I wiped my face from the water I spit up as I was drinking. “What do you mean we’re hated?”

A surprised look popped up on his face. “Do ya not know? Fer the past couple hundred years they been outcasts. Ever since the Great Purge, the deities have forsaken em’.”

I stand up, clearly shaken. This world had a calendar themselves, last I checked it was the Aurion calendar day fifty-seven. “What year is it now?”

“The gods announced a new era to acknowledge the genocide of the wanderers. It’s comin’ up on its second century.” He turned to me, but this time it was a curious look. “Which now that I think about it, how’re you here?”

My leg starts to fidget as the thought of being away for ten years is realized. “I’m not sure. I was at war with a rival guild and died during it.”

A memory came across my mind. It was right before I resurrected, but the images were faint and blurry. All I can remember was a massive war.

Rak looks up to me while I pace. “So yer tellin’ me that yer ‘guild’ is responsible for the start of the Final War?”

My ears perked up. “Final War?”

“Yeah! It was the major battle before the Gods came down. It was the start of the purge.”

“Gods huh!” In a split second as I tried to remember the battle, a sharp pain shot through my head. “Urk!”

I hold the side of my head in confusion. This pain seemed to linger for quite a second as my memory started to come back.

Like a movie film, flashbacks occur frame by frame. A shadow that was behind the enemy guild leader, and its power to grant buffs to the entire army.

“A shadow . . .”

“A what? Shadow?” Rak turns to me with a dumbfounded face. “So yer seeing things?”

“No, there was a shadowy figure at the battle, it granted power to the enemy. The leader said he contracted with a God.”

“A God huh? Well, I don't know much about all of em. A shadow based God is something I got nothin' on.” He sits there puzzled.

“Well, you've already been a great help, and of course not everything can be easily obtained.”

I am truly grateful for Rak’s help though. Without him, I'd be starved, and just recently, fertilizer for those plants.

“But besides that, I have a request for ya, think of it as payment for saving ya.”

I listen intently as he asks me what he needs.

“The creature that ya ran away from, the beast one, could ya try findin him again?”

His request was a strange one. At first I didn't think much of it.

“Sure.” I point out the tracks from where me and the beast. The footprints were surprisingly shallow, but Rak explained the beast, which was called a Roppa-dachi.

The species is known for its territorial hunting grounds, however this one ventures beyond its grounds. Rak explained that could only mean one thing, a bigger predator.

This hunter was shoved out of their zone due to an Apex that is the only dominant beast over the Roppa-dachi.

“This is the beast I've been searchin for. Knowin the Roppa's personality, since it failed a hunt, it'd go back to his place to fight for it. Only way it can get food at this point.”

“What's the apex called?”

“Well, it's a strange creature that I have yet to know about, but I call him Shade.”

Rak drew a picture of the apex within the dirt. It nearly looked like a massive lion mixed with some sort of eldritch abomination.

“You're going to fight that?”

“I'll try my damndest.”

He seemed set on this fight like he has been preparing for it for some time.

I sit there quietly trying to rest a bit. The poison from the spipents are slowly fading from my body, and the numbness as well subsides.

I tried to speak up to ease the tension but instead I just sat there eating and taking it easy.

Abruptly however, Rak spoke up to break the ice. His words shocked me.

“I'm gonna need ya help with trackin the Roppa. Use that lycan smell, better than mine.”

He cracked an old man's smile and I couldn't help but laugh a bit.

“Yeah, you saved my life. There's not much I wouldn't do to repay that.”

We clasped hands as Rak pulled me up to my feet. After sharing the moment of brotherhood, we both set off to track the Roppa’s to its land.

I never smelled anything as strong in my two lives before. It's like my primal instincts as a lycan character is slowly adapting to my body and mind.

Because of my heightened sense of smell, the tracks weren't even needed for most of the trek.

Eventually, night fell and the jungle became dark and eerie. Only the sounds of nocturnal bugs and animals could be heard through the trees.

As we crept through the vegetation trying to make as little noise as possible, my foot landed into a massive claw marking.

The mud has been dug up and was well hidden due to the amount of greenery around.

A scaly hand ejects from my right side to halt my position.

“Hush now, it's around.” This is the quietest I've heard him before.

“Alright, so let's sleep it off and come back in the morning.” As I try to tiptoe backwards, Rak grabs my shoulder and pulls me back.

“We huntin’ him now.”

“What? Why? You called him Shade, did you not? So why would we attack someone who sounds like he revolves around the dark, in the dark!” I quietly yell this out.

