I added 15 [Attribute Points] to [Strength], making it 59. Then, I added 3 points to [Heal], and the remaining points went to [Darkness]. I ignored [Dexterity] for now, as I won't be using long-range weapons anytime soon. The stat is meant for long-range abilities and anything related to it, such as aiming accuracy. I began to absorb the darkness of the domain back into my body. Once outside, I quickly flipped my wings and took off, fearing any orc patrolling nearby in search of the missing one. As I reached a point high enough to observe the forest below, I saw seven orcs scouring the area.

None of them looked younger than the one I had tricked, so I assumed all of them had levels close to my previous victim.

With such a large number of patrols, I thought the entrance might be unguarded, and civilians free enough to silently capture them. However, contrary to my expectation, the entrance had even more guards this time—four bloody orcs were stationed at the gate, and four more were patrolling the area nearby. Guards were everywhere; not a single street had fewer than two orcs going back and forth. Some areas were unguarded, but attempting anything funny could land me in trouble I couldn't handle. My [Health] wasn't high enough to mess around anymore.

I decided to revisit the kobold swamp, feeling stronger now with weapons at my disposal. I spread my wings, gliding through the air, and changed direction. My first stop was the traps; perhaps I had caught some creatures. I reached the area and landed on a tree branch, inspecting the deep snares, but to my disappointment, none of them had anything.

Then, I noticed that the wild boar carcass was missing. Somehow, something had managed to enter the deep hole and retrieve the carcass, suggesting it was larger or tall enough to climb out easily. I wondered what it could be—perhaps a bear, a kobold, or an orc? I didn't dwell on it further and took a moment to rest on the tree, allowing my [Health] and [Dark Energy] to recover.

As I continued to recover, some animals traversed the area. Another unfortunate fox fell into a trap, and I had no intention of freeing it. With no blood to attract predators, I enjoyed a peaceful moment until my instincts alerted me to a snake slithering up the tree I was on. Uninterested in dealing with it, I assumed it would be at a similar level to the cobra I had killed a couple of days ago.

I fixed my gaze upon the snake, releasing a wave of killing intent, yet it either remained indifferent or impervious to my presence. Frustrated, I opted to employ [Shift], enlarging my form to match the abundance of my [Dark Matter]. However, the swift expansion brought my head into contact with the branches above, prompting a rapid reversal until I reached a more manageable size. Observing me, the snake shifted in the opposite direction, visibly contending with the effort and perspiring in the process.

I watched as it descended to the ground, seemingly preparing to depart the area. However, my focus sharpened when I discerned its trajectory leading toward one of my traps. Unwilling to let my meticulous setup go to waste, and unsure of the snake's weight to trigger the mechanism, I vaulted off the tree, hurtling downward. With a solid thud, I alighted behind the snake, capturing its attention. It turned sharply, emitting a hiss and bracing itself for an imminent confrontation.

Undeterred, I advanced toward the snake, unwavering in my gaze. In a sudden surge, it lunged at me with the intent to strike, but with a swift motion, I seized its head with one of my claws and forcefully slammed it onto the ground. Resolute, I drove my claws into its head, swiftly extinguishing its life. After concluding the encounter with the snake, I diminished my size to that of a typical crow. As it turned out to be a level 9, and I gained a mere 3 [Exp] from the encounter.

(You've killed a level 9 adult snake and gained 3 Exp)

I intended to block its path and redirect it in another direction, but it proved too aggressive. Consequently, I opted to eliminate it instead. I flew back to the tree, resuming my rest and occasionally checking my status while waiting for my [Health] to recover. Slaying the snake and receiving such meager [Exp] jolted me to my core, forcing a stark realization. I had momentarily lost sight of my true purpose in this forest—I had ventured here to hone my skills, grow stronger, and hasten my journey home.

Yet, my current actions amounted to nothing more than a futile expenditure of time, as I found myself merely satiating hunger and behaving akin to a mindless creature. Determined to expedite my progress, I devised a plan, setting aside my human conscience. Strengthening myself had become the paramount objective, and I was committed to taking any necessary actions to achieve it.

As time passed and I lost track of it, night fell, and my [Health] had recovered by 65%, reaching a value of 120. It was just enough to execute my plan, with unwavering resolve, I took flight in the direction of the kobold swamp.

Upon spotting the swamp through the sky, I landed near it, assuming the form of an orc and pulling two axes from my domain. I carried them on my back, freeing my hands. Observing the area through the trees, I counted the guards. Ten of them were patrolling the small streets, as there were no gates; the village was entirely covered by a swamp, divided into small islands.

I identified the island with the fewest guards and patiently waited for the right moment to approach. After some time, it finally arrived. Seizing the opportunity, I charged toward the nearest house while the guards were engrossed in conversation and swiftly hid behind it. As time passed, the guards switched positions, resuming their patrols.

I bided my time, waiting for one to approach in my direction. Once it passed the street, I swiftly caught it, covering its mouth with my hand, and with a quick motion, I snapped its neck, resulting in its immediate demise.

