The second village glowed under a crescent moon, its wooden huts dwarfed by a looming temple dedicated to the Goddess of Life. Beelzebub stood at its edge, Steel Sword sheathed at his hip, aura coiling like a predator's breath. Level 5—425 EXP—and his Gluttony talent pulsed with every heartbeat, a void eager to consume. The twins lingered nearby, Mira sharpening her dagger with a scowl, Lia fidgeting with her bow. Elara, the priestess, watched from the well, her gaze torn between reverence and unease.
A new quest flickered on his HUD: "Purge the Shadow Hollow. Slay 15 Shadow Wolves and the Alpha. Reward: 200 EXP, 75 Copper, Random Loot." Beelzebub's lips curled into a cold smirk. "More fuel for the fire."
He turned to the twins, voice playful yet commanding. "Coming, ladies? Or do you prefer watching from the sidelines?"
Mira snorted. "We're not your pets. We've got our own quests."
Lia hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Maybe… we'll cross paths. Be careful, okay?"
Beelzebub winked. "Careful's for the weak. Keep up if you dare." He strode off, the Shadow Hollow marked on his map—a ravine west of the village, shrouded in mist.
The air grew frigid as he descended, trees skeletal and bare. His aura flared—dark, oppressive—scattering lesser beasts. Shadow Wolves emerged, their forms flickering like smoke, eyes glowing crimson. Level 4 each. Beelzebub unsheathed his Steel Sword, its edge gleaming. "Come taste oblivion."
The first lunged. He met it with Razor Rush, Speed spiking to 46 as he cleaved through its torso. It dissolved into mist. "Ding! Strength +5, Speed +4, Defense +3, Mana +2." Fourteen more followed, a pack of snarling shadows. He danced through them—Horned Frenzy boosting Speed to 69 for ten seconds, Basic Slash carving arcs of blood (Mastery to 3/10). Each kill fed Gluttony, stats climbing: Strength to 90, Speed to 60, Defense to 50, Mana to 20.
The Alpha loomed—twice their size, claws like obsidian blades, Level 7. Its howl shook the ravine. Beelzebub's aura surged, crushing rocks beneath his feet—a public flex even in solitude. "Bow," he growled, unleashing King's Roar (Mastery to 4/10). The Alpha faltered, then charged. He sidestepped, Razor Rush slashing its flank, followed by a brutal Basic Slash to its neck. Blood sprayed, but its claws raked his chest, tearing through his tunic. Pain flared—his HP dropped 10%, Minor Life ticking it back slowly.
"Persistent," he muttered, grinning. Strength at 90 shattered its spine with a single punch. It crumpled, lifeless.
"Ding! Shadow Alpha defeated. Absorbed: Strength +25, Speed +20, Defense +15, Mana +10, Shadow Cloak (Skill). Loot: Wolf Pelt x3, Copper x150."
Strength: 115 Speed: 80 Defense: 65 Mana: 30 Skills: Shadow Cloak (Blend into shadows, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 200 EXP, 75 Copper, Random Loot: Shadow Ring."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 6. EXP: 625/450."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 7. EXP: 625/600."
The Shadow Ring gleamed on his finger—+5 Mana, +5% Stealth. He activated Shadow Cloak, his form flickering into near-invisibility. "Useful," he mused, aura simmering beneath the veil.
POV Shift: Mira, the Twin
Mira crouched in the village square, skinning a Horned Rabbit from their own hunt. Level 4—she and Lia were climbing, but not like him. Beelzebub's aura had pulsed from the ravine, a distant storm. "He's a freak," she muttered. Lia, restringing her bow, glanced up. "A strong freak. Maybe… we should team up sometime." Mira scowled. "He'd ditch us the second we slowed him down. Still…" Her grip tightened. He was a magnet—dangerous, compelling.
Beelzebub emerged from the Hollow, blood-streaked and unshaken. Players stared as he passed, his aura a silent command: Kneel or break. He traded Wolf Pelts for 60 Copper, then approached Elara at the temple steps. Her eyes widened at his wounds. "You're hurt," she said, hands glowing with healing light.
He waved her off, flirty yet cold. "Save it, priestess. I heal my way." Her magic brushed him anyway—HP ticked up 5% faster, her trust visibly softening. "Stubborn," she murmured, a faint smile breaking through.
A commotion erupted nearby—Kael and his party, now Level 5, dragging a slain bear. The Elf locked eyes with Beelzebub, sneering. "Hiding in shadows now, Human? Scared to face me?"
Beelzebub's aura flared, shattering a nearby crate. "Trash talks loud for someone I'll crush at Level 10. Run while you can." Kael's party stepped back, but the Elf smirked. "We'll see."
A new HUD ping: "Hidden Quest Unlocked: Trial of the Forgotten. Enter the Ruins north of the village. Reward: Unknown." Beelzebub's grin widened—hidden meant power. He turned north, the twins watching, Elara praying softly behind him. Level 10 was a breath away, and the world would bow.
Tracker
Level: 7 (EXP: 625/600)
Stats: Strength: 115 | Speed: 80 | Defense: 65 | Mana: 30 | Luck: 1 | Charisma: 1
Talents: Gluttony (Error) – No stat gains from leveling; absorbs all attributes, skills, bloodlines, blessings from defeated beings; duplicates enhance mastery
Powers/Skills: Horned Dash (5/10), King's Roar (4/10), Horned Frenzy (1/10), Basic Slash (3/10), Razor Rush (1/10), Shadow Cloak (1/10)
Bloodlines: Human
Blessings: Minor Life (+5% HP regen, 1/10)
Harem: No bonds yet (Twins Lia and Mira intrigued, Priestess Elara softening)
Recent Gains: Strength +42, Speed +34, Defense +24, Mana +16, 1 Skill
Loot Drops: Shadow Ring (+5 Mana, +5% Stealth), Copper x225 (total: 620)