pocket and pulled it out, the same blank book Michael had given me. I closed my eyes. Hoping for a miracle.
When I opened it…
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Frustrations grew as I clenched the book tighter.
What was the point of giving this to me if it was just… empty?
Complaints flooded my mind.
How to use my hammer? No idea.
Why was I rejected? Who knows.
And this book?
Dead weight.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
I stopped walking.
Rok took a few steps before realizing and turned back. “Uh… bro?”
I glanced at him, irritation bubbling up. For a split second, I wanted to snap—
No.
Not again. I won’t lose control as I did back then.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to take calm, steady deep breaths.
After a few moments, I opened them again.
“Uhh, bro?” Rok repeated.
“Rok,” I said.
“Yes?”
“Registered or not, you and I have to get stronger together if we want to get by.”
Rok opens his mouth, but I cut him off.
“Your B-rank, right?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“So that would mean you have some sort of system, right? To keep track of your stats?”
Rok frowned, clearly confused on what I’m babbling about.
I couldn't help but let out a defeated sigh.
“Just say open system.”
“Open system?” Rok repeated. As he did, a massive blue screen appeared in front of us.
Name: Roku Ashkarn
Status: Oni
Rank: B
Strengths:
- Muscular
- Terrifying
- Experienced combatant.
Weaknesses:
- currently unavailable
Companions:
- Mr.Rocky
- [UNKNOWN FIGURE]
‘Unknown figure.’
I stared at the words before turning to Rocky.
Rocky croaked loudly, as if it already understood.
Another screen appeared.
Name: Rocky
Status: Aphelion
Rank: Unknown
Strengths: Unknown
Weaknesses: Unknown
Companions:
- Roku Ashkarn
- [UNKNOWN FIGURE]
I analyzed both systems, then tried it myself.
“Open system.” I said firmly.
Nothing.
No screen.
No response.
No rejection message.
Just silence.
I didn’t want to admit it, but the truth was obvious.
didn’t belong here. Not the way others did.
“…Ay, Rok” I said after a moment.
He stayed silent, waiting.
“How did you reach B-rank?”
“Well uh—mostly hunting and battles.” He said.” But sometimes I’d participate in tournaments.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Tournaments?”
He scratched his head. “ A while back, me and some buddies would team up for fun. They test skills, teamwork, and raw power. Mostly for adventurers trying to prove themselves.”
A faint of excitement stirred in my chest.
Maybe this was a chance.
“How do we join?” I asked.
Rok hesitated. “Well… you need a party of four.”
My face fell.
“…You’re kidding.”
A party of four? Right. Let me just ask strangers to group with an isolated Oni and a random guy without a system. What could possibly go wrong?
I sighed, running through scenarios until landing on the most likely one.
Most protagonists would wander towns and hold a sign, begging random people to join until they reach the required amount.
Then boom some mysterious guy joins and turns out he’s way more powerful than anyone thought and joins the party.
Perfect, right?
It would be a smart choice.
Unfortunately, it would require talking to people.
Me? I’d rather fight monsters than talk to strangers.
I sat down with a quiet sigh. I was just… stuck.
Ay” Rok said suddenly. “Let’s go hunting.”
“Hunting?” I looked up. “Why?”
“We don’t have food,” he said simply. “Or money.”
“…Right,” I muttered. “I forgot survival was a thing.”
Hunting? Honestly, I could do it, but do I want to?
Before I could finish the thought, Rok added, “plus, that’s how most beginners level up.”
I stared at him.
It hadn't even occurred to me.
I might not have a system, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t learn. Or grow stronger.
How had I been that stupid?
Like a lighting bolt, I jumped up to my feet and started walking.
“Hurry up, Rok. No time to waste.”
He blinked, then shrugged, gripping his club as he followed.
Mr. Rocky curled up and fell asleep in Rok’s pocket.
We walked toward the sunset—looking far more heroic than we actually were.
As we continued walking, I couldn't shake the nervous feeling in me.