(You've killed a level 12 adult kobold [Knight] and gained 24 Exp)

I tossed the corpse into my domain and returned to my spot. After some time, I heard slow footsteps approaching my direction. Anticipating the approaching threat, I pulled out my two axes, preparing for what was to come. Soon enough, I came face to face with a kobold wielding a sword in its right arm and a shield in the other. It let out a scream, alerting the other guards the moment it saw me. I charged at it, engaging in combat.

The battle commenced with our clashes. I threw down my heavy left axe, forcing the kobold to use its shield for defense. It managed to deflect the attack but attempted to shield bash me, resulting in a failed attempt due to my significantly larger size. This mistake provided an opening for me to land a hit.

I hurled my second axe at the arm carrying the sword, chopping it off and inflicting forty-four damage, along with an additional five bleed damage. The kobold, now disarmed, tossed its shield away and clutched its severed arm in an attempt to stop the bleeding. It began running toward the other guards, but I swiftly threw my axes. One lunged at its head, swiftly ending its life, while I pulled the other back into my domain, ensuring the axes remained out of sight to avoid any interference with my plan. The deed was done, and it was time to execute my plan.

(You've killed a level 12 adult kobold [Knight] and gained 32 Exp)

As early morning approached, I ran in the opposite direction, intentionally maintaining a slow pace to allow the kobolds to catch up. Eventually, I entered the area containing the traps with the kobolds in pursuit. Regrettably, none of them fell into the traps, but that wasn't my primary objective. I changed my direction and continued toward the orc village, occasionally stopping to check if the kobolds were still pursuing me. Soon, I reached the vicinity of the village with seven kobolds hot on my trail. My goal was to incite a large fight, in which I could immerse myself, gaining valuable [Exp] and perhaps some corpses.

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I approached the guards and urgently screamed for help and assistance to deal with the kobolds, 'Brothers, thank god I found this village! I've been assaulted and chased by these kobolds for an hour. Please help me deal with them; I have no weapons, and fists alone won't work!' The confused orcs agreed to help me. After all, it was the first time they had seen a black orc, and they were suspicious of my identity.

I even had to throw in some nonsense to earn their trust, claiming I was a part of another subspecies called shadow orcs. I explained that I lost my way, ran into the kobolds, and they ganged up on me. I emphasized how skilled I was in combat, and eventually, they allowed me inside.

I was directed to go into the guard post and grab a weapon for the impending fight. Inside, I greeted the orc managing the armory and informed him about the fight outside. I mentioned I was proficient with swords, and he provided me with one. I took my weapon and silently approached the ongoing fight from behind. The gates were completely unguarded, as all the orcs were involved in the chaotic battle.

Advancing towards the ongoing skirmish, I maneuvered with both arms engaged in dragging the weighty sword, deliberately etching a trail on the ground. This tactic, intended to unsettle and mislead, sowed a seed of doubt in their approach. To my astonishment, amidst the chaos, some orcs were already entangled in battle, with a few finding themselves outnumbered. Contrary to my initial perception of a mere seven kobolds, it became apparent that the actual count was seventeen.

Their numbers nearly tripled since I entered the post and came back. Several orcs bore severe injuries, their forms hunched and weakened, while several kobolds lay lifeless on the ground, their skirmish having exacted a toll.

The resonating scrape of the dragged sword served as an abrupt alarm to both factions. Kobolds who caught sight of me hastily abandoned their assault on the orcs, diverting their attention towards my position. This unexpected shift inadvertently provided some respite for the outnumbered orcs, enabling them to mount a more effective defense.

Meeting the oncoming kobolds with a sly grin, I hoisted the sword with my left arm. The unexpected move bewildered the kobolds, compelling a defensive stance from some as they fell prey to the deception.

"They say strength lies in numbers! Yet, here you are, assaulting me when I was defenseless, only to cower in fear the moment I brandish a weapon!" I shouted enough for the orcs, fabricating a story about something that never happened. Swinging my sword horizontally, I inflicted damage upon the unshielded kobolds, sending a few crashing to the ground.

The shielded ones staggered backward, momentarily stunned by the impact. Casting a glance at the fallen, I charged toward the largest and highest-level kobold among them. Utilizing my weight, I forcefully knocked aside the others in my path. A swift kick with my left foot incapacitated the target, preventing any attempt to rise. Raising my sword aloft, I executed a vertical swing, driving it down onto the kobold and anchoring it to the ground, the blade tainted by the crimson hue of its blood.

Leaving myself vulnerable, I suffered slashes from some of the kobolds, their strikes amplifying my screams of agony. The pain intensified, unlike phantoms, I could feel the physical toll due to my human part. With a determined effort, I pushed the assailants away, granting myself a moment to recover from the searing pain. Lifting my sword once more, I readied myself for another swing. Focusing on one of the kobolds, I executed a forceful swing, propelling the one impaled on the blade towards my target, ending its torment and earning 27 [Exp].

