The Steel Mountain Base was far larger than Orion expected.
Massive walls surrounded the settlement, reinforced with thick steel plates. Tall watchtowers were built along the wall, with multiple awakeners keeping an eye out for any potential threats. The gates alone were nearly twenty metres tall, guarded by veteran Awakeners whose presence radiated quiet strength.
Inside the walls, the base resembled a small frontier city. Stone streets stretched through organised districts, each filled with activity. Awakeners moved everywhere—some armed, some wounded, some carrying monster materials for trade.
Orion walked slowly, observing everything.
The first place he reached was the Trade Centre.
It was a large building bustling with activity. Awakeners moved in and out constantly, carrying monster parts, weapons, and equipment.
A large board near the entrance listed common trade prices.
Inside, counters lined the walls where staff members evaluated monster materials and processed transactions.
Next to it stood another building with a massive board outside.
Mission Hall.
Inside the building, the walls were lined with large boards with various tasks and missions listed on them. Monster extermination, resource gathering, watchtower guard, and patrol – all kinds of simple tasks were listed across the wall. Awakeners could be seen taking on tasks and submitting them to earn some Federation Credits (FC). After the collapse, Federation Credits have become the only currency for the entirety of humankind. Rupee, dollar, pound, and yuan – all such currencies were discontinued.
There were multiple other facilities scattered across the base. Lodges and inns to stay in, restaurants that specialise in serving nutrient-rich dishes made of monster flesh and herbs, apothecaries selling potions and medicinal herbs, and smithies that specialise in creating and selling custom weapons and equipment forged from monster drops, rare metals, and ores.
Finally, he arrived back at the Town Square.
This was the most important area of the base.
It was the arrival point for all new Awakeners.
At the centre stood several massive stone gates.
These were the Return Gates, allowing people recognised by the Sanctuary to travel back to Terra.
Orion studied the gates briefly before turning away.
He had no intention of returning yet.
He headed toward the main gate of the base. It was time to test his power.
The moment Orion stepped outside the base, the environment changed.
Dense forest stretched endlessly across rolling hills. Strange plants grew everywhere, and the air carried a faint metallic scent. Multiple parties of awakeners could be seen entering the forest to hunt monsters. Joining hunting parties was a common norm. They could plan hunt strategies, reduce risk, and hunt stronger monsters.
Orion had no plan to join any party for the time being. He was an anomaly. He had four powerful classes and wanted to test them. Joining any party was gaining unwanted attention or hiding his true potential, and Orion had no such plan for now.
Orion moved carefully.
After several minutes, he spotted his first target.
A small Forest Rabbit nibbling some kind of medicinal herb.
It looked harmless at first glance, but Orion knew better. Even the weakest monsters could easily injure an unprepared human.
He raised his hand.
"Magic Bullet."
A small glowing orb of condensed mana materialised. It was the size of a small marble ball. And with a BANG, it shot forward and struck the rabbit.
The attack did little damage, but it achieved its purpose.
The rabbit's red eyes turned toward Orion with fury, and it charged at him.
Just as the beast was a short distance away from Orion, he activated another ability.
"Floral Command."
The grass around the rabbit suddenly twisted and surged upward. It wrapped tightly around the rabbit's legs, making it lose balance and stumble.
Thud.
It crashed to the ground.
Orion stepped forward calmly. A crimson blade materialised in his hand. Crimson Sword.
The weapon glowed faintly as if alive.
With a swift motion—Slash.
The blade sliced cleanly through the rabbit's neck.
Blood splattered across the grass.
For a moment, the sword shimmered as if excited to taste blood.
Then the system notification appeared.
[You solo killed F-Tier Forest Rabbit]
[You gained 50 EXP]
[You obtained 5 Lives]
Immediately after—
[Level Up!]
[Level: 2] [ Progress: 0/200 ]
[Lives: 6]
[All stats increased by 4]
[You obtained 20 attribute points.]
Orion blinked.
Something was clearly wrong.
"A normal level up only increases stats by one… And only gives five attribute points."
Yet he received four times that.
Then Orion realised the reason.
"I have four classes."
He had heard of some rare Awakeners possessing twin classes.
