"Cough, cough." Pain erupted in my chest as I woke up. I propped myself up while growling quietly and glanced at Larve, who was sleeping beside me. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a harsh light on both of us. I blinked and what happened yesterday came crashing down into my mind.

(You acquired the passive personal skill Rapid Healing.)

(You acquired active personal skill Monstrous Strength.)

Besides the pain, words flying into my vision greeted me as soon as I woke up.

(Rapid Healing: Ability to heal faster and more efficiently than the user’s race. Unless the user is from a race that can regenerate lost limbs and organs, it won’t allow full regrowth.)

(Monstrous Strength: An offensive special characteristic possessed only by monsters and Magical Beasts. While it is active Strength will increase according to skill level. Due to the user's body not being fit, a penalty will be given after the duration ends. When activated user’s strength will increase by 20 percent for 2 minutes. After the duration ends user’s strength will be decreased by 10 percent for 5 minutes. The user won’t be able to activate this skill during the penalty.)

That was a lot for my newly awake brain. I reached for the water bag but I quickly noticed that it was empty. Shit. I was really thirsty. I touched Larve’s shoulder to wake her up or at least help her move to a shade.

“Larve?”

She didn’t react to me calling her name and shaking her gently. No response.

"Larve!"

I shook her harder as I screamed her name, my heart racing. Still, she lay motionless. I checked for breathing and pulse—thankfully, both were normal. But what was happening to her? My mind raced as I checked her body for any signs of poison or injury, but I found nothing.

"What is happening?"

Frustration boiled over, and I punched the ground in anger.

…

Fifteen days had passed since Larve fell unconscious. I was able to find a town and carry her there. It was newly founded and it was only twice or thrice as big as the first village I saw but I finally reached civilization. A civilization that regarded Larve as subhuman because of her horns but hey, at least they had a doctor —or the closest equivalent.

However, just like every civilization this one was also founded upon one thing and one thing only; money which I had nearly none. Thankfully, the meat seemed to be high in demand and I knew how to hunt. By killing monsters and selling their corpses I gathered enough money to convince the doctor to come and look at Larve.

“There is nothing wrong with her body,” the old man said after a thorough examination. I knew that as I checked myself for any kind of problems. Obviously, I wasn’t a doctor but I was trained in first-aid and knew some things.

I felt a glimmer of hope, looking at his face to tell me how I could heal her, but it faded quickly.

“I looked for diseases and toxins, and I found nothing.”

I held my breath, waiting for him to say more.

“There’s nothing I can do for her.” He stood to leave, but I blocked his path.

“I didn’t pay you to do nothing.”

I growled. This motherfucker. He took 10 hunts of worth money and this was all he had to say?

He glanced back at Larve, still sleeping on the bed, then turned to me.

“It’s possible the problem lies in her soul or mind. I only know about the body. You need a mage for that but I wouldn’t suggest it. Their services require too much money. I recommend you buy a new slave. There are a bunch of them in the camps and I am sure you would find one you would like.”

He pushed past me, leaving the room.

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“Fucker,” I muttered under my breath.

I couldn’t believe that all my hard work hunting for ten days had gone to waste.

I took my bow, pulling the string to calm myself. It was the same bow the leader orc used.

(Seeing you move according to their wishes, the Stars bless you with more authority.)

I frowned as I remembered the message I got after I reached the town.

(Bow of Two-Headed Wolf)

(Power: 10)

(Durability: 244/250)

(A bow made from the mana stone of a Two-Headed Wolf. For average humans, pulling this bow is nearly impossible. Only warriors with remarkable strength can use it to its full potential.)

(Bite of Two-Headed Wolf: Every arrow fired from this bow has an 8 percent chance to split into two while maintaining the same speed and power.)

(Steel Longsword)

(Power: 8)

(Durability: 150/180)

(A standard longsword made of steel.)

(Iron Buckler Shield)

(Power: 4)

(Durability: 220/250)

(A standard buckler shield made of iron.)

Whatever this authority was, it allowed me to see information about weapons. I wished I could see the true value of goods to avoid being ripped off at the bazaar. I could only see information related to weapons and armors. But why? What did I do to get this “authority” thing? I didn’t save that village from the orcs. I wasn’t able to heal Larve. And just who the hell Stars were? The being who dragged me here called herself a Star but there were more?

“Shit.”

A knock at the door startled me. I was staying at a small inn that didn’t serve food or water, but it was the cheapest. Nobody ever came to my door before, not even the inn owner.

“Who is there?” I called, my voice low and tense. Silence answered.

I pulled one of my daggers, slowly opening the door, but nobody was there.

“Crash!”

The sound of something breaking made my heart race. A piece of wood, likely the window, shattered. Without thinking, I threw the dagger in that direction.

“Fuck!” A masculine voice cursed in pain.

I turned, drawing my sword. Two figures clad in black robes filled my room.

“Block him! I’ll grab the girl!”

The one I had struck with the dagger lunged for Larve while the other drew a short sword.

“Fuckers!” I spat.

I managed to deliver a solid kick to the one blocking me, sending him stumbling back, but the other had already seized Larve. They jumped out the window. I followed, landing on the ground and rolling to absorb the impact.

“He’s following us! Run! Run!” one of them shouted.

The streets were dimly lit and deserted. It was a small town with no nightlife and it was late at night so it wasn’t surprising.

(Shadow Melt is active.)

(Night Vision is active.)

I ran, pushing myself to catch up. They zigzagged through the dark alleys, trying to shake me off.

“How is he seeing in this darkness?” one of them exclaimed.

“Fuck! We have to get his help!”

They darted into a nearby building, and I followed.

“Arslan! We need your help!”

A figure fell in front of me. He was muscular and tall.

“Sigh. I told you guys to be careful.”

The blond guy before me sighed, his face marred with scars. Two golden lion ears protruded from his head—one missing a chunk, likely lost in a past battle. He wielded two one-sided blades resembling thicker katanas. I swung my sword without saying anything

“Woah!” he exclaimed as he dodged my sword.

“Eager, aren’t we?” He growled.

“Who the fuck are you?”

I growled back.

“Your death, bitch.”

He answered as one of his swords clashed against mine, the other slicing toward my neck. I spun, slamming the handle into his side.

“Why did you kidnap her? What do you want from me?”