The forest grew darker as the sun dipped below the horizon. Shadows stretched long across the ground, and the once gentle rustle of leaves became a chorus of sinister whispers.
Ethan adjusted the leather armor snug around his torso and tightened his grip on the rusty dagger. His chest still throbbed from adrenaline, but his eyes glimmered with something new—hunger.
Ding![Tutorial Quest: Slay 10 Wolves.][Progress: 1/10.]
The faint notification hovered in front of him like a promise.
"Ten wolves, huh?" Ethan muttered with a grin. "Let's see how many I can handle tonight."
The Pack Arrives
The first howl came from the east. Another answered in the west. Then dozens joined, their chilling cries echoing across the forest.
Ethan's smile widened. His heart pounded, not with fear—but with anticipation.
"Perfect. Come at me."
Yellow eyes appeared in the darkness, one pair after another. Gray bodies emerged, sleek muscles rippling beneath fur. A pack of seven wolves prowled into the clearing, their growls harmonizing into one deadly symphony.
Enemy Detected: Gray Wolf (Lv. 2–4).[Pack Instinct Active: Stats boosted by 20% when in a group.]
Ethan's breath hitched. "They've got a buff? Of course they do."
But then he raised his dagger, eyes blazing. "Doesn't matter. More EXP for me."
First Clash
The wolves lunged as one. Ethan sidestepped, stabbing his dagger into the throat of the lead wolf. Blood sprayed hot against his face. The beast collapsed, body dissolving into motes of light.
+40 EXP.[Level Up!]
The rush hit him like lightning. His arms grew steadier, his legs lighter.
The second wolf pounced from behind. Ethan ducked, rolling forward. He swung the dagger in a desperate arc, slicing open the wolf's belly. Its entrails spilled before vanishing in shimmering dust.
+45 EXP.
He laughed wildly. "Yes! More! Come on!"
The rest of the pack circled, hesitating now. But hunger and instinct soon overpowered fear, and they attacked in waves.
Battle Frenzy
Claws raked across Ethan's armor, the leather squealing but holding. He winced as another wolf's fangs grazed his arm. Pain flashed, but so did a new message:
Minor Regeneration Activated: +1 HP per minute.
Ethan roared, plunging his dagger deep into another wolf's chest. The rusty blade cracked, a hairline fracture running down its edge, but the wolf fell nonetheless.
+50 EXP.[Level Up!]
His status screen flashed repeatedly as wolves fell one after another.
Level: 5
HP: 160/160
MP: 80/80
Strength: 20
Agility: 22
Vitality: 19
Free Stat Points: 12
Ethan's grin was savage. "This power… it's insane!"
He jammed all free points into Strength and Agility. His body felt like it was bursting with raw energy.
The next wolf lunged—Ethan met it head-on, catching it mid-air and slamming it into the dirt. With a single brutal thrust, his dagger pierced its skull.
The Flood of EXP
The fight blurred into a frenzy of blood, claws, and flashing notifications.
Wolf down. +45 EXP.
Wolf down. +50 EXP.
Wolf down. +60 EXP.
Every kill made Ethan faster, stronger, sharper. His strikes grew cleaner, his dodges more precise.
The final wolf whimpered, trying to retreat into the trees. But Ethan's dagger whistled through the air, stabbing it between the shoulders before it could escape.
+55 EXP.[Level Up!]
Silence fell over the clearing. The grass was stained dark with blood, and the air reeked of iron. Ethan stood among the dissolving corpses, chest heaving, face splattered with gore.
Then he threw back his head and laughed.
"Ha… hahahaha! I did it! All of you—you're nothing but EXP to me!"
Beyond the Tutorial
Quest Complete: Slay 10 Wolves.[Reward: Random Skill Orb.]
A shimmering crystal sphere floated before Ethan. Inside, swirling blue energy pulsed like a heartbeat.
Skill Orb – Slash.[A basic attack skill. Infuses a strike with energy, increasing damage by 200%. Evolves with usage.]
Ethan's hand closed around it. The orb melted into his palm, sending a jolt of energy racing through his arm.
New Skill Acquired: Basic Slash.
He swung the dagger experimentally. A faint arc of light followed the blade, cutting into a nearby tree. The wood split with a sharp crack, leaving a clean scar in its trunk.
Ethan whistled. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
The Hidden Surprise
Just as he was about to collapse from exhaustion, another notification appeared.
Hidden Condition Triggered: Mass Slaughter (10+ kills in one night).[Reward: Unique Trait – Predator's Instinct.]
Ethan's vision sharpened. Every sound, every movement in the forest became painfully clear—the flapping of bat wings overhead, the crunch of a rabbit far away, the heartbeat of something massive deeper in the woods.
He stiffened.
From the darkness, a shadow loomed. Two crimson eyes glowed like burning coals.
Boss Monster Detected: Alpha Wolf – Level 10.
The creature stepped into the clearing, towering twice the size of the wolves Ethan had slain. Its fur bristled, muscles coiled like steel cables, fangs glinting with saliva.
Ethan's heart hammered, but his grin never faltered. He twirled the rusty dagger, blood still dripping from its edge.
"Perfect," he whispered. "Just the kind of opponent I need to test this infinite leveling."
The Alpha roared, and Ethan charged straight at it, laughter echoing into the night.