Before taking the quest, Nathan and Dante had decided to familiarize themselves with their enhanced attributes. They spent the first three days working out and sparring in the dojos and training centers around town.
The training had helped them adjust to their newfound strength and the basic movements of combat, but what Nathan had done to the beast wasn't a battle—it was more of a frantic, animalistic struggle than a calculated fight.
The knife had been swung recklessly, his enhanced strength to the next parameter pushing him to act without thinking. He was driven by pure instinct, each strike more desperate than the last.
As the adrenaline faded, Nathan's body felt the weight of his actions. His hands trembled, and he realized just how exhausted he was. The knife slipped from his grip and fell down with a dull thud.
The large wolf, having suffered from excessive blood loss, finally gave in. Its massive body, standing at 210 cm tall, collapsed under Nathan's weight. He clung to it for a moment, but as the beast fell, he quickly jumped off to avoid being crushed.
The ground beneath him shifted as he rolled away, struggling to regain his footing. His chest heaved with each breath, and his mind raced, knowing that the pack was closing in.
As he tried to get up and face the incoming wolves, a small ball suddenly flew from above, landing between him and the approaching pack.
Booom
A shockwave echoed through the air, thick smoke quickly eroding the surroundings. Nathan's eyes narrowed as the realization hit him. He knew exactly who had thrown it.
"Dante," he mumbled under his breath, ducking into the cover of the smoke, moving quickly to avoid detection. His body, still sore from the battle, crouched low, trying to stay hidden.
Nathan's mind raced as he moved through the thickening haze, trying to locate Dante. He couldn't afford to be seen by the wolves. Every step sent pain shooting through his body, his muscles aching with exhaustion, but he knew he had no time to waste. The potion's effects wouldn't last forever.
"Nathan! coughh... here."
The voice came through the smoke, strained but clear. Nathan followed the sound, his eyes scanning the area. There, leaning against a tree, was Dante. He looked slightly better than before, thanks to the healing potion, but still far from recovered.
Dante hadn't wasted time. Despite being in a weakened state, he had made sure to prepare. He had ordered supplies from the Tower Shop, using the opportunity wisely.
While Nathan had been fighting the large wolf, Dante had consumed the
Dante had these healing potions for backup, knowing the situation might worsen, but he hadn't expected it to become this dire.
He handed Nathan another potion as he slowly opened his mouth to speak.
"Drink this," Dante said, urgency in his tone. "It's a rejuvenation potion. It'll relieve your fatigue and recover your stamina. But its after-effect will slow chakra recovery for a few minutes. You must finish them off before that happens."
Nathan didn't hesitate. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, he quickly drank the potion. A wave of warmth spread through his body, soothing his muscles as the fatigue that had gripped him began to lift. The effect wasn't immediate, but with each passing second, he could feel his strength slowly returning.
Nathan clenched his fists, the stiffness in his limbs gradually easing. He could feel the tension release, his focus sharpening. He turned to Dante, his voice steady as he asked, "Have you seen my spear?"
Nathan knew Dante still needed to rest, even though his wound had closed. It was up to him now to face the group of dire wolves. He had to act quickly, taking them out within the next three minutes before the after-effects of the strength potion took hold.
Dante pointed behind his left, and Nathan crouched, moving toward the indicated area. His hands slipped through the thick bushes, eyes scanning the smoke-filled surroundings.
After a few moments of searching, his fingers brushed against the familiar shape of his red spear. With a quick motion, he pulled it from the underbrush.
He stood up while holding the spear, a determinted expression appeared on his face. But, Nathan knew that to finish it off quickly, he needed more than just a weapon. He called for his status screen deciding it was time to use the Attribute Points he has.
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-{ STATUS }-
Name: Nathaniel Owen (Human)
Title: NONE
Rank: Unranked
[Blessings]:
{Sacred Flame (Locked)}
{Avarice of Greed (1st Star) (2%)}
[Bank]: 6 G
Attributes: (AP: 2)
-> STR: F -> F+ (temporary)
-> END: F-
->SPD: F
-> INT: E-
-> CHAKRA: 1st Stage
-> NP: (1st Axis)
-> LUCK: E-
[Traits]:
->Innate:
->Acquired: NONE
[Bond]: NONE
[Armaments]:
-> Arachic Spear (copper)
-> Butcherer's Knife (copper) | { Repair / Sell }
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He had hoped to save the Attribute Points (AP) for the future as adviced by Dante, but if he didn't invest them now, there won't be a future. So he pressed on the END paramater,
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END: (F-) -> F
Cost: 2 AP
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Nathan clicked on the screen tab to upgrade his endurance, feeling the weight of his decision. A mix of anticipation and uncertainty buzzed in his mind.
