District 1, the wasteland outside X City.

The strong stench of blood in the air was particularly pungent in this deserted, uninhabited area.

“Hah… hah…”

Sand and dust rose and fell as a young girl ran for her life.

Her dazzling blonde hair was now covered in dirt and had lost its luster. Her chest heaved like a bellows, and blood dripped continuously from her injured right arm.

“Boom!”

A massive foot crushed the spot the girl had just fled from, kicking up more sand and dust along with an earth-shattering roar.

Behind the girl, a monster a full three stories tall was giving chase.

Its entire body was grayish-yellow, and corrosive saliva constantly splattered from its gaping, scarlet maw. Its four limbs were as thick as tree trunks, and its lizard-like tail sliced through the air with a sharp crack.

That was a Calamity, the “virus” that had descended upon Blue Star ten years ago alongside the awakening of superhuman abilities, and it was originally Monica’s prey.

But now, the roles of hunter and prey seemed to have been reversed.

“Ah… so I really can’t beat it, huh…”

Monica smiled bitterly. With an “Oof,” she dove forward to dodge the Calamity’s claw swipe. Her forehead was scratched by flying stones, adding another wound before she continued to run, though her speed was getting slower and slower.

She originally thought that after being a Calamity Hunter for a year, she would have made some progress, having hunted down so many D-Class Calamities, after all.

She never expected the gap between a C-Class Calamity and a D-Class Calamity to be this massive…

C-Class Calamity “Desert Goanna”1: Active in the wasteland outside X City. It will not actively approach the city, but holds immense hostility toward any other creatures that invade its territory…

Information about the Calamity relentlessly chasing after her surfaced in Monica’s mind.

Generally speaking, Calamities wreaking havoc in the city would quickly be wiped out by agencies affiliated with SAVE, while Calamities ruling as kings in the wasteland often possessed terrifying strength.

A Calamity like the Desert Goanna—one that SAVE couldn’t be bothered to subjugate and whose strength wasn’t overwhelmingly powerful—was considered a “feast” for Calamity Hunters.

Thus, even though she had never hunted a C-Class Calamity before, Monica, who was currently extremely short on cash, accepted this subjugation quest without hesitation.

However…

“All dead Calamity Hunters die because of their own greed.”

Monica still remembered a senior giving her this warning when she first entered the industry.

And it seemed she had completely forgotten this important truth…

“I was wrong, Senior! Wuwuwu, if I can just make it back alive, I’ll definitely bring you instant noodles, and even add two eggs… Waaah!”

Monica cried out with tear-filled eyes as she tripped and fell heavily to the ground. The blowing sand had obscured her vision, making her miss a rock on the path.

“Hiss, that hurts… Eek!”

Monica’s eyes, which had been squeezed shut in pain, suddenly shot wide open.

The Goanna was already standing right beside her, its massive claws raised high in the air.

I’m dead.

I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead!!

Monica threw her arms up uselessly in front of her as scenes from her past flashed before her eyes like a slideshow—

The scene of her being taken in by the orphanage director after being abandoned by her scumbag parents at the age of three.

The scene of her becoming the boss of the kids at the orphanage relying on her exceptional physical strength.

The scene of her growing up, playing with the younger kids at the orphanage and reading books to them.

Then leaving the orphanage, awakening her ability, becoming a Calamity Hunter, going on her first hunt, earning her first pot of gold…

And finally, the scene from last month, right downstairs from her rented apartment, when she bought a really delicious egg-filled pancake.

Why is my deepest memory about eating an egg pancake?!

The whole mood is ruined!

Couldn’t an idiot like me be even a little bit serious when dying?!

But that egg pancake was really super delicious, so I’ll forgive you!

Monica closed her eyes, half-sorrowful and half-resigned, muttering, “I really want to eat an egg pancake one more time…”

Very much!

I’m about to die anyway, anything is fine!

Really!

“You’re so annoying! It’s just eating an egg pancake, why are you making it sound like I’m signing away my soul!”

Monica yelled while stomping her foot, then suddenly froze.

Huh?

Why was she arguing with her own inner voice?

And why did this inner voice sound like it was ringing right next to her ear?

Why wasn’t she dead yet?

Monica opened her eyes in confusion.

Then, she saw a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life—

Under the sky howling with yellow sand, a young girl floated in midair like a goldfish swaying inside a fish tank.

The girl’s long hair, reminiscent of moonlight, cascaded down like a waterfall. Her bare feet were casually crossed, and the hem of her black dress swayed with her movements. Because she was suspended in mid-air, what lay hidden beneath could be faintly seen.

Behind the girl were the Goanna’s sharp claws about to smash down. Yet, as if she were completely unaware, she merely revealed a perfect smile and snapped her fingers—

“Then, the contract is established.”

The next moment, the giant claw slammed into the ground.

Boom!

A terrifying roar echoed across the wilderness. Dust and shockwaves blasted outward at an astonishing speed, momentarily blotting out the sunlight!

However, within the cloud of smoke and dust, the Goanna swung its head around in agitation, its terrifying tail thrashing wildly.

—It didn’t feel the sensation of a bug being crushed beneath its claws!

Not far away, the dust gradually dispersed, revealing Monica’s figure.

But at this moment, her demeanor was like that of a completely different person. Sweeping away her previously disheveled look, she now appeared entirely at ease.

“Ohhh! This game’s actually pretty hardcore! And the texture doesn’t feel like an anime game at all. I almost can’t tell the difference between reality and the game.”

Lin Han sighed in admiration.

Yes.

Right now, Monica’s body was being controlled by Lin Han.

Or rather, he had “logged into her account.”

After being teleported out of that black space, the moment Lin Han opened his eyes, he saw a beautiful blonde girl screaming as she fled frantically from a giant lizard.

Furthermore, while running, the girl was saying baffling things like, “I want to eat an egg-filled pancake.”

Lin Han had merely gone over and casually exchanged a few words before the contract was signed. The “Quest: Sign a contract with Monica” in the bottom right corner of his vision also displayed a “Completed” tag.

Did this kid really want to eat an egg-filled pancake that much?

Lin Han looked at his current body, and lines of text twisted and emerged in his vision—

“Because my attribute values are higher than hers, her attributes and abilities were enhanced by me upon possession…” Lin Han mused thoughtfully.

While he was thinking, the Goanna’s attack struck again, but Lin Han merely bent down slightly to effortlessly dodge its sweeping strike.

“Alright, I think I get it.”

Lin Han flexed the body that originally belonged to Monica.

“Although I still have some questions, I’ll just learn as I play,” Lin Han tilted his head, looking at the giant lizard that was burning with rage after continuously striking empty air. “Anyway, you’re the tutorial boss for beginners, right?”

Answering Lin Han was a furious bite from the “tutorial boss.”