Gideon, having meticulously allocated every available stat point he possessed, once more ventured forth into the heart of the dark forest. His spherical form rolled gracefully over the carpet of leaves, every movement deliberate and purposeful. In the midst of this eerie wilderness, a perplexing revelation took root in his mind. No matter how many times he unleashed his formidable skills, his reservoir of mana remained seemingly inexhaustible. Gideon had no reliable metric for quantifying his mana; he gauged it solely through sensation, and that sensation had remained unwavering throughout the battles he had engaged in.
The night, it seemed, bestowed upon him a peculiar blessing, a bounty of mana that defied depletion. It was as if the very darkness shrouding the world extended its gnarled hand to him, offering its essence for his exclusive use. Yet, the tale took a stark turn when the sun graced the horizon with its presence.
Gideon harbored no concrete plan to return to the subterranean refuge he had stumbled upon earlier. His journey through this mystic forest unfolded without a predetermined course, a wanderer navigating without direction. When daylight would inevitably pierce through the thick canopy, he could effortlessly carve out a sanctuary beneath the earth's surface. However, unbeknownst to him, the forest harbored a discordant undercurrent—anarchy and territories fiercely guarded by specific breeds of monsters. Gideon, a newcomer to this enigmatic realm, unwittingly trespassed upon one such dominion. In response, the denizens of this land stirred, driven by an instinctual imperative to halt the audacious intruder.
They were the enforcers of this realm's sovereignty, sworn to prevent the unhindered passage of outsiders. Gideon, gifted with preternatural senses of smell and hearing, swiftly discerned the encroaching presence. The shadowy figures encircled him with calculated precision, their collective intent unmistakably lethal.
They emerged from the obscurity of the forest, positioning themselves directly in Gideon's path, displaying their menacing fangs and issuing guttural growls that reverberated through the air. Each of these creatures resembled wolves, yet their fur was resplendent silver, a stark contrast to the forest's inky depths. Fiery red eyes burned with a malevolent rage, and each bore a single, sharply pointed horn situated at the center of their foreheads.
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 7*
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 7*
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 6*
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 6*
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 6*
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 5*
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 5*
Gideon, ever alert to the danger that surrounded him, came to a halt along his path. He uncoiled his spherical form and regarded the imposing figures before him with jet-black eyes that harbored not a shred of trepidation. "Howdy," he greeted them with disarming nonchalance, a casualness that belied the gravity of his predicament. "Isn't it a splendid night, gentlemen... and ladies? Those horns of yours are quite remarkable, I must say." He delivered these words in a tone so relaxed that it bordered on indifference. "I presume I've unwittingly trespassed into your territory."
The Unicorn Wolves responded with a chorus of guttural growls, their red eyes narrowing as they exposed their gleaming, razor-sharp fangs. It was an unmistakable declaration—they had no intention of permitting Gideon to depart freely. Their actions left no room for doubt: an attack was imminent.
Gideon's eyes, like orbs of polished onyx, danced over the encircling creatures. In his essence, a profound understanding of the situation unfolded. These were no ordinary adversaries; they were guardians of an otherworldly realm, protectors of a territory infused with the mystique of the forest itself. Gideon recognized that he was now thrust into a confrontation that would demand more than mere brawn; it required finesse, strategy, and a deep comprehension of the world he had entered.
As the tension mounted, Gideon's spiky exterior bristled with anticipation. He had faced formidable foes before, honing his skills and enhancing his attributes through countless trials. Each battle had been a crucible forging him into the formidable entity he was now. Yet, here, amidst the spectral silver glow of the Unicorn Wolves, he confronted a unique challenge.
The creatures, sensing his resolve, closed in with a coordinated precision that bespoke of their experience as guardians of this realm. Their movements were a fluid dance, a manifestation of their unity and shared purpose. A palpable aura of power emanated from their very beings, a testament to the formidable foes they had become.
