Joe's gaze dropped to Ray's bloodied corpse, his wide eyes locked onto the lifeless figure. A single thought consumed him, suffocating all else.
It was either me or him. I had no choice. I had to kill him. This isn't my fault." The words repeated endlessly in his mind, like a mantra, until they took root.
This was not his fault.
[You Have Slain A Human Native]
[+9,000 Rank Points]
[Achievement Unlocked: Native Killer]
• Condition: Slay Your First Native As An Outsider.
• Reward:10,000 Rank Points.
[You Have Ranked Up]
[New Overall Rank: 8 [400/25,000 Rank Points Required]
[Updated Attributes]
• Physical Attributes: 18
• Mana Attributes: 30
• Psychological Attributes: 12
Joe's eyes widened further as the screen flashed before him, announcing the rewards. Prizes for taking a life? His stomach churned.
"Syr... is this really necessary? I don't think I need rewards for this," Joe muttered, his voice low, shaky.
[You Took Colossal Steps Toward Getting Stronger. As An Outsider, You Can’t Stop. You Must Keep Growing. You Have To Become The Strongest Version Of Yourself. The Path Of An Outsider Will Include Bloodshed Here And There.]
There it was again—Outsider. The word sent a chill down his spine.
Joe opened his mouth to question Syr further, but something else caught his attention. It was Ray’s weapon—the Scorching Dagger—lay amidst the crimson pool of its owner’s blood. Joe crouched down, reaching for the blade, but the instant his fingers touched the handle, an intense searing heat tore through his hand.
“Ah! That’s hot!” Joe yelped, instinctively dropping the dagger. His fingertips bore fresh burn marks, the pain sharp and lingering. He glanced at his right cheek—it still stung from where the dagger had grazed him during the fight. A thin trail of blood trickled down his face, though the wound wasn’t too deep.
"Alright," he muttered, steeling himself. "Let’s try this again."
Placing his blade on his back, Joe crouched once more. This time, a dark, swirling cloud of mana enveloped his hand.
[You Have Activated The 'Unique Skill' (Predator)]
The shadowy mana devoured the dagger, engulfing it entirely until no trace of it remained. Joe hesitated, but his resolve hardened as his gaze drifted back to Ray’s lifeless form. He had already crossed the line; there was no turning back. With a deep breath, he extended the dark mana toward Ray’s body. Slowly, the corpse vanished into the void, leaving nothing behind
[You Have Activated The 'Branch Skill' (Soul Consumption)]
[+1 Native Soul Has Been Stored Inside Your Body]
Soul Consumption? Joe didn't even know he had such a branch skill. He still didn't even fully understand what a branch skill even was. At least with [Outsider's Enhancement] the skill was easier to understand, he could figure out how it worked even without Syr explaining it. It just came naturally.
For his passive and unique skills, they were almost foreign. He couldn't even get an idea on how they worked, If Syr wasn't there—Joe doubted he'd understand them. It was as if they had a mind of their own.
[The Mana Tool: Scorching Dagger (C Class) Has Been Added To Your Inventory]
[An Academy License Has Been Added To Your Inventory]
Joe’s stomach twisted at the thought of what he’d just done. Devouring the dagger was one thing, but a corpse? His body shuddered as nausea bubbled in his chest. He wanted to vomit, but he clenched his teeth and willed himself to endure. He did what he had to.
[Mana Tool: Scorching Dagger (C Class)]
• Description: A Powerful Dagger Forged With The Purest Of Flames.
• Effect: By Channeling Mana Into The Dagger, The User Can Unleash Its True Power And Conjure Powerful Flames. The Strength And Speed Of The Fire Is Proportional To The Mana Injected.
• State (Sealed): 0 Of 5 Seals Removed.
• Boost: +15 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes Per Removed Seal.
• Mana Cost (MC): -10 Mana Pool Rank Points Per Removed Seal.
-25 Mana Pool Rank Points/minute while unsealed.
Joe studied the details Syr provided, nodding slowly. The Scorching Dagger was undeniably powerful, and he was relieved to have it as an asset. He glanced down at himself, his clothes soaked in blood. It was a grotesque sight—a sight, he wanted to forget. He shook his head, trying not to dwell on it.
His eyes shifted to Shelly, who was still on the ground, her shoulders trembling.
“He’s right, you know,” Shelly finally spoke, her voice hoarse. She sniffled, wiping her tear-streaked face. “Everything Ray said was true…”
Her words spilled out in broken sobs. “I watched them all die. So many of my friends… were devoured by those beasts. I’m the healer. They relied on me, placed their lives in my hands. But no matter how much I healed them, it didn’t matter. They just kept dying. And each time..."
Shelly clutched her ears, her cries growing louder, as though trying to drown out the echoes of the past. “I froze, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t save them. All of those corpses back there…” She gestured toward the carnage. “They died because of me!"
Her eyes, wet with tears and burning with anguish, locked onto Joe’s. “Ray was right. My apologies mean nothing. Why do I get to live while so many of them died? Tell me, Joe. Why?"
