Chapter 3:A Warm Welcome

Chapter 3:A Warm Welcome

I could only stare helplessly as more birds exploded out of the forest in a panic, the crash of falling trees inching closer and closer toward me.

Shit! Fuck!

A boss fight already?! Sure, I'm lvl 50, but I'm a trash noob! I can't fight yet!

I gritted my teeth out of sheer annoyance, and as if that wasn't enough—

『Warning, a strong enemy is approaching..』

No shit, Sherlock!

My eyes narrowed as I stared ahead, then darted to the sides.

Ahhh... what do I do? Should I run?!

I glance to my side. Trees. Nothing but trees. Judging by the speed of those falling trunks... even if I ran, there's no choice! I'd easily get caught up by whatever that thing is!

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

The closer that thing got, the louder its footsteps became.

This is bad!

I probably have some weapon, right? I probably do!

Let's take a gamble—either I die fighting that thing with my bare fists or die valiantly with a weapon!

"Inventory!"

And just like that, the inventory opened. There were two items, but my eyes locked onto the first one...

"A literal gun.."

No, to be exact, it's a flintlock... but it's still a gun! Still!

That's actually better!

I've tried my hand a few times at those arcade shooting games. I can do this...

"How do I even take it out?"

I asked,

I tried reaching for the gun, but my hand phased right through the panel...

Weird...

Bam! Bam! Bam!

My pupils shrank.

It's getting closer!

What do I do?!

In a panic, I formed my hand as if I was holding a gun, and suddenly—I felt weight...

"This.."

My eyes widened as a flintlock pistol materialized in my hand.

I glanced at the panel, and as expected, it was gone!

Such a weird way to get things...

I have to actually imagine I'm holding the thing...

It's not bad, but it's rather unique.

Quickly, my attention snapped back to whatever was barreling toward me.

The trees in front of me finally parted, and my pupils shrank with pure terror.

"B-Big.."

My hand holding the flintlock shook with fear, unable to even aim at what loomed before me...

『Lvl 200 The Trader』

My eyes darted to the system panel. Level 200... holy... that's... that's absurd.

My lips had gone completely pale.

The creature in front of me... was big... probably around 7 feet? The same height as the trees around me, which, mind you, isn't short!

The entire thing was like a walking, humanoid tree.

But what made it truly frightening wasn't the level—it was its face.

Despite looking like a treant, its face was a blasphemy to humans.

It had the face of a human... no, rather... it was wearing a human face...

A lot of them.

Because its face was bigger compared to a human's, it had to stretch the skin to its absolute limit.

The only reason I was able to tell was because... I could see some eye sockets... some mouths, open as if screaming in agony...

I felt sick. I wanted to hurl.

And it seemed to have noticed me. Stepping closer. Closing the gap.

Immediately, the stench of rot and decay violated my nose.

Fuck! This is too much.

I gritted my teeth.

Heaven probably has some beef with me. I'm sure of it!

It's getting closer now, slowly. As if I'm not a threat.

Don't mess with me!

Despite my fear, my hands shaking—

I pointed my flintlock at the Trader. And it seemingly stopped.

My earlier fear subsided. Replaced with... some feeling I could not name...

Then—

[New Skill Acquired: Pride]

[Complete immunity to mental attacks, composure up, the user is more likely to do things out of pride, the user is less likely to doubt themselves, confidence up!]

A new skill... just from this?

My mouth opened, then curled into a smile...

This is such a helpful skill. Seemingly coincidental.

My attention then shifted to that hideous thing in front of me.

"Die!"

I pulled the trigger, and the Trader jolted, arms covering its face—before we both stared at each other.

"Eh?"

Does this thing have no ammo? Of course! It's a gun!

Wait, no! I haven't pulled the hammer!

As I pulled the hammer back, a shadow swallowed me whole.

"Huh—?"

I looked up.

The Trader's foot was already descending. A massive, gnarled sole blotting out the sky above me, the world darkening as if someone had flipped a switch.

"Eh?"

Bam!

The Trader stomped where I was!

But luckily, I managed to dodge, jumping and splatting onto the ground.

"Ptooey! Dirt... ew."

I stood up as I aimed at the Trader.

Then—

BANG!

One shot. A huge hole appeared in the Trader's arm.

"Holy fuck..."

My jaw hung open...

This... isn't this too OP?!

I narrowed my eyes, looking at my flintlock before glaring back at the Trader.

Let's finish him off before he does some 2nd phase transformation.

I pulled the trigger again, and this time only a small hole tore through the Trader's body.

Not good!

I ran as the Trader grabbed a tree and hurled it toward me!

Diving into the ground again, dodging the tree just in time, I looked up and aimed at the Trader.

"Third time's the charm."

As I pulled the trigger, the barrels of my flintlock glowed gold, before shooting a golden bullet toward the Trader. The recoil was so heavy that my arm flung above my head and I almost fell.

Then...

Bang!

I looked at the Trader, and it stood there... then it slowly fell...