Gideon surveyed the group of Unicorn Wolves before him, a wicked grin playing on his lips. "These ones are quite the catch," he mused, a contemplative glint in his eyes. "It makes me wonder, there must be a wolf settlement nearby. I could just eliminate the residents there to level up faster, rather than aimlessly wandering... To be honest, this is rather tiresome." He paused, scratching his chin with his sharp, obsidian claw. "After I'm done dealing with these, of course."
The seven ferocious Unicorn Wolves leaped at Gideon, their fangs bared, intent on tearing him apart. Gideon, however, was prepared. With a swift movement, he activated his *Dig* ability, vanishing into the ground just as the wolves lunged. Their vicious attacks found only air.
Despite their keen sense of smell, the Unicorn Wolves struggled to track Gideon's movements underground. They underestimated him, not anticipating the ferocity of his counterattack. As he resurfaced, the wolves were met with a sight they hadn't expected. Gideon burst forth from the earth, his body spinning with astonishing speed. His claw sliced through the head of one of the Unicorn Wolves effortlessly, leaving a perfect, circular hole where its horn once stood. The fallen creature's head was consumed by an eerie black smoke.
The remaining Unicorn Wolves attempted to counterattack, leaping towards Gideon's small figure, propelled by their muscular bodies. But Gideon was one step ahead. With a swift movement, he activated *Claw Attack*, disappearing and reappearing behind the furthest wolf. His claw slashed through the air, striking the wolf's neck, causing it to scream in agony. Its neck slowly corroded, immobilizing it and subjecting it to a torturous demise.
Gideon landed gracefully on the ground, his small hands brandishing his sharp black claws. He stared at the remaining Unicorn Wolves, their vigilant eyes locked onto him. "I hope you kissed your loved ones goodbye because you won't be seeing them again," he declared, but then shook his head. "Sounds cool in my head, but a bit cringe when I say it. Oh well." Without hesitation, he activated *Claw Attack* once more, vanishing into thin air.
Though each of the Unicorn Wolves had a higher level than Gideon, they were utterly outmatched. Gideon's speed, strength, and defensive capabilities made him an unstoppable force. His lower level didn't matter; his stats were so exceptional that he rendered his foes as mere cannon fodder.
Every time the wolves attempted to dodge his incoming *Claw Attack*, Gideon vanished and struck down the least suspecting target. He would then dive into the soil, only to reemerge and eliminate another of his foes. If they managed to catch him with their formidable fangs, he would curl into a ball, causing excruciating pain while corroding their mouths.
It was a relentless massacre, a one-sided battle where the once-predator giants were systematically demolished by their diminutive adversary.
The battle raged on, but the Unicorn Wolves couldn't land a single blow on Gideon. One couldn't fight against what they couldn't reach or keep up with. One by one, the creatures fell to the ground, their life forces slowly fading away. The so-called superior race had been reduced to nothing with surprising ease.
Gideon stood amidst the carnage, his obsidian eyes filled with amusement as he observed their demise. "It seems I've been underestimating this form's capabilities," he mused aloud. "This form can achieve far more than I thought." His gaze darted around the battlefield, where the bodies of the defeated Unicorn Wolves lay motionless. "This turned out much easier than expected."
*You have leveled up.*
*You have leveled up.*
*You have leveled up.*
"Now, it's time to pay a visit to their little settlement," Gideon declared, his voice dripping with anticipation.
•••••
NAME: GIDEON BRANGWEN
LEVEL: 7/10
SPECIES: EXTREMELY WEAK HEDGEHOG
*STATS*
VITALITY: 21 (+105)
STRENGTH: 23 (+115)
MAGIC: 24 (+120)
SPEED: 22 (+110)
STAMINA: 21 (+105)
SKILL POINTS: 60
*SKILLS*
ACTIVE SKILLS: Dig, Claw Attack, Roll.
PASSIVE SKILLS: Appraisal, General Language Comprehension, Spike Armor.
DIVINE BLESSINGS: Night Form.
•••••