As Volk stood amidst the smoldering clearing, smoke swirling around him like dark banners, a faint glimmer caught his attention.

Squinting, he saw what appeared to be a transparent interface, flashing several lines of text across his vision.

He blinked, unsure at first, but then his eyes widened as the message revealed itself.

DING!

| System Update Acquired! |

Words scrolled across his vision, the strange glow illuminating them in the dim forest.

Update:

| ‘Radioactive Horde Command’ now available!

| Note: Command function unavailable. User does not currently have an assembled horde. |

A faint frown tugged at Volk’s mouth.

He flexed his fingers, itching with anticipation.

This feature had potential—unimaginable potential. But without a horde to command, he couldn’t unleash its full power.

He grumbled, disappointed yet intrigued.

New Feature: ‘All-Seeing Eyes’ Activated! Grants the ability to reveal basic information about any life form within sight.

Now that was useful. With a subtle focus, he let his gaze shift toward the two trembling figures in front of him.

As if on command, words began materializing in the air before him.

—

Target:

Name: Lira Kesh

Age: 24

Gender: Female.

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Barbarian

Background: Tribal Nomad from Southern Orzaroth

Strength Level: Average

Agility Level: Above Average

Fear Level: High

Target:

Name: Mareen Suul

Age: 26

Gender: Female.

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Barbarian

Background: Hunter from Southern Orzaroth

Strength Level: Below Average

Agility Level: Average

Fear Level: Extreme

—

Volk felt a thrill of satisfaction pulse through him.

He’d always hated guessing the strengths and intentions of potential enemies—or allies.

Now, he could see through them with just a look.

This “All-Seeing Eyes” feature was a game-changer.

The two women stood there, their wide, fearful eyes fixed on him.

Lira’s lips trembled, and Mareen looked as though she might bolt if her legs hadn’t frozen in place.

He could practically feel the terror radiating from them, their breaths coming fast and shallow.

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He let out a low growl, half from irritation at being watched and half from amusement at their shock.

His eyes continued scanning the system updates as if savoring each line, and he smirked when he reached the next one.

Ding!

| New Feature: ‘Radioactive Signal’

| Enabled! Note: Signal tracking feature unavailable. Map data required. |

The words flickered ominously, but Volk understood.

This “Radioactive Signal” might let him locate other significant creatures or dangers around him—if he had the right equipment to map it.

He clenched his fist, feeling a surge of excitement mingling with frustration.

The system was evolving with him, granting him new tools with every battle, every enemy defeated.

It was far from perfect, but it was something he could work with.

The thought was interrupted by a loud BANG! against his back.

A solid force slammed into him, just hard enough to make him grunt.

The sting was minimal, but it was enough to make his brow furrow with irritation.

He clenched his jaw, taking a deep, rumbling breath.

Slowly, Volk turned, muscles coiled and ready.

And there, standing a few feet away, were the culprits: two hounds with wild eyes and teeth bared, their snarls sharp enough to slice the air itself.

The hounds backed up, surprised and trembling. But standing behind them, smugly satisfied, was a man who could only be described as absurdly flamboyant.

He was tall, with a shock of blond curls that fell over his shoulders in waves, and a well-trimmed beard that framed his sneering mouth.

His clothing was elaborate, a royal blue coat with embroidered golden patterns, a ruffled white shirt, and several rings that glittered on his fingers.

The blonde man’s eyes widened, and his face twisted with shock and anger.

He sneered, spitting out his words.

“Who dares to interrupt my hunt for my Servus and Sarvas? Do you even know who I am, you filthy brute?”

The hounds barked as if echoing their master’s curses, lunging forward with snapping jaws, each snarl laced with bitter rage.

Volk took a step forward, his massive form looming over them.

His brows lowered, and he fixed the man with an unamused glare, his voice low and gruff, “Hmmm?”

The blonde man’s expression faltered for just a second, a glimmer of fear flashing behind his feigned arrogance.

