The forest loomed like a living entity, its trees towering over Kazuki as if watching his every step. The air had grown colder, carrying a strange, unnatural chill that sent shivers down his spine. The village behind him was now quiet, its inhabitants hiding in fear of what would come once the sun fully set.
Kazuki clenched his fists, a determined expression hardening on his face. He was no longer the helpless office worker from Tokyo. Here, in this world, he had power—power he intended to use. But even with his newfound abilities, he knew he had to be cautious. The wolves he had faced earlier were only the beginning, and judging by the villagers' fear, something far worse was out there.
He stopped at the edge of the forest, glancing at the tree line. The night was thick with tension, the kind that comes before a storm. He could sense something lurking in the shadows, watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike.
**"Alright, Genesis System,"** Kazuki muttered under his breath. **"What am I up against here?"**
A familiar chime echoed in his mind.
> **Scanning nearby area for threats…**
The system hummed for a moment before displaying a screen in front of him.
---
**Threat Detected:**
- **Name:** Dire Wolf Alpha
- **Level:** 10
- **Attributes:** Enhanced strength, speed, and intelligence.
- **Abilities:** Pack Leader (summons and coordinates lesser wolves), Shadow Stalker (ability to blend into darkness).
---
Kazuki frowned as he read the details. A Level 10 Alpha wolf was significantly stronger than the creatures he had faced so far. But what worried him more was the mention of its ability to summon lesser wolves. He was strong, sure, but could he handle an entire pack on his own?
The Genesis System chimed again as if reading his thoughts.
> **Recommended Strategy: Isolate the Alpha before engaging the pack. Utilize ranged abilities to weaken the target from a distance.**
Kazuki nodded to himself. It was a solid plan. If he could take down the Alpha, the rest of the pack would likely fall into disarray.
**"Alright then,"** he muttered, cracking his knuckles. **"Let's do this."**
He stepped into the forest, his senses on high alert. The thick canopy above blocked out most of the moonlight, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with every movement of the wind. The only sounds were the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. It felt like the world was holding its breath.
Kazuki moved carefully, avoiding any noise that might give away his position. His eyes scanned the darkened underbrush, searching for any sign of movement. He didn't have to wait long.
A low growl echoed through the trees, followed by the soft padding of paws on the forest floor. Kazuki crouched low, hiding behind a large tree as he peered into the darkness. There, just beyond the clearing, he saw them.
The Alpha.
The Dire Wolf Alpha was massive, nearly twice the size of the wolves he had fought earlier. Its fur was pitch black, blending seamlessly into the shadows, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent intelligence. Surrounding it were several smaller wolves, their eyes also glowing red as they prowled around their leader.
Kazuki took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He had to act fast before the pack detected him.
> **New Skill Available: Wind Step (Increases movement speed and agility for a short time).**
A small grin tugged at his lips. The system always seemed to know exactly what he needed.
**"Wind Step,"** he whispered.
Instantly, Kazuki felt a surge of energy flow through his legs, making him lighter and faster. He darted out from behind the tree, moving silently through the shadows as he positioned himself behind the pack. His target was the Alpha.
Raising his hand, he called upon the flame spell that had served him well earlier.
**"Flame Strike."**
A small ball of fire materialized in his palm, and with a flick of his wrist, it shot through the air, striking the Dire Wolf Alpha square in the side. The wolf howled in pain, its fur igniting as it staggered back, startled by the sudden attack.
Kazuki didn't waste any time. He sprinted forward, his body moving with unnatural speed thanks to Wind Step. Before the Alpha could recover, he launched another fireball, this one hitting the creature directly in the chest. Flames exploded around it, and the surrounding wolves scattered in confusion, unsure of where the attack was coming from.
The Alpha let out a furious growl, its glowing eyes locking onto Kazuki. With a snarl, it charged toward him, its massive paws tearing up the earth as it lunged. But Kazuki was ready.
> **Skill Unlocked: Flame Barrier (Defensive Magic).**
**"Flame Barrier!"** he shouted, and instantly a wall of fire erupted around him, forming a protective shield just as the Alpha reached him. The wolf slammed into the barrier, yelping in pain as the flames seared its fur.
Kazuki felt the impact rattle him, but the barrier held strong. He gritted his teeth, maintaining the spell as the Alpha circled, snarling and snapping at the flames. The pack had regrouped by now, and several wolves began closing in, their growls low and menacing.
**"Not good,"** Kazuki muttered. He couldn't hold the barrier forever, and his mana was rapidly depleting. He needed to end this, and soon.
The Alpha snarled again, this time summoning its pack with a deep, resonant howl. The wolves responded immediately, darting toward Kazuki from all sides.
**"Damn it!"** he cursed, knowing he couldn't take them all at once. His barrier flickered, the flames weakening. He was outnumbered, and even with his system's abilities, he wasn't invincible. He had to think fast.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.
**"Genesis System, I need a skill that can take out multiple targets at once,"** he whispered urgently.
The system chimed in response.
> **New Skill Unlocked: Shockwave Slash (Melee Ability, generates a wave of energy with each strike).**
Kazuki's eyes lit up. That was exactly what he needed.
He dropped the Flame Barrier, letting the last of his mana flow into his arms. The wolves lunged at him, but Kazuki was faster. He jumped into the air, his fist crackling with energy as he brought it down in a powerful strike.
**"Shockwave Slash!"**
A burst of energy erupted from his hand, sweeping across the ground in a wide arc. The wolves were caught in the blast, their bodies thrown back by the sheer force of the attack. Several of them yelped in pain as they hit the ground, unable to get back up.
The Alpha, however, wasn't so easily defeated. It shook off the impact, baring its fangs as it charged again. But this time, Kazuki was ready. With his last bit of mana, he summoned another Flame Strike, launching it directly into the Alpha's face.
The explosion of fire was blinding, and the wolf let out one final, agonized howl before collapsing in a heap, its body consumed by flames.
Kazuki landed lightly on his feet, breathing heavily as the adrenaline began to wear off. The clearing was silent now, save for the crackling of the dying flames. The pack had scattered, their leader defeated, and those that remained were too injured to fight.
A familiar chime echoed in his mind.
> **Enemies defeated. Gained 500 EXP. Level up!**
---
**Level:** 4
---
Kazuki collapsed to the ground, exhausted but triumphant. His body ached from the strain of using so much magic, and his mana was completely depleted. But he had done it. He had taken down the Alpha and scattered its pack. The village was safe, at least for now.
As he lay there, staring up at the night sky, a sense of satisfaction washed over him. This world was dangerous, yes, but it was also exhilarating. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had a real purpose—like he was capable of so much more than he'd ever imagined.
But this was just the beginning. If a Level 10 Alpha was out there, what else was lurking in the shadows? He would need to grow even stronger if he wanted to survive the challenges that lay ahead.
**"Alright,"** he muttered to himself, closing his eyes. **"Let's see what this world has to offer next."**
With that, he allowed himself to drift into a deep, well-deserved sleep.