Chapter 11: King of the Undead 1
Axel Teras stood amidst a sea of corpses, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he dislodged his dagger from the throat of the last Hellish Hound. The beast's body slumped lifelessly onto the pile of its fallen brethren, the ground slick with their dark blood.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, a fierce sense of pride swelling in his chest. The battle had been brutal, each hound relentless in its attack, but he had emerged victorious. The harsh reality of the world around him made each victory feel like a lifeline, a brief reprieve from the ever-present threat of death.
A series of notifications flashed before his eyes, the system's cold, mechanical voice cutting through the silence:
**[You have leveled up]**
**[You have leveled up]**
He couldn't help but smile as he surveyed the battlefield. Dozens of hounds lay dead, their once vicious eyes now dull and empty. The rocky platform had become a graveyard, but it was his victory that mattered most. He had fought against the odds, against the overwhelming numbers, and he had won. His muscles ached, his body felt heavy with fatigue, but the sight of those notifications brought a rush of adrenaline through his veins.
Opening his status screen, Axel marveled at the numbers before him:
**//Stats//**
**Name:** Axel Teras
**Exp:** 0/50
**Level:** 3
**Job class:** None
**
**Strength:** 4
**Agility:** 3
**Senses:** 3
**Mana:** 10
**Health:** 3/10
**Stat points:** 6
He could feel the changes within himself—his movements felt lighter, more fluid, and he knew he had grown stronger. A thought struck him as he continued to study his profile, a plan forming in his mind. "What would be the most favorable investment?" he mused aloud. Each level-up granted him three free stat points to allocate as he wished, and the potential to shape his abilities was intoxicating.
*Maybe I should put two into health since I'm…*
**[Only Mana potions and leveling up can increase health status. Please select another stat to invest in.]**
Axel frowned. *So I can't increase my health directly?* It was a blow to his plan, but not an insurmountable one. He had hoped to shore up his defenses after such a brutal fight, but it seemed he would need to find another way.
He pondered his remaining options. "Strength, Agility, Mana, and Senses… What to choose?" Mana seemed useless at his current level, and senses, though valuable, didn't appeal to his immediate needs. It boiled down to Strength and Agility, the core of any warrior's capabilities.
*Agility would make me faster, give me better reaction time and maneuverability…* The thought was appealing. Speed had always been a valuable asset, allowing him to outmaneuver his foes and strike where they were weakest. But there was a flaw in that logic. If he couldn't strike with enough force to make his blows count, all the agility in the world wouldn't save him.
Strength, on the other hand, was what he lacked most. He had always been able to strike quickly, but his attacks often lacked the power to finish the job. How many times had his blade barely cut into the flesh of his enemies, leaving him exposed and vulnerable to their counterattacks?
*With more strength, I could end fights faster… and that might just save my life one day.* His decision made, Axel allocated his points with a sense of purpose:
**
**Strength:** 8 (added +4)
**Agility:** 5 (added +2)
**Senses:** 3
**Mana:** 10
**Health:** 3/10
**Stat points:** 0
As soon as the points were invested, Axel felt a surge of energy course through his body. His muscles tightened, his grip on his weapon felt more secure, and he knew he had become stronger in a very real, tangible way. But the lingering issue of his health nagged at the back of his mind. His wounds were severe, and in this hostile environment, being at anything less than full strength was a death sentence.
Then, as if answering his thoughts, the system chimed in once more:
**[Store]**
Axel's eyes lit up at the notification. *Just as I thought… this really is like a game.* With eager anticipation, he opened the store, and a new set of options flooded his vision.
**[You have gained 50 free points]**
He scanned the items available, his gaze settling on a low-grade potion worth ten points. *This should do the trick.* Without hesitation, he made the purchase. In an instant, a small, purple vial materialized in his hand, the liquid inside glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. He hesitated for just a moment, marveling at the magic that had brought it to him, before uncorking the vial and downing its contents.
**[Low-grade replenishment potion]**
**[5 has been added to health]**
**[Health: 8/10]**
The effects were immediate. Axel felt the wounds on his body begin to knit together, the pain subsiding to a dull ache. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to keep him going. He could feel his strength returning, and for the first time since the battle had begun, he allowed himself to relax. *At least I'm not on the brink of death anymore…*
His eyes drifted back to the store, curiosity piqued. *I saw a weapons section… maybe I can replace this rusty dagger.* He raised the blade to eye level, inspecting the numerous chips and cracks along its edge. It had served him well against the hounds, but he knew it wouldn't last much longer. Against stronger foes, it might even be the difference between life and death.
Axel tapped on the weapons section, his eyes widening at the options that appeared. The first item on the list caught his attention, but his excitement was quickly dashed when he saw the price.
"What the—? A hundred points for the lowest grade weapon?!" His heart sank. *How the hell am I supposed to gain that many points?*
Just as despair began to settle in, the system interrupted his thoughts:
**[Would you like to absorb the souls of the hounds you have killed?]**
Axel blinked, momentarily stunned. *Soul absorption? What does that have to do with my current poverty?* He let out a bitter laugh.
**[Soul absorption can also be converted to points for store use. The system will reward points based on user's activities.]**
The revelation was a game-changer. "Absorb the souls," he commanded, eager to see what would happen.
As soon as the words left his mouth, dark red wisps of smoke began to rise from the hounds' corpses. The wisps floated through the air, twisting and swirling as they converged on Axel, sinking into his body like tendrils of smoke. The sensation was strange, but not unpleasant—more like a rush of power than anything sinister.
**[You have absorbed hounds' souls]**
**[18/30]**
A new notification appeared:
**[86 store points gained]**
Axel's heart raced as he quickly returned to the store, adding up his total. *126 points… that's more like it.* He browsed the weapons again, this time focusing on the cheapest dagger. It wasn't much, but it was a definite improvement over what he had now. Without further hesitation, he made the purchase.
As the old, condemned dagger clattered to the ground, Axel held the new weapon in his hand. The difference was immediately apparent. The blade was sharp, well-balanced, and felt much more reliable than the last.
**[Blank Dagger: A training instrument with no addition whatsoever]**
The description was underwhelming, but Axel wasn't concerned. What mattered was that this dagger would last longer and cut deeper. With a newfound sense of confidence, he sheathed the weapon, ready for whatever came next.
"Now that I'm better prepared," Axel muttered to himself, "it's time to explore deeper into these caves."
As he ventured forward, a thrill of anticipation and danger coursed through him. The caves were dark, twisting, and full of unknown threats. But Axel Teras was ready. Whatever awaited him in the shadows, he would face it head-on, carving out his destiny one battle at a time.