Joe had his body half turned as he gazed at Ray's shocked expression. It took a second before he fully turned around to face the 2 remaining beasts. “You guys aren't looking too good. I think you should sit this one out.” Joe's voice was calm and certain.

A dark mist smothered the Wolfin he just killed, reducing it to nothing In mere seconds. [Skill Activation: Predator]

[+1 (lvl 9) Mana Beast Core To Your Inventory]

[Your Mana Pool Has Been Replenished]

With that out of the way, Joe's attention was fully in the two beasts ahead of him. With a single step, his body rocketed foward. A trail of black mana lingered in his wake. As he charged, a twisted idea bloomed into Joe's mind. “Let's take things up a notch Sy, Let's go X2!”

[Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement (Lvl 3) X2]

[Total Speed:20>44]

[Toal Strength:18>42]

[Total Skill:21>53]

Joe's eyes flared to life, his muscles bulged slightly as they were bombarded by a new surge of energy—an adrenaline rush coursing through them like a raging river. His senses were all sharpened to the extreme, in those few seconds. He was completely in the zone.

He closed on the Wolfins rapidly.

A Wolfin (lvl 11) looked to act, as it rose to tower Joe's frame. But by the time it reached its apex, it was already too late. Before the Wolflin could launch one of its massive feet, Joe was already there.

His right fist connected with its stomach. The fist coated in pure mana, sent ripples throughout the forest on contact. The beast released a painful howl, before its body was sent flying at frightening speed.

Crunch!

The Wolfin's spine slammed into a tree trunk. The sound of breaking bones settled within the dungeon, its body slid down the trunk, smearing it in crimson as it slumped to the surface. Lifeless.

[You Have Slain A (Lvl 11) Wolfin]

Joe's focus shifted to the last Wolfin, he charged towards it without the slightest hesitation.

The (Lvl 12) Wolflin didn't back away, it threw itself forward exposing its teeth. With an open mouth, it thrusted its head ready to consume Joe's entire body in one go. [Skill Activation: Bite]

The Wolfin's teeth came together, but Joe's figure vanished with the wind.

From above, Joe came crushing down. With his right leg fully stretched, he landed on the Wolfin's skull with a thunderous heel strike. The impact sent shockwaves that made the wind dance. Blood escaped from the Wolfin's mouth, as it got burried in the resulting crater.

[You Have Slain A (Lvl12) Wolfin]

[You Have Leveled Up!]

[You Have Leveled Up!]

[Current Level:10]

Joe exhaled as the mana around his figure faded. [Skill Deactivated]

He looked to take a step—when his muscles tightened and his body refused to move an inch. A sharp pain surged through his body unannounced. Joe gritted his teeth as he looked to endure the excruciating discomfort. He felt like his muscles, bones and everything else on his body was being torn piece by piece.

The pain only lasted 20 seconds before retreating like it never came.

Joe was panting and drenched in sweat. To him, those few seconds felt like an entire life time. He doubled over clutching his knees. His chest pounded as he tried desperately to get it under control.

“I guess I may have over done it a bit…” he forced a chuckle.

He knew even without Syr saying a word, that using a X2 Multiplier on [Outsider’s Enhancement] was probably the cause. Pushing his body like he did, even if it was for a few seconds, was bound to catch up to him.

Joe straightned after a few minutes. As everything seemed to be back in order. But Joe took what just occurred to heart. It was a warning. If he ever overextended himself again, it could kill him.

[Your Skill (Outsider's Enhancement) Has Reached (Lvl 4)

[Updated Attributes]

MP: 680//920

• Skill: 19>23(+2 Class Boost Attribute Points)

• Strength: 18>22

• Speed: 20>24

• Defense: 14>16

• Mental Strength: 19>21

• Additional Attribute Points: 2

His attention was grabbed by the notification screen that popped up infront of him. He had just gone up another two levels. That washed away some of the unease he felt while also bringing a slight smile to his face.

“You can give the free points to my defense Syr.” Joe blamed some of the pain he just experienced to his low defense, so it wouldn't hurt to invest in it a little bit more.

[Updated Attributes]

▪︎Defense: 16>18

With the upgrade confirmed, Joe turned to the Wolfin he just killed. He activated [Predator] and absorbed it in seconds. Using [Predator] was becoming second nature to him at this point. Even he was surprised with how quickly he was adapting.

[You Have Replenished Your Mana Pool]

[Current Mana Pool:920/920]

[+1 (Lvl 12) Mana Beast Core Has Been Added To Your Inventory]

With that done, he made his way to the Wolfin slumped against a tree. He repeated the same process and absorbed it without difficulty.

