The morning sun filtered through the treetops, casting dancing shadows across the dirt road. Alex strode steadily along the Northern Highway, the fresh air and birdsong accompanying his patrol.
Elara's words echoed in his mind, sharpening his senses. He looked for signs, listened to the creaks in the forest, and analyzed the terrain for potential ambushes.
His Intelligence of 10100 and Agility of 7600 kept him alert. Not long after passing the last rudimentary checkpoint, he noticed something out of place: unnaturally broken branches at the side of the road and fresh footprints, too large to belong to common animals. It was a sign Elara had described as typical of bandits.
"So here they are," Alex murmured, drawing the simple short sword he had bought in town. It was basic, but in his hands, with a Strength of 7600, it felt like an extension of his arm.
It didn't take long to spot them. Three armed figures, hidden in the bushes about 20 meters away.
They seemed impatient, probably waiting for a caravan. They wore leather armor and carried crude weapons, blunt swords and axes.
Alex lunged first, taking advantage of the element of surprise. His Agility allowed him to close the distance in an instant. The first bandit, a burly fellow with a scruffy beard, barely had time to react. Alex's sword swung with surprising speed, aiming for the exposed shoulder.
The bandit grunted in pain as the blade sank shallowly into his skin. Alex spun, blocking a strike from the second bandit, who was wielding an axe. The clash echoed. The third bandit, leaner and faster, tried to flank him, but Alex anticipated the move, his Perception honed by experience.
The fight was chaotic but fast. Alex dodged, blocked, and countered with precision. His blows weren't just brute force; they sought to incapacitate. A well-placed kick to the stomach knocked the wind out of the axe-wielding bandit. The third attempted to attack him from behind, but Alex spun around, disarming him with a blow to the wrist.
The bearded bandit, despite his wound, lunged again, but Alex was already prepared. A swift sweep of his sword knocked him down, and before he could get up, Alex placed the tip of the blade against his neck.
"Surrender," Alex said in a firm, breathless voice. "You don't stand a chance."
The three bandits, bruised and unarmed, looked at each other and then at Alex, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and respect.
[Quest: Defeat the Northern Highway Bandits]
[Objective: Defeat the three identified bandits on the Northern Highway.]
[Reward: 1,000 SP, 10 silver coins.]
[QuestComplete! You have received 100,000 SP (1,000 x 100) and 1,000 silver coins (10 x 100)]
Alex tied the bandits with their own belts and ropes, leaving them by the side of the road for the next Oakha Guard patrol to find. He couldn't afford to waste any more time; the sun was beginning to set, and the night in the forest promised to be even more dangerous.
With the bandits out of the way, a sense of confidence settled within him. He had faced threats and prevailed.
He continued his patrol, moving deeper into the forest. The air grew colder and heavier, and the silence deepened, broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath his boots. Elara's warnings about the "secrets only the night knows" resonated loudly.
Suddenly, a gust of cold wind swept across the path, carrying with it a nauseating smell of sulfur and rotting flesh. The hairs on the back of Alex's neck stood on end.
His system reacted before his mind could process it:
[Warning! A Higher-Level creature approaches!]
A guttural howl broke the silence of the forest, a sound that chilled the blood in his veins. In the gloom of the trees, two crimson eyes glowed brightly. A dark, gigantic figure emerged, a silhouette resembling a wolf, but distorted and grotesque.
Its fur was jet black, its claws razor-sharp, and its mouth dripped greenish slime. It was a Demon Wolf, and the system notification confirmed its level:
[DemonWolf - Level: 20]
Alex's heart leaped. Level 20! It was twice his current level. His instinct screamed at him to flee, to retreat as Genesis had advised. But there was something about the wolf's defiant gaze, the magnitude of the danger, that stirred his newfound determination. He had to prove himself.
The wolf charged, a dark blur. Alex tried to dodge, but the beast's speed was astonishing. The impact was brutal. The wolf ran him over, sending him flying into a tree. A sharp pain erupted in his back, and his HP dropped drastically.
[HP: 100/100 (1000) -> 35/100 (350)]
The minor regeneration began to work, but it was too slow. The demonic wolf lunged again, its jaws snapping dangerously close to his throat. Alex rolled, narrowly avoiding the attack, and managed to get to his feet. His sword seemed useless against that tough hide and those deadly claws.
"Damn it!" Alex growled. He was in serious trouble. He needed something more, an offensive skill that could damage a creature of that caliber. He recalled his system panel, System Points (SP), and the shop. Amidst the adrenaline rush and imminent danger, his 10100 Intelligence mind processed the information at breakneck speed.
[Accessing the Skill Shop...]
A translucent interface appeared before his eyes, barely perceptible to the Demon Wolf preparing for another charge. Alex searched desperately. His gaze fell on a skill that promised a burst of damage.
[ArcaneBlast
Type: Active, Offensive, Magical
Description: Accumulates magical energy to unleash a devastating explosion in a small area. Requires 30 MP.]
[Cost: 5,000 SP]
[Note: High-impact skill. Ideal against enemies with high physical defenses.]
It was expensive in both SP and MP, but it promised the kind of damage the wolf needed. He bought it without hesitation.
[Purchasing Arcane Blast for 5,000 SP...]
[SP: 14,798 -> 9,798]
[HP: 35/100 (350)]
[Arcane Blast skill learned!]
The pain of the purchase was a wave of exhaustion rather than physical damage, but now he had a real chance. The demonic wolf lunged once more, its red eyes fixed on him. Alex didn't flee. Instead, he reached out toward the beast, channeling his remaining MP with the desperation of a warrior on the verge of defeat.
A sphere of violet energy began to form in his palm, growing rapidly.
"Die!" he shouted, and the instant the wolf was inches away, Alex unleashed the Arcane Blast.
