Surrounded by the Crimson Wolves, Tyler's eyes darted, adrenaline surging through him. He gripped his long iron axe, two hands braced, ready to meet the next attack. *I just obtained another skill,* he thought, but the thought was cut short as a wolf lunged. He swung his axe, forcing the wolf back. Two more attacked from behind. He swung his axe, twisting to graze one wolf's jaw, sending it howling in retreat. Then, a *thought* struck him.
"Alright," Tyler muttered, placing his palm on the iron axe's sharpened edge. He slid his hand along the blade, the iron cutting into his flesh. Blood coated the axe head, dripping down. Pain shot through his palm, but he gripped the axe once more, his resolve hardening. *My Rush skill time is going to deplete,* he thought, *but I can always reactivate it.*
A deep growl echoed, different from the others—calmer, yet more menacing. The Crimson Alpha was no longer sitting; it stood on all fours, its massive form radiating a palpable threat. Tyler's heart pounded; his senses sharpened. Just as he felt his Rush skill's duration end, he reactivated it.
Grone held his sword, ready to strike. He saw Tyler, axe clutched tight, blood blooming on his hand and shoulder. His gaze snapped back to the eight wolves converging on him. One lunged low, aiming for his legs. He reacted instantly, leaping back with a powerful thrust of his legs, his back slamming against the unforgiving bark of the tree. He was trapped.
A grim calculation formed in his mind. *My mana has been recovering. I have enough now.* He swung his sword in a wide, arcing slash to the right, unleashing the full fury of his Slash skill. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he poured his remaining mana into the attack. The air itself seemed to crackle with energy as an invisible, razor-sharp crescent of pure force tore through the space before him. A silent scream of power, a deadly scythe of energy, the Slash tore through the pack of wolves. The air vibrated with the force of the blow, the sound of rending flesh and bone a muted whisper compared to the raw power unleashed. The wolves, caught in the path of the devastating attack, were cleaved in two, their bodies falling in a macabre rain. The invisible blade vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving only the aftermath of its brutal efficiency.
Tyler heard the wolves' agonized howls, a chorus of pain and death. Grone gasped for breath, his body screaming in protest. *Releasing all that mana at once… my Slash skill drains my stamina,* he thought, the taste of exertion heavy in his mouth. The familiar tingle of a level-up pulsed through him, a small victory in the face of overwhelming odds. But the fatigue from the Gloomfangs and the Crimson Wolves weighed heavily on him. He knew, with the cold certainty of experience, that the fight was far from over, and that any lapse in focus, any moment of weakness, would be his last.
Tyler looked at Grone, who was breathing hard, his chest heaving. Surprise was etched on Tyler's face at the devastating power of Grone's Slash attack. He noticed the number 63 hovering above Grone's head—he'd leveled up. Distracted, Tyler didn't see the wolves until they were upon him. Several launched themselves at him. He swung his axe in a powerful upward arc to the left, catching one wolf in mid-air. But others attacked—one biting his backside, another his elbow, and a third his leg.
He roared, a sound raw with pain and fury, twisting his body to throw off the wolf clamped to his back. Grone, seeing Tyler's plight, ran to his aid. The remaining wolves, sensing an opportunity, swarmed Grone. He saw at least ten left. Gripping his sword with both hands, he braced himself. Two wolves attacked—one aiming for his legs, the other leaping for his face. With a swift, upward swing, he cleaved the wolf on the ground, the momentum carrying the blade upward to bisect the wolf aiming for his face.
Grone was surprised as the wolves that had bitten Tyler vomited blood, blood tears streaming from their eyes. They shuddered, howled, and died. A system message appeared before Tyler: Level Up!Only two wolves remained before him; two more faced Grone. Both men were breathing hard, their chests heaving. The four remaining wolves retreated to the Alpha's side. Tyler remained puzzled by the Alpha's inaction.
Grone moved to Tyler's side, sword held ready, Tyler with his axe. Both men, breathing heavily, stared at the Crimson Alpha and its remaining pack. The Alpha simply stood there.
"Do you have any idea why it's just standing there?" Tyler asked, his breath ragged.
"Every hunter knows a Crimson Alpha hunts alone," Grone replied.
"But we just massacred its pack," Tyler said. "Shouldn't it be enraged?"
"Yeah, well, it doesn't matter," Grone said. "My mana is recovering; I'll use this to my advantage."
"Well, I can't wait," Tyler said. "My Rush skill is running out. Looks like we're going to be the first ones to attack."
Something unexpected interrupted him.
