Prologue
In the Floodlands, where thick rain falls relentlessly, I hid inside a cave, holding my breath to escape the ceaseless downpour.
Crackle, pop.
The dying campfire occasionally spat embers. I tossed in more branches. The flames, which had been fading, gradually regained their vigor.
I curled up in front of the warm glow, pressing my back against the greatsword propped up against the wall, staring blankly into the fire.
”GYAAAAA!!”
A roar echoed from the distance, prompting me to curl up even tighter.
In these Floodlands, I was the only human. Beyond the cave, the world teemed with monsters.
This was the damned world of a hunting action game—a place where I’d become the female character I once played, now dropped into this game’s reality.
—
Chapter 1
Hunter Land was a game that swept the world with its wild popularity.
It was a world where monsters and humans coexisted. Players became hunters, traversing diverse landscapes, following intricate stories, and taking down all manner of beasts.
The game enthralled countless people with its array of weapons and skills, breathtaking natural scenery that seemed crafted with painstaking care, and the detailed ecology of the monsters inhabiting its world.
I, too, was once utterly consumed by Hunter Land. The monsters’ patterns grew more challenging with every encounter, but that only stoked my competitive spirit.
It wasn’t just the monsters that drove me. I poured effort into collecting the rare creatures that thrived in the game’s environments. When there was nothing left to do, I obsessed over breaking records—hunting the largest and smallest monsters—relentlessly clearing challenge after challenge.
As a result, I devoured the game’s content faster than the developers could update it. While others were still picking away at their tasks, I’d already hit 100% completion on the challenges, with just one left to conquer.
My in-game rank—the level cap—had been maxed out long ago. My equipment setup was flawless, with nothing left to adjust.
They called me a “Rabbit Producer.”
Yes, that’s right.
I was one of those lunatics who cut sleep to play twenty hours a day, constantly griping about the lack of content while refusing to let go of the game.
So, when the final update for Hunter Land was announced, I felt a bittersweet mix of relief and melancholy. I’d often whined that it was a dead game with nothing to do, but I kept playing because it was fun. When the developers declared this would be the last update before returning with a sequel, it felt like bidding farewell to an old friend. No game had ever captivated me—or driven me to such lengths—as this one.
At the time of the announcement, I was petty enough to slap a bad rating on it out of frustration, though I later changed it to good. All beautiful things must end, after all.
To cap it off, I planned to join the update right on time and take down the final monster—a perfect goodbye.
That was the plan, at least.
Now, I found myself gazing at my reflection in a puddle. There were no mirrors here; this was the only way to see myself. Amusingly, the face staring back wasn’t my own.
What I saw was a woman with white hair and pink eyes—striking, yet weary. Lately, exhaustion had painted dark shadows under my eyes, making those pink irises stand out even more. My long lashes quivered faintly, and my delicate brows were furrowed in a frown. Those peach-hued eyes flickered between me and the puddle.
My white hair was a tangled mess, my clothes tattered and worn beyond repair. My skin was pale, giving me a haggard look. I might’ve resembled a madwoman.
But I wasn’t mad.
To begin with, I’d been a man.
How had I ended up in this world? I chewed on a blade of grass, mulling it over. The bitter taste filled my mouth, but it was moist enough to be edible.
My last memory was of the update. I’d meant to have a grand, beautiful farewell to Hunter Land with that final piece of content. So why was I here? Was the ultimate content… becoming part of the game myself?
Maybe I’d gotten so immersed in Hunter Land that I was trapped in some hyper-realistic dream. But games are fun precisely because they’re games—this situation was anything but enjoyable.
I’d become a woman in a world brimming with monsters, specifically the character I’d played in the game. Seeing these slender legs and smooth arms felt surreal. Ironically, this female body was stronger than my original one. Not that I’d been weak, mind you—this body was just exceptional.
But this wasn’t some ordinary game world. Hunter Land was infamous for its overpowered monsters and brutal difficulty. There was no guarantee I could easily take down the creatures lurking in these Floodlands.
I had to survive here—to live long enough to find other people in this world. Everything hinged on the greatsword strapped to my back.
”Haaah…”
A foolish sigh slipped from my lips. It was my voice, but it didn’t feel like mine.
If I’d known it’d come to this, I would’ve played a farming game instead.
Who could’ve guessed a casual player like me would be “rewarded” this way? And if I had to be thrown into a game, couldn’t they have dropped me in a village with people instead of the middle of a monster-infested Floodlands?
Every step felt like a gamble with my life. With monsters liable to appear at any moment, I moved cautiously to stay alive.
It was like some extreme wilderness survival tale. I could star in a movie with this setup.
I’d already spent a week here. Those seven days weren’t wasted—I’d found water, secured a cave for shelter, hunted small animals for food, and managed to scrape by decently. The problem was figuring out when and how to escape. I didn’t even know which way to go.
It felt like being a teary-eyed child struggling to climb out of a basement, flailing helplessly.
Monsters lurked everywhere. One reckless move could mean death.
”RRrrrr…”
The occasional distant cries were a constant reminder to stay on edge.
Until I was certain I could escape, I had to keep up this life-or-death survival game.