The shockwave was deafening, a purple flare that engulfed the Demon Wolf. The creature's roar turned into a howl of agony, and the force of the blast threw it backward with brutal violence, crashing into the trees with a crunching of bones.
Alex, exhausted and at the end of his strength, fell to his knees, the air vibrating around him. He was wounded, grievously wounded, but the Demon Wolf lay motionless, smoking and wounded. The battle for his life had only just begun, but the balance of power had shifted.
The arcane blast had done its job. The Demon Wolf lay motionless, its black fur smoking and its body twisted. Alex struggled to his feet, every muscle in his body screaming in pain. His HP was critically low, and his MP was depleted. Victory was theirs, but the cost had been high.
[You have defeated a Level 20 Demon Wolf.]
[You have earned 20,000 SP and 2,000 silver coins.]
Nivel 10 → Nivel 11
Nivel 11 → Nivel 12
Nivel 12 → Nivel 13
Nivel 13 → Nivel 14
Nivel 14 → Nivel 15
[You have reached Level 15.]
[You have earned 5 Attribute Points and 5 Skill Points.]
[SSS Skill (x100) activated!]
[You have received 2,000,000 SP (20,000 x 100) and 200,000 silver coins (2,000 x 100).]
[You have earned 500 Attribute Points and 500 Skill Points.]
Alex barely processed the notifications. The overwhelming amount of experience and rewards felt abstract at the moment. The only thing that mattered was survival. Limping and leaning on his sword, he began the long and painful walk back to Oakha.
Darkness had already fallen completely, and every shadow seemed to hide a new threat. Her Minor Regeneration was working overtime, but she was barely managing to keep her HP in a precarious state.
The return trip was a blur of effort and pain. Every step was a battle. When she finally saw the lights of Oakha, she felt a relief that moistened her eyes. Elara's inn was her only goal.
As she entered the Oak Inn, the warm atmosphere and the laughter of the regulars contrasted sharply with the coldness and danger of the forest she had just left. Alex staggered to the counter, her clothes torn, her face covered in soot and blood (much of it from the beast), and every movement showed the tension in her body.
Elara, who was wiping the counter, looked up at the sound of the door. Her lynx ears twitched, and her amber eyes widened. The playful smile she usually wore vanished, replaced by an expression of pure concern.
"Alex!" he exclaimed, circling the counter in an instant. Her lynx-like hands settled gently on his arms, her gaze scanning every wound, every scratch.
"Good heavens, what happened to you?! You look... you look like you've fought a demon."
Alex could barely offer a lopsided smile, fatigue weighing on every fiber of his being. "Something like that, Elara," he said, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. "The patrol... it was more exciting than I expected."
Elara guided him to a secluded table, ignoring the curious glances of the few remaining customers. Her touch was surprisingly gentle as she helped him sit down. She asked one of the waitresses to bring hot water and bandages, and she herself began to check his wounds. Concern was palpable in her every movement.
"Don't tell me 'something like that,'" she chided, her voice soft but firm, as she examined a deep cut on his arm. "This isn't the work of a simple bandit or a wild wolf. Tell me, what was it?"
Alex, tired and his adrenaline fading, felt the need to be honest with her. There was an undeniable connection between them, and his instincts told him he could trust her. "It was... a Demon Wolf. Level 20. I didn't think I'd make it."
Elara's eyes narrowed slightly. "A Demon Wolf... Those creatures don't usually venture this close to Oakha. They're vicious and hard to kill. How... how did you manage to escape?"
"I didn't escape," Alex replied, closing her eyes for a moment. "I defeated it. With a skill I've only just acquired." She took a moment to breathe deeply, the pain constant.
"It was... the closest I've ever come to dying."
Elara let out a shaky breath, and her hand found Alex's, interlacing their fingers with a strength that surprised him. There was no longer any flirtatiousness in her gaze, only a deep seriousness and a hidden vulnerability.
"You... you're a madman, Alex," she whispered, but the concern in her voice was stronger than any scolding. His thumb gently stroked the back of her hand. "You don't have to prove yourself like that. Promise me you'll be more cautious next time."
[Affection level with Elara has increased to 60/100.]
Alex looked into Elara's amber eyes, sensing the sincerity of her words. The connection between them grew deeper, more intimate. It wasn't just attraction; it was a mutual recognition of something greater, a potential she felt and he was beginning to understand. He realized her concern was genuine, and it touched him more than he expected.
"I will, Elara," he promised, his voice clearer now. "I don't want to worry you like that again."
A small smile returned to Elara's lips, though still tinged with relief.
"You'd better. Now, let me help you clean those wounds. Afterward, we can talk about your 'faraway lands' and those 'secrets of the night.' But first, a good drink and something to warm your body."
As Elara moved efficiently to tend to his wounds, Alex felt a strange warmth spread through his chest, a sense of belonging and that, despite the dangers of this new world, he was not completely alone. The night, which had once been a threat, now promised revelations and an even deeper connection with the mysterious innkeeper.
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Name: Alex
Race: Human
Level: 15
Class: No class (Can already be assigned)
HP: 35/100 (350) (+)
MP: 40/50 (400) (+)
Strength (STR): 76 (7600) (+)
Agility (AGI): 76 (7600) (+)
Intelligence (INT): 101 (10100) (+)
Endurance (END): 51 (5100) (+)
Luck (LUK): 76 (7600) (+)
Skills: [(Passive) Minor Regeneration] [Scanning Skill] [Gathering Skill] [Unique Skill (Active): Intimate Bond] [Arcane Blast (Active)] [Arcane Blast (Active)]
Available Attribute Points: 500
AvailableSkillPoints: 500
AvailableSystemPoints: 2,009,798 SP]
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