<div> Chapter 1 - 1 - Rapture Event
 "This is it!" Elias announced loudly, his lips curled into a smile as he stared at the glowing yellow portal in front of him.
 Rapture Event, I thought. When the very laws of the world give in to allow for the existence of a dimension that mirrors our own. Except its inhabitants are vicious monsters that seek the destruction of humanity above all else.
 I observed our surroundings, noting the empty glade we stood in. The dried yellow leaves, tall ashen trees, and the light streaming through the thick canopy.
 We were alone. At least for the moment.
 "Get ready, everyone." Finn motioned with a clap of his hands.
 Unlike Elias, who was a tall, rugged man with matted brown hair and black eyes, Finn had his blue locks slick with oil that shined under the light from the sun.
 "I've got everything ready," Edith responded, waving her hand that held a small glass vial full of red liquid.
 Healing Potion.
 Erdwatch sold them at 5 coppers, though I have heard the Rosenthal County offered cheaper prices. Of course the one in Edith's hand and the five more packed inside her pouch were our emergency supplies.
 Theirs, I corrected mentally. I doubt they would waste any on me.
 Edith put the potion back inside her pouch, tucked her blond locks behind her ear, and glanced at Theodore.
 The man was the tallest of us all and carried two short swords strapped to the belt on his hip. He was also bald with a tattoo of a wolf carved onto his head.
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 </div> "Don't leave anything behind, Markus," he called to me, "and keep close."
 I sighed, tugged at the straps of my backpack, and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be right behind."
 "Ok people, let's finish this quick and go home!" Elias, our leader, finished his speech and pressed forward. We followed a step behind.
 A Yellow Event meant at least one D-rank hunter and a party of five E-rank hunters in company. We were exempt from the latter requirement due to possessing two D-rank hunters.
 As we passed through the portal and emerged on the other side, I noted little change in our surroundings. Except the light from the sun that dimmed slightly.
 Depending on the rank of the event, the space inside can span from hundreds of thousands of square meters to 10 million square meters. Ours didn't stretch much and was thus easier to map.
 We were on a Bronze Rank Mission from the Hunters Guild to clean the Event. Which usually required the elimination of every single resident found inside the Event, no questions asked.
 We stood in the same clearing as before, except this time there were monsters present.
 Our team stood ready, though I took the back seat to the entire episode that was about to unfold.
Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience. Elias took out his wand, a thick, twisted tree branch with a dark red gem mounted at the top. Theodore drew out his short swords, a flowing current swirling around the blades.
 I noticed Finn take out his frost-tipped daggers while Edith stood close, holding a spear. She was like me in that she didn't fight, but unlike me she was actually useful.
 Not that I wasn't, mind you. I made myself beneficial wherever necessary, but the team never really appreciated it. It's the reason why I got handed menial jobs like hauling their gear or acting as bait. Never liked the latter.
 GROWL!
 The wolves around us growled, their sharp teeth full on display, dripping with saliva. Their glowing yellow eyes radiated menace, while their posture told us to be extra cautious.
 "Adios, fuckers!" Elias flashed a grin as his wand lit up; a scorching hot fireball spun into existence and was launched straight in the midst of the wolves.
 Not having expected such an attack to arrive, the monsters nonetheless relied on their instincts to dodge. Some managed; others were not as lucky.
 The searing ball of heat blasted right in the middle, exploding right on contact. A wall of flames launched from the center and domed outward.
 Enraged growling shifted to whimpers of terror while the monsters scrambled to avoid the heat. Theodore was quick to finish those distracted. While Finn wove between their scattered ranks to stab any who were standing on the verge of mort, but managed to avoid their demise.
 This was the terror of having two D-rank hunters within our ranks. Though the monsters were plenty, their lower ranks hinted at their lacking stats.
 Everything was going well...
 HOWL!
 ...Until we heard the howl.
 Theodore, true to his Origin, Swiftstrider, sprinted to arrive before Elias just as a huge monster leapt from within the smoky curtain. Its teeth bared, ready to engulf Elias' head within its terrifying maw, except its sharp teeth met the bald man's blade.
 "Ugh..." Theodore grunted as he was pushed back. Despite being a D-rank hunter, he had barely stepped foot into the ranks, so he lacked benefits that came with progression.
