Jason drew his dagger, identifying it; Basic Dagger(common): +5 Strength., +5 Agility.
Alex stepped forward. "We should proceed with caution," he advised, his voice filled with determination. "There's no turning back now."
The group continued their trek, their senses attuned to every rustle and snap in the undergrowth. The tension was palpable, anticipation hanging in the air like an invisible veil. Their hands gripped their weapons tightly, ready to defend themselves against whatever lurked in the shadows.
Then, a formidable figure emerged amidst the tall trees—a massive wolf with crimson fur and eyes burning with feral hunger. Its muscles rippled underneath its fur. The wolf's snarl reverberated through the forest, sending a shiver down their spines.
Bernard, never one to back down from a fight, stepped forward, drawing his sword and raising his shield in a defensive stance. "Everyone, stay behind me," he commanded, his voice steady and resolute.
Jason, his eyes ablaze with determination, gripped his dagger harder, feeling a surge of power course through his veins; it felt strange. It was… addicting.
As the wolf lunged forward, Bernard met its attack head-on, his shield deflecting the Wolf's claws. Alex, wielding a spear, sought an opening, his eyes locked on the wolf's every move. Caroline, her fingers holding an arrow with the string pulled tautly, aimed and fired the arrow, missing the wolf and nearly hitting bernards ear, but she didn't let this discourage her as she knocked another arrow, and fired, hitting the leg of the wolf, her confidence renewed.
The battle was a flurry of movement and adrenaline. The wolf's snarls reverberated through the forest, blending with the clash of steel and the twang of arrows.
Jason, his senses heightened by his enhanced stats and honed reflexes, could feel the exhilaration of battle coursing through his veins. His heart pounded in his chest. With each passing moment, his focus sharpened, his instincts guiding his every move.
And then, he saw an opening amidst the flurry of claws and fangs. With a surge of adrenaline, Jason lunged forward, his dagger gleaming in the subtle light. He aimed for the wolf's vulnerable back in a swift and calculated strike, seeking to deliver a decisive blow.
Time seemed to slow as Jason plunged the dagger into the wolf's flesh. A primal scream erupted from the creature, echoing through the forest. With a quick, fluid motion, Jason swiftly withdrew the dagger, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake. The wolf's attention was now fixated on him, its eyes burning with a mix of rage and pain.
Instinctively, Jason reached for his bow, his hands moving with unknown precision. He notched an arrow, pulling the string taut. Without hesitation, he released the arrow, aiming for the wolf's head. But fate had other plans, as the wolf's instincts kicked in, causing it to narrowly dodge the projectile. The arrow found purchase in the wolf's shoulder, a glancing blow that further fueled its fury.
At that moment, Jason's heart pounded in his chest. The realisation upon him that he had left himself vulnerable. His breath quickened as the wolf closed the distance between them, its jaws snapping in anticipation.
But amid the Wolf's rage, Caroline sprang into action. With an arrow knocked and determination in her eyes, she aimed at the charging wolf. Her shot was true, the arrow finding its mark with precision. It struck the wolf directly in the eye, causing the creature to recoil in pain and confusion. And this was the moment Alex and Bernard chose to attack it from the rear, stabbing it in the back. Another scream erupted, and it instinctively swiped at both Alex and Bernard. The swipe missed Bernard but ended up leaving Alex in critical condition.
Jason screamed at Mark, Maria and Dorothy to do something but were quaking in fear.
A sense of urgency welled up within Jason. He knew that victory required a decisive blow. His eyes locked onto the wolf. In a moment of clarity, he made his move.
With a surge of raw power, Jason sprinted toward the wolf, his footsteps silent. Ignoring the risk to his safety, he leapt into the air, his dagger aimed at the creature's exposed flank. The wolf's eyes widened with surprise as Jason's blade found its mark, slicing through flesh and sinew.
A pained howl tore through the forest as the wolf recoiled, blood staining its fur. But it refused to submit to its wounds, baring its fangs in a final act of defiance. Sensing an opportunity, Bernard unleashed a powerful strike, his sword finding its mark and causing the wolf to stumble.
In a surge of primal instinct, Jason seized the moment. He cast aside caution, allowing the wolf's teeth to sink into his leg. Pain radiated through his body, but he disregarded it, channelling all his energy into one final strike. With a swift motion, he drove his dagger into the wolf's heart.
