After finishing my shower, wrapped only in a towel with another one failing to dry my still-dripping hair, I walked into the bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the mattress sink slightly under my weight. The screen still floated in front of my eyes.
[Attribute Points: 10]
I let out a deep sigh, resting my elbows on my knees, fingers intertwined before my face.
"Strength? Stamina? Intelligence? Charm...?"
I murmured, trying to imagine which one could make the biggest difference right now.
But the truth was... I still didn't understand enough about this new world. I didn't know what kind of enemies I'd face tomorrow, or what challenges awaited me. If I spent those points recklessly, I might regret it later.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, seeking clarity amid the whirlwind of thoughts.
"Better to save them... for now."
"If something truly dangerous happens, those points might mean the difference between life and death."
Decision made. The screen responded to my thought with a faint glow and disappeared in silence.
Sigh.
I let out a long breath and threw myself onto the bed. The mattress gave under my weight, and for a brief moment, I thought about just closing my eyes right there. Fatigue wrapped around me like an invisible blanket, heavy, almost comforting.
Every muscle ached, as if protesting everything that had happened that day. But... the towel still clung to my skin, cold and damp.
"Damn…"
Grumbling to myself, I forced my body to get up against its will. I walked slowly and dragging my feet toward the wardrobe.
Next Day
After waking up, I began preparing calmly. The plan was simple: explore the city surroundings and try to better assess the creatures roaming around. I needed to understand their behavior, strength, and if there was any pattern to their movements.
I strapped the spear to my back, the small knife to my waist, and adjusted the sword on the other side. In my backpack, I packed some canned food, a water bottle, first-aid kits, and extra bandages, anything could happen, and I didn't intend to be caught off guard.
With everything ready, I took a deep breath and stepped outside, feeling the morning breeze on my face. The world outside was still silent...
The city that was once alive now looked like a dead scene from a post-apocalyptic movie.
I kept my hand near my waist, where the sword was sheathed, and my eyes alert to any suspicious movement. It was strange… even with all that around me, I felt a strange calm. Maybe I was already starting to get used to this new reality.
I wandered for about an hour, crossing some blocks, passing through alleys, abandoned supermarkets, and small shops. The air was heavy with that same strange smell I'd sensed when I first faced those monsters. It was mana... corrupted.
"Nothing so far…"
But I knew they were nearby. Creatures like the ones I fought yesterday wouldn't just disappear. They were hiding, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Tuff
Suddenly, a muffled noise caught my attention. A quick scratching... coming from inside one of the shops ahead. I approached cautiously, muscles tense and heart racing. The blade of my sword reflected the gray light of the overcast sky, ready to be used at any moment.
TUFF!
The silence was broken by a new sound—a dry snap, like something heavy shifting among the rubble. Then came another sound, subtler... but clear. Breathing. Slow, deep. Like a predator ready to pounce.
My muscles tensed.
I slowly turned my head, feeling cold sweat trickle down my neck. And then, I saw them. Two pairs of glowing eyes, intense amber, staring at me from between buildings. The air around me seemed to thicken, as if the world itself held its breath with me.
"Tch... shit..."
Before I could fully react, a black blur leaped from the shadows in my direction. Instinctively, I threw my body to the side in a quick jump, feeling the slicing wind of the creature's missed strike. The sharp sound of claws hitting the ground echoed behind me. If I'd hesitated for a second... I would've been torn apart.
I rolled on the asphalt and got up in a single movement, drawing my sword. My eyes locked on the creature ahead. It rose slowly, revealing its grotesque form.
It was a rat... or at least, it had been. Its body was disproportionate, nearly two meters long, covered in soaked, matted fur with irregular tufts. The hind legs had thickened, sharp like talons, while the front ones twitched violently.
Its face was the most disturbing, bulging, glowing eyes filled with irrational rage. Its jaws opened, revealing rows of long, jagged teeth, some broken, others as sharp as blades. A guttural, wet growl escaped its throat.
GRRRRAAAAaaaHHHhhhh
"What the fu-..."
I didn't have time to finish the thought.
CRASH!
The second monster launched from the shadows like a living arrow, slicing the air with a feral hiss. Another rat, but different: smaller, quicker, and covered in bony plates that seemed to have grown as natural armor down its back. It arced through the air, aiming for my neck, fangs bared.
In a desperate reflex, I raised the sword and twisted my body. The blade struck the creature's side midair, not a clean hit, but enough to knock it off course. It crashed to the ground with a crunch of bones, rolling before rising again, snorting.