A system message flashed: Crimson Alpha has used skill: Blur
"Where'd it—" Tyler began, but his words were cut short. The Alpha reappeared before him, its massive paw descending in a blur of motion. Claws ripped through his Gloom armor, tearing into his abdomen. The force of the blow sent him flying backward, his back slamming against a tree. A system message appeared: 100 HP lost. Armor durability drastically decreased. Blood poured from his mouth as he clutched his wound.
Grone reacted instantly, his eyes tracking the Alpha's movement. *I saw it coming, but I was too slow,* he thought, whirling to face the four remaining wolves closing in. The Alpha was gone again, but a whooshing sound echoed from all directions.
Grone couldn't reach Tyler; he had to face the approaching wolves. He swung his sword, cleaving one wolf's jaw before it could fully attack, killing it instantly.
The searing pain in his abdomen was a stark reminder of the Alpha's power. *One hundred HP gone,* Tyler thought grimly, the cold dread of death momentarily eclipsing the adrenaline still coursing through him. *And my armor's toast.* He didn't waste a second. The familiar cool weight of a healing potion materialized in his hand, a welcome contrast to the burning agony. The system message pinged: Achievement Unlocked: C-Rank Hunter. +30 points to each stat.
A wave of relief washed over him, quickly followed by a surge of potent energy. The numbers didn't fully capture it, but he felt stronger, faster, more resilient. His strength would be over 200; his stamina and agility would also drastically increase. The boost felt monumental, like fifteen levels all at once. Hope, a flickering flame moments before, now burned bright.
The ground shook as the remaining crimson wolves charged *at Grone*, a blur of red fur and bared fangs. Tyler watched, adrenaline surging, as the Alpha launched its attack. He barely registered the Alpha's attack as he instinctively activated launched himself out of the way. The sound of the Alpha's paw impacting the ancient tree was deafening, the tree exploding in a shower of splinters. The earth trembled as the massive trunk crashed to the ground.
Tyler stood, adrenaline still surging, the near-miss a stark reminder of his vulnerability. He brought the potion to his lips, the sharp, bitter taste a momentary distraction from the pain. As he drank, the warmth spread through his body, chasing away the lingering chill of fear. The empty vial vanished into his inventory with a faint shimmer. He gripped his axe, the familiar weight a source of comfort and strength. The Alpha, its ears now pricked, its gaze narrowed, a frown furrowing its brow, had noticed the change in Tyler. It had sensed his increased speed, the newfound power. The Alpha's muscles tensed, ready to strike. The air crackled with anticipation.
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Suddenly, the Crimson Alpha leaped back as an invisible blade of wind sliced through the air, narrowly missing it and cleaving the stump of the shattered tree. Tyler’s gaze shot to Grone, who stood panting, sword held loosely at his side, his eyes fixed on Tyler. The last of the crimson wolves lay dead at Grone's feet. It was now just the two of them against the Alpha.
The Alpha, growling low in its chest, turned its attention to Grone. A system message appeared before Tyler: *Crimson Alpha has used skill: Blur*. The Alpha vanished, its paws churning the earth as it launched itself forward.
Tyler’s heart hammered against his ribs. He wasn't sure Grone could evade the attack. He ran, a few feet behind the Alpha's deadly charge. Grone, seeing the Alpha's approach and Tyler's desperate pursuit, braced himself. He planted his right foot, his body coiled like a spring. His right hand gripped his sword, the blade pointed directly at the approaching Alpha, now only five feet away. He gathered his strength, pouring all his remaining mana into his arm and leg, and unleashed his Pierce skill.
Using his right leg, Grone launched himself forward, a blur of motion. The Alpha reacted instantly, its eyes tracking the deadly attack. Tyler saw the Alpha sidestep mid-run, the sword narrowly missing its face, grazing its jaw and slicing a shallow wound.
"Damn it, it dodged!" Grone thought, the bitter taste of failure filling his mouth. The Alpha, mere inches from its target, sank its teeth into Grone's shoulder. A scream ripped from Grone's lips as the Alpha's massive jaws clamped down. The Alpha, having secured its grip, tossed Grone aside, sending him hurtling towards Tyler.
"Grone!" Tyler yelled, his heart leaping into his throat. He reacted instantly, holding his long iron axe in one hand, bracing himself for the impact. Grone's body slammed against his chest, the force of the blow sending Tyler skidding backward. He managed to keep his footing, lowering Grone gently to the ground. Blood oozed from Grone's shoulder, a horrifying pattern of puncture wounds marring the flesh. Tyler's teeth clenched as he saw the severity of the injury. He laid Grone down carefully, his gaze fixed on the gaping wound.
A potion vial materialized in Tyler's hand. He quickly brought it to Grone's lips. "Drink this," he urged.
