Pulkit stared at the demonic dog he had summoned, its muscular, dark form gleaming faintly in the dim light. Its red eyes glowed like embers, and its deadly claws scraped against the floor. Awe and terror battled within him. What if it attacks me? he thought, clutching the knife in his trembling hands.
Mustering all his courage, Pulkit slowly extended his hand toward the creature. The demonic dog sniffed it cautiously, then licked his palm. Pulkit froze, startled. The warm, almost affectionate gesture filled him with relief and unexpected joy. "I guess you're on my side," he muttered, a small smile breaking through his tense expression.
Just as Pulkit was beginning to relax, a sudden notification appeared before him:
[World Announcement]Congratulations to the survivors of Earth. The second trial will now begin.
Pulkit tensed as the system continued:
[Second Trial: Hunt 100 Monsters]
You have one month to kill 100 monsters. Failure to complete this task will result in death. Those who succeed will move to the Tower, where you will participate in the Tower's trials. Pass, and you will ascend to greater heights.
Pulkit's heart raced. The stakes had escalated beyond anything he could have imagined. "A hundred monsters in a month? That's insane," he murmured. But he knew there was no turning back. This is the perfect time to level up, he resolved.
Pulkit checked his status panel, and a new notification greeted him:
[First Kill Bonus: 10 Achievement Points]
He quickly navigated to his attributes and skill menu. His gaze landed on the description of Summoner of the Dead, which had updated:
Summoner of the Dead
Effect: Allows you to summon only those monsters you have killed. Current summon limit: 2. Skill proficiency: 51.03%. Summoning an F-rank monster costs 10 mana.
Pulkit noted his mana, which was capped at 10, and frowned. I need more mana if I want to summon stronger monsters or multiple summons, he thought. He then glanced at his summoned demonic dog's status:
Name: None
Level: 3
Race: Demonic Dog
Skills: None
Evolution: Possible at Level 10
A small smile crept across Pulkit's face. "You're strong," he said, looking at the creature. "But you need a name." After a moment of thought, he declared, "I'll call you Saber."
Saber tilted its head, as though acknowledging the name. Pulkit felt a pang of hunger, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in over a day. He opened the system shop and browsed the resources section. Using the 10 Achievement Points he had earned, he bought some bread and water. Devouring the food like a starving animal, he glanced at Saber. The dog had left the room, sniffing at the bloodstains on the floor.
Pulkit followed Saber and watched as the creature began to eat the leftover meat from the demonic dog he had killed earlier. To Pulkit's astonishment, Saber began to glow faintly. When the light faded, Saber's level had increased to 4.
So they can level up by eating the raw meat of other monsters, Pulkit realized. His mind raced with possibilities, but his thoughts were interrupted when Saber tensed, ears pricking up. The dog growled softly, sensing something outside.
Pulkit peered through a crack in the broken wall. A group of demonic dogs prowled nearby, their dark bodies blending into the shadows. His gaze shifted to a gas cylinder lying near the wall. An idea formed in his mind. I can use that to take them all out at once.
Carefully, Pulkit cut the gas pipe, letting the gas leak into the area. He whispered to Saber, "Go. Lure them here." Saber barked in acknowledgment and charged toward the pack of demonic dogs, snapping at them before retreating. The beasts gave chase, following Saber straight into the gas-filled zone.
Pulkit lit a match and tossed it into the room before diving into the storage box with Saber. An instant later, a deafening explosion rocked the house, shaking the walls and sending flames roaring through the air. The notification screen lit up:
[Level Up: 3]
You have killed 7 demonic dogs.
Rewards: 10 Stat Points, 70 Achievement Points.
Pulkit emerged from the storage box, coughing from the smoke. Saber followed, now glowing faintly as it leveled up to 6. Pulkit smiled at his companion. "Good job, Saber."
Without wasting time, Pulkit activated his skill and summoned another demonic dog. The system responded:
[Skill Activated: Summoner of the Dead]
Demonic Dog (F-rank) successfully registered.
Skill Proficiency: 77.03%.
Pulkit watched as the second demonic dog materialized beside Saber. He felt a surge of pride and relief. For the first time, he thought, Maybe I can do this.
But his relief was short-lived. A shadow fell over him, and he turned to see a massive white snake coiled in the rubble, its glowing yellow eyes fixed on him. Pulkit's breath caught in his throat. The creature exuded an overwhelming aura of menace, its scales gleaming like polished ivory.
Paralyzed with fear, Pulkit couldn't move as the snake lunged at him. Saber leaped into action, pushing Pulkit aside just in time. The snake's massive body crashed into the house, reducing it to rubble. Pulkit and Saber were buried under the debris but miraculously survived.
As the snake prepared to strike again, a deafening roar echoed through the air. The snake froze, its head snapping toward the source of the sound. Then, with startling speed, it slithered away, disappearing into the distance.
Pulkit lay in the wreckage, trembling. His mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear: the trials were only going to get harder.
Just then, a notification popped up in front of his eyes:
[Notification]
Congratulations! You have survived the disaster.
You are the first one to face off against an S-rank monster in this world and live.
Reward: A-rank Title — The Survivor.
Pulkit stared at the words, his breaths coming in heavy gasps. "The Survivor," he whispered, a bitter smile forming on his lips. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on him, and his body finally gave in. Darkness claimed him as he fainted in the rubble.