Silence enveloped the forest, the weight of their recent battle still hanging in the air. As Jason stood amidst the aftermath, his mangled leg throbbing with pain, he reached into his inventory and retrieved a small glass flask containing a vibrant red liquid. Without hesitation, he uncorked the flask and brought it to his lips, consuming its contents in a single gulp.
A surge of energy coursed through Jason's veins, spreading throughout his body like a healing wave. The pain in his leg dissipated, replaced by a tingling sensation as his wounds rapidly closed and regenerated. It was a health potion, his gamble had paid off, restoring his body to its former state.
The sight of his leg, once mangled and torn, now pristine and unblemished, brought a sense of relief to the group. They were dumbstruck at the restorative properties of the potion, realising the invaluable advantage it provided in their battle for survival.
As the healing magic of the potion worked its wonders, Jason's focus shifted from his rejuvenated leg to the flask in his hand. This health potion is a valuable resource that has the power to mend wounds and restore vitality. In this new world where danger lurked at every corner, such potions were precious commodities.
Jason quickly rushed over to where Alex lay on the ground, blood staining the area around him. With concern etched on his face, Jason assessed the extent of his injuries. He then turned his attention to Bernard, lying on the forest floor. A powerful blow appeared to have struck Bernard, as he lay unconscious with his shield still in hand. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the attack's impact had caused Bernard to collide with a nearby tree, rendering him unconscious.
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Realising the urgency of the situation, Jason swiftly sprung into action. He retrieved a healing potion from his inventory and poured its contents into Alex's mouth. The potion worked its magic, gradually sealing the cuts and restoring colour to his pale face. As he tended to Alex's injuries, Jason couldn't help but feel a surge of relief as his friend began to stir, slowly regaining consciousness.
Turning his attention to Bernard, Jason carefully assessed the extent of his injuries. While the impact had left him momentarily unconscious, there were no visible signs of severe trauma. Understanding that time was of the essence, Jason positioned Bernard in a stable and comfortable position, allowing him to regain consciousness naturally.
As minutes passed, Alex and Bernard began showing signs of recovery. Alex groggily opened his eyes, a mix of confusion and pain evident in his expression. Bernard, too, slowly regained consciousness, his groans confirming that he was on the path to recovery.
With a sense of relief, Jason extended a hand to help his friends to their feet, their faces reflecting a mix of exhaustion and triumph. Finally, Jason took a moment to review the system messages that had appeared:
’You have slain the Savage Red Wolf (level 3).’
’You have gained 25 experience points. Bonus: 15 experience points for delivering the final blow.’
’You have gained 5 tutorial points.’
’You have reached level 1. Class skills unlocked.’
‘You have reached level 2.’
’You have 10 available stat points to distribute.’
The messages confirmed their victory and marked a significant milestone in their progress. The experience and tutorial points earned were crucial for their advancement. Jason examined the three skills he had unlocked:
Shadow Bolt (Uncommon): This skill utilises Mana, enabling the user to cast a bolt of Dark Affinity Mana. Allowing the user to strike enemies and imbue them with Dark Affinity Mana.
Cost: 100 Mana per bolt
Soul Drain (Uncommon): By delving into the life force of the user's enemies, drain their vitality, replenish your Mana, and imbue your enemies with Dark Affinity Mana.
Cost: 0 Mana per Second
Void Shield (Uncommon): Drawing upon the dark mana at the user's disposal, create a shield of Dark Affinity Mana. This shield provides temporary protection against physical and magical attacks while at the same time converting kinetic energy to Mana.
Cost: 10 Mana per Second.
With a sense of curiosity, Jason decided to test his newly acquired skills. Focusing his thoughts, he attempted to activate the Shadow Bolt skill. To his amazement, a shimmering blackish-purple bolt materialised above his hand, emitting a burning chill. The bolt was simplistic in design. It was circular. Jason was stunned at how effortlessly he could summon something that seemed straight out of a fantasy tale, a concept that was unimaginable before the system's arrival.