Those individuals were always far stronger than ordinary Awakeners.
Now Orion finally understood why. It seems the number of classes was directly proportional to the number of stats received on level-up.
He noticed another anomaly.
A normal forest rabbit should only provide 10 EXP and 1 life.
But he received five times that.
"Ultimate Drop… 5x multiplier."
Truck-kun's blessing.
Orion looked down at the rabbit corpse. Beside the corpse, several items have appeared. Monster drops.
[5x Rabbit Meat] [15x Rabbit Fur Pelts] [5x Medicinal Herb (Common Grade)]
Exactly five times the normal drop rate.
Orion quickly stored everything in his Void Storage.
Feeling more confident, Orion ventured deeper. The environment grew darker and quieter the farther he walked.
Soon he found another lone monster.
A Wind Wolf.
The beast was crouched beside a freshly killed rabbit, tearing into the flesh with its sharp fangs.
Its fur shimmered faintly with green wind energy.
Unlike the rabbit, this creature was a true predator.
Orion crouched behind a tree.
Let's test the strategy again.
He extended his hand.
"Magic Bullet."
A small sphere of mana shot forward.
Bang.
The bullet struck the wolf's flank.
The beast froze.
Then its head slowly turned. Two glowing green eyes locked onto Orion.
A low growl echoed through the forest.
Then the wolf moved.
Not a charge— but a blur.
The creature dashed forward at frightening speed, covering the distance in seconds.
Orion immediately activated his ability.
"Floral Command!"
The grass beneath the wolf erupted upward.
Blades of grass twisted into living ropes and wrapped around its legs.
For a moment—
It worked.
But the Wind Wolf was far stronger than the rabbit.
With a vicious snarl, the beast twisted its body.
SNAP.
The grass bindings tore apart instantly.
The wolf leapt into the air and slashed with its front claw.
Arc of wind energy shot out from its claws, cutting through the air like blades of a scythe.
SHRRRRK!
Three wind blades streaked toward Orion.
The sharp arcs sliced through the air with terrifying speed.
"Damn!"
Orion barely reacted in time.
He threw himself sideways.
One wind blade passed so close that it sliced through the sleeve of his shirt.
Another blade struck the tree behind him.
CRACK.
The thick trunk split like paper.
Orion rolled across the ground and immediately fired again.
"Magic Bullet! Magic Bullet! Magic Bullet!"
Three mana projectiles struck the wolf's chest.
The attacks barely injured it but forced the beast to slow its advance.
The wolf landed and growled furiously.
Wind once again gathered around its claws.
It was preparing another attack.
Orion gritted his teeth.
That Floral Command was too weak.
He raised both hands.
This time he poured far more mana into the skill.
"Floral Command!"
The ground trembled.
Grass alone was not enough.
The entire forest responded.
Nearby trees bent toward Orion's will.
Branches creaked as they extended unnaturally, reaching toward the wolf like grasping arms.
At the same time—
Thick vines erupted from the ground.
They shot upward like the tentacles of an octopus.
The wolf lunged forward again.
But this time— It was too late.
Branches wrapped around its body. Vines coiled around its legs.
The wolf struggled violently.
Thicker vines wrapped around the wolf's torso.
Branches tightened around its neck.
The monster roared furiously, struggling violently to free itself from the bind.
But Orion had poured nearly all his mana into this attack.
The entire patch of forest had become a living trap.
Finally—
The wolf was pinned to the ground.
Orion stood up slowly, breathing heavily.
"That… cost a lot of mana."
He walked toward the struggling beast.
The Crimson Sword appeared in his hand.
The blade glowed a deep blood-red.
The wolf bared its teeth, still struggling desperately against the vines and branches.
But it could no longer move.
Orion raised the blade and slashed.
The crimson blade cut cleanly through the wolf's neck.
For a brief moment, the forest went silent.
The wolf's body stopped all struggle.
Blood spilled across the ground.
The Crimson Sword shimmered as it absorbed the blood essence.
Then the system notification appeared.
[You killed F-Tier Wind Wolf]
[EXP gained: 150]
[Lives gained: 10]
Orion let out a slow breath.
