Wolfgang trudged deeper into the Wildlands, the forest thickening as towering trees blocked out more of the midday sun. The battle with the Crimson Direwolf had drained him, and while his wounds were no longer life-threatening, they served as a sharp reminder.
He examined the Beast Core in his palm—a glowing crimson crystal no larger than an apple. Its energy pulsed faintly, warm to the touch, almost alive.
[Item: Beast Core – Crimson Direwolf]
• Effect: Can strengthen weapons, enhance skills, or be consumed for a stat boost.
Wolfgang turned it over in his hand, the possibilities spinning in his mind. "Consume it… or upgrade Shadowfang?" he muttered. Either choice would push him forward, but for now, he tucked the core into his inventory. He would decide later.
The forest was silent. Too silent.
He moved cautiously now, his instincts sharper than before. Monsters adapt here, the system had warned. That meant no enemy would fight the same way twice.
Suddenly, his ears picked up faint sounds—metal scraping, low murmurs. Wolfgang crouched low, creeping forward until the trees opened to reveal a clearing. At its center, he saw a group of men—seven in total—surrounding a beast pinned to the ground.
The creature was reptilian, its scales shimmering faintly like emeralds. It snarled and thrashed, blood leaking from a wound in its leg.
[Emerald Scale Basilisk]
Level: 14
Danger: High
The men weren't ordinary hunters. Their mismatched armor and crude weapons told him they were mercenaries—guild rejects who hunted beasts for coin. One of them, taller than the rest and sporting a jagged scar across his face, planted a boot on the basilisk's neck.
"We kill it now, carve the scales, and sell the core. The town will pay a fortune," the scarred man barked.
Wolfgang tilted his head, a cold smile tugging at his lips. A beast core, huh? Another opportunity.
Wolfgang considered his options. Seven men, one weakened beast. In his current state, it wasn't a fight he could win by brute force. But then again, Wolfgang had never been the type to play fair.
He activated Shadow Step, vanishing into the darkness and reappearing in the cover of a nearby tree. He scanned the mercenaries, noting their positions. They were sloppy, their focus entirely on the basilisk.
Idiots.
Wolfgang extended his hand toward the clearing, whispering under his breath. "Shadow Flare."
A pulse of shadow erupted from his fingers, exploding near the mercenaries. The sudden blast knocked three men off their feet, smoke obscuring their vision.
"What the hell?!" one of them shouted, coughing violently.
Before they could react, Wolfgang sprinted forward. His body moved faster now, his enhanced Agility and Strength making every step deliberate, every strike lethal.
He drove Shadowfang into the throat of the closest mercenary. The man gurgled as Wolfgang twisted the dagger and let him drop. Another turned, his eyes widening.
"Who—"
Wolfgang was already there. He activated Executioner's Strike, his blade humming with power as he slashed across the man's chest. Blood sprayed across the clearing.
"Spread out!" the scarred leader roared, finally realizing they were under attack. "It's just one man!"
Wolfgang grinned, his voice low. "You sure about that?"
The remaining mercenaries hesitated. Wolfgang vanished again, the shadows swallowing him. One by one, he struck—slashing tendons, stabbing hearts—leaving bodies crumpled across the clearing. It was surgical, efficient, brutal.
The scarred leader's breathing turned ragged as he looked around. Only he remained standing. He stumbled back, his eyes darting around wildly.
"Show yourself, you bastard!" he shouted.
Wolfgang stepped out of the shadows, blood dripping from Shadowfang. His face was calm, predatory.
"Congratulations," Wolfgang said softly. "You're the last one."
The man's eyes bulged. "Wait—WAIT! I'll split the bounty with you! The basilisk, its core—you can have it!"
Wolfgang tilted his head, considering it for half a heartbeat. Then he smiled.
"I'll take it anyway."
The scarred man screamed as Wolfgang's dagger pierced his chest, ending him instantly.
The Basilisk's Last Stand
The clearing fell silent except for the labored breaths of the wounded basilisk. Its emerald eyes fixed on Wolfgang as he approached slowly.
"You're still alive," Wolfgang muttered. "Impressive."
The basilisk hissed weakly, baring its teeth. It wasn't dead yet.
The system chimed in his mind.
[Optional Quest: Claim the Emerald Basilisk's Core]
• Objective: Kill the Emerald Scale Basilisk.
• Reward: Stat Boost + New Skill.
• Penalty: None.
Wolfgang narrowed his gaze. Killing a weakened creature wasn't honorable—but Wolfgang wasn't honorable. He was pragmatic.
The basilisk lunged, a final desperate attack. Wolfgang dodged cleanly, his enhanced speed making the movement effortless. He activated Shadow Infusion, his dagger cloaked in dark energy, and drove it into the basilisk's skull.
The creature shuddered, its body falling still.
[Emerald Scale Basilisk Defeated.]
[Level Up!]
[New Skill Acquired: Scale Armor]
A bright green crystal materialized where the basilisk had fallen. Wolfgang picked it up, the energy within humming faintly in his grip.
[Item: Beast Core – Emerald Basilisk]
• Effect: Grants temporary physical damage resistance when consumed or fused with equipment.
[New Skill: Scale Armor]
• Surround yourself with hardened scales for increased defense.
• Mana Cost: 30.
Wolfgang wiped the blood from his face and tucked the basilisk's core into his inventory. He pulled up his status window one more time, his eyes scanning the updates.
[Status Update]
Level: 14
Health: 160/160
Mana: 150/150
Strength: 24
Agility: 22
Intelligence: 24
Dexterity: 12
Endurance: 14
Free Stat Points: 4
New Skill Acquired: Scale Armor
"Two beast cores in one day," Wolfgang murmured, his voice edged with satisfaction. "Not bad."
He turned his gaze toward the Wildlands, where distant roars echoed through the trees. More challenges. More prey. More power.
He stepped over the mercenaries' corpses without a second thought, his next objective clear.
Survive. Grow. Conquer.
End of Chapter 9