Kyle was still lying on the grass, trying to steady his ragged breathing, when suddenly the silence of the Whispering Woods grew heavier. The birds stopped chirping, and a strange rotten stench began spreading through the air.
Draken's voice echoed in his mind like a cold blade. "Get up, little one… the time for sweat is over. Now it's time for blood."
Kyle sprang to his feet. Because of his STR 5, he could feel new strength in his body, but his AGI (Agility) was still 0. Just then, two burning red eyes emerged from behind the bushes.
A Shadow Wolf.
It was twice the size of a normal wolf, and black smoke rose from its body, scorching the ground wherever it touched.
[System Alert: Emergency Mission Activated!]
[Objective: Kill the 'Shadow Wolf' and survive]
[Danger Level: High (For Level 0)]
The wolf leapt forward with a terrifying snarl. Kyle's reaction was slow. Its claws slashed across his chest, leaving deep wounds.
"Aahhh!" Kyle fell backward. Before his eyes, red letters flashed—HP: 75/100.
"Fool! Don't see with your eyes—feel its presence with your soul!" Draken shouted.
Kyle grabbed a sharp stone from the ground. As the wolf lunged again, aiming for his neck, Kyle poured all of his STR 5 into the stone and slammed it into the wolf's jaw.
A sickening crack echoed. The wolf writhed in pain, but it did not die. Instead, it became even more ferocious. A brutal struggle began between Kyle and the beast. Dust, sweat, and blood mixed together.
At last, Kyle used all his strength to choke the wolf until the red glow in its eyes finally faded.
[Mission Success! XP Gained: +20]
[Level Up: Level 0 -> Level 1]
[Stat Point Earned: +1]
Kyle sat beside the dead creature, gasping for air. His hands were covered in blood. For the first time, he had seen death so closely—felt it. He thought it was over, that he could return to the village and rest.
But then…
A roar echoed through the entire forest, so powerful that leaves fell from the trees. It was not the sound of an animal—it was the presence of something ancient and powerful.
In the distant darkness, between the trees, stood a massive shadow. Its figure resembled a human, but horns rose from its head, and in its hand it held a gigantic black dagger. Blue flames burned within its eyes.
Draken's voice, which had been mocking until now, suddenly turned serious—afraid.
"No… that's impossible. How can 'he' arrive here so soon? Kyle… run! Run now, or your soul's hunt will end here!"
Kyle could not even move. The shadow lifted a finger toward him and spoke in a deep, resonating voice.
"So… Draken has finally found a new vessel."
Kyle had not even celebrated his victory when the temperature of the Whispering Woods suddenly dropped. The corpse of the dead Shadow Wolf slowly turned into black smoke and dissolved into the air.
Kyle thought the danger had passed, but then Draken's voice echoed again, more serious than ever.
"Do not relax yet, Kyle… the hunt is not over. The one you killed was merely a pawn."
At that very moment, heavy footsteps sounded behind him. Kyle turned—and the ground seemed to slip beneath his feet. From the darkness of the bushes, not one but three more Shadow Wolves emerged. Their red eyes burned in the dark like bloody lanterns.
[Warning: Shadow Wolf Pack Attack!]
[Status: Dangerous]
Kyle's heart pounded wildly. He had just leveled up and received one Stat Point.
"Hurry! Use that point, or they will tear you apart!" Draken shouted.
With trembling hands, Kyle opened his system screen. He had only a second. "System! Put that point into AGI (Agility)!"
[Update: AGI: 0 -> 1]
The moment the point was added, Kyle felt his body become lighter. The first wolf leapt. This time, his reaction was not slow. He swiftly dodged to the side, and the wolf missed him.
The battle turned bloody. Kyle had no sword—only his hands and that stone. He remembered Draken's words: "Feel with your soul." Closing his eyes for a split second, he focused on the rustling of the bushes. As the second wolf attacked, Kyle struck its jaw with all his strength (STR 6).
Screams and the stench of blood filled the forest. After half an hour of brutal combat, all three wolves lay dead. Kyle himself was severely wounded. His HP had dropped to 40/100.
Kyle was breathing heavily. Blood trickled from his mouth. In his mind, he realized—strength alone was not enough. He needed to increase his wisdom and speed as well. He sat there for a while, trying to steady himself.
Suddenly, his Status Screen flashed. The Corruption Meter rose without warning from 0% to 1%.
Kyle stared in shock. "How did the Corruption Meter increase?"
Draken reminded him of the contract's rule. "Every time you use my power, a small part of your pure soul becomes impure. And you have used my power. That is why the Corruption Meter has increased."
Kyle returned to the village and headed toward his home. Suddenly, he heard a soft whisper. He stopped and followed the sound until he heard a small voice.
"Brother… is your name Kyle?"
Kyle looked at the little girl and smiled faintly. "Yes, my name is Kyle. What is it?"
The little girl pointed ahead. "That old man is calling you."
Kyle understood immediately. The old man was Baelin. Lost in thought, he began walking toward Baelin's hut. What could he want today? What did he mean yesterday? Did he already know what was going to happen inside the Ancient Ruins?
So lost in his thoughts, Kyle did not even realize when he arrived.
Baelin looked at him and said, "You're not too badly hurt, are you?"
Kyle was confused. Was he talking about the Whispering Woods? Or about the incident in the Ancient Ruins? Before Kyle could speak, Baelin continued.
"You know what tomorrow is, don't you? Are you ready for it?"
Kyle frowned. "Tomorrow? What day is tomorrow? Is something special happening?"
Baelin looked at him through his cloudy eyes and spoke slowly.
"Tomorrow is the 'The Soul Resonance Ceremony,' Kyle. The one day of the year when the elders and warriors of the village stand before the Soul-Stone. Tomorrow, your true Soul Level will be revealed before everyone."
Kyle's heart pounded. He remembered how, every year, everyone had to place their palm upon the massive black stone in the center of the village. The stone would glow according to the purity and strength of one's soul.
"But Baelin… I am 'Soulless,'" Kyle said nervously. "If I touch that stone and it shows no reaction, the villagers will banish me forever."
Baelin smiled mysteriously. "The question is not whether the stone will glow or not, Kyle. You must try."
Cliffhanger :–
Kyle walked back toward his hut, fear filling his mind. If tomorrow his Corruption—or Draken's presence—was revealed before everyone, he would not be declared a Protector… but a Monster.
Author Note :–
Friends, will Kyle's secret be exposed tomorrow? Will the massive Soul-Stone recognize Draken's dark power? Share your thoughts in the comments! The next chapter, "The Soul Resonance," is going to be explosive.