Sora's heart pounded as the creatures lunged at her with precision, their fangs raised and eyes glowing with predatory intent. The young woman reacted instinctively, diving to the ground and rolling out of the way just as the wolves collided with each other in a chaotic heap. Scrambling to her feet, she bolted toward the other side of the field, her breath coming in ragged gasps. But the wolves were faster—much faster.
Taking a quick glance over her shoulder confirmed her worst fear: the pack was gaining on her. "Damn!, they're already on me!," she shouted, panic surging through her veins. Before she could react, one of the wolves leaped, its jaws clamping down on her shoulder. Sora screamed, the agony ripping through her body like fire.
But the pain ignited something deep within her. Her eyes blazed with a sudden, intense golden glow, and a surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins. With a roar of defiance, she grabbed the wolf by its fur, her grip ironclad, and slammed it into the ground with all her strength. The beast let out a yelp before going limp, its blood splattering across the rocky terrain.
The system chimed in, its cold, mechanical voice cutting through the chaos:
[Health: 70/101]
•Threats killed: 1/5
•You have obtained monster hide! x2
+60 CP!
Sora clutched her wounded shoulder, blood seeping through her fingers as she knelt on the ground, her body trembling from the shock and pain. She couldn't believe what she had just done—she had taken down a wolf with her bare hands. But there was no time to process it. The remaining wolves circled her, their growls low and menacing.
One of the beasts lunged at her again, its teeth sinking into her arm. Sora cried out, but she didn't falter. Using the wolf still clamped onto her arm as a weapon, she swung it with all her might, striking the other wolves as they charged from the sides. The impact sent the creatures tumbling back, taking this short moment she slammed the wolf still gripping her arm multiple times onto the ground leaving a pool of blood.
The system chimed once more, echoing through the air as her body radiated a brilliant, fiery orange glow. Her wounds suddenly began to heal miraculously, as if time itself had reversed the damage, returning back to the way it was.
•Level Up!
•Level Up!
•Level Up!
•Health Restored!
Sora turned to face the remaining pack, a look of confidence and seriousness in her eyes. "Who's next?" she taunted, her stance shifting into a defensive posture, ready for whatever came her way.
The wolves lunged at her with feral fury, but Sora met them head-on, her bare fists striking with precision and power. Within minutes, the pack lay defeated, their growls silenced. Kneeling on the ground, breathless and panting, she couldn't contain her laughter. "I actually did it. I defeated them," she murmured, her voice a mix of disbelief and triumph. But there was no time to celebrate—the battle was won, but the war was far from over.
After the intense battle with the wolf pack that almost ended her life, the blue flames flickering at the tips of the candles shifted to a vibrant orange hue. At the far end of the hallway, a heavy metal door materialized out of thin air, its hinges groaning as it slowly creaked open. A thick plume of steam billowed out, filling the air with a warm, misty haze. Right in front of Sora, a chest appeared, its presence almost beckoning her forward.
She studied it carefully, her eyes narrowing as she tried to discern its purpose. The system chimed in once more, its voice calm and reassuring:
[You have acquired a chest]
Without a word, Sora stepped forward and opened the chest, peering inside. Her initial excitement turned to disappointment as she found it empty. 'There's nothing in here,' she thought, her right eyebrow arching in confusion.
But the system wasn't done. It chimed again, its tone almost cheerful this time.
•You have acquired the Barbarian Set!
•You have acquired Dual Axe (Level 4)!
Sora's eyes widened as she read the messages. Barbarian set? Dual axe? She had assumed the system had chosen her, leaving her to fend for herself and grow stronger through sheer will and effort. But now, it seemed the system was actively aiding her, keeping her alive and equipping her for the dangers ahead.
A small smile crept across her face as the realization sank in. "Guess I should pay my respects," she muttered, half-jokingly. "Inventory," she commanded, and the system promptly displayed a list of her newly acquired items.
Stripping off her torn and bloodied clothing, she selected the outfit the system had gifted her. As soon as she did, her body was enveloped in a soft, white glow that lasted only a few seconds before fading. When the light dissipated, the new attire clung to her form perfectly. Her top was a fur-lined midriff that exposed a sliver of her waist, while a sturdy loincloth made of brown fur hung from a belt around her hips. Her feet were clad in furry boots, and her wrists were protected by fur-lined arm guards.
Sora glanced down at herself, turning slightly to inspect the outfit from all angles. "Interesting… the system puts it on instantly for me. Can't say I'm pleased," she murmured with a smirk, though her tone betrayed a hint of amusement.
Next, she equipped the dual axes, which she magically summoned from the system. The weight of the weapons felt natural in her hands, as if they were an extension of her body. With a deep breath, she stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As she crossed the threshold of the open gate, the world around her shifted dramatically. It was as if she had stepped through a portal, the environment transforming in an instant with darkness all around her. Sora froze, her jaw dropping as she took in her new surroundings.
Seconds ago she had stumbled across the interior of a castle, now she stood at the center of what appeared to be a massive empty coliseum, its towering walls stretching high into the sky.
'How is this possible, I was inside of the castle for a second. How did I end up here?' she questioned in her mind, but her thoughts served nothing.
The air around her was thick, making it quite difficult for her to breath, and the ground beneath her feet felt charged with energy. Sora's heart raced as she realized the challenges ahead were far from over.
Sora took a firm stance, her grip tightening on the dual axes as she faced the open expanse of the battleground which was the coliseum. The structure seemed ordinary at first glance, but Sora felt that what it housed was dangerous. Her instincts screamed loudly at her to stay alert. "Something seems off here, its oddly quiet," she muttered under her breath, just as the ground beneath her began to tremble faintly in form of vibrations that began to increase.
As she knew her thoughts were true her eyes darted towards the opposite side of the arena, expecting the threat or challenger to emerge from there. But to her shock, the danger came from behind her. The coliseum wall exploded in a shower of debris as a monstrous creature burst through, its massive horns leading the charge. The impact sent Sora flying through the air, her body tumbling like a ragdoll before crashing to the ground.
Despite the brutal impact, she clung to her weapons, her knuckles whitening from the sheer force used. The system emerged before her:
•Critical Hit!
[Health points: 66/101]
Sora groaned in pain, struggling to push herself up into her knees. Blood streamed from her nose and forehead, dripping onto the dusty ground. She glanced at the system's message, her face pale with horror, before forcing herself to look at the monster that had just attacked her.
What she saw made her blood run cold. The creature was enormous, dwarfing even the largest structures she had ever seen. It resembled a boar, but its size was beyond anything natural—bigger than a wooden house, with jaws and horns that looked like they could crush boulders with ease. Above its head, a glowing yellow text revealed its name:
[Mutated Boar].
"Mutated boar…" Sora repeated, her voice trembling as she staggered to her feet. The monster snorted, its massive body shifting as it dragged one of its front legs back and forth, a clear sign it was preparing to charge again.
Sora's mind raced, even as her body screamed in pain. She remembered the wolves she had fought earlier—their names had been displayed in a green transparent color. This creature's name was yellow. Could the colors indicate the level of danger? Was yellow worse than green? Her thoughts were cut short as the Mutated Boar let out a deafening roar and lunged at her, its massive body hurtling forward with terrifying speed.
Sora barely had time to react, her instincts kicking in as she braced herself for the next attack. The battle was far from over, and survival was anything but guaranteed.