The failed werewolf roared—louder, fiercer, more terrifying than ever—and charged straight at Han.
'Fuck!' Han cursed inwardly. The beast was even faster now. If he'd held onto any shred of hope before, it was gone.
"Sir!" Raphtalia cried out.
But no hope didn't mean surrender.
Han gritted his teeth, raised his blades, and threw his body sideways at the last second—just narrowly dodging the creature's devastating charge.
[Skill Awakening!]
[The hero, Han (★), has awakened the skill: Battle Instinct!]
"Battle Instinct?" Han's eyes widened. "That's exactly what I needed."
[Battle Instinct]
[A latent survival response awakened at the edge of death. This skill channels the user's subconscious awareness into rapid reactions, enabling movement and evasion beyond conscious thought. It is not trained—it is felt.]
[Effects:
• Danger Sense: Grants a passive, intuitive sense for imminent danger.
• Reflexive Evasion: Slightly increases reaction speed and dodge success under pressure.
• Pattern Recognition: Subconscious learning of enemy habits improves defense over time.
• Combat Flow: Movements become more fluid, conserving stamina in prolonged combat.]
Han's body reacted before his mind did. He slipped into motion, ducking, weaving, striking. His dual blades slashed at the beast, faster now, each movement flowing into the next with startling precision.
[Han (★)'s Dual Wielding has raised to Level 5!]
[Han (★)'s Poison Resistance has raised to Level 6!]
Pain racked his body. Every limb screamed in protest. Each swing of his swords felt like his muscles were being ripped apart—but he kept going.
He was still only landing shallow cuts, but now he could actually keep up. Barely. But barely was enough.
The failed werewolf howled, its berserk rage intensifying.
And Han answered in kind.
"Raaahhhh!" he shouted, driving forward, steel clashing with claw.
They clashed again.
ROAR!!!
"AHHHHHH!" Han roared back, throwing everything he had into one final charge.
[Han (★)'s Indomitable Soul has raised to Level 4!]
[Han (★)'s Dual Wielding has raised to Level 6!]
[Han (★)'s Pain Tolerance has evolved into Battle Speed!]
[Han (★)'s Basic Swordsmanship has evolved into Intermediate Swordsmanship!]
His blades flashed—
—and the failed werewolf's arm flew from its body, thudding to the ground.
The beast stumbled.
Han collapsed to his knees, gasping, drenched in sweat and blood.
"Sir!" Raphtalia screamed, dashing to his side and wrapping her arms around him.
"Raphtalia..." Han whispered, wanting to ruffle her hair—but stopped when he saw the blood coating his hand.
Suddenly, the failed werewolf's body trembled.
SPLURCH!
A torrent of thick, black blood burst out, spraying across the ground like a popped balloon. The stench was overwhelming—rotten, degraded, unbreathable.
"What?" Han's eyes widened. "Is it still alive?"
The black blood poured endlessly, flooding the area like a rising tide. And as it gushed out, the failed werewolf's monstrous body began to shrink—shrinking and shifting until its grotesque bulk was gone.
What remained was… a wolf demihuman.
The beast had become a man. A worn, withered figure with ashen furred ears, a long, white tail, and pale skin stretched thin over fragile bones. His features were human… but barely.
"Uncle!" Raphtalia cried out the moment she saw him. Tears welled in her eyes again as she ran toward him.
"Raphtalia, no! Don't go—it might still be dangerous!" Han called out, staggering up in alarm.
But she didn't listen.
She rushed forward and fell to her knees beside the frail figure. Her breath caught the moment she saw him up close. There was almost nothing left—he was little more than a skeleton, his flesh eaten away by whatever unholy curse had twisted him into a monster.
His ears, his tail, even his hair had turned a stark white. His skin looked like that of a man two centuries old.
"Uncle…" she whispered, placing trembling hands on his sunken chest. "Please wake up…"
The man stirred.
His eyes opened, just barely.
"Uncle!" Raphtalia shouted, holding his cold hand tightly in both of hers.
"…Raphtalia…" With immense effort, he lifted one hand and gently caressed her cheek.
"Don't talk!" she pleaded, her voice breaking. "I-I'll save you, I promise!"
Then she turned her tear-streaked face to Han.
"Sir! C-Can you help me?!"
Han smiled softly, despite the pain wracking his body.
He forced himself to rise and stumbled toward them.
But the dying man lifted a hand to stop him.
"Stop, young man…" he rasped. "You must… be tired. I'm sorry… for almost killing you…"
"Uncle!" Raphtalia cried. "Don't talk—please!"
But Zync continued, pushing the words out with the last of his strength. "Please… take care of her… take care of Raphtalia…"
"Uncle! No!" she sobbed, clutching his hand tightly. "Don't talk like this! Me and the sir—we'll help you! You'll live!"
Han arrived at her side, kneeling slowly. One look told him everything.
The body was failing. It was a miracle the man was even conscious.
"…Raphtalia," he said quietly.
She turned to him—and saw the truth in his eyes.
There was nothing they could do.
She broke down completely, crying harder than she ever had before.
Zync, breathing shallowly, rested his hand on her head.
"…Do you want to know…" he whispered, "…why the humans… exterminated our tribe?"
Han and Raphtalia froze.
"They… wanted our greatest power… they wanted… you…"
"M-Me?" Raphtalia's voice trembled in disbelief.
"Yes…" Zync replied. "…because you are…"
His hand began to glow—a soft, white light radiating from his palm as he placed it on her head.
[Raphtalia (☆☆) is awakening her true power…]
"…because you are… the Moon God's incarnation…"
"W-What?!" Han recoiled, stunned. "What's happening?!"
The white light engulfed Raphtalia completely. Her feet left the ground as her body began to levitate, bathed in divine brilliance.
"Raphtalia…" Zync's voice faded. "…please… survive this cruel world…"
And then he stopped breathing.
"Sir!" Han bent down quickly, checking Zync's wrist.
No pulse.
He was gone now.
But Raphtalia still floated in the air, her body surrounded by radiant energy.
Then—her form began to change. Not shift like a transformation… but grow.
[Raphtalia's rank has evolved to 4 stars.]
[Her stats have been enhanced.]
[Skill Awakening!]
[The hero, Raphtalia (☆☆☆☆), has gained the skill: Moonveil Arts!]
The light faded.
And standing there now was not the young girl they'd known—but a mature, radiant warrior. Raphtalia's appearance had evolved—her body taller, her features sharper and more defined, her beauty luminous. Her hair was longer, flowing like moonlight. Though her clothes had grown too short for her new form, they still managed to preserve her dignity—barely.
She stepped gently onto the ground.
Silent.
Then she knelt and picked up her uncle's lifeless body… and hugged his head close to her chest.
A soft chime rang out.
[Stage Clear!]
[Han (★), Chloe (☆), Dolf (☆), Raphtalia (☆☆☆☆) leveled up!]
[MVP – Han (★)]
[Reward: 15,000 G, Iron Ore (B) ×3, Fur (B) ×34]
[Special Reward: Duskfang's Canine (A) ×1]
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Am I cooking or not? I thought of putting a little bit of my own lore into it, liked it?