The stillness of the village was shattered by the sound of a bloodcurdling roar. It echoed through the streets, sending waves of panic through the villagers. Doors slammed shut, and windows were hastily barred as people rushed to take cover. Ethan, standing in the middle of the village square, instinctively grabbed the hilt of his sword. The air was thick with fear, and the ground trembled beneath his feet.
From the edge of the village, near the forest's border, a massive shadow began to take shape. The creature was like nothing Ethan had ever seen before—a grotesque beast that moved with a feral grace. Its body was covered in matted fur, and its eyes gleamed with a sickly green glow. It moved quickly, crashing through the trees and leaving destruction in its wake.
"Get inside!" one of the villagers shouted, his voice trembling with fear. "It's come back!"
Lila, standing beside Ethan, glanced at him with wide, worried eyes. "What is that thing?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"I don't know," Ethan replied, his mind racing. "But it's dangerous."
The villagers scattered, running for shelter as the beast drew closer. Ethan could see the terror in their faces—they had faced this monster before, and it was clear they knew how deadly it could be. The village leader, the same burly man who had greeted Ethan and Lila with suspicion earlier, was now shouting orders, trying to rally the few brave souls who remained.
"It's too late for them," the man growled, gripping a rusted sword in his hands. "If we don't stop that thing, the whole village will be wiped out!"
Ethan's grip tightened on his blade. He had been a stranger in this village just hours ago, but now these people needed help. His mind flashed back to the system's prompt—the unspoken warning that had appeared earlier. Danger Detected. Prepare for Combat.
The system hadn't steered him wrong before. It knew the village was in danger, and now it was up to Ethan to do something about it. He could feel the familiar weight of the system's influence pressing on him, urging him to act.
Ethan glanced at Lila, who was already moving to help one of the villagers barricade a door. "Lila!" he called, and she turned toward him, her face pale but determined. "Stay back and help the villagers. I'm going to face that thing."
Her eyes widened in shock. "You can't go alone!"
"I'll be fine," Ethan said, though he wasn't entirely sure himself. "But I need to stop it before it tears through the entire village."
Before Lila could argue further, Ethan was already moving, his sword drawn as he sprinted toward the advancing beast. The creature let out another deafening roar as it spotted him, its glowing eyes narrowing with predatory focus. It was easily three times Ethan's size, its muscles rippling beneath its fur as it charged.
Ethan could feel the surge of adrenaline course through his veins. The system was active in his mind, a constant presence now, guiding his movements. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he knew that wasn't an option. Not this time.
"Quest Updated: Defeat the Beast and Protect the Village." Reward: 150 Growth Points.
As Ethan prepared for the clash, the system prompted a new skill activation:
"New Skill Activated: Appraisal (Level 1)."
Monster: Corrupted Beast
Level: 10
Strength: High
Agility: Moderate
Weakness: Lower hind leg muscles vulnerable
Threat Level: Significant
Ethan's eyes widened slightly as the information flashed before him. A Level 10 beast? He was nowhere near that level, but now he knew its weak spot. His heart raced as he considered his options. If he could exploit its vulnerability, he might stand a chance, but this would be his toughest fight yet.
The beast closed the distance between them in seconds, and Ethan barely had time to react. It lunged, swiping at him with claws the size of daggers. He ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the claws missed him by inches. With a swift motion, he slashed upward, aiming for the beast's exposed side.
His blade struck true, cutting into the creature's thick hide, but it wasn't enough to slow it down. The beast let out a roar of fury, rearing back on its hind legs before slamming down with a force that shook the ground. Ethan rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the impact.
Ethan's current attributes flashed in his vision:
Level: 12Strength: 32Agility: 28Vitality: 30Mana: 10Combat Skills: Basic Strike (Level 2), Combat Mastery (Level 1)
"Damn it," Ethan muttered under his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. This thing was stronger than anything he had fought before. It was fast, too fast, and every strike he made seemed to do little more than anger it.
As the beast charged again, Ethan's mind raced. He couldn't beat it with brute strength alone—that much was clear. He needed to outsmart it, find a way to use its size and speed against it. But how?
The system chimed in once more, a new notification flashing before his eyes:
"New Skill Available: Combat Adaptation (Advanced)."
Cost: 20 Growth Points.
Would you like to unlock?
Ethan didn't hesitate. He mentally accepted the prompt, and immediately felt a rush of energy flow through him. His senses sharpened, his reflexes heightened. The world around him seemed to slow just slightly, enough for him to take in every movement of the beast in front of him.
The creature lunged again, but this time, Ethan was ready. He sidestepped with ease, his sword slicing through the air as he delivered a powerful strike to the back of the beast's leg. The creature howled in pain, stumbling as it tried to regain its footing.
Ethan pressed the advantage, darting forward to deliver another strike. This time, his blade found its mark, cutting deep into the creature's side. Blood sprayed from the wound, and the beast staggered, its movements slowing as it weakened.
But it wasn't over yet. With a final, desperate roar, the beast reared up once more, its massive claws swinging down toward Ethan. He braced himself, raising his sword to block the attack, but the force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground.
Pain shot through his body, and for a moment, everything went white. His vision blurred, his mind foggy as he struggled to push himself up. The beast was still standing, but it was faltering, its breath ragged and labored.
"You have sustained critical damage. Health reduced by 60%."
Ethan gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. He couldn't give up now. The village was depending on him. With a deep breath, he steadied his grip on his sword and charged once more, putting all his strength into one final strike.
The blade pierced the beast's chest, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. The creature let out a low, guttural sound before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud. Ethan stood there, breathing heavily, his body aching from the battle.
"Quest Complete: Defeat the Beast."
Reward: 150 Growth Points.
The notification flashed before him, but Ethan barely registered it. He was exhausted, his limbs heavy as he wiped the blood from his sword. The villagers began to emerge from their homes, their faces filled with a mixture of awe and relief.
Lila was the first to reach him, her eyes wide with concern. "Ethan, are you okay?"
"I'll live," he said with a weak smile, though his body protested every movement.
The village leader approached, his stern face softening as he looked at Ethan. "You... you saved us," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how to thank you."
Ethan shook his head. "No thanks necessary. Just... make sure your people are safe."
The man nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "You're a hero, stranger. This village owes you its life."
As the villagers gathered around, murmuring their thanks, Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had done what needed to be done, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he had made a real difference.
But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning. The system had more in store for him, and whatever it was, he would be ready.