Moon's eyes landed on the large building that the veterans and the Lieutenant had all ventured into. A solid stone structure near the center of the base, more fortified than the surrounding buildings, with guards posted at the entrance. Clearly an administrative or command facility where important awakeners gathered.

With the location known and faces memorized, Moon headed out of the base.

As he walked toward the main gate, many awakeners tried to recruit him into their groups, calling out offers of partnership and safety in numbers.

Moon declined each one without breaking stride.

As he passed one particularly persistent group, their leader called after him, "Lone wolves die fast!"

Moon ignored him and continued on his way. He knew the veterans weren't going to leave that building anytime soon. Debriefings, reports, equipment maintenance, and rest would occupy them for hours at a minimum. In the meantime, he decided to hunt more beasts and continue accumulating resources.

The nearby zones were relatively safe for someone at his level, filled with creatures that posed no real threat but still provided materials worth collecting.

♢♢♢♢

[You have killed level 6 Two-toed Sloth]

[You have gained 5 Lives]

[You have killed level 8 Pygmy Boar]

[You have gained 5 Lives]

Reading through the notifications flashing across his vision, Moon was no longer puzzled by the rewards.

He'd been confused initially about why he was only gaining five lives per kill, but after hunting several low-level beasts, he'd realised the pattern. Creatures significantly weaker than him provided minimal returns.

The system apparently capped gains at five lives per kill. It was better than nothing, but nowhere near the hundreds of lives he'd accumulated from fighting creatures closer to or above his own level.

Moon continued his clearing of the area, his attacks efficient and relentless. Fire for the aggressive creatures, earth spikes for the slower ones, and water to group multiple targets when they appeared in packs.

Time passed steadily as his collection of low-level corpses grew in his spatial ring.

By the time evening began to settle over the sanctuary, Moon had accumulated dozens of kills and a respectable haul of materials. More importantly, he had found that beasts below level 10 gave him only 5 lives.

He had yet to find out about those above level 10 since the nearest zone with such beasts was a few kilometres away, but he knew that based on the current trend, they would be reduced.

He decided it was time to head back to the base as he believed enough time had passed that the veterans would have completed their initial duties and likely moved on to more relaxed activities.

Moon made his way toward the base. The guards at the gate waved him through without issue, his A-rank badge granting automatic clearance.

Moon needed to figure out which veteran would be most receptive to his approach and exactly what he could offer that would earn him an introduction to the Lieutenant.

Moon headed toward the tavern district, where veterans typically gathered after missions to drink, trade stories, and unwind.

Moon arrived at the tavern district as evening settled over the base. The area was lively with activity, awakeners celebrating successful hunts or drowning their failures in drink. He moved between establishments, scanning for his targets.

He found them in the third tavern he checked.

The Lieutenant sat at a large corner table surrounded by his veterans, their voices carrying over the general din of the room. Plates of food covered the table alongside tankards of whatever passed for drinks in the sanctuary. The atmosphere was relaxed, the tension of their mission temporarily forgotten.

"Damn that beast, it's so hard to catch," one of the veterans said, shaking his head with frustration. "But, It's alright, Lieutenant. We'll get it next time."

The Lieutenant nodded, though his expression suggested he'd heard similar assurances before.

Moon moved through the crowd with purposeful steps, his path bringing him directly to their table. Several veterans noticed his approach, their conversations faltering as they sized him up.

"I can help you catch it," Moon said, his voice carrying clearly despite the noise around them.

His tone held confidence without arrogance, certainty without boasting.

The table fell silent.

One of the veterans, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his left cheek, stood abruptly. His chair scraped against the floor as he pushed it back.

"You look like a newcomer, and you think you can help? Are you disrespecting us veterans? Mocking our efforts?" The veteran's voice carried an edge of offense.

Before Moon could respond, the man's fist shot forward in a blur of movement.

The other patrons fell silent, sensing violence. Some started to move away, before the fist was unleashed. Others leaned in, eager to watch a cocky newcomer get taught a lesson.

Everyone in the room expected Moon to drop uncountable on the floor.

Just as the fist approached his face, Moon's hand moved. He caught the fist mid-strike, his fingers closing around the veteran's knuckles.

BAM!

The impact made a solid sound, flesh meeting flesh, but Moon didn't budge or flinch. His arm absorbed the force effortlessly, his expression remaining calm.

Then he slowly, deliberately, lowered the veteran's fist until it rested at his side.

The veteran's eyes widened. He tried to pull his hand free, but Moon's grip held firm for a moment longer before releasing him.

Eyebrows rose around the table, especially the Lieutenant's.

The display of strength spoke volumes about Moon's capabilities. Catching that punch wasn't just about speed or reflexes. It required physical power that newcomers simply didn't possess.

"Enough," the Lieutenant said, his voice cutting through the tension. He gestured to the veteran. "Sit down, Marcus."

The veteran hesitated, his pride clearly wounded, but he obeyed. The Lieutenant's word was law.

The Lieutenant studied Moon with interest, a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "What's your name?"

"Moon."

"Moon, why don't you join us?" The lieutenant gestured to an empty chair that had opened up as one of the veterans shifted to make room.

Moon accepted the invitation and sat down. His goal complete.

The Lieutenant leaned back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "So, Moon. You say you can help us catch something that has evaded a dozen veterans for three weeks. That's quite a claim. What makes you so confident?"

The other veterans watched, some sceptical, others curious about this newcomer who'd just casually blocked Marcus's punch.

Moon met the Lieutenant's gaze before responding, "My strength."

The answer was simple, direct, and carried no embellishment.

The Lieutenant's smile widened. "How about this, Moon. You'll join us tomorrow on our expedition to subdue the elk. If you do well, I'll reward you immensely for your efforts."

His eyes suddenly narrowed, and his tone dropped, becoming colder. The relaxed atmosphere at the tavern changed instantly. "If you fail... you'll regret coming to this table."

The threat was blatant, and nobody in the tavern questioned it. The lieutenant had enough power and authority to make good on his promise. Several veterans straightened in their seats, their expressions hardening as they watched to see how Moon would react.

Moon didn't flinch. Instead, his gaze locked with the lieutenant's, then he smiled softly. "The former shall precede."

The Lieutenant studied him for a long moment, then laughed, the tension breaking as quickly as it had formed. "Dig in. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. You need to fuel up."

He gestured to the food on the table, inviting Moon to share their meal.

The settlers and newbies in the tavern who'd been watching the scene looked on in shock. Never in a hundred years did they imagine the altercation would end in such a... wholesome way?

Some looked at Moon with jealousy. The Lieutenant rarely extended personal invitations to anyone, let alone a complete stranger. To be sitting at that table, eating their food, was a privilege that awakeners spent months trying to earn.

Others looked at him with contempt. Although he'd shown physical power by catching Marcus's punch, that didn't necessarily mean he was capable of catching an elk that had evaded experienced veterans for weeks on end.

So while some thought just getting close to the Lieutenant was an achievement enough, others were convinced that Moon had dug his own grave. If he failed tomorrow, the Lieutenant's threat wouldn't be empty words. The consequences of overconfidence could be severe.

Moon reached for a plate, unbothered by the stares and whispers around them. He'd gotten exactly what he came for: access to the Lieutenant and an opportunity to prove himself.

Moon spent the night in the first sanctuary. The lieutenant had personally invited him to sleep over at their large mansion. Moon didn't reject the invitation and decided to stay. The conditions were good, comparable to his new apartment on Earth.

In base standards, the room was considered a luxury, and a minority of awakeners had the privilege to experience it.

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