"This monster... it looks scary. Hmm? Lesser rank? Why is its rank different? I thought all monsters were ranked from G and above."

[Monsters from the System are different beings from those in the real world. They exist outside this world, so they use a different ranking system. Their ranks, from lowest to highest, are Lesser, Elite, Apex, Overseer, Warden, Tyrant, Dominus, Cataclysm, Sovereign, Primordial, Paragon, and finally Overlord. Please remember this well.]

"So this monster is actually the lowest rank? But it still has high stats. How do I summon it?"

[It is not that easy. To obtain monsters from Monster Cards, you must first defeat them in battle and then tame them manually once they are weakened. It follows a similar concept to your world.]

"Huhh? Is that so? I thought I could just summon it like that. What a bummer." Oliver felt disappointed.

He then looked at the last card in his hand. The card showed only a red eye.

---

[Overlord Eye]

Type: Passive Skill

Rarity: Rare

Level: 1

Effects:

[All-Seeing Eye Lv 1]

Able to see the name and health of monsters.

---

"A-amazing. I actually got a Rare card. Hey, Velkryss, look at this." Oliver woke up the sleeping Velkryss, who lazily opened his eyes.

"That is a good skill. It can help you in battle. Yaawn. Do not disturb me, I want to sleep."

"Tch! Is that all your reaction? You must be a party pooper among your kind. Well, whatever, let me equip this skill first."

He equipped the skill and looked at himself in the mirror. His left eye was now red, compared to the original golden right one. It made him look very cool. He posed in front of the mirror.

He then looked at Velkryss. A green bar was floating above him, and his name was displayed above it.

"Amazing! This eye is really good. It says the skill is Level 1, so that means it can be upgraded further. What more will I be able to see if this skill is upgraded? I cannot wait." Oliver was excited. He then turned off the skill, and his left eye returned to normal.

"Yosh! Not bad for the first pack opening! I cannot wait to obtain more coins and open new cards. But right now, I need to learn how to fight! Hey, Velkryss, let’s go!" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

As he was about to step out, he suddenly stopped.

"Wait a second! I cannot let anyone see you. Velkryss, recall." Velkryss turned into particles before entering Oliver’s body.

"Why do I not feel tired like last time? I thought summoning and recalling took a lot of energy?" Oliver asked.

"Do not worry, I used my own mana if I want to come out of my own."

Oliver nodded before heading out of the room.

"Mom! Can I play outside?" Oliver asked.

"Are you well enough, dear? You just woke up this morning."

"I am alright, Mom. I am a strong boy." Oliver flexed his nonexistent muscles.

"Hmm. Alright, you can go outside. But don’t go far away and don’t get close to the forest, okay? You promise me?"

"Promise, Mom!" Oliver then ran toward the door and left the house.

’Sorry, Mom, for lying to you again. But I do this for your sake too, to become strong so I can protect myself and my family.’ Oliver’s face was serious as he had already decided where he needed to go.

---

Arnulf was currently at the guild, trying to search for a quest. As a dungeon hunter and tamer, taking quests was a normal way to earn gold for daily life.

The quests available in Ashville Town consisted only of low to moderate difficulty, so the rewards were just average. Higher-difficulty quests were usually available in larger cities.

But right now, Arnulf could not focus. He had been standing in front of the quest board for hours, thinking about what had happened near Crimsonmoon Forest.

’How did Oliver return without any harm? And at the same time, the Mooncrest Dungeon was gone. It is hard to believe it is just a coincidence. Did Oliver actually... No, no! I cannot suspect my own son. That would make me a bad father. Alright, when I get back, I will ask him myself,’ Arnulf thought.

"Oii, Arnulf. What are you doing, dozing like that?" Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder. He turned and saw Robert, a slightly plump man with a moustache.

"Hey, Robert. What are you doing here?" Everyone in Ashville knew Robert well. He was the mayor of the town. Arnulf and Robert had once been close friends during their days as young adventurers. But as they built their own families, and as Robert became mayor, they met less often. To others, people did not like getting too close to him, as he had a sharp tongue and loved to boast.

"Nothing! I just want to teach my son here the way of tamers. He just got his first monster last month, and it is a very good one, I could say. Hahaha." Robert boasted.

His son, Ray, smirked as he petted his monster, a Flamlio. It was a Rank C monster, and it could evolve twice, to Rank B and finally Rank A. It was actually one of the best starter monsters.

<Flamlio>

"That is... a great monster. Your son will surely become a great tamer." Arnulf smiled weakly.

"Uncle Arnulf, what monster did Oliver get? Yesterday should have been his taming ritual. Tell me what he got," Ray suddenly asked.

"Yeah, that is right. Both of them should train together," Robert said.

"Errr... actually..." Arnulf hesitated. "Actually, we postponed the ritual yesterday. Y-yes, something happened that force us to postpone it." Arnulf lied. Of course, he could not tell anyone that his own son had failed to summon a monster. But he knew, sooner or later, they would find out.

"Then, excuse me." Arnulf walked away, taking one of the quests with him.

"Hmm... what is wrong with him?" Robert stroked his moustache. Suddenly, someone came over and whispered to him.

"Ohhh... I see. So that is what actually happened. Interesting." A sly smile appeared on Robert’s face.