The forest was a bit too quiet for my liking. Not peaceful but in a way that made every snapped twig feel like an announcement.
Rok walked ahead casually, his club resting on his shoulder, eyes scanning the trees like he’d done this a thousand times already. I admired his confidence as I followed closely behind, gripping my hammer with both hands tightly.
“So,” I said, breaking the silence. “What exactly are we hunting?”
Rok slowed down. “Small things first.”
“Like…?”
He pointed.
A blue, wobbling mass bouncing lazily between two rocks.
It jiggled weirdly.
Then jiggled again.
“…Is that a slime?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I stared at it.
It stared back.
We just stood there, locked in what might’ve been the most intense staring of my life.
“…But it looks so harmless.”
“It is,” Rok said. Then, after a pause, added, “unless you step in it. Or get stuck in it. Or let it crawl inside your armor. Oh and—
“Okay, I get it,” I cut in. “Thank you very much.”
Rok nodded as I focused on the slime.
The slime bounced closer.
I took a steady breath and raised my hammer.
Ok Elias. It’s just a harmless, little slime. You've got this.
But the weight of my hammer just felt wrong. Not heavy, just unfamiliar. My grip was awkward, stance worse as I adjusted my footing, trying to remember every action movie I’d ever watched.
“Swing down,” Rok said helpfully.
“I was going to.”
I swung forcefully.
The hammer clipped the slimes edges instead of the center, splattering blue gel across my boots.
The slime froze.
Then, very slowly it deflated as I watched it.
I blinked.
“…Did I do that?”
“Yes,” Rok said. “Congrats. Your first hunt.”
I looked at the hammer. Then at my hands.
No screen.
No message.
No glowing numbers.
But my chest felt warm. Not guilty or painful warmth, but something else. Like a spark settling deep inside me.
“…I think,” I said slowly, “ I feel different.”
Rok nodded. “That happens.”
“It does? You feel it too?”
“No,” he said. “Only when I eat do I feel it.”
I stared at him as he walked past.
I shrugged and followed him.
The next few fights went smoothly.
I learned how to time my swings. How to use the hammer’s weight instead of struggling with it.
After each hit, after each blow, that warmth feeling continued to return. Faint, but undeniable.
I couldn't measure it.
But I could definitely feel it.
“That one was cleaner,” Rok said after I crushed a horned rabbit-thing that had charged into me headfirst.
I looked at my hands, then back at Rok. “I’m improving, aren’t I?”
“Yes.” He confirmed.
“By how much?"
He tilted his head. “Enough.”
I stared at him.
“… That tells me nothing, Rok.”
He blinked. “ It doesn't?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was sure going to be a long partnership.
As Rok knelt to salvage the little supplies we had, he suddenly stopped.
His posture changed.
The air around us just felt… wrong.
“Rok?” I said quietly.
He raised a hand.
“Don’t move.”
I opened my mouth to respond.
Then I heard it.
Heavy steps.
Slow. Deliberate steps.
Something massive moved through the trees ahead. Branches snapped like twigs beneath its weight, the ground vibrated faintly with each step.
I swallowed. “That’s.. not a slime, is it?”
“No,” Rok said quietly. “No, it isn’t.”
A massive shape passed between the trees, too fast to fully see, but enough.
Claws.
Fur.
Eyes that reflected light of which it shouldn’t have been able to see.
Rok slowly lowered his club.
“…We hunt something else now?” I whispered.
“No.” He said sharply.
“We leave.”
The creature roared.
The sound echoed through my body.
“Now!” Rok yelled.
We ran.
I didn’t even think nor had a plan on where to go. But I just ran.
The branches tore at my arms, my legs burned, my breath came in ragged as we crashed through the underbrush. Behind us, trees snapped as something huge followed.
“WHY IS IT STILL FOLLOWING US!?” I shouted,
“ I DON’T KNOW!” Rok yelled back.
The ground shook harder now, each step behind us heavier than the last. I could feel the vibrations through my body. The forest didn’t feel like a place anymore, but a trap closing in on us.
