Robin found himself face-to-face with the massive werewolf, its eyes gleaming with menace. "So, you're the priest who dared to destroy my minions," the werewolf sneered, towering over Robin with an arrogant air. The werewolf stood before them, towering at an intimidating ten feet tall. Its sheer presence was terrifying, like something out of a nightmare. Dark, jagged armor covered its muscular frame, each plate etched with sinister markings. Long, razor-sharp claws extended from its massive hands, and its legs resembled those of a feral wolf, built for powerful, predatory leaps.
Every movement radiated raw power and menace, making it clear this creature was no ordinary foe. Its glowing eyes locked onto Robin, a mocking grin curling on its muzzle, daring him to try his worst.
King Lion and Deria tensed, preparing for battle. Robin's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with the beast. "So you're the one who hurt my mother," he said, his voice cold. Fury sparked in his chest, a fierce protective instinct taking over as dark energy began to swirl around his fist. In an instant, he launched himself at the werewolf, fist outstretched, and struck it with a punch so powerful it sent the creature tumbling deep into the forest.
Robin's anger surged, and tendrils of dark and light energy flared around him, illuminating his form as he hovered in midair. Memories of his life back on Earth flashed in his mind—his parents, his family, everything he held dear. The thought of losing anyone he loved fueled a nearly overwhelming rage.
The werewolf stared at him, stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened. Robin's gaze sharpened as he uttered, "Appraise." He studied the werewolf, coldly resolving that only one of them would leave the battlefield alive.
--
[ System Prompt ]
Name: Werewolf
Monster Level: High
--
"Those idiots couldn't even handle a simple task," the werewolf sneered, straightening its neck as it glanced at Robin. "Boy! I really underestimated you," it laughed, a crazed glint in its eyes.
Without hesitation, Robin activated his Gluttony skill. Dark, shadowy hands surged from him, reaching out in every direction toward the werewolf. But the creature was prepared, countering each hand with lightning speed. The impact of their clash rippled through the forest, each strike echoing ominously. This was not going to be an easy fight.
Suddenly, the werewolf lunged at Robin, jaws wide and teeth glinting. Robin dodged, narrowly avoiding the snap of its razor-sharp fangs.
In response, he activated his Black Fireball skill. Ten fiery, dark spheres appeared around him, crackling with energy before hurtling toward the werewolf. This time, the creature couldn't dodge them all. Fire scorched its fur, flames consuming it as it let out a blood-curdling roar, its body growing larger and more muscular—now towering at fifteen feet. Robin readied himself; this fight was escalating.
Meanwhile, high in a tree, King Lion watched with growing anxiety, Deria by his side. "Please, Deria, let me help him," he urged.
"I'm worried too, but look at him! He's holding his own," Deria replied, watching Robin hover midair.
Focused and determined, Robin muttered to himself, "Just need to finish this, and it'll be over."
But then, a fierce strike from the werewolf knocked him down to the forest floor. Shaken, Robin quickly steadied himself. "I've got to end this now," he said, his the dark and light strands dissipatated as he composed himself, preparing for a final stand.
The werewolf leapt into the air, aiming to crush Robin, but he activated his Divine Shield just in time. The ground shook, sinking under Robin's feet from the force of the attack.
Landing nearby, the werewolf eyed Robin warily. "Boy, I thought you were just some priest. But with those divine skills... what are you?"
Suddenly, the werewolf's gaze shifted skyward, alarm flickering in its eyes. "Damn, they're here already? Boy, we'll finish this another time." With a powerful leap, the werewolf launched itself into the air, disappearing into the treetops.
"Robin! Are you alright?" Deria and King Lion ran over to him, both concerned. Robin stood there, staring after the werewolf's retreat. "Mom, Dad, I'm fine. But… why did it run away?"
King Lion chuckled, relieved. "Probably because of the other 'kings' of the forest. Our Ashton Kingdom only occupies a small edge of this mountain range, but deeper in lies territory the werewolf would rather avoid."
Meanwhile, on a distant mountain peak, a shadowy figure appeared. A soft, youthful voice echoed through the forest, laced with amusement. "That coward's been busy lately. His army's been shredded by the humans," the figure giggled, before vanishing into the shadows.
