God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 5: First Time Using Extraction Talent
Previously on God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World!...
Normally, nobody would get close to Gabriel. He looked so frail that a powerful wind could easily blow him over, and on top of that, he was messy and smelled awful.
No reasonable person would invite such an ordinary guy like him into their party.
"Well." Gabriel's eyes sparkled, mirroring the images of a refined pair in his blue pupils. Darius, the man, kept gazing at him with a grin, while Vera, the woman, stayed cold and detached as always, her eyes filled with clear revulsion.
These two were far from normal, which made perfect sense. Predators never showed mercy to their prey, after all.
Even though he understood why they approached him, Gabriel's face stayed steady. Locking eyes with Darius, he spoke in a steady, resolute tone, "Fine, but I get to keep any monster cores or drops from the monsters I kill."
"How delusional. A pathetic weakling like you dares to set conditions." Revulsion deepened in Vera's gaze, and she whispered with thick contempt laced in her voice.
Gabriel caught the mutter but ignored it completely, not even bothering to look her way again.
Darius gave a wry smile, a sorry look crossing his attractive face. "Sorry about my partner. She's a bit rough at times. Anyway, we agree. Actually, we'll even share five percent of our overall loot with you."
His smile lingered as he eyed Gabriel expectantly. He anticipated excitement, like most people showed, but Gabriel's face stayed blank.
This guy... he's not like the others, Darius mused calmly, his eyes flashing with hidden thrill.
---
A while after sealing the agreement, they exited the guild. Once out of hearing range, murmurs rippled across the hall.
"Another fool," a muscular man sighed, shaking his head. "That frail build won't last—he'll vanish soon enough."
"He should've spent that signup fee on a feast," someone else remarked. With a harsh laugh, he continued, "At least he'd go full in the next life."
---
Gabriel trailed the pair to the Adventurer's Guild parking area, buried deep underground below the massive building.
Their brief walk ended before a plush gray Kesla Truck, fortified with hides and components from a Muttaed Beast. Naturally, the makers had seamlessly blended the parts, making it indistinguishable from a regular vehicle.
Ah, no surprise newbie players get tricked so easily, Gabriel reflected, eyeing the ride that ran about $500,000–$600,000.
Still, the price didn't faze or amaze him. He knew their origins were rich and influential, after all.
Plenty of fresh players never rode anything this fancy even back home. It's easy to see why they fall for it.
A bit later, they climbed inside. The engine thundered alive—a racket to some, but music to gearheads.
As they cruised through Stellar, Gabriel's eyes scanned the urban view: glowing towers, hovering ads, and crowds flowing like precise machines.
Stellar City ranked among the Valerian Kingdom's ten fortified cities, serving as a spawn point for human-race players in Realm of Ascendency.
In his past life, Gabriel hadn't started in the capital. Like every beginner, he began in a starter village, forced to hit level 10 before venturing out.
Now, though, he appeared in a huge metropolis—the capital no less, home to key figures. Even pre-launch, spawning here granted him a huge advantage.
Starter villages brimmed with limits, from quests and abilities to the feeble foes available.
The initial beta wave logs in months ahead, before public release, he pondered.
His top goal was to boost his level and power, squeezing every bit from his talents.
Then, off to the starter village... got something to settle there. Hope the usual player locks won't bind me anymore as an in-game entity.
He absorbed it all with a remote stare.
"You're awfully silent," Darius noted from upfront, peeking via the mirror. "Pumped for your debut hunt?"
Gabriel stayed mute, offering just a slight nod.
Vera sneered beside him. "He's too terrified to talk."
He adjusted a touch, fixing his gaze on her. His blue eyes held no trace of dread or worry—pure icy reckoning.
"I'll survive," he stated flatly, signaling his disinterest in chatting further.
Her frustration mounted from his non-reaction, but Darius just laughed. "That's the attitude," he replied breezily, though Gabriel detected the hunter's edge underneath.
The vehicle swerved onto a secure path toward an Exit Gate. Unlike the bright, lively core city, this stretch grew dim, sparse on structures but heavy with auto scanners. Only licensed adventurers passed.
Nearing the enormous steel barrier, Gabriel leaned in, spotting the immense walls nearby. Carved with protective runes and built from top-tier metal, they alone kept the savage monsters at bay.
A deep groan sounded as the gate stirred, clanking open with loud metal snaps. Outpost sentries nodded lazily at the duo before waving them past.
"Since it's your first go, you might not realize, so I'll fill you in," Darius explained as they halted near other adventurer rides.
The three disembarked and distanced from the barrier.
It wasn't truly Gabriel's debut, but he tuned in regardless.
"Three areas exist in the wilderness. We're in the safe zone now; monsters don't show for miles. Next comes the green zone, stretching a mile from the walls—barely any beasts there.
"Beyond that lie the red zones, or Lost Lands. That's our hunting ground."
---
Shortly after passing the green zone, their initial monsters appeared.
A swarm of altered bees, each big as a two-month infant. Once golden-hued, their forms now sported jet-black shells, golden pulses racing along their chests.
"Hang back. We got this!" Darius grinned as a spear materialized in his hand. Vera's daggers flashed into view, edges glinting under sunlight. They advanced steadily.
At ten meters, the bees' feelers quivered. Golden stares fixed on the intruders—and they rocketed forward.
Darius rushed in, spearing one's soft underside cleanly. No pause; he flung it free and struck another. Vera sliced down a pair aiming to circle her.
Gabriel's gaze sharpened watching them. Their teamwork flowed seamlessly, backs guarded tight. Long-time partners, obviously.
While they battled fiercely, he neared a fallen one. Touching range triggered the system ping, a see-through panel popping up:
[Ding! Would you like to extract the target – Lv2 Mutated Voidsting Bee? | Cost: 2 EP]
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