Joseph awoke early, his body still humming with the effects of the absorbed essence. The shadows in his room seemed to flicker in his peripheral vision, responding subtly to his movements. Shadowmeld was already proving to be an asset, but he knew it wouldn't be enough to protect him in the long run.
As the system's faint golden interface shimmered before him, Joseph focused on his next steps. His territory needed to grow, his resources needed bolstering, and he needed to ensure the Order of Arcanum wouldn't catch him unprepared.
> Current Objectives:
Expand Territory: +3 Upgrade Points
Strengthen Defenses: +2 Upgrade Points
Secure Allies: +4 Upgrade Points
Cassandra's warning about alliances lingered in his mind. He didn't trust her, but she was right: isolation would get him killed. The system offered tools, but it couldn't protect him from everything.
"Time to get to work," he muttered, stepping out into the gray morning light.
The streets of his neighborhood were quiet as usual, but Joseph's enhanced senses told a different story. He could feel faint traces of energy, subtle fluctuations in the air that hadn't been there before.
> Territory Scan Activated.
Nearby Entities Detected: 2
Joseph froze, his eyes narrowing as the golden grid expanded in his vision. Two glowing dots appeared near the edge of his territory. Unlike the mages from the night before, these signatures felt more… primal.
"System, identify."
> Entity Analysis:
Target 1: Werewolf (Beta Class, Unaligned).
Target 2: Unknown Entity (Humanoid, Weak Energy Signature).
Joseph's grip tightened on his mace. A werewolf was no small threat, even if it wasn't tied to a pack. And the second figure…
"Could be trouble or an opportunity," he muttered.
He headed toward the edge of his territory, staying in the shadows. With his new agility and Shadowmeld, he felt confident in his ability to move unseen.
Joseph found them near an abandoned warehouse—a man and a beast. The werewolf stood over six feet tall, its fur a mottled gray, claws extended as it growled at the man before it. The other figure was younger, perhaps in his early twenties, his thin frame trembling as he clutched a knife.
"Stay back!" the young man shouted, though his voice quivered with fear.
The werewolf bared its teeth, advancing slowly. Its glowing yellow eyes betrayed no sign of reason, only hunger.
Joseph scanned the scene quickly. The man wasn't part of the supernatural world—his energy signature was weak, barely noticeable. He was a civilian, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The werewolf lunged.
Joseph reacted without thinking. Activating Shadowmeld, he darted forward, his figure blurring as he emerged from the shadows behind the beast. His mace came down hard on its back, the impact reverberating through the air.
The werewolf howled, staggering from the blow. It spun to face him, claws slashing through the space where Joseph had been a moment ago.
"Run!" Joseph barked at the young man, who hesitated for a split second before taking off.
The werewolf's growl deepened as it focused entirely on Joseph.
The fight was brutal. The werewolf was faster and stronger than the shade or the mages he had faced before. Its claws tore through the air, forcing Joseph to rely on his agility to evade.
"System, analyze weakness!"
> Werewolf Weaknesses:
Vulnerable to silver weapons.
Agility reduced after sustained damage.
Joseph grimaced. He didn't have silver, but he could work with the second weakness. He needed to wear it down.
The werewolf lunged again, its claws narrowly missing as Joseph ducked and countered with a strike to its ribs. The beast howled in pain, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it became more aggressive, its attacks faster and more erratic.
Joseph activated Shadowmeld again, slipping into the darkness and reappearing behind the creature. He struck its leg, causing it to stumble.
The fight dragged on, each exchange leaving Joseph more battered and exhausted. But finally, after what felt like an eternity, the werewolf collapsed, its breathing ragged.
Joseph raised his mace for the finishing blow.
> System Notice:
Enemy Defeated. Upgrade Points Earned: +4
Werewolf Essence Acquired (Beta Class, Tier 1).
He paused, panting heavily as the system's notification flickered before him. The beast's body dissolved into a faint glow, leaving behind a small orb of energy.
He reached for it, the essence pulsing warmly in his hand.
"Hey!"
Joseph spun around, mace at the ready. The young man he had saved was standing at the edge of the alley, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear.
"You… you killed it," the man stammered. "What the hell was that thing?"
Joseph sighed. He didn't have time for this. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
The man hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't care. You saved my life. Thank you."
Joseph lowered his weapon slightly, studying the man. He seemed sincere, though his trembling hands betrayed how shaken he was.
"What's your name?" Joseph asked.
"Ethan," the man said. "Ethan Cole."
Joseph frowned. "What were you doing here, Ethan? This isn't exactly a safe neighborhood."
Ethan's gaze dropped to the ground. "I… I was looking for someone. My sister. She disappeared a few days ago, and the cops aren't doing anything. I thought… I thought maybe I could find something myself."
Joseph felt a pang of sympathy. He knew what it was like to lose someone and feel powerless to do anything about it.
"Your sister," Joseph said slowly. "Was she involved in anything... unusual?"
Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "She mentioned something about a group—people who could do things. Magic, she called it. I thought she was crazy, but now..." He gestured to the spot where the werewolf had fallen.
Joseph's mind raced. If Ethan's sister had been caught up in the supernatural world, her disappearance might be connected to the Order of Arcanum—or worse, something darker.
"I'll help you," Joseph said before he could stop himself.
Ethan looked up, surprised. "You will?"
Joseph nodded. "But you have to listen to me and stay out of danger. Understand?"
Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Okay."
Back at his apartment, Joseph opened the system interface again. The werewolf essence hovered in his inventory, alongside the mages' essences.
He glanced at Ethan, who sat nervously on the couch. The young man was out of his depth, but his determination to find his sister reminded Joseph of himself.
"System," Joseph said quietly, "can I use an essence to enhance a normal human?"
> Essence Application:
Essence can be used to enhance or alter a non-supernatural entity.
Warning: Success rate depends on compatibility. Side effects possible.
Joseph frowned. It was risky, but if Ethan was going to survive in this world, he'd need an edge.
For now, though, he needed more information. The Order of Arcanum was a growing threat, and Ethan's sister might hold the key to uncovering their plans.
"Get some rest," Joseph told Ethan. "We've got a long day ahead of us."
As Ethan settled in, Joseph stared at the glowing interface, his mind already planning his next move.