Seth barely had time to react. The Elder Blood Wolf shot forward like an assassin's shadow, its paws crushing the ground with violence. The young man tried to dodge, but the monster's speed was absurd. Something heavy struck his side, and before he could comprehend what had happened, he felt his body tossed through the air like a ragdoll.
The impact against the wall knocked the air out of his lungs. A sharp pain ran down his back, and he fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His arms trembled as they tried to push him up. The monster didn't wait—it came again, its claws tearing through the ground.
Seth rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a blow that would've split him in half. He was forced to stand, his mind spinning. 'Think, damn it! How do I kill this thing?!'
The broken dagger was still in his hand, but it felt like a useless toy against the beast. He would need to use everything he had.
"Mortal Slash!" he shouted, activating his new skill, [-10MP] [MP: 40/50].
His vision narrowed. The world around him slowed for a moment. He moved forward, aiming for the creature's flank, trying to strike a vulnerable point. The blow came down with force... but something was wrong.
Before the dagger touched the monster's skin, it moved. Fast. So fast it seemed to have predicted the attack.
The Elder Blood Wolf's red eyes glowed, and in a brutal motion, the creature spun its body, landing a lateral blow on Seth. The impact was a shock. He felt his vision blacken momentarily before his body was slammed into the ground with brutal force.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
The pain was excruciating. Everything hurt. His arms were heavy. His lungs burned. He tried to rise, but his legs trembled. The monster watched him calmly, as if it were just playing with its food.
Seth gritted his teeth. 'I can't die here.'
He tried to pull away, searching, looking for anything around him he could use. The hall was vast, but there weren't many options. Huge rocks, timeworn pillars, and dry blood scattered across the floor.
The wolf moved again. Seth gave his arms in desperation.
This time, it was a swipe with the claws. The natural steel of them tore through his shoulder, opening a deep gash. The pain was so intense he could barely scream. His body faltered, and he fell to the side. His mind screamed to keep going, but his body was failing.
The monstrous wolf howled again, as if celebrating its imminent victory.
Seth gasped, tasting blood in his mouth. His tear-filled eyes searched desperately for a solution. Nothing. No way out. His chest heaved, his head throbbed. He was cornered.
'It can't be like this...' he thought, feeling the weight of despair sink its claws into him. 'I can't die like this!'
But reality was cruel.
Every attempt at a counterattack failed. The Elder Blood Wolf was too fast, too strong. He was just a normal human, thrown into a nightmare from which he couldn't escape.
The monster snarled and lunged again.
This time, Seth didn't have time to react. The giant fangs closed around his left arm.
The pain was unbearable.
He screamed. A primal cry of pure agony as he felt his bones shatter inside the creature's mouth. The warm blood flowed, staining the monster's black fur. The Elder Blood Wolf lifted him into the air like a piece of meat, shaking him before slamming him brutally into the ground.
His body hit the stone, and everything went blurry. The sound of his own breathing became distant. His heart hammered, but his body no longer responded.
Was this the end?
He looked up, seeing the dark silhouette of the monster approaching. His legs faltered as he tried to rise, and his arm hung uselessly at his side. The pain was so intense he could barely think.
But something burned inside him. A small spark of anger, of defiance. He didn't want to die here. Not like this.
If he was going to die, then he would do it fighting.
With a roar of pure stubbornness, Seth used his last breath to lift the broken dagger. He ran, or rather stumbled, toward the monster.
The wolf charged as well.
Time seemed to slow down.
When the monster opened its mouth to strike, Seth made the only move left to him. He leapt, using the monster's own momentum against it. The Elder Blood Wolf closed its jaws… but found only air.
Seth landed on the creature's back. His vision was blurry, his senses disoriented, but he still had enough strength for one last action.
With all his remaining energy, he lifted the dagger and plunged it into the beast's neck.
The impact was small.
But it was enough to make the monster howl in pain. The blade didn't pierce deeply enough to kill it, but it caused a deep wound. The Elder Blood Wolf shook violently, throwing Seth off.
He hit the ground again, his body completely exhausted. There was no strength left to move. Everything hurt, everything burned.
The monster took a few steps back, letting out a low growl. Its furious gaze said it all: this was not over. The Elder Blood Wolf was preparing for the final charge.
Seth only smiled.
He had fought. He had tried. Even if he died here, he knew he hadn't surrendered without a fight.
His body gave way, his breathing became irregular. The world began to fade around him.
The Elder Blood Wolf advanced slowly, growling, savoring its victory.
