The Beast

Chapter 1: Awakening

A Royal Road Fan Fiction… of sorts

By Halosty

It all started when a player in Royal Road pulled one too many mobs in a fight. His skills were enough to defeat all ten of them if he had not made a few mistakes. However, he slipped up several times during the battle. Once or twice, he missed when he should have hit. He also failed to dodge some of their attacks when he was able to. His biggest mistake was losing count of how many he was fighting, and losing track of just one, when he thought the battle was over.

*You have a received a Critical Hit!*

*You have died*

Of course, this death caused all his friends to laugh at him, and lost him a level. It may seem insignificant, but it was this very thing that changed the fate of many players. How did a player being lower level change the course of the game? Not at all. For this story is not about this player. Instead, it is the story of the victor of the battle that day. Yes, this is the story of the animal known (mostly) as… The Beast.

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*Ding*

You have gained a level!

This was the message shown to the victor of the battle. Normally, as a monster, the stat points from this level would be distributed automatically by the AI. However, this was a special case. Many people would have called it a bug, but that would be just shortsightedness on their part. Nexon eradicated all bugs almost instantly, with the help of their governing AI, known as The Goddess. Perhaps it is more correct to say that Nexon helped the AI fix the bugs.

It mattered not who helped whom. Instead, all that mattered was that this beast was given the choice in how to develop, or at least the appearance of choice. It was also less constrained by the normal restrictions placed on monsters. It felt no compulsion to stay in the area of its birth. Moreso, it was given desires that many of the monsters did not feel, or at least never truly fulfilled. The desire for power was birthed in the beast.

Unlike the others of its kind, it felt no compassion for its kin. Perhaps it sensed that they were not so aware as itself. Perhaps it had no mercy in its heart. Regardless, the desire for power it felt drove it to slay its former kin, cautiously, one at a time. Some it crush beneath its body, driven by an increased strength. Others had their necks pierced by its sharp incisors.

In time, the beast leveled again. It increased its strength once more, since members of its kind increased in agility more rapidly by nature, thus it could shore up its weaknesses. It also gained a skill.

Natural Weapon Mastery (Similar to unarmed mastery for humanoids, affects fighting with the creature’s own body)

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Beginner level 1

Increases attack power with natural weapons by 5%

Increases attack speed with natural weapons by 10%

Then, another key moment in the development of The Beast occurred. Nighttime fell. At night, monsters increase in strength by 50%, but provide 30% more experience. This provides a risk for players hunting at night, offset by the reward of more experience. However, The Beast, although it was not yet called this by anyone, recognized nighttime as an advantage. Monsters were 50% stronger? It was a monster, so it gained this advantage as well. This completely removed any increased danger from the equation. Instead, The Beast was left with 30% more experience gained.

Eventually, it had to sleep. However, it waited for it to be day, then found a secluded spot to rest. From this point on, The Beast would hunt from dusk until dawn, squeezing the most it could get out of its advantage at night. During the day, it would hide from players. It had no qualms that it was not yet strong enough to take them on alone, and especially not if the players themselves were in groups. In addition, it had no desire to work with any of the others of its kind, who were weak and stupid. Thus, it avoided players.

The night hunts went on for some time, until finally another significant event occurred.

*Ding*

*Optional Ability Available*

*Warning: Any decision made is permanent*

Night Hunter

Increase statistics by 100% at night instead of 50%, but have only 50% statistics during the day.

As usual, the beast acted on instinct- although an instinct more refined than that of the others. It knew that if it chose to accept the ability, it would be despairingly weak during the day, and yet four times as powerful as that during the night. Surely, the choice of caution was to refuse the ability.

*You have gained Night Hunter*

Caution was for the weak. The Beast would be a creature of the night, and strike fear into the hearts of many players and monsters alike. Soon, it would return to its hunting, but not before it satisfied its hunger. It was time to feed. Stalking through the night, it came upon a most delectable treat, completely defenseless to its newfound power.

It chomped off the head of its prey in a single bite. Well, more of a nibble really. It was a rabbit after all. Carrots were sure tasty.

End Chapter 1:Awakening

…You didn’t think I was gonna write something even remotely serious, did you? I guess you didn't read my other fanfic if you thought that.