After the intense encounter with the oversized rat, Damian’s exhaustion overtook him, and he slept deeply through the night. The following morning, he awoke feeling unusually invigorated. As he prepared a hearty breakfast, the news caught his attention:

“Today, a wild boar several times larger than average was killed after causing havoc in the city. Several police officers were at the scene; five were injured, and one has died after an intense fight broke out.”

This alarming report confirmed Damian’s suspicions: the anomalies he had encountered were not isolated incidents. The world was changing, and these dangerous creatures were becoming more prevalent.

Determined to assess the situation, Damian donned his running gear and set out for a run to see if he encountered any other animals. In college, a five-mile run would leave him winded, but today, he completed the distance effortlessly. His stamina had increased remarkably, a testament to the increased agility he had invested into.

Upon returning home, Damian noticed his uncle and aunt’s car in the driveway, accompanied by vehicles belonging to the local sheriff and a game warden. Approaching them, he greeted them,

“Hello, is something wrong?”

Uncle Ben introduced the officials, “Damian, this is Sheriff Robert and Game Warden Billy.”

The sheriff spoke up, “Son, we received reports of gunshots last night. You’re not in trouble, but given the recent wildlife incidents, especially with Ben’s injury yesterday, we have some concerns.”

Damian explained the previous night’s events, “There was a wild animal that caused a power outage. I had to defend myself. You can check inside; the power was cut. I’ve already contacted the electric company too about it.”

He led them to the shed, revealing the carcass of the massive rat. The sight left the officials in disbelief. The game warden, visibly unsettled, examined the creature.

Damian shared his observations, “I’ve noticed that these creatures have gemstones in their chests. It seems connected to the recent feral animal attacks. I was scared for my life and hoped to prevent this creature from harming anyone else.”

The sheriff and game warden exchanged glances, then nodded appreciatively. “You did the right thing,” the sheriff acknowledged.

They informed Damian and Uncle Ben about a recent incident in Dallas involving a large boar causing havoc in the city, resulting in injuries and a fatality among police officers. Additionally, they warned both Damian and his uncle of a dangerous stag sighted at Richard’s Farm, described as having sharp teeth and a small horn on its forehead. The stag had reportedly killed and eaten a cow on his farm.

“There’s a bounty of $1,000 on this stag,” the game warden stated. “But I must repeat, do not engage unless you’re properly armed. It’s extremely dangerous.”

Damian’s mind raced at what type of Mana stone it could’ve . The world was becoming increasingly perilous, but with his abilities, he felt he could handle it. As the officials departed, he couldn’t help but consider the opportunity of earning a bit of money.

Damian stood in the doorway, watching the sheriff and game warden drive away. His uncle’s voice broke his train of thought.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Don’t even think about it,” Uncle Ben said, arms crossed.

“Think about what?” Damian replied, though his smile gave him away.

“You know exactly what. You’re not going after that stag. That thing’s dangerous, Damian. You heard what they said—it killed a cow. It might as well be a monster, you might’ve gotten lucky last both times but this isn’t a game.”

Damian sighed, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m not stupid, Uncle Ben. I’m not running unprepared. But you’ve got to admit, if something like that’s out there, someone has to take it down. And I’m not just going to sit here and do nothing if it shows up.”

Ben sighed, rubbing his temples. “You’ve got a point, but you’ve never seen anything like this before. That rat you killed? That was one thing. A stag like that? That’s a whole different ball game.”

“I’ll be careful,” Damian said, placing a hand on his uncle’s shoulder. “Trust me.”

Ben shook his head. “Just don’t do anything reckless.”

Damian gave a reassuring nod but already had a plan forming in his mind.

That afternoon, Damian returned to the shed. The rat’s carcass had been removed by the game warden, but its bloodstains remained on the floor. He sat down and opened his status window again, staring at the glowing interface.

Ten points still remained unallocated. He had been cautious about using them, not fully understanding their impact, but the events of the past day had shown him he couldn’t afford to hold back.

“Let’s even this out,” he muttered, deciding to invest four points into Strength, three into Dexterity, and the remaining two into Mana.

The moment he confirmed his choices, the now-familiar warmth surged through his body. His muscles tightened, and he felt an almost electric charge in his veins.

He clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound strength coursing through him. His heart raced, not from fear but from anticipation. Whatever was happening to him, he was growing stronger—and he’d need every bit of it.

By the time night fell, Damian was prepared. He had gathered supplies: the bow and a full quiver of arrows, a flashlight, a hunting knife, and his uncle’s K5 pistol with the last two bullets still chambered. He packed everything into a small bag, careful to keep it light and quiet.

As he stepped outside, the cool Texas night wrapped around him, the sound of crickets filling the air. The farm was still and peaceful, but Damian knew better than to let his guard down. If the stag was anywhere nearby, it wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

He started running toward Richard’s Farm, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. The moonlight illuminated his path, casting long, eerie shadows across the open fields.

Halfway there, he heard it—a low, guttural growl that didn’t belong to any normal animal. Damian froze, heart pounding, and scanned the area with his flashlight.

In the distance, near the treeline, a massive silhouette moved. It was the stag. Its sharp teeth glinted in the moonlight, and its single horn gleamed like polished ivory. The creature was enormous, easily standing over seven feet tall at the shoulder.

Damian crouched low, gripping his bow tightly. He nocked an arrow, pulling the string back as silently as he could. His enhanced Dexterity made the action feel effortless.

The stag sniffed the air, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto Damian’s position. It let out a bone-chilling roar, unlike anything he had ever heard, and charged.

Adrenaline surged through Damian’s veins as he released the arrow. The shot hit its mark, embedding deep in the creature’s shoulder, but it barely slowed down. Damian fired another arrow, this time aiming for its chest, but the stag dodged with unnerving speed.

“Damn it!” he muttered, sprinting to the side to avoid being trampled. His increased Agility kicked in, and he moved faster than he ever thought possible, narrowly evading the stag’s charge.

The creature skidded to a halt, turning to face him again. Its horn glowed faintly, and for a moment, Damian thought he saw sparks of energy flickering around it.

“This thing has abilities too,” he realized, panic setting in.

He had no time to think. The stag charged again, and Damian dove to the side, rolling to his feet and firing another arrow. This time, the shot hit the base of the creature’s neck, drawing a pained bellow from it.

It was injured now, but far from defeated. Damian could see the blood pouring from its wounds, but its eyes burned brighter, as if fueled by rage.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Damian muttered, reaching for another arrow.

The battle was far from over.