Feeling excited, Jason cautiously extended his arm and aimed the mana bolt at a nearby tree. With a mental command, he willed the Mana Bolt to be launched. In an instant, the Shadow bolt shot forward, piercing through the air with remarkable speed and accuracy, striking the tree trunk with a resounding impact. The force of the attack left a visible mark on the tree, and Jason saw a blackish-purple residue linger, displaying the potential of the Shadow bolt. Jason thought about how the Shadow bolt was Uncommon and thought, “It must be upgradable,” he also wondered why it didn't start at Common like his clothes and equipment, Jason thought about what sort of power this Shadow bolt would unleash in the future.
The group stood in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on Jason, who had just demonstrated his newfound abilities. Alex and Bernard, now fully recovered from their injuries, stared at him in disbelief and couldn't help but blurt out in unison, "How the hell did you do that?" Jason met their gaze with a grin and responded, "Hey, glad to see you guys back to your usual selves."
He paused momentarily, considering how best to explain his extraordinary. Jason finally responded. "I unlocked three skills after reaching level 1," Jason began, "and I figured it was time to put them to the test." He shrugged nonchalantly, as if summoning and manipulating raw magical energy was an everyday occurrence.
Alex and Bernard exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to comprehend Jason's explanation. The notion of acquiring skills and using them to command extraordinary powers was a concept that seemed far-fetched and surreal. Yet, there they were, witnesses to Jason's Shadow bolts.
Curiosity mixed with a hint of envy, Alex couldn't help but ask, "What are these skills? How did you learn to control them so effortlessly?" Jason paused, considering his response. "Well, I have the Shadow Bolt skill, which allows me to channel Dark Affinity Mana and unleash it as a projectile," he explained. "Then there's the Soul Drain skill, which enables me to absorb the vitality of enemies and replenish my Mana while imbuing them with Dark Affinity Mana. And finally, I have the Void Shield skill, which conjures a shield of Dark Affinity to protect me from attacks and charge up my mana."
As he spoke, a sense of confidence radiated from Jason, his words laced with a newfound understanding of his abilities. Alex and Bernard exchanged yet another glance, their eyes shimmering with a mix of awe and curiosity. They couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, longing to possess the same extraordinary abilities that Jason now demonstrated.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Alex finally mustered the courage to ask the burning question, "So, how do we acquire the mana bolt skill?" Jason grinned, realising the eagerness in his friend's eyes. "Just like I mentioned earlier," he replied, "you unlock your skills at level 1. All you have to do is open your stat page and check for the available skills."
Alex's eyes widened with anticipation, while Bernard nodded in agreement. The notion that they possessed abilities like Jason, waiting to be unlocked, filled them with newfound excitement. They had been oblivious to the depths of their own abilities, overshadowed by the overwhelming changes in the world around them. But now, with Jason as their guide, they saw a glimmer of hope that they could survive this hellhole.
The group gathered around, their eyes fixated on their stat pages. Each accessed their individual status, revealing a plethora of information about their current level, stats, and skills. Alex was the first to break the silence, a tinge of disappointment evident in his voice. "I didn't get the shadow bolt skill," he confessed, his brows furrowing with a hint of frustration. Bernard chimed in, echoing Alex's statement. "Yeah, me neither. It seems like we missed out on that one."
Jason listened attentively, contemplating their words. He knew that not everyone would have the same skills unlocked at level 1, but he hadn't expected them to miss out on such a great skill. Jason asked, "What skills did you guys get then?"
Alex replied, "I got Flame Ignition, a fire-based skill that allows me to imbue my weapon or hands with flame affinity mana dealing extra damage." Bernard added, "And I received Shield Bash, a skill that enhances my shield attacks and allows me to stun enemies while momentarily increasing my toughness."
Jason pondered their responses, realising that the system gave them skills aligning with their own class. Jason recognised the significance of their skills. It seemed that the system had tailored their skills to suit their individual strengths and inclinations.
"Although you didn't get the Shadow bolt skill, Flame Ignition and Shield Bash are still incredibly useful," Jason reassured them, a reassuring smile gracing his face. "Fire-based attacks and shield-based defence can be just as potent in battle. We'll find a way to maximise your skills and leverage them to our advantage."
Alex and Bernard nodded, their disappointment slowly transforming into determination. They understood their skills were a gift, allowing them to contribute to the group's strength. This was when Jason finally turned and looked at the rest of the group. With a look of anger.