Adam carefully stepped out from the thick bushes his boots sinking slightly into the soft wet dirt near the riverbank.
The faint tracks he and the wolves had made were already starting to disappear blurred by the damp ground and the thin mist rising from the river. The air still felt heavy smelling of damp plants mud and the faint sharp tang of blood from the recent battle.
Spread out before him was the clear proof of the tough fight he had just won the bodies of the eight Fang Wolves sprawled in awkward positions near the gently flowing river.
Their gray fur was now dull and lifeless. A creepy silence settled over the area as he stood over them looking down at what he had done. His heart beat with the calm satisfaction of a perfectly executed plan.
Suddenly the bodies of the dead wolves began to glow faintly. The soft light grew stronger becoming a noticeable bluish glow that surrounded each dead wolf. In just a few moments the light pulsed and became super bright.
The solid shapes of the wolves started to dissolve breaking apart like smoke. Their physical bodies melted away into the bright blue energy.
Where eight wolf bodies had been just seconds before there was now nothing but shimmering light that quickly faded leaving behind small neat piles of loot glowing softly on the ground. The forest which had been filled with growls and yelps was now spookily quiet again. A message window popped up cleanly before Adam's eyes.
Congratulations Player AlphaBoss!
You have successfully defeated 5 [Level 5 Adult Fang Wolves].
Reward 2,500 XP.
Adam barely glanced at the experience points. Getting XP was not his main goal right now. He dismissed the message with a quick wave of his hand.
His attention immediately went back to the scattered piles of loot glowing on the damp ground. That was the real prize. With smooth practiced movements he retrieved the daggers he had thrown.
He found them quickly two in the heads of the pups near the water and two more deep in the fallen adult wolves. He wiped each steel blade clean on a patch of moss then carefully slid them back into their sheaths on his belt. Wasting supplies was not part of his careful plan.
Once his weapons were secured he turned to the glowing piles of loot. As he approached the first pile it popped open automatically with a soft click.
The items inside shimmered then flew directly into his personal game inventory. The light from the pile faded. He moved quickly to the next pile and the next the same thing happening each time.
His future knowledge told him this auto-loot skill was basic but doing it so quickly on the first day saved important seconds. Once the last pile had vanished he opened his inventory window.
Items Acquired
Raw Fang Wolf Meat 125 kg
Fang Wolf Fangs 12
Copper Coins 145
Adam read through the list his eyes pausing on the numbers. He nodded slowly satisfied. A tiny smile touched his lips for a second before disappearing. "Not bad," he mumbled quietly.
"A good amount from one pack." The loot did not completely finish the big mission Mister Being had given him but it was a lot of progress in a short time. He was on the right track.
His eyes swept over the riverbank again. There were no signs left of the messy fight. A quick feeling of accomplishment washed over him but he did not let himself enjoy it for long.
There was no time to pat himself on the back. The game world was always changing other players were getting stronger and his own journey was nowhere near finished.
Just as he turned to walk deeper into the forest a low deep growl suddenly broke the stillness. It was not like the sounds the other wolves had made.
This sound was deeper rougher filled with a raw power that seemed to make the air vibrate. It was a big predator and it was close. The unexpected noise sent an instant shot of adrenaline through his body.
His carefully controlled calmness disappeared replaced by sharp alertness. His instincts sharpened by years of virtual battles kicked in immediately. He froze straining his ears to pinpoint the sound's origin. The forest which had felt calm just moments before now seemed full of hidden dangers.
The growl came again a bit louder this time from behind him back towards the riverbank.
He quickly scanned the area for a safe place to watch from. Running blindly was not his style. He needed to know what he was dealing with. He spotted a tall oak tree nearby with thick branches offering good cover and a clear view.
In one smooth quick motion he climbed up and settled himself on a thick branch about ten feet off the ground hidden by the leaves. From his new perch he had a much clearer view of the area below.
The deep growl echoed again much closer now. Peering carefully through the leaves he found the source of the sound. Stumbling weakly near the riverbank were three badly injured Fang Wolves.
Their gray fur was messy and caked with dark dried blood. They breathed in ragged gasps looking exhausted and beaten.
At first Adam thought they might be survivors from the pack he had just killed but as he watched them a huge shadow separated itself from the deeper darkness of the forest behind them. A massive shape emerged slowly between two ancient trees.
The creature's presence was intense sending a new wave of alarm through Adam. This beast was totally different from any normal Fang Wolf. It was gigantic easily twice as big as the adult wolves he had just fought. Its fur was a deep pure black that seemed to suck in the light.
Its eyes were not the normal dark color of wolves. They glowed with a scary fiery red light. Its jagged fangs were super long and sharp. A strange faint mist hung in the air around its huge body making it look even more terrifying. This was no regular monster.
Adam's breath caught in his throat as his game system reacted. A sharp urgent message flashed before him outlined in bright red.
Warning Boss Monster Detected!
[Fang Wolf Alpha]
Level 10
Threat Assessment Extreme Danger.
Recommendation Player Level 1 should avoid fighting at all costs. Leave the area immediately.
His hand tightened its grip on the thick branch under him. A Level 10 Boss Monster. The system's message was clear.
This was a fight he was definitely not ready for. Fighting this creature would be instant death. His heart started beating faster a basic fear kicking in. But he forced himself to stay absolutely still fighting the urge to run. Panicking would get him killed.
He crouched even lower on the branch trying to make himself as small and hidden as possible. The intense pressure coming from the Fang Wolf Alpha below was overwhelming.
He watched the three injured wolves cowering before the giant Alpha whining softly with their tails tucked between their legs. They were survivors looking for protection from their leader.
The Fang Wolf Alpha let out another low rumbling growl. Its burning red eyes swept slowly across the clearing stopping for a second on the spots where the other wolves had died. Adam could feel the power coming off the creature. This was a true force of nature smart and powerful.
The huge creature paused tilting its head slightly. Its red eyes scanned the trees stopping for a heartbeat on the area where Adam was hiding. It was like it could sense him. Adam's heart jumped into his throat. Did it see me? Did it smell me? His instincts screamed at him louder than ever Run! The system warning flashed in his mind again Leave immediately.
But cutting through the rising panic another part of his mind spoke up the cold logical part that always weighed risks against rewards.
This situation was extremely dangerous but it was also a rare opportunity. Boss monsters often guarded valuable treasure or dropped unique items. The Alpha was incredibly strong but it was also distracted.
The situation was messy. Adam's mind worked fast thinking about the deadly risks versus the amazing possible rewards.
"If I leave now I lose this chance," Adam thought forcing his breathing to stay even. "The Alpha might leave or other players might find it later. This moment while it's distracted might be my only shot." He paused considering the alternative. "But attacking it now straight on would be totally suicidal."
The Alpha's gaze finally moved away from his direction. It looked back at the injured wolves and let out a soft snarl at one that whimpered too loud.
Adam crouched even lower on the branch pressing himself flat against the wood. The next move he made would be incredibly important. Every natural instinct screamed at him to run.
But the calculating gamer inside him saw a possible opening a huge risk for a potentially huge reward. He could run now and live to fight another day. He could stay watch wait and try to somehow use this dangerous situation to his advantage.