William woke up to the sound of raindrops hammering at the roof. The storm had arrived some time while he was asleep and was now raging viciously outside. Wind whistled loudly, bringing in some fresh air through the open window.
William’s sore muscles protested as he slowly sat up on the sofa. “Status Window,” he commanded.
[William Torren]
[Species: Human]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship, Keen Introspection, Combat Perseverance]
[Titles: The Audacious One]
[Authority: !~`#5%$&/=]
[Stats]
[Vitality: 10.1]
[Power: 9.1]
[Control: 9]
[Aether: 0] (Resonance changed to Aether)
His vitality and power stats had grown slightly, probably due to the strain of fighting the werewolf. Even with this little growth, William could consciously feel it. His body was slightly stronger, and he felt a little more energetic than usual.
Pushing himself to his feet, William stretched and moved toward the doorway. Cold air rushed in as he opened the door, carrying with it the smell of rain-soaked earth and the stench of blood - a reminder of unfinished business.
His gaze landed on the werewolf carcass still sprawled out on the ground. It had been at least 15 hours since it was slaughtered, but small critters and other bugs were already feasting on it.
William grimaced. If the guide's words held true, he would need to find another werewolf - one freshly killed - to obtain that skill. His stomach twisted at the thought, then growled again with more urgent concerns.
Thunder cracked directly overhead, making him flinch. Rain quickly soaked through his clothes as he darted across the flooded street toward another house. This one had curtained windows that suggested a kitchen inside.
William had no need to crack the glass this time, as the windows simply slid open with a bit of force. He climbed in, looking around for any food.
A ceramic jar sat on the dining table, its lid open. Inside, William found what he was searching for - some food. It was merely stale bread and a sack of dried fruit, but William wasn’t about to complain. In the cupboards, he found two bottles of water, relatively clean. Even though it was stale, tasting as if it had been there for weeks, William quickly drank it up.
The other rooms of the house had some clothes. They were a size too small, but William was not about to go out smelling like werewolf spit.
After scavenging a few more houses, William had some gear to survive for at least a week. Some water and food, a backpack to hold it in, and new clothes. It was time to go on a werewolf hunt.
William stepped out into the heavy rain, ready to search for some werewolves. The storm had intensified, with lightning streaking across the sky at increasingly frequent intervals. The narrow streets had turned into small rivers, water rushing between buildings and washing away loose debris.
'Where would a werewolf hide during a storm?' William pondered as he trudged through the ankle-deep water. The old werewolf corpse was barely visible now, partially submerged in the rising water.
He decided to head toward the edge of the village, where the houses met the forest. Predators often lurked at the boundaries between civilization and wilderness. William kept his hand on the hilt of his jian, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
As he approached the outskirts, William noticed tracks in the muddy ground - large paw prints that were rapidly filling with rainwater but still recognizable. They led toward what appeared to be a large barn or storage building at the very edge of the village.
"Bingo," he muttered to himself, drawing his sword.
The barn doors were partially open, swinging slightly in the gusting wind. William activated his [Keen Introspection], focusing on the building.
[Abandoned Storage Barn. Contains farming equipment and potential predator nest.]
Not particularly helpful, but it confirmed his suspicions. William approached cautiously, trying to move silently despite the splashing water at his feet. The rain provided some cover for the sounds of his approach, but he knew werewolves had enhanced senses.
The interior of the barn was dark, with only faint light filtering through gaps in the wooden walls. The smell hit him immediately - the unmistakable stench of rot and animal musk. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, William could make out shapes of old farm equipment, broken carts, and piles of moldy hay.
A low growl came from the far corner. William froze, squinting into the darkness. Two glowing amber eyes stared back at him, immediately followed by another pair, and then another.
'Shit. Three of them.'
William slowly backed toward the entrance. One werewolf he might handle with his enhanced skills, but three was suicide. As he retreated, his foot knocked against a metal bucket, sending it clattering across the floor.
The werewolves immediately acted, running at him with full speed.
William’s title immediately activated as his mind ran on overdrive. Quickly, he used [Keen Introspection] on all three werewolves before sprinting out of the barn as quickly as he could.
Two of the werewolves were quite old, not as strong or agile as the young one he had fought, while the third was young and in prime condition.