And then—
That was when a bright light filled his vision.
[You have completed all the requirements for the secret quest: The Will of the End.]
The blue glow of the system screen reflected in Seth's eyes. He blinked, confused, as new messages appeared before him.
[Skill acquired: The End.]
His body, which had been on the brink of collapse, was flooded with a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced. It wasn't exactly healing. The pain was still there. The broken bones were still in pieces. But something inside him had changed.
He couldn't explain it, but he felt like something had been unlocked within him.
A new message appeared.
[The End (Rank-SSS), Class Skill (???) (Skill Sealed Until Class Advancement) (The End Skill is at Level 0)]
[Description: The user can instantly replicate any skill they observe, such as attacks, movements, or physical powers. The imitation occurs the moment they witness the skill in use and can replicate it during combat. Currently, all copies are Rank-E. As the user progresses, their copies can reach Rank-SSS.]
[Copy Skill Slot: 0/1 ] [Temporary Copy 0/1]
Seth had no time to process this. The Elder Blood Wolf was already charging at him, its fangs ready to tear his throat out. But now… something inside him whispered that the rules had changed.
He raised his eyes, and in an instant, everything made sense.
He had seen this monster fight. He had felt every blow, every movement. The way it moved, how it attacked, how it dodged.
And now… he could do the same.
Seth's body moved on its own. His legs, which had been trembling and weak before, responded with precision. He tilted his body at the last moment, dodging the attack with the same inhuman speed as the Elder Blood Wolf. The monster's eyes widened, caught by surprise.
And then, without hesitation, Seth spun his body and struck with claws he didn't possess.
But now he did.
The air sliced around his fingers. The shadows twisted. And before he could fully comprehend what was happening, Seth felt his own nails elongate, sharp as blades. [Wolf Claw – Temporarily Copied]
SHRRK!
The sound of flesh being torn filled the hall. The beast's black blood splattered on the floor.
The Elder Blood Wolf let out a sharp howl and recoiled, its gaze now carrying something it hadn't shown before.
Fear.
Seth stood there, motionless, feeling his own body vibrate.
He had copied the creature's attack.
The agonizing howl of the Elder Blood Wolf echoed through the hall. Seth remained still for a moment, feeling his body pulse with the newly awakened energy. His breathing was still erratic, his body torn by injuries, but something inside him had changed.
He could feel the monster's movements. He understood its stance, its speed, its intentions.
The fear in the beast's eyes confirmed what he already knew.
He was no longer the prey.
Seth flexed his fingers, watching the black claws that had appeared on his hands. They trembled like living shadows, a perfect reflection of the power of the creature in front of him.
The Elder Blood Wolf growled, taking a step back. But Seth wouldn't give it time to react.
In the blink of an eye, he charged.
The explosion of speed caught the beast by surprise. Before the monstrous creature could move, Seth was already beneath it. His cut hand sliced through the air like a blade, striking the creature's flank with a precise blow.
SHRACK!
Black blood gushed, staining the ground. The Elder Blood Wolf twisted, trying to counterattack, but Seth was no longer there. His body reacted instinctively, dodging as though he had trained for years.
'I can see everything.' Every movement, every muscle contracting before an attack.
He could predict.
The monster roared, furious, and tried a lateral strike with its massive claws. Seth responded in kind.
His arms moved in sync with the monster's attack. But while the beast struck with blind fury, Seth attacked with deadly precision.
CRACK!
The impact was brutal. His claw tore through the joint of the monster's paw, ripping muscles and breaking bones. The Elder Blood Wolf staggered back, howling in agony.
Seth didn't stop. He spun his body and delivered a kick to the creature's focal point, sending it flying to the side.
He felt the impact surge up his leg, but he didn't hesitate. The adrenaline, the drive, the pure power coursed through his veins.
The monster tried to recover, but Seth wouldn't allow it.
He already knew how this fight would end.
The beast reared up on its hind legs, preparing for a final attack. Its eyes gleamed with killer instinct but also with desperation.
Seth smiled.
He was the one commanding this battle now.
The Elder Blood Wolf roared and charged with all its remaining strength, its fangs ready to rip everything apart.
But Seth was waiting for it.
He crouched at the last moment, dodging the charge and sliding across the ground. His claws cut through the creature's tendon.
The monster fell.
Without wasting time, Seth leapt onto its back. He felt the beast's muscles thrash beneath his feet. Without hesitation, he drove his claws into the beast's jugular, penetrating to the bone.
The Elder Blood Wolf finally died.