 A flare of light lit up before the wolf's snout, Elias' wand drawn and focusing his mana. Compared to Theodore, he had already advanced by a few levels, and from what I've overheard, he stood close to level 30.
 The monster relented, loosening its jaw and allowing the blade to escape before it pushed back.
 "Where do you think you're going, fucker!" Elias charged another fireball before flinging it right at the wolf.
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 </div> This was a D-Rank monster, and unlike its lesser brethren, it had enough agility to actually dodge the attack swiftly. Except our team was experienced, having dealt with monsters often. They knew the monster would evade the attack; rather, they were betting on it.
 Just as the D-Rank wolf shuffled to the side, Theodore was already swinging at its neck. The monster yelped in surprise, an almost human expression leaking from beneath its feral visage.
 Our only other D-Rank didn't give it any time to process, his sword cutting into its snout. Even then the monster somehow managed to dodge a fatal blow.
 It might've survived had it been facing only Theodore. Reality didn't conform to one's exigency.
 Two swift daggers stabbed right into its back, our Frost Hunter making his appearance. He flashed a grin at the monster and pulled his weapon out, only to stab it again.
 "Pull!" A yell from the leader had the duo pulling back. Just in time, as a fireball bigger than the ones before made its appearance, smacking the monster right in the face.
 With a loud bang, the monster was blasted back. Its skull singed and its form motionless. It was dead.
 The teamwork of this group was impeccable. If only I could be a part of it.
 I released a tense breath of air and noted Edith jab her spear into a dying wolf.
 "Alright everyone, take this moment to recover your reserves!"
 As the Event Dimension was the flat space and not a dungeon, we would be easily able to track down every monster. But that also risked getting ambushed or swarmed.
 "Markus!" Theodore called out. I took a light sprint to arrive before the man, not activating my own ability. "Scout the area ahead while we gather up the monster remains."
 I nodded and dropped my baggage next to the root of a tree. My armor consisted of only covering to my chest, shoulders, and my arms up to my elbows. The back had two straps running diagonally to secure it to my body, and only my thin white tunic acted as the defense.
 My legs were in even worse condition, with only mucked-up trousers worn out near the edges. At places I could even see the threads coming undone.
 I took out my only trusty weapon and marched forward, my stride cautious. I had awakened a Common Tier Origin at the age of 15. A Scout.
 Since then, four years had passed, and I had progressed by 6 levels. My pathetic advancement wasn't for the lack of trying, but instead an effort at securing a better start. Which I had managed spectacularly.
 I called forth my Hunter Profile to find assurance in my strength.
 Name: Markus White
 Race: Human [Awakened]
 Age: 19
 Origin: Scout [Common]
 Level: 7 | XP: 68%
 Rank: E
 Attributes
 Strength: 9
 Agility: 23
 Vitality: 14
 Intelligence: 10
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 </div> Perception: 11
 Free Stat Points: 0
 Talents
 [Sprint - D]
 [Simple Tracking - E]
 [Basic Stealth - E]
 Sprint. A D-rank talent that I worked tirelessly for three whole years to acquire.
 With my high agility, I had even higher chances of survival than Finn. Though that poor sucker would never admit it, even if he knew about my talent. Not that he did, or anyone for that matter.
 A secret only mine to keep.
 While my other talents were lacking in comparison to the Sprint, they still provided tangible benefits. I flared Basic Stealth as I drew closer to the crater in the center where a couple of wolves were keeping guard around a big wolf. This one was even bigger than the one from before.
 I silently drew back and reported my findings to the group.
 "Good, we are going to push ahead. Kill the bastards before they even know what hit 'em!"</div>
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Chapter 1 - Rapture Event

Chapter 1 - 1 - Rapture Event "This is it!" Elias announced loudly, his lips curled into a smile as he stared at the glowing yellow portal in front of him. Rapture Event, I thought. When the very laws of the world give in to allow for the existence of a dimension that mirrors our own. Except its inhabitants are vicious monsters that seek the destruction of humanity above all else. I observed our surroundings, noting the empty glade we stood in. The dried yellow leaves, tall ashen trees, and the...

Monster Girl Menagerie - Celestial Archive

Chapter 1 - Rapture Event

Monster Girl Menagerie - Celestial Archive - Chapter 1 - Rapture Event