The change came slowly at first, like a wave creeping over him. Then, it surged through his body, spreading warmth from his core outward.
His muscles twitched as the change took hold. It was subtle at first, but soon his whole body felt a little different. His bones, once brittle from exhaustion, now felt firmer, sturdier.
It was like gears clicking into place. He could almost feel the faint hum of energy running through his veins. His blood flowed with more vitality, each beat carrying a steadier rhythm.
His height shifted slightly, just enough for him to feel a bit more balanced, a bit more grounded, as though the earth itself had become firmer beneath his feet.
His eyes, once clouded with fatigue, cleared. The redness that had lingered in his irises faded, leaving behind a sharper focus.
The effects of the rejuvenation potion seemed to blend with the upgrade. His defenses strengthened, and his natural recovery improved, as if his body had become more resilient, more capable of enduring.
Gripping his red spear with both hands, Nathan felt more prepared, the weight of the world on his shoulders feeling a little lighter.
A wild grin spread across his face, despite the fact that he was about to face a large pack of dire wolves—who were capable of taking down even an
He wasn't scared in the least, though even he couldn't explain why. What he did know was that, with his defensive and offensive stats now balanced, he no longer had to worry about straining his body.
He started stepping forward amidst the fading smoke, and the first three wolves appeared in his vision. But he stayed calm, bringing his spear to the front as he took a steady stance, ready to move in the next instant.
Two wolves leaped simultaneously from the left and right. Nathan in response tilted his spear horizontally as he swept it back and forth.
*Thud*
*Slit*
The butt of the spear hitting at the jaw of the wolf on the right and the hilt pierced the left one's eye.
Nathan held the spear high, which was still lounged inside the socket of one of the wolves. As the third one neared him, he slammed down the eyeless wolf's body like a hammer, the clash between the wolves breaking their bones as a small crater formed on the ground.
He didn't stop the momentum as he thrust his spear once more into the leaning wolves, penetrating both their bodies due to the herculean force, but he had forgotten about the other wolf, who jumped and bit on him from the back. The wolf's teeth sank into his flesh with a sickening crack, the sound reverberating near his ears.
Nathan reacted instantly. He gripped the wolf by its nape and threw it forward, sending it tumbling to the ground. Blood oozed from the wound, but Nathan pushed through the pain. With a swift motion, he plunged his spear into the wolf's skull, pulling it out just as quickly. Spinning, he faced the next wolf coming from behind.
This time he was more alert and sensed its footstep before it leaped, or so it seemed. But he had sensed something else as well- killing intent, or some would call it bloodlust. Nathan had been engaging in a fight with these beasts since morning and it took him only a day to unlock this sense thanks to
The ability to grasp and unlock such a sense in such a short is nothing short of genius as even Dante had yet to unlock it. Nathan did it purely thanks to his [trait] and the repeated fights he had in a single day.
With his heightened senses, he was able to dodge and counter more easily as more wolves continued to surround him.
The situation would have scared anyone, but Nathan was different at the moment. He had entered a flow of battle sense. This is quite different from his earlier battle with the alpha wolf which was more bestial, solely based on brute power in a reckless rampage.
In this exchange, he used his mind and body together to look for patterns in their attacks. When to counter and when to take a step back. He was learning as he battled, the effect of
His mind was only focused on finishing his enemy as quickly as possible. There were more wolves that continued approaching from the smoke. But he too didn't stay in one place. Nathan didn't attack actively and only killed them off with his counters as every time he tried to attack, more wolves would jump on him to catch him off guard.
In just a couple of minutes, the place was littered with blood, the remaining lingering smoke had already washed off. Only now did Nathan come to realize how severely he had underestimated their numbers.
He had thought they would be around 10 to 15, but he had already killed more than 20. He breathed heavily as he viewed the surroundings, There were only 4 remaining as they glared at him with contempt and fear. Knowing it was futile to attack now, they decided to leave while scoffing.
"Who said you could leave?" Nathan's voice was laced with anger, his tone cold and unwavering.
This time, his movement speed was faster as he dashed forward, jumping in powerful, low arcs, covering great distances with each stride, capitalizing on his high strength and endurance rather than his low agility.
The dire wolves, aware of the incoming danger and driven by desperation, ran with all their might in a single direction, attempting to save their lives.
Nathan threw his red spear with controlled power, sending it cutting through the air with deadly precision.
The spear punched a hole through the last wolf, its body crumpling as the weapon continued forward, penetrating the one ahead of it. The two wolves fell in unison, the force of the strike leaving no room for survival.