'I need to separate them,' William thought frantically as he ran through the flooded streets. 'Or find a way to eliminate them one by one.'
As he was sprinting through the flooded streets, William spotted a two-story house with a balcony. The windows were small enough that the beasts wouldn’t be able to climb through them, so he made his decision.
He hurled his body through one of the windows, landing inside with a crash. He didn’t hesitate and shoved a large cupboard against the front door, barricading it. Just as he did that, the young werewolf crashed against the door at full force and it somehow held, but the cracking sound made it apparent that it wouldn’t hold for much longer. The older werewolves circled the house, looking for any entrances inside, but luckily there were none.
William looked around. The stairs were quite narrow, which meant he might be able to battle the werewolves one on one if he stood at the top. He sprinted up the stairs, getting his blade out. Fighting in such a cramped environment would not be comfortable at all, but he doubted he was worse off than the werewolves, who were much larger than him.
A crash below indicated that the door had finally given out. The wooden floors creaked as the werewolves made their way inside, searching for him.
The young werewolf appeared at the bottom of the stairs, its massive frame barely fitting in the confined space. It looked larger than the one he'd fought yesterday - its fur darker and eyes filled with malice rather than hunger.
With a roar, the beast charged up the stairs with immense speed.
[Combat Perseverance activated]
William’s body strengthened and his reflexes sped up. He waited until the last moment before stepping to the side and driving his sword into the creature's shoulder as it passed. The blade sank deeper than it had against the previous werewolf, suggesting his improved Power stat was making a difference.
The beast howled in pain and fury, spinning around to face him in the confined hallway. Blood splattered across the wall as it swung its injured limb.
"Come on," William taunted, backing up to give himself more room. "I've got what you want right here."
The werewolf charged again. Its jaw fully opened up, intending to bite into William’s soft neck. William used this small window, stabbing his sword into the beast’s maw. The blade pierced out of the top of its head as it went limp, falling on William and toppling him with its sheer weight.
He barely had time to wring himself off the creature before he heard a crash from the balcony. One of the old werewolves decided to climb up there instead of going through the stairs.
He was now stuck in a pincer attack. One was coming at him from the stairs, and one from the balcony. They were clearly more cautious now, seeing their stronger packmate’s death, but there were still two.
William didn’t hesitate, launching himself at the one coming up the stairs. He only had a few seconds to kill it before the third one arrived, but that was enough. The creature was visibly slower than its dead kin was, and William’s blade pierced its stomach. The werewolf didn’t relent, pushing back against him and sending its claws forward.
William’s sword was stuck in its gut, so he was forced to block the swipe with his forearm. He hissed as the claws made contact, creating deep gashes, but he didn’t let go. With his left arm, he twisted the blade which caused it to finally pull out and kicked the werewolf down the stairs.
The last werewolf was already lunging at William, and he had a little more than a second to react accordingly.
William didn’t try to block the swipe, instead opting to jump down the stairs and rotate his body mid-air to face his opponent. His fall was cushioned by the dead werewolf, but the alive one wasn’t far behind and did the same as him, enraged by the death of its kin.
William rolled to the side, avoiding the lunging werewolf. They were now in a spacious room, which was probably the living room.
The wound on his forearm was already beginning to close due to the effects of [Combat Perseverance]. He was in decent form for this fight.
William and the werewolf circled each other in the living room, the creature's claws leaving gouges in the wooden floor with each step. Rain continued to pour through the broken windows and balcony door, creating small puddles across the room.
The werewolf was clearly the oldest of the three - its muzzle streaked with gray and its movements more calculated than frenzied. What it lacked in raw speed, it made up for in experience. Its amber eyes never left William's sword as they circled.
'This one's smarter,' William thought, keeping his breathing steady. 'It's seen what the blade can do.'
The werewolf lunged suddenly, but pulled back just as William moved to counter - a feint. William barely managed to dodge the real attack that followed, the claws grazing his shoulder and drawing blood.
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'Definitely smarter.'
William needed to change tactics. He backed up against a large wooden cabinet, seemingly cornering himself. The werewolf's eyes gleamed with what almost looked like satisfaction as it approached more confidently.