Joe opened his mouth to speak, but a deafening roar ripped through the forest, shaking the ground and silencing his words.
The sound reverberated like a shockwave, sending tremors throughout the entire forest. One by one, massive trees toppled over, crashing to the ground as if felled by an invisible giant. The earth quaked beneath Its feet with each thunderous step of the unseen creature. The roar grew louder, deeper, more primal—an ominous prelude to the calamity drawing near.
Suddenly, a pack of Wolfins burst from the forest in a frenzied rush. Their movements were frantic, their desperation palpable. They didn’t even glance at Joe or Shelly as they sped past, their sleek forms blurring at impossible speeds.
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Joe’s heart pounded in his chest, faster and harder than ever before. The sight before him made everything clear: the Wolfins weren’t charging—they were fleeing.
Then, he saw it.
Looming in the distance was an enormous Mana Beast Orb, glowing so brightly it seemed to bathe the entire forest in an eerie, otherworldly light. Its sheer size dwarfed every other orb Joe had encountered. His breathing quickened, his hands trembling.
The source of the carnage finally emerged from the shadow of toppled trees, its monstrous form illuminated by the cold silver of the moonlight.
Its fur gleamed a deep, blood-red, every strand shimmering like molten fire. Not a single patch of white marred its body, and jagged spikes of fur atop its head gave it the appearance of a savage crown. Massive, razor-sharp fangs jutted from its maw, and claws black as obsidian glinted ominously in the moonlight. The creature towered over Joe, standing ten times his size—twice as large as any Wolfin he had ever seen.
[The Rank (15) Dungeon Boss: 'The Great Wolfin' Has Appeared.]
[Evolution Stage: 3]
Joe’s breath hitched as he gazed up at the monstrosity. His legs felt like jelly, threatening to buckle beneath him. He had never seen anything so massive, so utterly terrifying.
[Main Quest.]
• Objective: Slay The Dungeon Boss, The Great Wolfin.
• Reward: 15,000 Rank Points.
• Failure: Death.
His eyes darted to the quest notification. It was the task he had tried so hard to forget—buried deep in the back of his mind. But now, there was no ignoring it.
"If those guys earlier were the big brothers," Joe muttered under his breath, his voice trembling, "then this one’s the big daddy?"
[Well, This Forest Is A Dungeon To Humans, But To The Mana Beasts Of The 'Yakura Tribe,' It’s Their Home—Or Territory, To Be Exact. In Order To Protect Their Territory And Children, A Guardian Is Appointed. 'The Great Wolfin' Is That Guardian.]
Another earth-shaking roar erupted from the Great Wolfin, sending shockwaves that knocked Joe off balance, sliding him back several meters. The sheer force of the roar was like standing in the middle of a violent storm.
The beast turned its glowing crimson eyes toward Joe and Shelly. Without hesitation, it raised one of its colossal paws. With a single, deliberate swing, the air split apart, unleashing a massive crimson slash of raw mana. It surged toward them like a tidal wave, threatening to rip everything in its path to shreds.
[The Great Wolfin Has Activated The Skill (Crimson Claws)]
Joe acted on instinct. Drawing his blade, he glanced back at Shelly—completely frozen, paralyzed by fear.
[You Have Activated The Skill: 'Outsider’s Enhancement.']
Joe's figure blurred as the enhancement took effect, and in an instant, he was standing between Shelly and the oncoming attack. Black mana surged around him, enveloping both his blade and his body. He raised the weapon high above his head.
[You Have Activated The Branch Skill: 'Crescent Moon Slash.']
[-75 Mana Pool Rank Points.]
[+30 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes. (Total: 48)]
[+45 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes. (Total: 75)]
[Current Mana Pool: 5,995]
With a powerful swing, Joe unleashed a crescent-shaped wave of black mana.[Crescent Moon Slash] It tore through the air at blistering speed, colliding with the crimson slash in a blinding explosion of energy. The force rattled Joe’s bones, threatening to tear him apart from the inside out. His arms burned with strain, but he refused to let go.
The clash between the two skills was brief yet decisive. The Great Wolfin's attack overpowered Joe’s, tearing through his defense. The crimson mana slashed into Joe’s stomach, sending blood gushing from the wound. He staggered but refused to fall, his body trembling as he forced himself upright.
Joe gritted his teeth, his breaths labored as pain radiated from his abdomen. His skill [Outsider's Enhancement] had mitigated some of the damage, but he knew it wouldn’t hold up for long. Blood seeped from the wound, staining the ground beneath him, but he stood firm.
"Why?" Shelly’s fractured voice broke the silence behind him. Her trembling words cut through his pain. "Why would you go so far for me?"
Thanks to Joe’s efforts, Shelly was completely unharmed.
“I’m not doing this for you…” Joe’s voice was ragged, the words catching in his throat. “I’m doing it for that red-haired kid. And for everyone in your party who gave up their lives. That kid died so you could live!”
He turned his head, glaring at Shelly with fiery eyes, his face contorted in anger. “If you have even a shred of respect for those who died for you, you’ll fight! You’ll fight until you die!”
Shelly’s eyes widened in shock, her tears momentarily frozen.
