The Horned Rabbit King's corpse lay at Beelzebub's feet, its shattered skull a testament to his fists. His aura pulsed—cold, heavy, a shadow stretching across the field. Players whispered, their eyes darting between awe and fear. The twins, Lia and Mira, hovered at the edge of his vision, their Half-Elf grace a stark contrast to his blood-smeared tunic. Beelzebub twirled the Iron Dagger, its weight a promise of sharper kills to come.
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 2. EXP: 100/75. No attribute points awarded due to Gluttony."
He smirked, dismissing the notification. "Levels are just a ladder. The real power's in what I take."
The HUD flickered again: "New Quest: Clear the Field Den. Eliminate 10 Horned Rabbits and the Den Mother. Reward: 100 EXP, 30 Copper, Random Loot." Beelzebub's eyes glinted. More prey, more power. He strode toward the den—a cave burrowed into a nearby hill—ignoring the players forming parties behind him. "Solo's my style," he muttered, voice calm yet laced with disdain. "Trash doesn't deserve to ride my coattails."
The cave yawned dark and damp, the air thick with musk. Horned Rabbits skittered within, their red eyes glinting. Beelzebub stepped inside, aura flaring to crush their instincts. One charged—too slow. He sidestepped, Speed at 10, and drove the dagger into its neck. It twitched, dead. "Ding! Strength +2, Speed +1."
Nine more fell in a blur of steel and blood. His movements sharpened with each kill, Horned Dash weaving through their ranks. By the tenth, his stats ticked up: Strength to 25, Speed to 13, Defense to 10. The cave floor was a carpet of fur and gore, his aura now a tangible weight pressing against the walls.
Then came the Den Mother—twice the Rabbit King's size, horns curved like scythes. It roared, shaking the cave. Beelzebub grinned, cold and predatory. "Big enough to matter. Let's see what you've got."
He activated King's Roar, his voice booming: "Kneel!" The Den Mother flinched, its charge faltering—Mastery ticked to 2/10. He lunged, Horned Dash slamming him into its flank. The dagger sank deep, but the beast retaliated, a horn gashing his shoulder. Pain seared through him, but he laughed, unshaken. "That's it? Pathetic."
Fists and blade worked in tandem—Strength at 25 cracking bone, Speed at 13 dodging retaliations. The Den Mother's roars turned to whimpers, then silence as he drove the dagger through its eye. It collapsed, a mountain of stolen potential.
"Ding! Den Mother defeated. Absorbed: Strength +15, Speed +10, Defense +10, Mana +5, Horned Frenzy (Skill). Loot: Steel Bracers x1, Copper x80."
Strength: 40 Speed: 23 Defense: 20 Mana: 9 Skills: Horned Frenzy (Boost Speed by 50% for 10 seconds, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 100 EXP, 30 Copper, Random Loot: Skill Scroll (Basic Slash)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 3. EXP: 200/125."
Beelzebub wiped blood from his face, aura surging—dark, oppressive, a storm barely contained. He equipped the Steel Bracers, their weight grounding him, and read the Skill Scroll. "Basic Slash acquired. Mastery: 1/10." A simple attack, but he'd make it lethal.
Stepping outside, he found the twins waiting. Lia's eyes widened at his bloodied form; Mira gripped her dagger tighter. "You're a monster," Mira said, voice steady but curious.
Beelzebub winked, flirty yet cutting. "A monster worth watching, sweetheart. Stick around—I'll show you real power." Lia blushed, stammering, "W-we cleared some rabbits too. Maybe… we could—"
"Help yourselves," he interrupted, sarcastic edge sharp. "I don't carry dead weight."
He turned, spotting Kael—the Elf from before—leading a party toward the den. Too late. Beelzebub's aura flared, a public flex crushing the grass flat. Kael froze, his party halting. "What's wrong, trash?" Beelzebub called, voice dripping with mockery. "Scared of a Human?"
POV Shift: Kael, the Elf Player
Kael's jaw tightened, his Elf-enhanced Strength (20) feeling inadequate. That aura—it wasn't normal. "He's Level 3 already?" he muttered, HUD scanning Beelzebub. The guy's stats were hidden, but the pressure… "He's cheating. No Human moves that fast." His party shifted nervously, a Mage whispering, "Let's avoid him." Kael spat, "Cowardice doesn't win. We'll crush him later."
Beelzebub ignored them, heading back to the village. The beginner square buzzed with players trading loot—Copper, herbs, basic gear. An NPC priestess caught his eye: raven-haired, serene, clad in white robes marked with the Goddess of Life's sigil. She smiled softly as he approached, offering a quest: "Aid the Temple. Deliver 10 Healing Herbs. Reward: 50 EXP, 15 Copper, Blessing (Minor)."
"Busywork," he muttered, but took it. A blessing could be devoured later. He traded 30 Copper for the herbs—child's play with his loot—and handed them over. The priestess, Elara, bowed. "Thank you, traveler. May the Goddess bless you."
"Ding! Blessing (Minor Life) acquired: +5% HP regen. Mastery: 1/10."
He smirked, imagining Elara's reaction when he claimed her goddess's power. "Keep praying, priestess. It'll be mine soon enough."
Night fell, the village glowing with torchlight. Beelzebub leaned against a wall, aura simmering, plotting his next move. Level 10 loomed—profession selection, the world's full unlock. He'd devour it all, gods included. The twins lingered nearby, Mira sharpening her dagger, Lia stealing glances. "Not bad," he mused, voice playful. "Maybe you'll earn a spot."
Tracker
Level: 3 (EXP: 200/125)
Stats: Strength: 40 | Speed: 23 | Defense: 20 | Mana: 9 | Luck: 1 | Charisma: 1
Powers/Skills: Horned Dash (5/10), King's Roar (2/10), Horned Frenzy (1/10), Basic Slash (1/10)
Bloodlines: Human
Blessings: Minor Life (+5% HP regen, 1/10)
Harem: No bonds yet (Twins Lia and Mira intrigued, Priestess Elara met)
Recent Gains: Strength +21, Speed +13, Defense +12, Mana +5, 3 Skills, 1 Blessing
Loot Drops: Steel Bracers x1, Copper x110 (total: 190), Skill Scroll (Basic Slash)