His voice dripped with contempt, but Volk could see the subtle tremor in his grip, the way his fingers danced nervously over his ornate rings.

“You… filth!” the blonde spat, trying to hold onto his dignity. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with, do you?”

He hesitated, his eyes darting to Volk’s towering form, those deep-set eyes glowing with barely restrained menace.

In a flash of insight, the blonde realized he wasn’t going to win this.

This was no ordinary beast.

The creature before him was formidable, and possibly one of those elite warriors rumored to lurk in the Canyon of Orcs or the Valley of Orcs.

His mind raced.

He needed an out, and fast.

Grumbling, he reached into his pocket, his hand closing over a smooth scroll tucked within the folds of his robe.

“I never thought I’d need to use this,” he muttered under his breath, his tone a mixture of frustration and resignation.

With a flourish, he yanked the scroll free and held it high, its edges rimmed in a faint golden light.

The air around it seemed to warp, as if even the elements feared what was coming.

Volk’s eyes narrowed as the blonde whispered a string of incantations in a language that sounded like the hiss of molten metal, each word intensifying the light.

Then it began.

The scroll lifted from the man’s hand, hovering in the air as if held by invisible threads.

It trembled, shaking violently before splitting open with a soft crack!

The edges unraveled, and bright, cascading streams of light poured forth from its surface, streaking the sky like molten stars.

First, a single band of light swirled around the man, then another, and another.

Threads of blinding brilliance weaved into each other, twisting and merging, forming a radiant cocoon that pulsed and expanded.

Each pulse sent waves of energy rippling through the forest, the trees shuddering under its might, leaves trembling and lifting off their branches, caught in the violent vortex.

The light exploded outward, flooding the forest in an ethereal, almost blinding glow.

Colors shifted, refracting through the air in a kaleidoscope of reds, blues, and greens.

It painted the trunks of trees and the ground below in surreal hues, illuminating every stone and shadow.

Faint symbols glowed within the streams, flickering in and out of existence, runes from some forgotten ancient language that pulsed with raw power.

The entire forest seemed to hum in response, a low, otherworldly sound that made Volk’s bones vibrate.

The light twisted, then folded in on itself with a flash so bright it could have been mistaken for a star going supernova. And then, in an instant, it collapsed inward, forming a point of condensed light.

With a crackling pop! the blonde man disappeared, the light dissipating in a cascade of falling embers, scattering like fireflies as the night reclaimed the forest.

Volk blinked, stunned. “Huh?” He stared at the spot where the blonde man had just been.

The faint smell of scorched air hung around him, and the embers slowly faded, leaving the world silent once more.

Suddenly, a screen materialized before Volk’s eyes, his system’s familiar, mechanical voice chiming with a ding.

DING!

| Mission: Catch the Blonde Man before he could reach the Baron Mansion.

| Reward: Radioactive Magic Gauntlet

| Failure Penalty: All-Seeing Eyes Deactivated |

Volk’s brows furrowed as he scanned the details, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

It wasn’t the threat of losing his newly acquired All-Seeing Eyes or even the allure of the Radioactive Magic Gauntlet that struck him the most.

It was the fact that he had been given a mission here, in this unknown realm.

A challenge from his system, issued directly to him, targeting that insolent blonde.

He understood the implications.

His system didn’t waste its energy; it only guided him when there was something vital, something important at stake.

If it wanted him to catch this man, it wasn’t just about the gauntlet.

There was something deeper, some hidden advantage waiting if he succeeded.

A grin spread across Volk’s face, wild and fierce, his sharp teeth glinting in the faint moonlight.

His heart began to beat faster, the thrill of the hunt electrifying his veins.

The ground beneath him seemed to hum with his excitement, as if the earth itself was trembling in anticipation of what he would do next.

“All right!” he bellowed, his voice shaking the trees around him as his fist clenched with renewed determination.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep