Wiping the blood away with the back of his hand, he quickly accessed his stats and made a decision—he needed more strength and vitality to turn the tide.
Without hesitation, he allocated 2 Stats to Strength and 3 to Vitality, feeling a surge of energy as the changes took effect.
Warmth radiated through his body as his muscles tightened and grew denser, rippling with newfound power. He felt his vitality swell, healing some of his wounds and granting him a brief moment of relief. But there was no time to savor it.
The wolves, enraged by the death of their packmate, erupted into a chorus of howls. Their eyes burned with savage fury as they synchronized their attack, all four launching at him from different angles.
With a burst of determination, he swung the Rusty Short Sword in a wide arc, channeling his║Sword Aura║and layering it with║Aura Extension║. The aura expanded two meters beyond the blade, turning his strike into a deadly sweep of energy.
The first two Lv.9 Grey Wolves were caught mid-air, their bodies sliced cleanly through by the extended aura, collapsing lifelessly to the ground before they even knew what hit them. The third wolf, though struck by the attack, was merely sent flying as a deep gash tore through its back, leaving it alive but gravely wounded.
╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
﴾ Lv.9 Grey Wolf Killed ﴿ x 2
﴾ 225 Life Energy Obtained ﴿ x 2
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯
He gritted his teeth, knowing that even with his enhanced Strength, slicing through multiple wolves in one go was still a struggle. His attack had lost momentum before it could reach the fourth wolf, leaving it unharmed. The creature, driven by rage and instinct, charged at him with renewed fury, aiming directly for his neck.
Despite his temporarily boosted Agility, he couldn't fully evade the attack. In a split-second decision, he raised his left arm to shield himself. The wolf's jaws clamped down on his shoulder with crushing force. The sound of bones cracking echoed in his ears, followed by a sharp, searing pain that shot through his arm.
Blood poured into the wolf's mouth, but instead of satisfaction, the beast recoiled in agony. His blood burned its skin like acid, sizzling as it dripped from the wolf's mouth.
The creature released its grip, howling in pain as its muzzle blistered and smoked from the corrosive effect. The acidic burn left it disoriented, its ferocious attack thwarted.
Jay winced, feeling the damage in his shoulder, but he knew it could have been far worse. His bones, made denser and stronger by his high Endurance Attribute, had saved him from losing his arm entirely.
The pain, while intense, was bearable thanks to his Lv.24║Physical Pain Resistance║, which dulled the worst of it. The agony that would have incapacitated most people was reduced to a manageable level, allowing him to stay focused.
Still, he couldn't rely on the pain resistance alone to save him. His skill hadn't leveled up from the encounter; the pain simply wasn't severe enough to push it past Lv.24.
The realization was sobering—surviving this battle would take more than just endurance and pain tolerance. He needed to end this quickly before his stamina ran out.
As the fourth Lv.9 Grey Wolf writhed in pain from the acidic burn, a thunderous howl echoed from the direction of the ongoing battle between the Tier-2 monsters. The Dire Wind Wolf's enraged cry pierced through the forest, its fury evident as it clashed with the Bloodthirsty Earth Bear.
He ignored the distant howl, knowing that distraction could cost him dearly. With the fourth wolf temporarily incapacitated, he seized the opportunity and activated║Aura Extension║once more.
The aura flared around his blade as he swung with precise intent, delivering a decisive strike. The blade cleaved cleanly through the wolf, silencing its howls in a single blow as it crumpled lifelessly at his feet. Another notification flashed, confirming the kill.
╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
﴾ Lv.9 Grey Wolf Killed ﴿
﴾ 225 Life Energy obtained ﴿
﴾ Congratulations! You have reached Lv.6 ﴿
﴾ 5 Undistributed Stats are available ﴿
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯
Every time he activated║Aura Extension║, he meticulously limited its use to just a single second, ensuring minimal drain on his Spirit Energy. Each moment of the extended aura was critical in battle, but conserving resources remained his priority.
After leveling up, he wasted no time in distributing his newfound stats: 2 to Strength and 3 to Vitality attributes.
╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
﴾ Congratulations! You obtained the Skill,║Strength Boost-I║⧼Uncommon⧽ by reaching 20 Stats in Strength Attribute ﴿
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯
As the warmth of his upgraded stats surged through him, his body adjusted to the newfound power. His muscles pulsed with energy, becoming denser and stronger, while his vitality steadied his breath and restored some of his lost health.
But the respite was brief. The wounded Lv.9 Grey Wolf, struggling from the earlier attack, began limping away, its eyes fixed on the Dire Wind Wolf, hoping for protection. Jay knew if the wolf made it back to its alpha, it would be nearly impossible to take down.
His gaze flicked toward the battle between the Tier-2 monsters 100 meters away. The situation was growing more volatile by the second. With the addition of 10 Dire Wolves reinforcing the Dire Wind Wolf, they managed to hold the Bloodthirsty Earth Bear at bay without suffering losses.
But as soon as the Tier-2 wolf heard the pained howl of the Grey Wolf he had just killed, it snapped. Its eyes locked onto him, burning with murderous intent, and it broke away from the bear, attempting to charge toward him.
The Bloodthirsty Earth Bear, however, wasn't about to let its enemy escape so easily. With a ferocious roar, it unleashed a series of attacks—spikes of jagged earth erupted from the ground, tearing into the Dire Wind Wolf's chalk-white fur, leaving deep cuts.
But the enraged Tier-2 wolf didn't falter. Ignoring its own injuries, it fixated solely on him. The sight of the wounded Lv.9 Grey Wolf retreating toward it pushed the Dire Wind Wolf over the edge, and it recklessly dashed forward, determined to protect its subordinate.
Jay felt the tension building with every second. The Dire Wind Wolf's speed was terrifying; it was closing in faster than he expected. His only chance was to strike first and eliminate the wounded wolf before the alpha could reach it.
Taking a deep breath, he prepared for his most powerful move yet. With a surge of determination, he activated║Hydraulic Leap║at its full capacity. The ground beneath his feet cracked as he launched himself forward at a staggering 90 meters per second.
The force of the leap was immense, sending debris flying in his wake as he shot through the air like a bullet. As he hurtled toward the wounded Lv.9 Grey Wolf, he activated║Aura Extension║, causing the aura around his blade to flare to its maximum range. The aura crackled with lethal intensity, the extended aura slicing through the air as he closed in on his target.
Everything seemed to slow down as he flew toward the wolf. He could see the desperation in its eyes as it tried to limp faster, but there was no escape. The Dire Wind Wolf, furious, dashed toward him, its growls growing louder as it tried to close the gap. But it was too far away to intervene in time.
The wounded wolf was only meters away from its alpha, but in that fleeting moment, Jay struck. The Rusty Short Sword, enhanced by the crackling cyan aura, cut through the air with a sharp hiss as the blade descended, delivering a precise, lethal blow. The attack connected, cleaving straight through the wolf's back and severing its life force instantly.
The wolf's body collapsed mid-stride, skidding lifelessly across the dirt as a notification blinked before his eyes, confirming the kill.
But the momentum from his earlier leap carried him forward, sending him hurtling straight toward the Tier-2 wolf. The Dire Wind Wolf's eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden burst of speed.
Reacting on pure instinct, it summoned a transparent wind shield to block the incoming attack. The shield shimmered in the air, rippling as it absorbed the force of his strike.
His blade struck the barrier, and for a moment, it felt like slicing through solid steel. The resistance was immense, dragging his momentum and dulling the impact. But even with that, the aura-coated sword barely broke through, just managing to graze the wolf's paw and leaving only a minor wound.
Jay could hardly register the injury he inflicted before the overwhelming force of his momentum sent him crashing into the ground. The landing was brutal. He skidded across the dirt, bones rattling and joints screaming in pain as the impact rippled through his body.
Blood surged up his throat, spilling from his mouth in thick streams. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as the toll of his reckless charge caught up to him. His ribs felt like they were on fire, and he could sense that the internal damage was severe—organs bruised, bones cracked, each movement a searing pain.
The Dire Wind Wolf's fury erupted as it glanced at its paw, marked by a shallow cut. The idea that a mere Tier-1 lifeform had wounded it was utterly humiliating.
Letting out a furious howl, its chalk-white fur stained with blood from its battle with the Bloodthirsty Earth Bear, the wolf's eyes blazed with a mix of seething rage and bitter grief as it noticed its fallen subordinate.
The force of its howl rippled through the air, shaking the ground beneath him. Fueled by both vengeance and bloodlust, the beast charged with renewed vigor, determined to make him pay.
It swung its massive claw toward his chest with the intent to shred him apart. For a fleeting moment, he felt the inevitability of death closing in, but survival instincts took over.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, he forced himself upright and raised the║Rusted Short Sword║, still pulsing with║Aura Extension║.
The clash was devastating. The impact of claw meeting blade reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves that cracked the earth beneath them. Though his sword managed to intercept the attack, the sheer power behind the Dire Wind Wolf's strike was overwhelming.
He felt himself being lifted off his feet as the force threw him backward, his body crashing through a thick tree and slamming into a second. The impact splintered the trunk, sending shards of wood flying in all directions. The sword was ripped from his grasp, spinning away and landing somewhere far from his reach.
Pain tore through him, sharper and more intense than anything he had felt before. His body was battered, blood soaking through his clothes. His ribs felt shattered, every breath a ragged gasp as broken bones dug into his lungs.
His chest heaved, each rise and fall wracked with agony. His internal organs throbbed, and the coppery taste of blood filled his mouth. It was a miracle he was still conscious.
Lying on the ground, immobilized by the sheer extent of his injuries, he could barely move. His vision swam as the edges darkened, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.
The sound of approaching footsteps—the relentless Grey Wolves closing in—echoed in his ears, but he could do nothing to stop them. The Dire Wind Wolf's eyes gleamed with triumph as it watched him suffer, relishing the moment before the kill.
The pack gathered around, their snarls low and menacing, their eyes full of hatred as they took in the sight of their fallen kin.
Despite the overwhelming pain, a cold laugh bubbled up from within him. It was hoarse, bitter, laced with defiance. Blood dribbled from his lips as the laugh grew louder.
His eyes locked onto the Tier-2 wolf, no fear in his gaze—only a fierce, unyielding resolve. Even if he was on the verge of death, even if his body was broken beyond repair, he refused to let despair consume him.
With a labored breath, he forced out a single word, his voice strained yet filled with mockery. "Loot!"
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Author Note:
I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Prime, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.
ALTER REALITY: Online (Full-Dive VR LITRPG)
The book is now published on Royal Road with just the first chapter available, and I'll be releasing new chapters at a rate of 3 per week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday). Do check it out!
Chapter Release Rate: 3 Chs/Week.
<<<< Tue, Thu, Sun >>>>
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