When it pounced, William dropped to the floor and rolled forward, passing beneath the creature as it crashed into the cabinet. The furniture toppled, momentarily pinning the werewolf beneath its weight.
William didn't waste the opportunity. He spun around and drove his jian into the werewolf's exposed back, aiming for where he guessed its heart would be. The blade sank deep, and the werewolf's howl turned into a wet gurgle. Its limbs thrashed for several seconds before going still.
William extracted his sword, grimacing at the sucking sound it made. Blood pooled on the floor, mixing with rainwater to create pinkish streams flowing across the uneven floorboards.
[Title earned: Against All Odds]
[Granted for defeating multiple enemies of superior strength]
[Effect: Enhanced strategic thinking during unfavorable combats]
The window flickered immediately, pixels scrambling as his Authority activated:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Title upgraded: Against All Odds → Defier of Fate]
[Effect: Enhanced strategic thinking during unfavorable combat and improved survival instinct in life-threatening situations]
“Woah..” William audibly let out. This title was truly incredible, synergizing well with his skills and [The Audacious One]. The authority was still a mystery, but William appreciated it deeply.
William leaned against the wall, his breathing heavy but controlled. The gashes on his arm and shoulder stung, but the Combat Perseverance skill continued to work, slowly knitting the wounds closed.
"Now comes the fun part," he muttered to himself, kneeling beside the young werewolves carcass.
Using his jian like a butcher's knife, William cut into the werewolf's chest. The blade wasn't designed for such work, but it was sharp enough to get the job done. Blood coated his hands as he worked, making him want to throw up, but he persevered.
It took him a while to find the organs, and he butchered the werewolf to the best of his ability. After about 2 hours of work, the meat and organs sat neatly arranged on plates in front of him.
Then, he simply began eating.
Each mouthful was a battle against his body's natural revulsion, but William persisted, recalling the guide's insistence that this was the path to power. He ate until he couldn't anymore, his stomach distended and churning with the unnatural meal.
As he swallowed the final piece, a wave of nausea hit him, causing him to violently empty his stomach onto the floor. Just as the last of it left his system, a system window appeared before him.
[Uncovered hidden piece]
[Skill obtained: Consume]
[Consume a monster, partially replenishing stamina and restoring the body.]
The system window flickered and distorted, just as it had before:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Consume → Devour]
[Consume an enemy, partially replenishing stamina and restoring the body. Has a small chance to gain a miniscule amount of the enemy's stats.]
[Proficiency: 0%]
William's lips curved into a smile as he read the description. It wasn't [Maw of Belphegor], but he suspected that with increased proficiency, the skill might evolve further. "Definitely worth it," he said, turning his attention to one of the elder werewolves.
"[Devour]," he commanded, focusing his intent on the corpse.
The effect was immediate and horrifying. An invisible presence materialized around the werewolf's body - not something William could see, but rather a distortion in the air, like heat distorting the vision in a hot desert. Then came the sounds - tearing and crunching noises as the invisible jaws bit into the creature's flesh. Chunks of the werewolf disappeared in rapid succession, accompanied by sickening crunches of bone and cartilage being pulverized.
William watched as massive bites vanished from the carcass. Whatever was feeding seemed ravenous, consuming the werewolf from tail to head. Fur, meat, and bone disappeared in patterns reminiscent of teeth marks. The air around the corpse vibrated with a growl. When the last piece vanished with a final crunch, the invisible presence seemed to turn its attention briefly toward William. He felt a moment of primal terror before the entity dissipated.
A wave of warmth surged through William's body, starting in his core and radiating outward. His wounds tingled pleasantly as they closed completely, muscles knitting together and skin sealing without scars. The exhaustion that had weighed on his limbs evaporated, replaced by a vibrant energy that made him feel as if he could fight for hours more.
“That was.. horrifying.”
[Gained 0.05 Vitality]
[Gained 0.03 Control]
"Seems like luck is on my side," William murmured, turning to the second werewolf corpse.
"[Devour]," he commanded again, watching with fascination and terror as the same process repeated. This time, however, no stat increases followed, though the physical rejuvenation was just as powerful. Despite his body feeling completely restored, his mind remained foggy with fatigue. The mental strain of combat, strategy, and the terror of facing three deadly predators had taken its toll in ways that [Devour] couldn't repair.