(You've killed a level 15 adult kobold and gained 27 Exp)

I gritted my teeth as a small kobold took its chance to slash me. Despite the low damage it inflicted, it still caused me pain with its attack. It was a low-level kobold, probably lower than all those I had killed thus far. I caught the kobold by its head, crushed it, and gained just 8 [Exp]. 'If it was so low, why did it even attack me in the first place?' I thought with a frown, wondering about its motives.

(You've killed a level 8 adult kobold and gained 8 Exp)

(You've leveled up!)

(You've earned 5 Attribute Points)

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my intuition alerted me to a kobold rushing at me with its sword, aiming right at my side. I quickly turned around to face it, lifting my sword to deflect its attack. Swiftly, I caught its other arm and pulled it closer, shocking and interrupting its retreat. Then, I pushed it back in the other direction, making its back wide open and stopping it from moving further away. Finally, I swung my sword down, dealing massive damage and causing maximum bleeding.

Four kobolds closed in, each approaching from a different angle. Aware that attacking one would expose my back to the others, I formulated a plan to lure one into my domain, swiftly dispatch it, and return before the remaining kobolds could exploit the opening. Fixating on the kobold positioned in front of the one I had previously wounded, I charged forward, using my weight to push it back.

Swiftly catching up, I invoked my domain, [Absolute Darkness], as I neared both targets. The kobold, like any intruder to my domain, displayed the familiar mix of surprise and confusion—a reaction that never failed to amuse me, regardless of how often I witnessed it.

Pressed for time, I swiftly charged the kobold, unleashing a torrent of relentless heavy attacks and strikes. Through a barrage of assaults, I managed to overpower it, creating irreparable dents in its shield and rendering it useless as my onslaught persisted.

Eventually, it succumbed, collapsing to the ground, its once formidable defenses reduced to nothing but a useless blade. Unrelenting, I continued my assault, vanquishing the level 16 kobold and reaping 27 [Exp] upon its demise. Leaving its lifeless form sprawled on the ground, I turned to another kobold, lying in a wretched state.

Standing above it, I plunged my heavy sword into its body repeatedly until it met its inevitable end. With the lifeless bodies confined within my domain, I exited, the echoes of my conquest lingering behind.

(You've killed a level 16 adult kobold and gained 27 Exp)

(You've killed a level 10 adult kobold and gained 9 Exp)

I went to find the kobolds that I had been dealing with on their way to the other orcs, who were already struggling to handle the kobolds attacking them. Some orcs were severely injured and on the brink of defeat, while others were still holding their ground. I aimed to assist the ones in dire straits. Silently approaching one of the severely injured orcs from behind, I struck its back with my sword, then grabbed its head and threw it behind me, pretending as if we were fighting alongside. The level 17 orc died during the skirmish, and I earned 40 [Exp] from the act of assistance.

(You've killed a level 10 adult orc [Warrior] and gained 40 Exp)

The battle raged on, and as time passed, both sides suffered losses. However, the orcs managed to secure victory, forcing the kobolds to retreat. Amid the chaos, I skillfully sneaked one orc body from the battleground into my domain, along with three kobolds. After the fight concluded, the warriors mourned the loss of the 'honorable' orc, little knowing that it was destined for my stomach. Then, they rested, anticipating the victory celebration later that night. As time passed, night fell, marking the commencement of the celebration!

The center of the village was adorned with bones and skin from the kobolds that had perished in the battle. Amidst the decorations, large chunks of kobold meat were hung high above a colossal bonfire, roasting. The area was illuminated by torches, casting shadows on the jubilant orc faces celebrating.

Fruits were scattered on small tables throughout the vicinity, and shamans, clad in peculiar attire, were engrossed in performing rituals. The festival concluded with a couple of duels between orc warriors, a test of strength and endurance meant to fortify relations and uplift the spirits of the warriors.

After the festival ended, everyone scattered and returned to their huts, while some stayed up patrolling the streets as usual. I was offered an empty hut for the night, as I informed them of my early departure. Once alone in the hut, I checked my status to note the changes. I had gained five [Attribute Points] from the level up, and there were about six corpses on the floor, in addition to what I had from before. My [Health] had recovered a bit, and my [Food] was down to sixty-one.

I snacked on the orc body I had in my domain, and [Dark Matter] increased to 420. Subsequently, my [Food] went up to 90, and its limit increased to 168, plus 8 [Attribute Points]. Now, I had a total of 13 [Attribute Points], but I decided to leave them for later.

Exhaling deeply, I closed my status interface and settled onto the coarse orc bed. As the hours drifted away, I awoke naturally, haunted by a nightmare where my younger human self confronted me, questioning the eerie and unjust path I had embarked upon. Steeling myself, I readied for the day, bidding farewells to the villagers. Stepping beyond the gates, I ventured northward into the labyrinth of dense forest, surrounded by towering trees.