"That was… much harder than the rabbit."
But the system wasn't finished yet.
Items began appearing around the corpse.
[10x Wind Wolf Pelts] [20x Wolf Fang] [20x Wolf Claw] [10x Wind Blade Skill Card] [10x Swift Boots]
Orion stared. This time he had triggere 10x multiplier. And the loot, it was generous.
Ten Wind Blade skill cards. Even veteran Awakeners would be jealous. It was a rare wind-type offensive skill usable by swordsmen and mages alike. Orion immediately learned it.
And 10 Swift Boots. That was another rare drop item, an equipment. It enhances agility by an additional 5 attributes. He wore one pair and stored the rest.
After that, Orion's attention shifted back to the wolf corpse. He wanted to try something else.
He placed his hand on the wolf corpse.
"Shadow Call."
The wolf's body twitched.
Then its shadow began to move.
Slowly… the shadow peeled away from the ground.
It rose.
Two glowing eyes opened in the darkness.
The creature stood before him.
A perfect silhouette of the Wind Wolf made entirely of living shadow.
Orion stared at it in disbelief.
[Wind Wolf]
[Class: Shadow Summon]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 14] [Agility: 17] [Constitution: 13] [Mana: 12]
[Skills: Wind Slash, Roar, Bite, Swift Dash ]
His first shadow soldier had been born.
After a moment of admiration, Orion dismissed it.
The shadow wolf dissolved and merged with his own.
His shadow now looked slightly darker.
"I should head back."
Orion was quite exhausted, his mana nearly depleted.
"It was time to sell the loot."
With that thought, Orion returned to Steel Mountain base and immediately headed to the Trade Centre. The receptionist, a beautiful girl in her own right, greeted Orion. "Welcome to Steel Mountain Base Trade Centre. How may I help you?"
"I want to sell some items."
Orion calmly placed everything on the counter.
The receptionist's expression stiffened.
Most items were normal monster materials.
But few items stood out.
Nine Wind Blade Skill Cards.
Nine pairs of Swift Boots.
They were rare drops rarely seen, and here this young man was selling them so casually.
"Let me calculate the total, sir." The receptionist said, trying to appear calm and professional, though the nervous excitement betrayed her calmness.
"Sir, the total amount you will receive is 620,000 FC. This includes 270,000 FC for nine skill cards, another 270,000 FC for nine pairs of swift boots, and 80,000 FC for the remaining items."
Orion was delighted and nodded. He was an orphan with barely any money to his name. Obtaining so much in a single day at the sanctuary was an immense blessing. With a nod from Orion, the Receptionist quickly processed the transition. The amount of six hundred and twenty thousand federation credits was transferred to Orion's account. With a notification ping on his smartphone, Orion confirmed the successful transaction.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" The receptionist asked.
"I want to check out skill cards and equipment. Are there any here?" Orion asked.
"Yes, sir, there are a few. Please follow me." The receptionist came out of the counter and guided Orion to a higher flower. As Orion followed her, he noticed another girl replacing the receptionist. These small actions showcased the efficiency of the Trade Centre, which Orion marvelled at.
As Orion reached the first floor, he was awestruck by the vast array of items on display. The assortment was impressive, featuring weapons, armour, and various other equipments. His eyes scanned the shelves, taking in the details of each item: Black Wolf Dagger - 34,000 FC, Blue Sparrow Bow - 31,000 FC, Poison Wasp Arrow - 2,000 FC, Black Turtle Shield - 38,000 FC, Horned Cobra Spear - 39,000 FC, Black Raven Blade - 36,000 FC, Crystal Antler Wand - 38,000 FC, and many more.
After careful consideration, Orion decided to purchase the Crystal Antler Wand, the Blue Sparrow Bow, and three Poison Wasp Arrows. Excitement bubbled within him as he anticipated testing his archery skills and comparing the Poison Wasp Arrows to his Stellar Arrow skill. As for his class people, he wanted to portray his class as an elemental mage.
Next, he checked out the available skill cards. There were many basic skill cards. Orion immediately dismissed the skills that didn't align with his classes. Even for sword skills and archery techniques, nothing caught his eye. His Asura Swordsmanship and Celestial Archery covered most of the basic skills. He didn't need to waste money on useless skills like that. Few caught his eye.
