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The wolf growled, pacing around Kenji with a predator’s patience. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, watching his every movement. His heart pounded in his chest, fear gnawing at the edges of his mind. His breath was coming in short, ragged bursts. He could feel the sweat dripping down his back. This thing was faster than him, and Kenji knew it.
Kenji: "Just... stay calm... stay focused..."
But that was easier said than done. The wolf lunged, and Kenji barely dodged in time, stumbling to the side as the creature’s claws tore through the air where his chest had been. His legs wobbled—he was losing strength, fast. He gripped the dagger with shaking hands, his palms slick with sweat.
“I’m not gonna make it...” he thought, fear settling deep in his gut. The wolf turned, snarling, readying for another attack. Kenji took a shaky step back, his back pressing up against a tree. Nowhere to run.
The wolf growled again, lunging forward. Kenji twisted, but the beast’s claws raked across his arm, tearing through his uniform and skin. The pain was sharp, immediate. He cried out, stumbling forward, clutching his arm.
Kenji: "Damn it!"
His vision blurred from the pain, but the wolf wasn’t done. It circled him, slower this time, as if it knew he was weakening. Kenji’s breath hitched as he pressed his hand against his bleeding arm. The warm blood seeped through his fingers.
Kenji: "Okay, okay... think...!"
His mind raced. The dagger felt too light, too small. He wasn’t some trained fighter—he was just a kid! What chance did he have against this thing? But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. The wolf crouched, ready to strike again.
Kenji could barely keep his balance. His vision swam, but he couldn’t let this thing win. He had to push through. As the wolf leaped toward him, fangs bared, Kenji acted on instinct. He ducked under its jaws, feeling the heat of its breath as it flew over him. His heart raced as he rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another swipe of its claws.
“I’m so dead. I’m so, so dead...” he thought, panic clawing at him.
But something inside him snapped. Maybe it was desperation, or maybe it was pure survival instinct, but Kenji felt his body move before his mind could catch up. He charged at the wolf, dagger raised, and with a desperate yell, he plunged the blade deep into the creature’s side.
The wolf howled, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake him off. The force of its movement threw Kenji back, his body hitting the ground hard. His head spun, but through his blurry vision, he could see the wolf staggering. Its health bar was nearly empty, but the beast wasn’t done.
Kenji: "No, no, no... stay down!"
The wolf growled again, preparing for one final attack. Kenji scrambled to his feet, clutching the dagger tightly. His legs shook, his muscles screamed in pain, but he couldn’t back down now. The wolf lunged.
Kenji threw himself forward, slashing with all his remaining strength. The blade connected with the wolf’s throat, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. The wolf’s eyes widened, its body shuddered, and then—finally—it collapsed.
Kenji stumbled back, gasping for breath. The wolf’s body glowed softly before dissolving into faint particles of light. He stood there, frozen, panting, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He’d won. Somehow, he’d survived.
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[Wolf Defeated. XP Gained: 150]
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Kenji dropped to his knees, the dagger slipping from his fingers. His whole body ached—his arm throbbed, his chest heaved with each ragged breath. For a second, he could barely think. Then, a soft chime echoed in his ears.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
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[Level Up! You are now Level 2.]
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Kenji: "Level 2?"
He blinked at the message, struggling to process it through the haze of pain and exhaustion. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, still panting. The world felt too real—too intense for this to be just a game. But... he had leveled up. That meant he was stronger now, right?
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A glowing screen appeared in front of him, listing his stats. Kenji stared at it, still trying to calm his racing heart.
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[Status]
Name: Kenji Kimura
Level: 2
HP: 150 → 200
Strength: 10 → 12
Agility: 8 → 10
Intelligence: 10 → 11
Stat Points Available: 2
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Kenji: "HP increased... Strength and Agility, too..."
He flexed his fingers, feeling his body settle into a strange kind of calm. His arm still hurt, but the sharp edge of the pain had dulled. "I’m healing... because of the level up." That was actually kind of amazing. He felt... stronger.
His eyes drifted to the stat points. Two points. He could boost whatever he wanted.
Kenji: "Strength is good, but... Agility kept me alive back there."
He dumped both points into Agility without hesitation. Immediately, he felt his body respond—a little quicker, a little lighter.
But then something else caught his attention: Skills. He tapped on the menu. A blank screen appeared. No Fireball, no Healing, nothing. His Skills section was completely empty.
Kenji: "Wait... no skills? Nothing?"
He frowned, staring at the empty list. He’d played enough RPGs to know that skills were a huge part of combat. But he didn’t have any. Not one. "I guess... I’ll worry about that later." For now, he had to focus on survival.
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Kenji glanced at the spot where the wolf had fallen. In its place were a few glowing items—loot, like in a game. He reached down, picking them up, and a small window popped up.
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[Wolf Pelt x1]
[Healing Herb x2]
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Kenji: "A wolf pelt? Healing herbs..."
He clutched the pelt in his hands, feeling the rough texture of the fur. The night air was cold, and now that the battle was over, he could feel the chill seeping into his bones. Without thinking twice, he threw the wolf pelt over his shoulders. It wasn’t much, but it was warmer than his torn-up school uniform.
“This’ll do for now...” he thought, tugging it tighter around him.
He took out one of the herbs and chewed it. Bitter, but it worked. The tension in his body eased, and the sharp pain in his arm dulled a bit more.
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[HP Restored: +50]
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Kenji: "Okay... I think I’m good."
The reality of his situation started sinking in. He wasn’t just playing a game. This wasn’t just leveling up for fun. This was life or death. He glanced down at his hands, still trembling slightly from the adrenaline.
Kenji: "I actually killed that wolf... I could’ve died."
But he didn’t. He was still standing, and for now, that was all that mattered.
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The sky was darker now. Shadows stretched across the forest, and the temperature was dropping. Kenji pulled the pelt closer around him, thankful for the warmth, but he knew it wouldn’t last forever.
Kenji: "I need to find somewhere to rest... somewhere safe."
He scanned the forest, his eyes catching a faint path winding through the trees. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Just as he took his first step, another message appeared.
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[New Quest: Find Shelter for the Night]
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Kenji: "Find shelter, huh? Not a bad idea."
He started down the path, moving as quickly as his sore legs would allow. The cold air bit at his exposed skin, and every rustle of leaves made him flinch. He tightened his grip on the dagger, half-expecting another wolf—or something worse—to jump out at him.
The path stretched further into the woods, and with each step, the night grew darker. His body was still aching, but he had no choice. Staying in one place wasn’t an option. He had to keep moving.
Kenji: "There’s gotta be shelter somewhere... right?"
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The forest had grown unnervingly quiet. Kenji slowed his pace, eyes scanning the trees. The path was becoming harder to follow in the darkness, and the chill in the air seemed to seep into his bones despite the wolf pelt.
Then, he heard it.
A low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows, sending a chill down his spine. His heart skipped a beat. He turned, eyes wide, scanning the darkness. There—glowing eyes, watching him from the trees.
Kenji: "No... not again..."
His grip tightened on the dagger, his muscles tense as the growl grew louder. Whatever it was, it was big. Bigger than the wolf. And it was watching him.
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[Warning: Hostile Creature Detected]
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Kenji: "You’ve gotta be kidding me..."
The creature stepped forward, its massive form barely visible in the gloom. Kenji’s breath caught in his throat. Another fight... and this time, he wasn’t sure if he could win.
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To Be Continued...
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END OF EPISODE 2