[+1 (lvl 11) Mana Beast Core Has Been Added To Your Inventory]

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“You can use all the cores I gathered to upgrade the Black Blade”

[Your Mana Too: (The Black Blade) Has Leveled Up!]

[Your Mana Tool: (The Black Blade) Has Leveled Up!]

[Your Mana Tool: (The Black Blade) Has Reached (Lvl11]

After his order Joe finally turned around to face Ray and Shelly.

“Don't move!” Ray barked.

Joe surprised by his tone, did as he said.

“Who are you?” Ray pointed his dagger directly at Joe, his eye contact unflinching.

Is this how people were treated for trying to help In Grisha? Joe was completely lost. He expected to see at least grateful eyes, but instead he was me with hostility.

“I mean you no harm!” Joe raised his arms, in an effort to reassure Ray.

Ray didn't seem to buy it, his dagger was still pointed at Joe. But something diverted his focus.

He turned around after hearing low sobs behind him. Shelly had her hands over her face, still unable to stop her tears.

Ray clenched his teeth and sheathed his dagger to his waist. He trudged towards Shelly and bent down slightly. He seized Shelly's hair with his right hand and hauled her back to her feet. His hand grasped her throat and he smashed her against a tree.

The tree shook as leaves fell from the branches. Shelly tried to scream but Ray's hand stiffiled any sound she tried to make. His eyes bored directly into hers. “Why are you crying Shelly? This is all your fault!”

Shelly's watery eyes remained widened, her entire body trembled at Ray's words.

Slap!

A sharp sound resonated with the forest. Shelly's body sprawled to the ground and a red hand print manifested on her right cheek. She held it, tears still dripping down her face.

“I'm sorry… I'm so—”

Crunch!

Her words failed to complete when Ray's knee collided with her face. Her head was rocked back and it hit the ground, hard. Blood pooled from her twisted nose and a few of her teeth were visibly cracked.

Ray loomed over her, “You think apologizing will change anything? You were the healer Shelly! Why didn't you help them? Everyone died and its all your fault!” Ray rained down on her, stomp after stomp, after stomp. “Just die! You useless bitch!” Drops of blood splattered against the soft soil everytime Ray brought down his foot.

He could see that Shelly was moments away from finally giving in to the weight of his assaults. He raised his foot high in the air. Just as Ray brought down his foot, he felt something tap his shoulder.

Instinctively, Ray swung around. As he did, a fist struck him right in between the eyes. His skin was smushed together and an audible crack reverberated. Blood exploded from Ray's face as his body was sent flying across the forest.

He smashed against a tree and another crack was heard. His body slid down the trunk, his face submerged In blood.

The perpetrator. Of course, was Joe. [Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement (Lvl 4)

[-55 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana Pool:865]

[Total Skill:25>45]

[Total Strength:22>38]

[Total Speed:24>40]

He cracked his knuckles, “didn't your mother teach you, not to lay a hand on a lady?” Joe's eyes bored into Ray with a quiet intensity.

When he didn't see him move, his focus turned back to Shelly. “Are you alright?” He asked, his expression was a lot sweeter and his tone much more gentle. [Skill Deactivated]

Joe could see she wasn't ok, but he had no clue what else to say.

Shelly stired and sat upright slowly. Joe knelt down offering to help. But Shelly raised her hand and shook her head. “I'm …fine.” She managed to say.

A green light enveloped her body and slowly, her injuries began to fade, the blood dried up and her nose slowly fell back into place. [Skill Activation: Regeneration]

“Thank You.” Her voice was soft.

Joe just smiled. “No problem. My name's Joe. “

“It's Shelly.”

Before he could say another word, a cough made Joe turn his head. He found Ray slowly begin to rise.

He clawed his way back to his feet. “You bastard…” he spat out a large volume of bloody saliva. “Do you have any idea who you're messing with?” Ray huffed, one hand clutching his ribs.

His eyes darted to Shelly. “So now you're using that healing skill of yours. You selfish bitch! What about our party members? Why didn't you help them?”

Shelly's body began to tremble at his voice once again, unable to say a word.

Ray clenched his fist, “not talking? That's fine with me!”

[Skill Activation: Stealth]

Ray's body vanished right before Joe's eyes. It blended with the wind and became impossible to track with the naked eye. Ray was invisible.

His footsteps vanished without a trace.

Joe sprang into life, he grabbed Shelly and threw her back. She shrieked, but Joe didn't have time to be gentle.