Rapid Dash Skill Card- 34,000 FC, Fireball Skill Card- 36,000 FC, Water Bullet Skill Card- 32,000 FC, Icicle Skill Card- 38,000 FC, Earth Spike Skill Card- 32,000 FC, Lightning Bolt Skill Card- 43,000 FC, Mud Wall Skill Card-46,000 FC.
Orion bought them all. The total came around 336,000 FC. Orion paid the amount with a slight sting in heart. He had nearly spent half of what he earned within minutes. On the other hand, the receptionist appeared to be on the verge of dancing with joy.
After leaving the Trade Center, Orion went to a nearby restaurant.
He sold his Rabbit Meat and beast corpses and ordered a meal.
The food tasted far better than anything he had ever eaten.
Afterwards, he checked into a lodge and collapsed onto the bed.
Sleep quickly came.
But just as his eyes were about to close—
The system panel appeared.
[Divine Communication Request]
Sender: Artemis – Goddess of Hunt and Wilderness
Accept?
Orion sat up straight, his sleep gone.
"…You're kidding."
Still, he pressed accept.
The room dimmed. The world around him faded slightly. Orion found himself once again in the dreamy space where he had appeared After his death. The place where the gods granted him the chance of rebirth in this new world.
A silver glow appeared before him, gathering into the figure of a woman.
She was breathtaking. Long silver hair flowed like moonlight, and her golden eyes shone with a calm, predatory sharpness. A bow rested casually in her hand. A majestic wolf sat beside her.
Artemis.
Even sitting down, Orion felt an invisible pressure. He had seen her before, but now looking at her once again she was still radiating that divine presence and authority.
"We meet again," she said.
Orion nodded slowly.
"What do you need?" he asked after a moment. He knew divine beings would not communicate for no reason.
"That's quite a cold response. Didn't you like the class and talent I blessed you with?" She said, still smiling.
"I haven't really checked them out," Orion said hesitantly.
"That makes me sad. I believe you have tried out every other class, right?" Artemis said playfully.
"No, I have tried Floral Manipulation. It was great." Orion quickly tried to defend, not wanting to anger the goddess.
Artemis laughed softly.
"Relax. I didn't appear just to scold you."
Her expression grew serious.
"Orion, I have a task for you. If you complete it you will obtain adequate rewards."
"What's the task?" Orion asked.
"Quite straightforward. Aren't you curious about reward?" Artemis said playfully.
"I believe in the goddess. You will surely give a suitable reward befitting of your divine status and authority." Orion answered cautiously.
Artemis laughed again, "You have quite a clever, charming tongue."
After a pause, she continued, "Well, the task is quite simple, actually. Tomorrow, another batch of humans will be summoned to your base."
Orion nodded. That was normal. New awakeners arrived every day.
But Artemis continued. "Among them will be a girl. In some sense, she is a descendant of mine."
"Aren't you known for being a symbol of purity. One of the three Virgin Goddesses." Orion asked before realising he had spoken without thinking.
Artemis rolled her eyes, "And who told you she was my blood descendant. She is a descendant of one of my students. A child I had found abandoned and raised."
Orion immediately understood. Many people adopt children. And Artemis was known for her disciples who hunted with her.
"She has a situation very much like yours. The awakening stone will not be able to detect her class. The system will recognise here class but not reveal it. Here class is a hidden class that need to meet special condition to reveal itself. She needs to kill a beast. Only then will her class be revealed."
"I want you to meet team up with that girl, badly injure any beast, and let her land the finishing blow."
"And what's the reward?" Orion asked.
"Weren't you saying that you trust my judgement?" Artemis asked.
"I trust your judgement, but I still need to evaluate my gain with respect to my loss, effort and risk," Orion said.
Artemis sighed, clearly amused by Orion's clever tongue and sharp wits.
"I will grant you another talent."
"And a powerful beast suitable for your first tame."
Orion considered the offer.
"What's the name of the girl?" Orion asked.
"Luna Silver," Artemis said.