A system notification appeared before my eyes.
[You have slain the Phantom Spirit Wolf.]
[You have gained 50 EXP. Current EXP: 50/200]
It wasn't enough to level up, but it was progress.
I paused, taking a moment to process what had just happened.
I had killed a wolf. The reality of it was still sinking in.
As I gathered my thoughts, I became aware of a new sound.
Three low growls, barely audible over the silence of the mist.
I squinted, making out the faint outlines of three wolves.
They were slowly closing in, their forms disappearing and reappearing in the mist.
Then, without warning, they lunged.
Their attack was coordinated, their movements swift.
But something strange happened. My body felt light, agile.
I moved with a speed I didn't know I possessed, dodging their attacks and parrying their strikes.
It was a struggle, yes, but not one that filled me with fear. Instead, I felt a strange calmness.
I was alone, outnumbered, but I didn't back down.
I met their attacks with my own, my sword clashing against their claws.
As their relentless assault continued, a red number floated above my head, "-15 HP".
My health was slowly decreasing. But even then, I remained calm.
Time seemed to slow down, everything around me moving at a pace that felt 1.5 times slower than normal.
I didn't understand why, but I didn't question it. I kept fighting, my focus solely on the wolves.
Unbeknownst to me, I was releasing mana again. It formed a small field of energy around me, a fact I was oblivious to.
It was this energy that gave me the edge I needed. With a few precise strikes, I killed the three wolves.
I stood there, panting heavily, the bodies of the wolves at my feet.
"What just happened?" I questioned myself.
The three wolves lay lifeless at my feet.
A system notification popped up,
"[You have slain the Phantom Spirit Wolf x3. You have gained 150 EXP. Current EXP: 200/200]". Then another notification appeared, "[Level Up!]".
I paused, taking a moment to process the changes.
I could feel a new strength coursing through my veins, a healing energy that was mending my wounds.
My muscles had changed, subtly but noticeably.
They felt firmer, stronger. I flexed my arm, feeling the new power that resided within me.
But I didn't dwell on it. I stood up, dusted myself off, and started walking.
The mist was thick, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.
But I kept moving, my hand trailing along the cold, damp walls of the labyrinth for guidance.
After what felt like an hours passing in a minutes, I heard them - the low growls of wolves.
I stopped, my hand instinctively going to the hilt of my sword.
I could see their faint outlines in the mist, their eyes glowing ominously.
I drew my sword, its blade gleaming in the faint light.
The wolves leaped at me, their movements swift and coordinated.
But I was faster. I met their attacks head-on, my sword clashing against their claws.
I dodged their attacks and landed precise strikes. One by one, they fell, each victory earning me more EXP and several more level ups.
After about 20 minutes of walking and fighting, I decided to take a break.
I found a quiet corner in the labyrinth and sat down, my back resting against the cold stone wall.
I opened my status, my eyes scanning the unallocated points I had earned from my battles. It was time to distribute them, to further enhance my abilities.
"Status," I said quietly. The screen in front of me lit up:
[Asher Starborn]
[Title: Flame Vanquisher]
[Traits: Sovereign Serenity]
[Lvl: 4]
[Exp: 350/500]
[HP: 120]
[MP: 100]
[Str: 20]
[Agi: 15]
[Int: 45]
[Wis: 30]
[Cha: 25]
[Luk: 40]
[Unallocated Pts: 40]
I stood there, staring at the screen that displayed my status.
The recent encounter with the wolves had been a reality check. I had potential, but I needed to harness it effectively.
I had points to distribute, a chance to enhance my abilities, but I was unsure where to invest them.
"System," I began, my voice echoing in the silence, "What does each stat mean?" There was no immediate response.
I sighed, feeling a pang of frustration. But then, after a moment, the system finally responded.
[System: Strength (Str) is your physical power. It directly affects your ability to deal damage in combat and your overall physical prowess.]
I flexed my hand, considering this. "And Agility?"
[System: Agility (Agi) is your speed, reflexes, and dexterity. It influences your ability to dodge attacks, hit targets, and perform actions quickly.]
I nodded, understanding. "What about Intelligence?"