But when I thought about it, things weren’t that bad. I had water and food—nothing essential was missing. For now, I’d patrol the area and wait for someone to find me.
Maybe today I’d see another person.
When would I get back?
And if I did… I’d slap a bad rating on the game again.
I’d tank the developers’ score for putting me through this. That’d been my only thought from the start.
”Aawwooooo!!!”
The cries were louder today—more frequent. Were the monsters holding some kind of festival?
I moved toward the sound. It might sound like suicide, but I had to investigate anything unusual. This kind of reaction from the monsters wasn’t normal. There might be people nearby.
Sure, it could just be monsters brawling over territory, but if there was even a slim chance of finding humans, I clung to that hope.
—
### ##
The Floodlands were vast and labyrinthine, easy to get lost in. Even veteran hunters avoided it when they could.
Tracking down a monster here for a job typically took weeks, and plenty gave up without success. Wandering the Floodlands without a map was tantamount to suicide, no matter how seasoned a hunter you were.
Noah was a five-year veteran hunter. She’d been through her share of battles, but the Floodlands still felt daunting. Its dense, sprawling forest brimmed with dangerous monsters, and a single wrong turn could spell endless trouble.
“Ugh, I really hate this…”
She’d avoided the Floodlands whenever possible, but this time, the mission target was a monster native to the area.
The target was a peculiar Lugarak recently discovered here. Dubbed the “Mad Wolf” Lugarak, it was a massive, pitch-black, wolf-like beast—aggressive and ferocious, as its name suggested. It often met its end fighting other monsters.
According to the hunters who first spotted it, this Lugarak was missing one eye and covered in scars. It was the first of its kind found in the Floodlands, prompting the institute to issue an urgent request for its capture—for research purposes, they said. Capturing a rampaging monster? Did that even make sense?
Noah rummaged through her bag, shaking her head.
“The Floodlands are always muggy and hot.”
Since the mission was here, she’d dressed lightly, but the heat was still stifling.
Chiiik, chiiik. She sprayed insect repellent around her and pressed forward.
“That’s the Floodlands for you.”
She wasn’t alone—three other hunters accompanied her, making four in total. Hunters always worked with partners; they were hunters, not reckless warriors. Facing a monster solo was a losing bet. They relied on tools, strategies, terrain, and even other monsters to secure victory.
It wasn’t cowardice—it was survival against creatures far stronger than any human.
“Let’s wrap this up fast and get out. Wandering in circles here gives me the creeps.”
“Yeah…”
It was supposed to be a standard job.
That’s what Noah thought—until one of her teammates was skewered by a claw.
”Krrr…”
Their preparations had been flawless: traps hidden in the brush, bombs, perfect positioning. The Lugarak fell for it all, so the hunters were confident of victory and moved in methodically.
But they didn’t realize something.
Just as they’d grown through countless battles, this Lugarak had too—forged in the brutal territorial wars of this forest.
A battle-scarred survivor of fights against countless monsters, it was a walking disaster for humans.
Even at a disadvantage, it refused to break. Its lone eye flared red as it charged, the scars on its body glowing crimson and steaming with blood-red vapor. It rampaged with even greater ferocity.
Its hide toughened, its claws sharpened and hardened like forged blades. It was an undefeated gladiator.
The result? Defeat.
Against the relentless Lugarak, the hunters were overwhelmed with helplessness.
The beast flung the impaled hunter aside. He tumbled across the ground, coming to a stop at his teammates’ feet.
“Huff… ugh…”
Naev gasped for air.
What do we do? How do we handle this?
Noah gripped her shield tightly. Panic was setting in.
Sword and shield in hand, she locked eyes with the Lugarak, refusing to let her spirit break.
If I can block its patterns with the shield and keep landing counters…
Could she win?
”Awwwoooo!!”
The Lugarak roared, throwing its head back. The bellow struck fear into the hunters’ hearts.
Its scars glowed red again, steam rising.
It was gearing up for another charge.
Noah dashed forward, raising her shield.
She had to block it.
If she didn’t, her team would die.
Fsss.
At that moment, someone burst through the undergrowth.
A white-haired woman with a greatsword strapped to her back emerged behind the Lugarak.
Noah’s startled black eyes met the woman’s pink ones.
“Oh, people,” the woman said flatly.
Startled by her sudden appearance, the Lugarak wheeled around.
Noah’s head snapped toward her.
Who is that?
She didn’t know. It was dangerous—this stranger could die.
Standing there with her weapon still sheathed, what was she doing?
“Move, now!!” Noah shouted.
But the woman didn’t budge.
She tilted her head, eyeing the monster before her.
“What, just a mutt?”
”!!!”
The Lugarak lunged.
In an instant, the woman drew her greatsword and blocked its strike head-on.
Clang!
A heavy thud rang from the blade. Claw met sword, grinding with a metallic screech.
The cloth binding the greatsword fluttered away in the shockwave.
In that split second, the woman slid her blade aside and lashed out with a kick.
The blow landed square on the Lugarak’s jaw.
She was the hope that could turn this hopeless fight around
monster hunter wilds aint no way