His answer was instantaneous.
"Yes!"
[Derrick Tarlin, 16 (Body) & 37 (Mind) — Human]
[Class: Necromancer]
[Strength: 2.3]
[Agility: 1.1]
[Endurance: 1.5]
[Vitality: 2.1]
[Magic Power: 5.3]
[Traits: Enhanced Body, Enhanced Vision, Death's Valet, Gluttony.]
[Skills: Appraisal, Contract (1/2), Summoning (1/1), Craftsman.]
[New trait! You have acquired the trait
Derrick was floored. Such growth was phenomenal, to the point where he couldn't help but think that he was blessed by the gods. The System had obviously sent him a jab by saying he had been tremendously stupid, but he didn't care.
Ignorance truly was bliss.
As a bonus, his shoulder was also completely healed, meaning he had been out cold for quite some time.
While getting off the ground, his first reflex was to check out the map and inspect his surroundings to make sure he hadn't attracted other creatures. Being complacent at this stage would simply be too tragic.
Once it was all clear, he went to Io and patted him.
"You've done well. I'll definitely reward you later."
After thanking his companion for standing guard, he looked at the remaining meat, wondering.
"I can't be vulnerable like that again... I'll have to figure out a safe way to consume this."
But with this came a certainty, one that'd chart his future.
He remembered that fateful night… Their empty laughs, their cackles, the cries of terror coming from the villagers… And then his powerlessness, his lack of agency...
Had he not sworn to never feel that way again?
With renewed resolve and determination, he packed everything and moved out, his course of actions now set in stone. He knew what had to be done.
"System, show me the map of the cave."
The layout once again appeared in his mind, alongside the remaining 236 red dots and the exit path.
"Remove the exit. It's time to hunt."
When he said those words, his heartbeat jumped.
After the fight and its massive gains, it was obvious that this cave was a test, a way to see if he had the resolve necessary to carry out the pledge he had sworn.
And for the first time since coming here, it couldn't be more clear: Nothing would be left behind.
"Let's find another solitary beast since I'm not strong enough to take on these small groups. From what I can see, there's one pretty close..."
But before going any further, he continued thinking, seemingly forgetting a pretty important concept, one he had had to respect throughout his years of hunting.
And suddenly, it hit him, leading him to shamefully slap his forehead.
"But it could also mean that it's strong enough to have its own territory... In other words, an apex predator… Ahhhhh..."
After a long exasperated sigh, he came back to his senses. He had unknowingly, or dumbly in this case, risked a lot just then, although while still walking away with the spoils.
"At least my rotten luck has turned around, and there's no point in thinking about the 'what ifs'. Just have to thank my lucky stars, stay cautious and continue. Let's go!"
He then jumped on Io before immediately leaving the area, swearing that he'd think more instead of randomly throwing himself off a cliff – metaphorically, of course.
***
The duo's flight lasted 5 minutes, the cold and moist air reminding Derrick that there truly was an entirely different climate down here. As for their landing spot, it was on a small, rock-like hill. It didn't have any cover, but it was safely far away from their target.
But to make sure that they were really invisible, he made Io merge again with his shadow which, when paired with his armor's special abilities, basically made them disappear.
It was time to check out his next victim, but what he saw left him speechless.
"What the hell is that thing?! It looks like a dragon!"
While using his
Out there walked a beast dozens of meters long and ten meters high, with a body covered in dark, greenish scales and long, muscular legs, their extremities equipped with razor-sharp claws. Its eyes, meanwhile, were pitch black, pupils seemingly absent, as if an evolutionary trait from the ever-engulfing darkness. From its mouth also quipped a long and slender purplish tongue, its color hinting at the presence of toxins, which was a nice complement to the 2 rows of pearly white teeth that were sure to lacerate anything they came into contact with. Finally, and rounding up its dragon-like appearance, was a massive tail swaying around, its sheer size a testament to its probable use as a club to blow its prey into smithereens.
"System, use
[Viper Varanus Komodoensis]
[Strength: 1?]
[Agility: 1?]
[Endurance: 1?]
[Vitality: 1?]
[Magic Power: 12]
[Traits: ???]
[Weakness: ???]
[The Host isn't strong enough to see all its stats.]
"Ah?! There's no shot I'm ready to fight this bastard... The only thing I can detect is its magic power, which still trounces me. I thankfully didn't charge in there, or I'd be dead in an instant."
After analyzing the creature for a bit longer, Derrick's fear gradually subsided, although while being replaced by an emotion he wasn't expecting: greed. The only thing he could think about were all the benefits that'd come from killing it, and how it would propel him to new heights.
After checking up on the map again, he concluded that this was the cave's strongest monster. It was the golden ticket, the first step in his plan to attain revenge.
"If that's the strongest out there, it's time to get moving."
His green eyes, still focused on his final prize, shone once more before vanishing in the darkness.
***
And just like that, a few months went by, with the previously clumsy and weak boy disappearing. His skin had turned pale white from the lack of sunlight, while his previously golden hair had turned a shade darker, their length now at his waist.
Derrick had rapidly matured, both physically and mentally, his height already reaching 5'11" while bulging muscles covered his body. Gruesome scars, which showed his hardships and the cave's treachery, also littered his skin, their existence a reminder that death had been barely kept at bay.
His green eyes, once portals to an innocent soul, had also gained unfathomable depth, their gentleness washed away and replaced by the gaze of a hardened veteran.
For a 16-year-old, he was a freak of nature. But it wasn't just his body that he had improved.
His new armor, although ordinary in appearance, now radiated a dangerous aura that screamed to stay away. As for the weapon stringed on his back, it was a bone-made sword emanating strong bloodlust, one that'd make even the most battle-tested warrior recoil back in fear. Both of these, he thought, were his finest creations.
His preparations were finally complete, leading him to walk in the direction of the place he had left months prior.
But when thinking about back then, he couldn't help but scoff. How naïve had he been… How had really thought that killing would be so simple?
The rage, the failures, the bloodlust, the cruelty… His emotions had run him ragged, their impact and meaning slowly diminishing the more he progressed. What was life, if not for a circle that never ended? After all, weren't life and death part of the same coin?
He barely remembered his past self, his flashbacks now a jumbled mess of distorted faces and events.
Who was he, and what had he become?
No… He knew the answer to that question.
This cave had taught him the meaning of his promise. The promise of absolute strength. If one wanted to live, weakness wasn't allowed. Mercy would, without question, get you killed. Only by dancing with death multiple times had he finally assimilated this vital lesson.
Of course, he hadn't turned into a total psychopath, but he was certain of one thing: he now wouldn't hesitate to cut down whoever or whatever blocked his path.
"I'm finally back... I hope you haven't missed me too much."
Derrick's shadow strongly trembled, with Io's eyes shining in excitement.