The mountain range stretched across more than twenty peaks, a vast, imposing landmass with dense forests and towering cliffs. Ashton Kingdom's survival here had largely depended on its remote, unfavored location; most kingdoms and the empire had little interest in these rugged lands. Rumors of mysterious creatures claiming themselves as 'kings' of the mountains only added to the area's foreboding reputation.
Though the mountains were rich in resources, few dared to venture into the deep wilderness. The empire, content with its abundant dungeons, saw no reason to navigate the treacherous terrain. Only those truly seeking the unknown would brave the wilds of the mountains, who had yet to been seen.
Robin had returned to the palace with everyone, grateful murmurs from soldiers filling the air. Many owed him their lives; they had been on the brink of death before he cast a massive healing spell that restored them. Now, he walked alongside King Lion and Deria toward the throne room.
"Have you ever met any of those 'Kings' of the mountains?" Robin asked curiously.
King Lion shook his head. "Not directly, no. Only their subordinates—mostly demi-humans. I encountered them when I first established Ashton Kingdom, long ago."
Deria's expression darkened as she continued, "You'll learn more about this soon enough. The mountain Kings view us as little more than cannon fodder, pawns they can use if the empire ever decides to invade. They fear the emperor, and if the empire one day moves to claim the mountains, they might use Ashton Kingdom as a scapegoat, saying things like, 'We're part of Ashton Kingdom,' or 'We're allied with Ashton.'"
She looked visibly annoyed, her frustration clear as she spoke.
Reflecting on his previous life, Robin recognized the strategy. Many organizations, from cartels to terrorist groups, often used a country as a shield, exploiting its legal systems and alliances to evade the reach of more powerful nations. He knew that if Ashton Kingdom was to avoid becoming a pawn, it would need three key things: wealth, a strong army, and intelligence networks.
First, wealth. The kingdom needed to become self-sustaining, with resources and economic stability that didn't rely on outside powers. Next, a powerful army—one capable of defending against both monsters and humans alike. The recent horde that attacked had been low-level, yet even then, the current army had struggled.
Lastly, intelligence. Ashton Kingdom was isolated, almost cut off from the world, with only occasional merchants passing through. Without real connections to other kingdoms or a steady flow of information, they were left in the dark about the empire's movements or the actions of potential allies and enemies. Strengthening these three areas would be essential if Ashton Kingdom was to break free from its precarious position and secure its place in the world.
As they reached the throne room, Robin turned to his father. "Dad, what makes the empire so strong?"
King Lion sighed as he explained, "Well, you know I'm a Diamond Knight, and your mother is an Arch Mage. The duke and his wife are also Arch Mages, Luke and Peter are Golden Knights. But if you go to the empire, you'll see they have at lease a hundred of Arch Magicians and Diamond Knights—some even stronger than I am and also an army of golden knights. You see, Diamond Knights are ranked as junior, master, and grand master. I'm only a junior. Arch Mages in the empire also have access to stronger spells than we do."
He paused, his expression growing more serious. "But the empire's greatest secret lies in something called 'Manuals.' They discovered these in the dungeons and have used them to train huge, powerful armies quickly. Manuals are said to increase strength in a short period, giving the empire an overwhelming advantage."
"We actually have one," Deria added, glancing at Robin. "You can check it out."
"Follow your mother," King Lion said, as he headed off to attend to other matters. "I have some things to clean up."
Robin followed Deria down to the royal vault. Two soldiers stood guard at the door, bowing slightly as they entered. Inside, Deria picked up a book from one of the shelves and handed it to Robin.
Robin nodded, taking the book and moving to a quiet corner of the vast Ashton royal vault. Despite its grand size, the vault was mostly empty, with only a few treasures lining its shelves. He settled down, examining the mysterious Manual, its ancient pages humming with a faint, pulsing mana that filled the air around him.
As he opened the book, Deria stepped outside, giving a firm order to the guards. "Don't let anyone in until I return."
The guards nodded, and with a heavy clank, the doors locked, sealing Robin inside. Alone in the silence, Robin took a deep breath and focused. He knew he would need to absorb every word, every symbol, if he was to unlock its secrets.