His gaze shifted to the Alpha, which growled, its eyes burning with predatory intensity. *It bit Grone, but it didn't bite me,* Tyler thought, a chilling realization dawning on him. *It only wants to kill me with its claws. I knew something felt off. It's smarter than the others. It figured out my blood is poison.*
He looked down at Grone, who was swallowing the last of the potion. The wound on Grone's shoulder began to heal, the bleeding slowing, though the damage was far from fully repaired.
Grone grabbed Tyler's hand. "What are you doing? You're facing a boss monster! You don't have time to worry about me. If that thing attacks—"
His words were cut short. The Alpha charged. Tyler reacted instantly, using every ounce of his strength to shove Grone away, sending him sprawling. He launched himself backward as well, using his legs to propel him away from Grone as the Alpha passed between them, missing both.
The Alpha's attention snapped back to Grone, who was now slowly rising to his feet. Tyler realized the Alpha was targeting Grone, sensing his vulnerability. Grone stood his ground, sword held ready, his gaze locked on the Alpha.
Tyler gripped his axe, a grim determination settling over him. *This thing knows that if it bites me, it'll die from my poison blood,* he thought. *But does it know I poisoned my weapon too?*
He saw Grone wince, a slight shift in his stance betraying the pain in his injured shoulder. *Wait a minute,* Tyler thought, *I got a new skill earlier… what was it?*
The system message appeared: Chamber: Allows the user to create a protective dwelling by copying from any material the user holds. Can be used anywhere. Skill cooldown: 21 hrs.
Copy material
Distracted for only a moment, the Alpha lunged at Grone. Grone gritted his teeth, his body tensing as he braced for the attack, his sword held firm in both hands.
Tyler, without hesitation, mentally confirmed the material selection and raised his hand towards Grone. "CHAMBER!" he shouted.
Instantly, a small, iron box, reminiscent of a stall from Tyler's old world, materialized around Grone. The Alpha's jaws slammed into the unyielding iron, recoiling with a snarl, blood trickling from its snout. Both Tyler and Grone stared in astonishment. The box was completely enclosed, save for a small opening at the top. Grone was safely inside.
"What the hell is this?" Grone muttered, his hand touching the cool, smooth iron of the chamber's interior. He looked around; the space was cramped, a perfect square roughly three meters wide. Tyler stared, surprised to see numbers floating above the iron chamber: *650 Defense*. He felt a slight pang of disappointment. A dwelling was supposed to be a house, not a small, cramped box. *Is that what the system calls a dwelling?* he thought. He hadn't expected a house to appear, of course, but he hadn't expected *this* either.
The Alpha, undeterred, stepped back and charged again, its claws slashing at the chamber. A loud clang echoed through the clearing as the Alpha's claws left only shallow scratches on the iron. Tyler was impressed by the metal's unexpected resilience, despite the chamber's less-than-ideal size. It had, at least, successfully protected Grone.
The Alpha, frustrated, turned its attention to Tyler, who now stood poised, axe held ready. It charged. Tyler met the charge, sprinting towards the Alpha. The Alpha launched itself, claws extended, aiming for a devastating strike. But Tyler, mid-run, dropped to his knees, sliding across the grass, his axe grazing the Alpha's leg as it lunged past.
The Alpha, momentarily off-balance, turned, revealing a shallow cut on its leg. "I hope this works," Tyler thought, his heart pounding. The Alpha didn't hesitate, sprinting towards him, its skill already activated. Tyler, without flinching, ran straight at the crimson Alpha.
A few feet from the Alpha, Tyler planted the hilt of his axe into the earth, using the impact to launch himself upward in a powerful front flip. The Alpha's claws, aimed for a killing blow, tore through the air where Tyler had been a moment before, the wind whistling past as it skidded across the ground. He landed silently behind the beast, his axe reappearing in his hand. He charged, a whirlwind of motion, his battle cry a guttural roar that echoed through the trees. With a ferocious bellow, he brought his axe down in a devastating arc. The axe made a shallow graze across the Alpha's jaw, forcing it to recoil in pain and surprise.
"Damn it, just a graze," Tyler snarled, his frustration palpable. The Alpha moved erratically, its steps hesitant, its movements uncoordinated. *The poison's working,* he realized, a grim satisfaction tightening his jaw.