William gathered his backpack and supplies, adding a few useful items he'd found in the house. His body might be ready for more action, but his mind desperately needed rest. The constant vigilance and life-or-death decisions had taken their toll.
Finding a small bedroom on the second floor that was relatively untouched by the battle, William barricaded the door and collapsed onto the bed. The mattress was damp from humidity, but he was too exhausted to care. His last conscious thought before drifting off was of the castle looming on the mountain and what manner of creature might be waiting for him there.
He woke several hours later to find the storm had subsided. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the floor. It was time to check his status window again.
[William Torren]
[Species: Human]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship, Keen Introspection, Combat Perseverance, Devour]
[Titles: The Audacious One, Defier of Fate]
[Authority: !~`#5%$&/=]
[Stats]
[Vitality: 10.15]
[Power: 9.2]
[Control: 9.13]
[Aether: 0]
His power and control stats had risen while he slept. He had strained himself quite a bit, after all. His proficiency for [Basic Swordsmanship] was at 6%, [Keen Introspection] at 4% and [Combat Perseverance] at 3%. It was going quite smoothly and he could feel his swordsmanship improving each time he used it.
As he stepped outside, the night air felt crisp and clean after the storm. His vision in low light had improved a bit, but he wasn’t quite sure which stat controlled that. The village was eerily quiet, with only the occasional drip of water from rooftops breaking the silence. He looked up at the castle, high up in the mountains.
"I need to find more information before I tackle that place," he said to himself, surveying the village. There had to be clues about what happened here and what might be waiting in the castle.
A flicker of green caught his eye. Across the street, leaning against a tree, was the guide. The moonlight gave his features an even more otherworldly quality, his too-wide smile visible even from a distance.
“Color me impressed, that was very entertaining.” He spoke while clapping his hands.
“So.. are you my personal guide, or do you watch over others too? Since you sure seem to have a lot of time on your hands.” William quipped, earning a laugh from the guide.
“Let’s just say you have merit and keep it at that, yes? There is not much I can - or wish to - reveal right now. An entertaining toy doesn’t come often.”
“Is it not in your best interest to keep your ‘toy’ alive, then? Well, at least tell me a bit about the boss. What kind of creature am I facing?” William asked hopefully.
The guide wagged his finger left and right. “Do not misunderstand, I’m not some personal search engine - but I’ll tell you this. The current you is insufficient. There are skills to be gained, if one is creative enough.”
With that said, the guide disappeared into the night, and William was left alone again.
His daily routine from then on consisted of hunting werewolves, working out, training his swordsmanship and sleeping. [Devour] helped immensely, allowing him to hunt for long periods of time without stopping. Like this, a week passed.
William was ordinarily hunting a werewolf, which were now nothing more than an annoyance unless they were in a pack. He had learned their weaknesses and their patterns, making the battles simple.
This werewolf was quite powerful, posing an actual challenge for William. As the werewolf went in for a swipe, William slashed at its soft spot just below the arm. The slash which couldn’t penetrate their skin before now created a rather deep wound, and also enraged the werewolf which lunged at William again. Like this, William perfectly avoided the werewolves attack and countered by attacking its weak spot 10 times in a row.
A system window appeared, signifying success in his experiment.
[Skill obtained: Identify Weakness]
[Allows limited identification of vulnerable points on enemies]
[Proficiency: 1%]
The notification immediately flickered and distorted:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Identify Weakness → Vulnerability Analysis]
[Allows identification of vulnerable points on enemies]
[Proficiency: 1%]
William's eyes widened as he felt his perception shift. He could now instinctively tell where to attack the werewolf for the best effect.
"This changes everything," William muttered, adjusting his grip on the jian.
The werewolf charged again, but this time William sidestepped and drove his blade directly into the base of its skull. The effect was immediate - the creature collapsed instantly, its central nervous system severed.
After devouring the werewolf and recovering his energy, William sat against a tree, contemplating his new ability. "So targeting the same weakness repeatedly creates a skill," he mused. "What else could I develop through deliberate practice?"
Over the next several days, William began systematically experimenting to acquire more skills:
William found three werewolves hunting together. Instead of separating them, he deliberately positioned himself where he could face all three simultaneously, forcing himself to maintain awareness of multiple threats. After surviving the encounter, he received a skill.