Luckily for Joe, his eyes were not normal. Even though Ray was invisible, Joe could see his mana clear as day. He could not only see the flickering flame, but he saw everything. The routes Ray's mana took as it circulated throughout his body. How much mana he still had in reserves. Joe could see it all. It was like he had some kiind of X-Ray vision. [Passive Skill: Outsider’s Perspective]

He kept up with Ray just fine. He saw him imbue mana into a dagger he made invisible. Seeing this, Joe braced himself.

Ray attacked Joe head on—he zipped instantly to where he stood. He raised his dagger high above his head, he then swung it down in a verticaly, probably certain Joe couldn't see a thing.

But Ray was about to find out the hard way. Joe wasn't your average opponent.

Joe's right hand launched forward and he gripped Ray's armed wrist. Mana flared from his form, before he drove a left jab deep into Ray's stomach. [Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement]

[-55 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana Pool:810/920]

The impact deactivated Ray's Skill and he became visible once again. His body doubled over, eyes in disbelief “how…?”

Joe didn't respond—instead he threw a second jab that sent Ray tumbling and rolling like a barrel. Before coming to a stop a fair distance away.

Ray refused to fall down, slowly he dragged himself up once again.

“Go!” Joe commanded.

“What?” Ray was visibly confused.

“I'll let you go, if you get out of my sight.” Joe's voice was calm, and his eyes were relaxed as he said this.

“What? You're joking? Right?” Ray erupted into a short burst of laughter. “You want me to get of your sight? You'll let me go?” Ray couldn't help but release another chuckle. As his voice died down, his expression turned serious. “That's not going to happen.”

He reaffirmed his grip on his dagger, “this right here. This dagger was given to me by Kite. But you know where he is now? Dead! He's dead! How am I going to explain to Kate that his younger brother is dead huh? What am I going to tell her? The reason Kite's dead is because of her! And if you're hell bent on standing in my way you bastard.” Ray's eyes turned sinister, “I'll just kill you both!”

Fire ignited from Ray's dagger. It crackled with intensity as it shrouded the entire blade except for the handle. [Mana Tool Skill: Burn]

Ray smirked at the sight, and then without warning—he thrusted his arm foward. Fire erupted from the dagger. It surged towards Joe in a straight line, multiplying the Dagger's reach.

Joe swiftly unsheathed his blade. With a single swing, a crescent arc of mana sliced through Ray's flames looking to bisect his body. [Mana Tool Skill: Mana Slash]

[Total Skill: 45>90]

[-90 From Your Mana Pool]

[Current Mana Pool:720]

Ray leaped to the side, the slash brisked past his body seconds from slicing him in half. It continued untill it collided with a teee in the distance.

Ray glanced back at the devastation behind him, his relief written on his face. He turned to Joe once again.

“That was close, just who in the world is this kid? A licensed adventurer? No that can't be right.. he must be a lone wanderer or something. It doesn't matter. I have to finish this now. I don't have much mana left in the tank. I have use stealth, there's no way this kid managed to see through it. It was a fluke. Yeah.. that's what It was. A fluke.”

A smile crept on Ray's face. [Skill Activation: Stealth] Once again, Ray was invisible.

Unfortunately for Ray, it wasn't a fluke. Joe kept up with his movements with ease. He saw Ray jump to the sky and his eyes followed him. Sure enough a spark of flames shone just above, and Ray's form was revealed.

“Die!”

The flames around the dagger danced. They became wild and unruly. Ray couldn't get them to settle down. The fire charred his hands and arms. But he refused to let go of it. With furry in his eyes. He swung it with all his strength.

What followed was a wave of fire that fell from the sky. It came crushing down on Joe like a flood, ready to drown him in its burning embrace.

[Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement (lvl 4) X2]

[-110 From Your Mana Pool]

[Current Mana Pool:610]

[Total Skill:45>65]

[Total Strength:38>54]

[Total Speed:40>56]

Black mana cloaked Joe as he sprung backwards in a powerful leap. The flames crashed to the earth, producing a blast that propelled Joe further backwards. His form skidded across the earth—he avoided the flames but just barley.

His jacket was torn and burnmarks found their way to his hands and arms. Joe winced as he endured the pain coursing through his body.

A cloud of smoke manifested and rapidly consumed the field. But even inside the thick haze [Outsider’s Perspective] was working just fine. Joe could see Ray's form land and dash towards his position. His movements were silent and quick but Joe could see through them.

When Ray appeared infront of him and swung his dagger horizontally. Joe simply ducked, the dagger whistled above him. Using the opening created, his black blade ran through Ray's midsection, cutting him perfectly in half.

Blood soaked Joe's blade as Ray's body parts feel to the ground. The smoke vanished and Joe could see the results of his handiwork first hand.

Right then and there Joe realized, for the first time in his life. He had just killed a human being.