“You think dying will fix anything?” Joe snapped. “What about their sacrifices? Allowing yourself to die is the same as spitting on their graves!”
Turning back to the Great Wolfin, Joe raised his blade again, his limbs trembling but resolute. He pointed it at the beast, a silent declaration of defiance.
[The Great Wolfin Has Activated The Skill (Partial Beast Ball)]
A dense, pulsating orb of mana began forming in the Great Wolfin's maw, crackling with an overwhelming energy. In an instant, it shot forward, ripping through the air like a meteor with the power to obliterate everything in its path.
Joe's eyes locked onto the oncoming attack. There wasn’t a hint of fear in them. Instead, they burned brighter, ablaze with determination.
"I don't know about you, but I'll fight! I'll fight until I drop!"
Mana surged violently from Joe's figure, surrounding him in a dark, fiery aura.
"Say, Syr... How Much Mana Can I Handle For A 30-Second Burst? I Want You To Give Me As Much As You Possibly Can!"
[Hard To Say... Maybe 250. Even Then, You'd Be Cutting It Close. That Much Mana Could Destroy Your Body, Even If It’s Just For 30 Seconds.]
"Let's go for it, Syr!"
[Very Well.]
The incoming blast struck its target, unleashing a deafening explosion that shook the earth to its core. Trees were uprooted and flung into the distance, and the ground trembled beneath the sheer force.
When the smoke and debris cleared, Joe remained standing, his blade and erupting mana forming a shield that had protected both himself and Shelly from the brunt of the blast.
[-250 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool.]
[+100 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes. (Total: 118)]
[+150 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes. (Total: 180)]
[Current Mana Pool: 5,745.]
Joe’s entire body radiated with mana, leaking from him like a storm barely contained. His muscles felt like they were on fire, the raw energy weighing down on him with crushing intensity.
[20 Seconds Remaining...]
Joe’s figure blurred as he propelled himself toward the Great Wolfin. He streaked across the battlefield with inhuman speed, heading straight for the beast’s front left leg. His blade gleamed ominously, charged with black mana as he aimed to sever the limb entirely.
But the Great Wolfin was ready.
It raised its enormous paw, slamming it down with the force of a collapsing mountain.
[The 'Great Wolfin' Has Activated The Skill 'Earth-Shattering Stomp.']
Joe’s instincts screamed at him. He leaped backward just in time, narrowly avoiding being flattened. Dust and debris erupted in a massive shockwave from the impact.
Large chunks of displaced earth were launched towards Joe, propelled by the sheer force of the beast’s stomp.
[You Have Activated The 'Branch Skill' 'Flawless Swings.']
Joe moved like a whirlwind, swinging his blade with precision and speed. Black crescent-shaped slashes erupted from his sword, cutting through the incoming rocks like paper, reducing them to harmless rubble.
[10 Seconds Remaining...]
Time was ticking. Joe could feel his body growing heavier with each second, the mana burning hotter and hotter. His gritted teeth betrayed his desperation as he pushed forward.
From the floating remnants of rock suspended by the Great Wolfin's mana, Joe found an opening. Using the rocks as platforms, he propelled himself higher and higher, each jump taking him closer to the towering beast.
At the apex of his ascent, Joe crouched low on the final rock before launching himself straight into the air. His jacket billowed behind him as he rose above the Great Wolfin, his blade gleaming with raw mana, extending far beyond its physical length.
"I'll kill you!"
With all his strength, he swung the blade downward.
[The 'Great Wolfin' Has Activated The Skill (Full Beast Ball)
The Great Wolfin refused to back down. From its mouth, another crimson orb of mana formed, this one even larger than before. The sheer size of the orb engulfed the beast’s face entirely.
Joe’s resolve wavered for a split second, his expression tightening at the overwhelming power displayed before him. But there was no turning back now. He tightened his grip and pushed forward.
The massive crimson orb surged toward him, its destructive energy threatening to consume him entirely—until a shield of green mana enveloped him.
[Shelly Has Activated The 'Barrier Skill' (Green Veil)]
"I’ll fight! I’ll fight till I die!" Shelly’s voice echoed through the forest, fierce and unyielding.
Joe couldn’t help but smile, his determination reigniting.
The barrier held firm against the onslaught, absorbing the orb’s energy until it shattered like glass.
"I’ll finish this!"
Joe descended rapidly, his blade glowing brighter as mana surged into it. He activated his final attack, pouring every ounce of strength into the strike.
[You Have Activated The 'Branch Skill' (Forceful Severing)]
Joe’s blade sliced into the Great Wolfin's massive skull, carving through its thick bone and flesh with unrelenting force. The cut traveled down its throat and into its chest, cleaving its massive body cleanly in half.
Blood erupted from the beast as its two halves fell to either side, crashing into the ground with earth-shaking force. The forest seemed to hold its breath, silent except for the echo of the beast’s fall.
[1 Second Remaining...]
The mana surrounding Joe subsided, leaving him standing victorious, battered but alive. His chest heaved as he took in the sight of the slain guardian.
They had won.