[Skill obtained: Threat Perception]
[Enhances awareness of multiple simultaneous dangers]
[Proficiency: 0%]
His Authority immediately upgraded it:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Threat Perception → Danger Sense]
[Provides intuitive awareness of imminent threat]
[Proficiency: 0%]
William practiced attacking in rapid succession, focusing on building momentum rather than power. After successfully landing twelve consecutive strikes against a particularly agile werewolf:
[Skill obtained: Blade Tempo]
[Increases attack speed slightly with consecutive strikes]
[Proficiency: 1%]
The familiar distortion appeared:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Blade Tempo → Blade Momentum]
[Increases attack speed and fluidity with each consecutive hit, stacking up to 3 times]
[Proficiency: 1%]
William attacked werewolves without a weapon, using simply his body. After defeating a few dozen of them this way:
[Skill obtained: Beginner Martial Arts]
[A beginner in martial arts. Grants basic knowledge about simple hand to hand combat]
[Proficiency: 1%]
The familiar distortion appeared:
[Skill upgraded: Beginner Martial Arts → Basic Martial Arts]
[A beginner in martial arts. Grants basic knowledge and skills in hand to hand combat]
[Proficiency: 1%]
By the end of the week, William had amassed a formidable collection of skills. Each time he used them in combination, their proficiency increased.
[William Torren]
[Species: Human]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (12%), Keen Introspection (8%), Combat Perseverance (7%), Devour (5%), Vulnerability Analysis (9%), Danger Sense (6%), Blade Momentum (7%), Beginner Martial Arts (3%)]
[Titles: The Audacious One, Defier of Fate]
[Authority: !~`#5%$&/=]
[Stats]
[Vitality: 11.2]
[Power: 10.3]
[Control: 10.5]
[Aether: 0.05]
Most of his stats were gained through training, while about a third was gained through [Devour]. The skill was essential towards providing him with enough stamina to train harder. ‘I really need to thank the guide.’ William thought.
But the most intriguing development had been the 0.05 gain in Aether from devouring a particularly powerful werewolf - a beast unlike any he had faced before. It had moved with uncanny intelligence, its strength and speed far surpassing the others of its kind.
When that minuscule amount of Aether entered his system, William experienced... something. An awareness that defied description. It wasn't quite energy or power in any conventional sense he understood. Rather, it felt like becoming conscious of a dimension that had always existed around him but had remained imperceptible until now.
It was as though the barrier between himself and the world had thinned ever so slightly. The air around his fingertips felt different - almost responsive - and his perception extended beyond the limits of his physical senses in ways he couldn't articulate.
"Is this what separates the inhabitants of this world from normal humans?" William murmured to himself as he practiced channeling the sensation, watching as the air around his hand seemed to shimmer almost imperceptibly when he concentrated.
That night, as William sat on the roof of his makeshift shelter watching the moonlight illuminate the castle in the distance, the guide appeared beside him without warning.
"Ah, you've awakened it," the guide said, his eyes fixed on William's hand where the faint shimmer of Aether still lingered. "Most interesting.”
"What exactly is it?" William asked.
The guide's smile widened to unnatural proportions. “In time, you'll understand. Or not. Many don't live long enough to do so."
“So, do I have what it takes to go to the castle now? Have I earned your permission, sensei?” William said in a joking manner.
The guide glanced toward the castle. "I always found castles to be quite snobby.”
‘Well, it isn’t a no I suppose,’ William thought as he stared at his hand, concentrating until the faint shimmer of Aether appeared again. It was barely anything, but it was a beginning.
“Hey.. About your skill suggestion - it has been great. Thank you.”
William was never too keen about these heartfelt thanks. He was always too shy to do so, but he felt he truly had to now. It was a life or death world, not normal society.
“No need to thank me..” The guide swiftly responded. “Just continue to entertain me.” With that, he disappeared into the night.
Tomorrow, William would continue his training, but now he had another objective - to understand this mysterious force flowing through him, a power that seemed to hint at possibilities beyond mere physical combat.
William smiled grimly. His systematic approach to skill acquisition had worked more effectively than he thought. It was soon going to be time to enter the castle.