“Cause, that’s the perfect time to strike. At his strongest is what I want him at!”

I’m completely dumbfounded.

. . .

It’s illogical to think that. Am I somehow in the wrong?

. . .

I slap myself back to reality and try to understand his way of thinking. “Why do you want him at his strongest? This is a hunt, not a fair match!”

Rak just stares at me without muttering a word. It seems he doesn’t want to waste the time to explain.

Thud!

A crash is sounded from the direction that the footprints lead.

Thud!

Again . . .

THUD!

The crackle and snapping of a tree came plummeting down. Dust and debris flung in all directions as it connected with the ground below it.

Once the cloud of dust fades, droplets of blood rain down from a good distance away.

It was too dark to make out most of the details, but I was certain we were at the right place.

Rak pressed forwards towards the fallen tree. We carefully skittered to the trunk of the three and investigated it.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Massive claw marks were dug into the bark. It was clear that it was due to a much larger beast than the Roppas.

We followed a trail of disrupted plant life until we stopped in a small clearing. Rak stepped out into it and walked over to the stream. He took his leather waterskin out to refill it.

Suddenly, a smell pierced my nose. It was faint and strong at the same time.

I quickly looked around the clearing to try and spot anything, but I could see a single creature.

“Rak!” I quietly yelled, “I smell something around. It’s almost hard to gather where it’s coming from.”

Rak peered his head up to search for anything around as well.

It started to drizzle. A drop of water landed on my head and next my shoulders.

I wiped off the wet spot with my right hand as I didn’t like the feeling of it. Something then caught my attention.

A strong iron scent hovered around me. It was stronger than before.

. . .

Iron? There's only a few scents that smell like iron-

. . .

My thoughts stopped as I realized the possibility. I slowly looked up as I saw two eyes peering down at me.

As soon as I noticed it, a set of jaws lunged down at me. It was too fast for me to follow.

I was soon swallowed into darkness. It was hot and slimy where I was.

. . .

Was I eaten by this thing?

. . .

I panicked around as I gripped onto what felt like a large tongue. I held on trying not to fall into a hole as the entire fleshy cave moved into a vertical drop.

I hung on for dear life trying not to be ingested by this creature then a light showed.

It was faint but I could see dim light emanating from my pockets. I grabbed what was in there, it was the mirror from the burrow.

I looked into it and saw my level and everything. This time, however, I saw I leveled up to level fifteen. I noticed as well that there were extra numbers on it, to insinuate that I had points to add to my stats.

With each level you get two stat points you can add, and since you start off with ten stat points once you create a character and resurrect, I have accumulated thirty-eight stat points.

◆◆◆◇◇◇◆◆◆◇◇◇◆◆◆

Kings’ body began to shine. A bright red and white light surrounded King.

This was the same event when someone levels up within the game, so King was confused why it occurred during his stat increase.

The inside of Shade illuminated.

King; level 15

EP: 38 -> 0

Strength - 11 -> 30

Dexterity - 12 -> 26

Constitution - 9 -> 16

Intelligence - 8 -> 8

Charisma - 10 -> 10

Luck - 12 -> 20

◆◆◆◇◇◇◆◆◆◇◇◇◆◆◆

As the light fades, I find myself brought back into darkness.

Energy surged through my body instantly and although painful, I bared the feeling.

Increasing a stat by even 1 point is a substantial amount. People held EP just to fake people out in pvps.

For example, if someone increase a point within dexterity, the can run ten percent faster and their Agility and attack speed is amped fifteen percent. Each stat have their own percent increases, but the fact remains that increasing stats makes a huge difference.

I closed the gap in strength between me and Shade. I wedged myself within the jaws of this creature and started to pry his mouth open.

His teeth began to separate as I hear a loud war cry from behind.

Rak slammed into Shade. It and I, went tumbling around.

I popped out its clutches and was at a fight ready stance. However, as soon as I looked up to Shade, he was gone.

“Rak he uses illusions! How do we win this?”

“His illusions just tamper with yer mental image. The reflectin’ light off its projections created by his tendrils cause it.”

“How can I combat that?!”

“Steel yer mind, most people use magic to coat their eyes to see through any illusion.”

“What the hell does that mean!” I start to get confused and aggravated at the situation.

Taking into account Rak's advice, I try to think about it for a second. I don't have enough training in magic to actually bring his idea into reality, but I figured it'd be worth a shot. It'll be just like using any magic, right?

I start to focus on casting a spell but instead of having it produce in my arm, I try to focus the feeling onto my eyes.