I risked a glance back.
That was my mistake.
The creature burst through the trees, no longer hiding itself. Its body was so massive, muscles visible beneath its dark fur, with its sharp claws. It’s eyes locked onto.
Focused.
Hunting.
My chest tightened.
Is this how it felt being a prey?
“LEFT!” Rok shouted.
I veered just as something slammed into the space I’d been just a second earlier. Trees exploded into splinters. The shockwaves continued to knock me off balance.
I stumbled.
Rok grabbed my arm and yanked me forward. “DON’ STOP!”
my legs screamed. My lungs burned. Hell I could even hear my own heartbeat.
Then as the creature continued to gain on us
The forest just… ended.
No warning, no signs, not even a chance to stop
The ground vanished beneath us.
“WAIT—“ I screamed, but it was already too late.
We fell.
“AHHH-“ Rok and I yelled as we clung to each other, arms locked tight. Mr. Rocky croaked in panic, clinging desperately to Rok.
We slammed into the ground hard, knocking the air from my lungs.
For a moment, all I could was gasp.
When I finally looked up, my breath was caught.
The entrance above us was just gone, hidden beneath illusionary moss and stone. And standing above it was…
The monster.
Sharp teeth. Sharp claws. Eyes filled with such hunger.
If we hadn’t fallen, it would’ve torn us apart.
I pushed myself up, legs shaky, and let out a long breath. “Phew…”
Rok stood beside, breathing just as hard.
I reached out to help him, but suddenly froze.
A quiet voice echoed from the shadows.
“…You two are either incredibly unlucky,” it said calmly, “Or incredibly stupid.”
I jumped back as Rok instantly stepped in front of me, gripping his club.
A lantern flickered to life.
Several figures emerged—armed,cloaked and watching us Farr too calmly for my liking.
Rok lowered his stance. His grip tightened around his club as I sensed the protective vibe from him.
“Easy,” I whispered. “ They don’t look hostile.”
One of the figures raised a hand.
Rok froze.
That alone told me everything I needed to know as I calmed down slightly.
The lantern light flickered, revealing sharp eyes beneath the hood.
“This drop isn’t marked,” the figure said sternly. “No patrol routes. No monster dens. No reason for anyone to fall in here.”
The figure tilted their head slightly.
“And yet,” they continued, “two surface adventurers just did.”
I almost blurted out that I wasn’t registered, but when Rok glanced back at me, I swallowed the words.
Another figure stepped forward, boots crunching softly against the ground.
“You were chased by a Shadow-Stalker,” he said. “That thing doesn’t stop once it chooses its prey.”
My stomach dropped.
“So if we hadn’t fallen…” I muttered.
“You would’ve been dead.” One of them replied flatly.
I let out a shaky breath of relief.
As my heart slowed, I couldn't help but notice something else.
Symbols carved everywhere on the walls, unknown signs I couldn’t understand.
I opened my mouth to ask, until Rok beat me to it.
“Where are we?” Rok demanded.
The lantern lowered.
“The Underground Guild.”
Rok’s eyes widened.
Mine probably did too.
“We don’t report to the authorities,” the figure continued calmly. “We don’t register nor do we exist in their records.”
Another figure glanced at me.
“And while rare,” they added,” the system misses people.”
The first figure stepped closer, gaze locking onto me.
“Judging by your confusion, “they said” you're one of them, aren’t you?”
My chest tightened.
They turned away.
“Go back up there,” they said, gesturing behind us, “and that monster will finish the job.”
The lantern swung back towards the tunnel ahead.
“Or,” one said softly, “come with us.”
Rok looked at me.
I looked at him.
Behind us was death
Ahead of us might be something worse.
Or… something different.
I exhaled.
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” I said. “ we’ll go with you.”
Silence.
Then—
“Excellent,” one of them said. “Follow us.”
We walked deeper, the lantern light growing brighter with every step, until the tunnel opened into something impossible.
A hidden world.
Crowded paths.
People like me.
“Welcome to the underground,” the figure said.