[System: Intelligence (Int) is your mental power, affecting your ability to understand complex problems, learn new skills, and, if applicable, your magical prowess.]
I raised an eyebrow at that. "And Wisdom?"
[System: Wisdom (Wis) is your understanding, intuition, and decision-making. It can affect your ability to make the right choices in complex situations.]
I nodded, taking this in. "Charisma?"
[System: Charisma (Cha) is your ability to interact with others. It can influence how individuals react to you and can be crucial in negotiations or when trying to persuade others.]
"And Luck?"
[System: Luck (Luk) is your chance of good things happening. It can affect everything from finding rare items to landing critical hits.]
I nodded, taking in the information. "And what about the potential growth tiers?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
[System: Growth Talent refers to your individual characteristics and potential for growth in each stat. There are six tiers: Common, Rare, Epic, Unique, Legendary, and Mythic. The higher the tier, the greater the potential for growth when you level up or gain experience.]
I mulled over this, my mind racing. My high Intelligence and Luck were definitely assets, but how could I leverage them effectively?
"And my trait - Sovereign Serenity. How does that affect me?" I asked, a pique of curiosity in my voice.
[System: Your 'Sovereign Serenity' trait ensures you maintain a calm and composed demeanor in any situation. You have immunity to any mental or emotional manipulation, including charm, mind control, and other forms of influence. This trait also enhances your cognitive abilities, allowing you to process thoughts faster and more efficiently than the average person, leading to smarter and more rational decisions.]
"So, I'm immune to mind control? And I can think faster than others?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around the concept.
After listening to the system's explanations, I took a moment to consider my options.
I had 40 unallocated points to distribute, and I needed to use them wisely.
I glanced at my stats again, my eyes lingering on my Strength and Agility. I remembered the wolves, how they were faster and stronger than me.
But more than that, I remembered the bear. The bear that had almost killed me due to my lack of strength.
I needed to be stronger, faster. I needed to be able to hold my own in a fight.
"Alright, let's do this," I muttered to myself, allocating 15 points to my Strength.
I could feel the change, a subtle shift in my muscles. I decided to test my new strength.
I turned to face the cold, damp wall of the labyrinth.
I took a deep breath and punched the wall. The stone gave way under my fist, a small cloud of dust rising from the impact.
I pulled back my hand, surprised at the power behind my punch. "Not bad," I said, flexing my hand.
Next, I turned my attention to my Agility. I remembered how the wolves had lunged at me, their movements swift and coordinated.
I needed to be faster, to be able to dodge their attacks and land my own.
"Time to pick up the pace," I said, allocating another 15 points to my Agility. I could feel the change immediately.
My body felt lighter, more agile. I decided to test my new speed. I took a deep breath and broke into a run.
"Wow, this is... this is amazing!" I exclaimed, coming to a stop.
The labyrinth blurred around me as I darted through the narrow passages, my feet barely touching the ground.
I felt as if I was moving with the wind, each step lighter and faster than before.
Just as I was marveling at my new speed, a low growl echoed through the labyrinth.
Thirteen wolves slowly emerged from the mist, their eyes glowing ominously.
"Well, this is a perfect time to test my new abilities," I said, bracing myself for the attack.
The wolves lunged at me, but I was ready. I dodged, my movements swift and precise.
I retaliated, my fists connecting with the wolves, sending them flying.
One by one, they fell, until I was the last one standing. I found myself sitting atop a pile of wolf corpses, panting but victorious.
[System: You have defeated 13 wolves. Experience gained: 1300 EXP.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
I blinked in surprise. I had leveled up twice! This was more than I had expected.
Finally, I turned my attention to my Charisma. I didn't need it now, not in the labyrinth filled with wolves
But I knew that one day, it could be crucial. Whether it was persuading someone to help me or negotiating a deal, a high Charisma could be a game-changer.
"Who knows, maybe this will come in handy someday," I said, allocating the remaining 10 points to my Charisma.
I didn't feel a dramatic change, but I knew something was different.
A subtle shift in my demeanor, a quiet confidence that wasn't there before. It was subtle, but it was there.
I stood up, brushing the dust off my clothes. With a final glance at the fallen wolves, I turned and walked deeper into the labyrinth.