It's a bit difficult to put the concept to practice. As I was trying to do so, a faint warm feeling arose. I felt my entire body, or something even deeper than that.

Each being in this world has a system of nerve-like strands that work its way through the body. It's not a physical thing, but instead a spiritual one.

This feeling was spreading all through my body until I got interrupted by a paw swinging at me.

Rak tackled me to the ground to avoid the beast's strike. “Ya tryna meet yer maker this soon?”

“It’s harder than it sounds. Can’t do that when I never heard of it.”

I race back behind some large rocks to bide myself some time in order to figure out how to use this skill. The idea is very tricky to get right like any abstract theory is.

My thoughts pace around millions of times faster than normal, trying to figure out a method to implement this concept.

Then it clicked with me.

Each spell typically is produced from a single point in the body. Attack spells usually are produced from the arms and hands, and movement type spells are produced in the legs and feet. There are a plethora of different spell options that I can use in order to understand the feeling of mana circulating within my eyes.

A level ten spell, .

An ability that allows the user to gauge the potential movement of a target. This spell was mostly used by spellswords to contend against assassin based mages and long range ballistics, although it operated differently within the game.

As soon as I casted the spell, my vision goes blue. It’s as if I’m seeing the world in code almost but not digital, more so . . . Thermal vision.

I see the streams of mana being sent around the battleground. Rak’s innate magic buffs spiraling around him and a thick magic aura-like mist around Shade.

Now being able to utilize the spell, I sprung into action.

I dashed out towards Shade in a confident sprint. It was preoccupied with Rak as I came up from behind his blindspot.

I charge up , a flame gauntlet that wraps around my arm. I swing towards its heel and connect in an explosive mess.

The Shade’s foot was left a massive burnt gash as the hind leg buckled in pain.

Rak used that opening to rush underneath its jaws and shove his spear into the lower part of its mouth.

It whelped in agony as its mouth and tongue were skewered by Rak’s spear.

It swiped at my scaly friend but to luck. Rak maneuvers around the creature like he’s done this plenty before.

Seeing as it’s on death’s door, we both rush into the beast to finish it off.

. . .

Immediately however, darkness spread across the grounds.

It was different that it being night, it was pure pitch blackness. A void where once couldn’t tell where you were oriented.

“Rak! You still there?”

. . .

The silence was more than enough to set me off. A chill ran down my spine.

Always darkness lately. I couldn’t deal with a creature of light. It’s like every chance I get it’s just dark.

Then a sharp pain in my back rushes to my brain as a gash opens up.

“Ghuh! Ah Fuck!”

I kneel down holding my lower back.The regeneration process started to patch up my wound, but I’m still not in the clear.

“Shit shit shit!”

I cast again and attempted to see the area more clearly. Once I did, the entire area was covered in dark blue haze that I couldn’t see through. This whole area was doused with magical energy.

Panicked, I swing my arms wildly around to protect myself from the unknown.

I began to hyperventilate.

My heart began to beat a million times per second.

. . .

I was terrified. I was alone. In the darkness that continues to haunt me.

. . .

My anxiety fueled my need to want to see clearly. I didn’t want to be killed by something I can’t see.

The feeling of the mana within my eyes from helped me grasp that concept. It felt like flexing the facial muscles around my eyes, but instead of it being physical, it was this feeling of mana on a spiritual level.

My eyes glowed a fiery red as the lights around me changed from blue.

It was like a fire hellscape that surrounded me instead of a calm ocean. Then I was able to see past the haze, past even solid objects.

The circulation of mana was easily distinguishable now. I could see shapes as flames within my vision. One shape in particular, dashed around another smaller shape. I can assume that it's Shade and Rak.

I slowly, but also quickly walked my way over. Each step I took seemed to unleash another flash of fiery light that gave my vision more of a picture of what's happening.

Each shape's eyes looked towards my direction as the heat around me continuously increased.

The first step broadened the images in my mind.

The second step increased the heat emanating from me.

The third step sent out chains that latched on to the larger shape on my command.

The fourth step dragged it towards me.

Upon the fifth step, the large shape charged at me, but it was useless. As soon as the fifth step was completed, a shockwave enveloped the shape. Five separate waves covered it, and each one disrupted its spiritual nervous system.

The beast howled in absolute horror and distraught. The pain it felt was beyond normality.

It laid before my feet barely able to even lift a muscle like its entire body was in shock.

As the adrenaline within me ceases, my body contorts as I fall into unconsciousness. Not before I could catch a glimpse of Rak rushing to my side and a figure way beyond him that stood there, then left.

A shadow.