"They're intelligent... they're hunting together."
My eyes gleamed, revealing their stats:
[
Level: 4
Name: Rattusk Armor
STR: 7
STA: 7
CON: 12
INT: 3
CHA: 2
Mana: 3
Skills: ( Bone Plates – D ), ( Charge – D )
]
[
Level: 4
Name: Rattusk Sickle
STR: 12
STA: 8
CON: 8
INT: 3
CHA: 2
Mana: 3
Skills: ( Serrated Slash – D), ( Charge – D )
]
The Sickle's claws scraped the ground as it charged first, faster than I expected. No hesitation—it was out to kill.
I rolled to the side, feeling the wind slice by as its serrated claws nearly shaved my head. Before I could rise, the Armor came right after, like an enraged bull. Its bone plates cracked as it charged.
I spun and pushed backward, dodging by inches. Even so, its shoulder clipped me, slamming me into a car's side. The metal crumpled on impact, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
"They're fast..." I murmured, breath stuck in my throat.'I can't face them head-on. I need to separate them.'
The Sickle came again, wild-eyed, a low cackle echoing from its mutant throat. It leapt, claws poised to tear through my chest.
But this time, I was ready.
I ducked and swung the blade hard. I felt flesh resist, heard the sharp tear of metal through meat. One of Sickle's arms dropped to the ground, severed. It screamed, staggering back.
"One down..."
The Armor roared and charged at me like a train. I raised my sword, not to attack, but to drive it into the ground and vault over him. I passed over its armored back, spotting a point where the bone plates didn't quite connect, a narrow, pulsing opening. Unprotected.
That was it.
It turned slowly, heavy, clumsy.
My chance.
I dashed in before it could fully turn and drove the sword between its bone plates at the base of the neck. The monster roared, but didn't fall. It thrashed violently, trying to throw me off. I held tight to the sword's hilt and, with the other hand, drew my knife.
"Stay still... just one more second…"
I stabbed the knife into the same spot and pushed hard. A jet of dark blood sprayed out, and the Armor finally collapsed with a heavy thud.
I barely had time to breathe. The Sickle, even wounded, charged again. Its only arm raised, eyes burning with hate.
I stood quickly, but adrenaline betrayed me, my bloodied hand slipped as I tried to adjust my grip on the sword. My swing missed. Off-balance, the Sickle raked its claws across my abdomen.
The pain exploded. I staggered, pressing the wound with one hand while the other held the sword weakly.
'Damn... a stupid mistake…'
But it was slowing too—nearly collapsing.
I screamed with all the strength I had left and lunged. I dodged to the side, spinning my body and using the momentum to drive the sword straight into its chest. There was no finesse, only instinct. The blade met resistance, but pierced through.
The monster stopped. Coughed blood. Its remaining eye stared at me for a second… then went dull.
Panting, hand over my wound, I looked at the two bodies lying on the ground. Rattusks defeated.
"Two... giant rats... down."
Holding my abdomen, I looked at the slash marks from the Sickle. It was shallow, thanks to my high constitution, it would heal in two days. But if that same strike had hit my throat… I'd be dead.
Why hadn't I used my points?
I wanted to test myself, see what I was capable of with my base strength. To know my limits. To prove I could handle this on my own, before relying on any buffs.
But now I understood… it wasn't enough. I need more.More strength.More technique.And above all, I need to level up faster.
With the purple screen glowing in front of my eyes, I carefully selected the newly extracted skill. A tingling sensation spread through my body, signaling the power being integrated.
[
{ Skill Acquired: Charge – D }
Description: Increases the user's speed by 10% for 3 seconds, granting greater agility to approach, dodge, or strike quickly.
Type: Active
Cost: 3 Mana Points
Cooldown: 5 minutes
]
Meanwhile, the second Rattusk's body began to dissolve into a cloud of shimmering particles, becoming valuable experience that my body slowly absorbed.
With slow, heavy steps, still feeling the weight of the battle, I began walking back home. My muscles screamed, but a sense of achievement pushed me forward. Today's adventure had come to an end, and I knew this was only the beginning of my path to becoming stronger.
[
Level: 3
Name: Noah Maxwell
Race: Arkhon
Age: 19
Titles: The First
Fragments: 1/6
STR: 10
STA: 10
CON: 10
INT: 10
CHA: 10
Mana: 25
Luck: 100
Attribute Points: 10
kills: ( Extraction – EX), ( Evaluation – EX ), ( Night Vision – D ), ( Charge – D )
]