The moon was tinted red, casting an ominous glow across the snowy, ruined town.
Broken pillars and jagged stones jutted from the snow like shattered ribs, and the wind lashed against them, producing an eerie whistling sound.
Everything was quiet now that the blizzard had died down. A single snowflake drifted in the air, landing softly on Zach's shoulder.
Zach slouched behind a collapsed archway, his breath fogging with each exhale.
He was nervous—he couldn't deny it—but he knew he had to stay on guard.
Shadows writhed in the distance, moving like living entities at the corner of his eye. But whenever he glanced directly at them, they froze—stagnant, as though nothing had been there at all.
If only I had a way to track this monster… Zach scanned the ruins.
There was no sign of the wraith. No tracks. No hints of its movement.
That was the worst part—it left nothing behind.
He couldn't chase it. He just had to wait. If he stayed long enough, the monster would come to him.
Zach walked toward a nearby boulder.
He hadn't had a proper chance to test the limits of his ability.
Drawing in a deep breath, his body glowed with a cooling blue light.
BOOM!
His fist collided with the massive rock, shattering it into fragments.
Zach blinked in shock.
"What…?"
Previously, he hadn't been sure how much of a boost his Aura Empowerment gave him. But now…
He looked down at the rubble.
"D… did I really do that?" His eyes trailed to his palm.
In the moonlight, the lingering shadows seemed to sway.
Then, a warm trickle slid down his nose. Zach wiped his fingers across it, and saw red.
"Oh… that's right."
The skill made him bleed every time he used it. Just that single punch had caused a nosebleed.
And if he had to go all out… Zach could only imagine the consequences.
At that moment, his head snapped toward the sound of shifting rocks in the distance.
At the far end of the ruined town stood a house—or what was left of one.
Cracks veined across its bricked exterior, snow patched its broken edges, and toppled pillars lay scattered before the entrance. The roof sagged, half-collapsed.
Zach frowned. He hadn't seen this house earlier. Had his mind skipped over it?
Probably not.
In the dark interior, a shadow stirred. It shifted like steam, coiling into grotesque shapes.
It writhed, condensed—becoming something solid.
Zach's teeth clenched as he fixed his gaze on the phenomenon.
"Here it comes."
The shadow grew, towering nearly twice Zach's height.
White eyes glowed with bloodlust, locking onto him as a chilling crackle—like gravel scraping against metal—escaped its jagged maw.
The monstrous figure stepped forward, barely a few meters away.
"That… thing…" Zach muttered through gritted teeth.
"…is damn huge."
The wraith finally solidified. Its tall, lean body, coupled with sickle-like claws and elongated arms, pulsed with a dark mist that dissipated into the night.
Its hind legs bent unnaturally, resting on a broken pillar, claws like rigid obsidian.
Its form twisted as it glared at Zach.
---
[Monster Information Found]
"It's about time."
[Monster: Shadow Wraith]
[HP: 1000/1000]
[Rank: Fiend]
[Weakness: Gemstone in its head]
[Strength: Long-range shadow attacks]
[Attack Potency: Very Deadly]
[Poison Type: None]
[Existence Stone Drop: 1]
[Blood Essence Drop: 100]
The system didn't mention much about its physical abilities. But based on its listed strengths—long-range attacks and shadow control—it was likely the wraith wouldn't approach him directly.
Which was bad. Zach specialized in close combat.
But… maybe there was still a chance.
He scanned the monster again. Its entire design screamed close-quarters combat.
He wasn't sure what to expect.
Zach tensed his body, slipping into a stance.
The wraith's dark face twisted into a smirk.
It stretched out its long arms.
Immediately, Zach activated his aura.
If he empowered his entire body, he'd bleed faster and drain more energy. But if he focused on a single body part, he'd gain precision and bleed less.
Easier said than done.
Concentrating everything into one limb required extreme training—and he didn't have that yet.
The wraith conjured a spear of pulsating darkness in its palm.
A surge of magic burst, and Zach's senses screamed.
A black sphere of energy zipped across the ruins, melting snow in its wake.
It was fast.
Too fast.
Zach's body reacted, rolling just in time as the rock behind him exploded into rubble.
"Ah, shoot…" He hissed, aura flaring across his body.
Dangerous. But necessary.
He charged forward, funneling energy into his eyes.
His perception sharpened. The world slowed.
The wraith crouched low, its hind legs exploding with motion as it lunged to meet him.
"I knew it," Zach growled. It wasn't just long-range—it could fight up close too.
Versatile monsters like this were a nightmare. Deadly at every distance.
Zach screeched as he dodged an upward slash, its sickle claws grazing his chin.
He countered with a sweeping kick, targeting its ribs—
But his foot passed straight through.
The creature's body dissolved into smoke, reforming behind him.
Zach's eyes widened.
"Oh no." He braced for impact.
BOOM!
[80/100 HP]
His body jolted violently, lifted off the ground.
"AAARRGHH!"
He crashed through a ruined doorway, slamming into a brick wall.
Blood dripped down his chest, slashed open by its claws. Thankfully, he'd hardened his body enough to prevent organ rupture.
He spat blood, wincing.
"Argh… this is not my day."
Struggling to his feet, he glared at the monster advancing.
I'm not fast enough…
If he tried to hit it, it would just turn into smoke.
He had to think. Fast.
The wraith charged.
"Here it comes." Zach's muscles tensed.
It crashed into him, blasting through the wall and back into the snowy streets.
Zach shoved at its head, but it dodged and slashed at his face.
He stumbled back.
It didn't let up. Its claws lashed out in rapid succession.
Zach gritted his teeth, dodging desperately—barely avoiding lethal blows as some grazed his skin.
Channeling aura into his eyes, he slipped past its strikes and countered with a punch to its head.
The beast recoiled, leaping back several meters. It raised a clawed finger.
"Not again!!"
A dark purple projectile screamed through the air like a bullet.
Zach twisted—barely avoiding it by a hair's breadth.
I need a plan.