The silence that followed the battle felt almost unnatural. The dense forest, once filled with the growls and cries of the pack, was now eerily still. Riku stood among the fallen wolves, his chest rising and falling with each breath, the scent of blood heavy in the air. His body ached from the fight, but there was a rush of satisfaction in the aftermath. These wolves weren’t just beasts; they were fierce opponents, each one a higher level than the last.

His katana gleamed, slick with crimson, a stark contrast against the muted tones of the forest. He wiped the blade clean on the fur of the nearest wolf, taking a moment to survey the scene. The wolves lay in scattered heaps, their once-gleaming eyes now lifeless. The biggest of the pack, the alpha, had been his final challenge, and Riku knew that battle would haunt him for days to come. Its intensity had pushed him to the brink of exhaustion, testing his endurance and his resolve.

He knelt beside the largest wolf, inspecting its wounds. It had been a difficult fight, with the alpha displaying an intelligence that set it apart from the others. Each time Riku thought he had the upper hand, the wolf adapted, dodging and countering with unnatural precision. He had barely managed to land the final strike, catching the alpha off guard when it underestimated his speed.

The rest of the pack, all around Level 10, had only made the battle more challenging. They had attacked in perfect synchrony, a deadly dance that forced Riku to keep moving, to keep fighting. There had been no time to hesitate. He had to be quick, decisive, and precise with every strike.

He glanced at the others, remembering how he had dispatched each one in turn. The smaller wolves had been fast, their movements blurring as they darted between trees and rocks, but they lacked the coordination of the alpha. Still, they had nearly overwhelmed him in numbers, forcing him into a fight he hadn't planned on.

Riku let out a breath and stood, stretching his arms. His muscles ached, a familiar burn of fatigue settling in his limbs, but he didn’t mind it. This pain was a reminder that he was alive, that he was growing stronger with every fight. He wasn’t the same person who had first arrived in this world. He could feel the changes in his body, in his mind.

The forest around him was still, the only sounds now the whisper of the wind through the leaves and the occasional rustle of small creatures in the underbrush. The air was thick with the scent of blood and earth, a heady combination that stirred something primal within him. He couldn’t afford to linger, not here. He knew that the wolves had been part of something bigger, a warning, perhaps. The deeper he went into the forest, the more dangerous it would become.

Riku wiped the blood from his katana, watching the crimson droplets fall onto the moss-covered ground. The battle had been intense, but in the end, his katana had sung through the air with precision, striking down each foe one by one. Each swing, each movement had been a carefully calculated step in the deadly dance of combat. He had lost track of time, but the adrenaline had carried him through.

As he sheathed the katana, his HUD flashed to life, the familiar hum of progress filling his mind.

+150 XP (Level 10 Wolf)

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+180 XP (Level 12 Alpha)

+100 XP (Level 10 Wolf)

+120 XP (Level 11 Wolf)

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!

The sound echoed in his mind, like a melody that signaled victory. It was the sound of growth, of progress. It was the sound that meant he had done something right, something worth celebrating.

Riku’s HUD flickered as the experience points accumulated, the numbers lighting up in front of his eyes. He felt the weight of his accomplishments settle in.

Riku

Level: 7

8 Unspent Stat Points

He paused for a moment, letting the data wash over him. It was a sign of progress, but there was no time to savor it. Riku knew better than to linger on a victory, no matter how hard-won. The wolves were nothing compared to what lay ahead.

He grinned, a sense of pride swelling within him. The wolves had been tough, but they had pushed him forward. His body felt stronger, faster—his mind sharper. He could already sense the effects of his hard-earned experience. The aches in his limbs were fading, replaced with an almost effortless energy, a new vitality that had been earned through struggle.

He pulled up his stat menu, eyes scanning the familiar list. He had grown stronger since his last level-up, but there was still so much more to gain. Every choice, every stat point, would define his future.

Level Up Stats:

Strength: 22

Magic: 10

Defense: 20

Stamina: 22

Speed: 22

Unspent Points: 8

Riku thought carefully. He had learned through experience that each point mattered. Strength was important, but it wasn’t everything. Magic had its uses, but his katana was his primary weapon. Speed, however, was a constant need. He’d felt how vital it was during the battle, how each fraction of a second could mean the difference between life and death.

Level Up Stats:

Strength: 24 (+2)

Magic: 11 (+1)

Defense: 22 (+2)

Stamina: 24 (+2)

Speed: 24 (+2)

Unspent Points: 0

Riku allocated his points swiftly. His focus was clear: Strength, Stamina, and Speed. He could feel the effects immediately. His muscles seemed to stretch, and a rush of energy filled his body. The increase in speed was the most noticeable. He felt lighter on his feet, more agile, like he could move faster than ever before. His body responded to the changes, every muscle, every fiber tuned to perfection.

His stats were beginning to reflect the progress he’d made. Stronger, faster, more resilient. But Riku knew that this was just the beginning. The deeper he went into the forest, the stronger the challenges would become. He couldn’t afford to rest.

Riku’s thoughts were interrupted by a soft, almost imperceptible rustling from the trees. His senses heightened, every muscle in his body tensed as he scanned the area. It was too quiet, too still. Something was out there.

His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his katana. He could feel the weight of the weapon at his side, its familiar presence grounding him. Whatever was ahead, it wasn’t going to be like the wolves. The forest had grown oppressive, the shadows deeper, the air heavier.

The rustling grew louder, and then, as if on cue, a figure emerged from the trees. It was tall, cloaked in shadows, its movements unnervingly smooth. Riku’s breath caught in his throat. The figure didn’t look like anything he had encountered before. It was humanoid, but its form was distorted, elongated, like a creature born of nightmares. Its eyes glowed with an eerie green light, reflecting an intelligence far greater than that of the wolves.

Riku’s heart raced, but he stood firm. His senses were sharp, his body ready. This was what he had been training for.

With a swift motion, the figure advanced, its movements impossibly fast. Riku barely had time to react, but his reflexes were honed. He drew his katana in one smooth motion, ready for whatever this creature had in store.

The battle ahead would be his greatest test yet.