He pressed his attack, launching himself forward, his axe a blur of deadly intent. The Alpha, sensing the imminent danger, reared back, its powerful front legs rising high before crashing down in a desperate attempt to rake Tyler with its claws. The massive paws descended, aiming to crush him beneath their weight. But Tyler, with a roar, met the attack head-on, his axe held high. The Alpha's claws struck the axe hilt with bone-jarring force, the impact sending a shockwave up his arms, nearly wrenching the weapon from his grasp. He stumbled back, his boots gouging deep furrows into the earth, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He gritted his teeth, the pain a burning fire in his arms, and charged again, his battle cry a savage scream that echoed through the forest. Meanwhile, inside the chamber, Grone strained, his muscles screaming in protest, but his will unyielding. He heaved himself upwards, his hands finding purchase on the edge of the chamber's opening. He pulled himself up his face grim with determination, his shoulder throbbing with pain.
Grone watched from inside the iron chamber, astonishment etched on his face. Outside, Tyler was pushing the Crimson Alpha back, a whirlwind of motion. His axe flashed, a blur of steel as he swung it upwards, downwards, to the left – a dizzying display of skill and power. The Alpha, despite its size and ferocity, was on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Tyler's relentless assault. Tyler roared with exertion, his movements fluid and powerful. Grone was shocked; Tyler was faster, significantly faster than he was, and he seemed to be accelerating, outpacing the Alpha's attempts to react. Tyler's axe, a deadly blur, now grazed the Alpha with each swing.
"It doesn't look like he really needs my help," Grone murmured, a hint of awe in his voice.
A system message flashed before Tyler: Crimson Alpha has used skill: Claw. Before Tyler could react, the Alpha's massive paw shot upwards, striking his axe with brutal force. The axe flew from his grasp, soaring through the air. The Alpha followed up instantly, its right paw connecting with Tyler's chest, sending him crashing to the ground. Blood welled from his mouth as the Alpha lunged, its jaws snapping towards his neck. But with impossible speed, Tyler's axe materialized in his hands. He blocked the Alpha's bite, the Alpha's teeth meeting the iron hilt with a sickening crunch. Gripping the axe with both hands, Tyler braced himself, pushing the Alpha's head away from his neck, the Alpha's jaws clamped firmly around the axe's hilt. Grone, still inside the chamber, watched with a mixture of awe and concern, his hands still gripping the edge of the opening.
"I have to help him! Come on, what am I doing?" Grone thought, pushing himself out of the chamber. He used every ounce of his remaining strength, heaving himself upwards until half his body was out of the chamber. He tumbled to the ground outside, landing hard but quickly scrambling to his feet, sword drawn. Tyler was gritting his teeth, the Alpha now seemingly matching his strength.
Grone charged, unleashing a powerful upward slash from the left, activating his Slash skill. The invisible blade of wind whistled past, causing the Alpha's ears to twitch as it sensed the imminent attack. The Alpha attempted to dodge, but its hampered movement prevented it from fully evading the blow. The Alpha's right front leg was severed, a clean cut spraying blood. The Alpha howled in agony, its movement further hampered. It turned and fled, sprinting on three legs.
Grone reached Tyler, who was slowly rising to his feet. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Tyler coughed, a little blood staining his lips. "No, it's getting away!"
"Wait!" Grone called out, but Tyler was already sprinting after the Alpha, a gust of wind seeming to trail his departure as his speed drastically increased. In moments, he was mere feet from the crippled Alpha.
The Alpha, running on three legs, saw its enemy approaching. Tyler hurled his axe, a deadly projectile. The axe found its mark, severing the Alpha's remaining front leg. The Alpha crashed to the ground, rolling helplessly before slamming into a tree with a deafening thud, its escape thwarted.
As the crimson wolf howled in pain, Tyler arrived instantly, his axe materializing in his hand with a flash. With a brutal, efficient swing, he brought the axe down, severing the Alpha's head. The system announced, in rapid succession: Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Level Up!
Relief washed over him as his injuries began to heal, his skin taking on a faint blue hue, the dim light reflecting off his now-glowing skin. He breathed heavily, the exertion still evident, as he looked down at the Alpha's bleeding corpse on the forest floor.
Turning, he saw Grone approaching, a look of amazement on his face. Tyler smiled, "Are you alright?"
Grone walked towards him, his eyes wide with wonder. As he drew closer, Tyler saw the extent of the carnage surrounding them – more than twenty dead crimson wolves, each with the word EXTRACT
A slow smile spread across Tyler's face. "EXTRACT," he murmured, the word a low hum of satisfaction.
SPECIESHuman
NAME: Tyler Evans
RANK: C
LVL: 57
CLASS: Craftsman
HP: 284/284 MP: 222/222
STR: 212 AGI: 210
DEF: 280 STM: 217
STATUS: Healthy
Skills: Armour Craft Lv2, Weapon Craft Lv2, Weapon Mastery, Alchemy, Accessory Craft, Poison Blood, Chamber
Equipped Skills: Rush