[Congratulations. You killed a Level 10 Night Panther.]
Alex waited.
But that was it.
"No EXP?" he muttered.
"Status."
[Name – Alex Liefield]
[Race – Human]
[Age – 21]
[Class – Not Awakened]
[Exp – Limit Reached]
[Attribute Points – 10]
[Skills – Dash (Beginner Mastery), Stealth (Competent Mastery), ??]
[Level – 10]
Strength – 18+
Constitution – 17+
Dexterity – 18+
Speed – 15+
Intelligence – 8+
[Item – ??]
I stopped at Level 10? Is that the limit?
But there must be stronger individuals out there… I should ask around tomorrow.
He noticed a constant blinking on the newly added sections in his status—Skill and Item.
He tapped Skill first.
A book appeared in his hands—"Strength Enhancement."
Should I learn it now? Is there a limit to how many skills I can learn?
I should save it for later...
Alex tucked the book into the inner pocket of his upper garment.
Now for Item.
As he tapped it, a dagger materialized in his hand.
The moment he held it—he knew.
This was the finest weapon he'd seen yet.
The craftsmanship was flawless. Its edge sharp enough to slice steel like paper.
But what caught his attention were the properties written below:
+1 Strength
+1 Dexterity
Weakening effect on contact
A powerful weapon.
He sheathed it, turning away from the ruins.
He had nothing left here.
It was time to return.
"Stop right there."
Several figures emerged from the darkness, stepping onto the path before him.
Bandits.
Alex recognized two of them—they had been talking at the inn.
Some carried swords, others crude axes. One had a bow slung across his back.
The leader, a tall man with a jagged scar down his cheek, stepped forward. He gripped a rusted longsword.
His grin was confident, but his eyes betrayed wariness.
He was one of the few Level 10s in this part of the region.
"Look at this," he said, voice dripping with mockery. "A lone traveler, walking back from the ruins without a scratch. How lucky."
Alex remained silent.
The leader's grin widened as his gaze flicked to the dagger at Alex's waist.
"I'm willing to bet," he said, "you didn't come back empty-handed."
"You don't even know what I found," Alex replied, tilting his head slightly.
He had dealt with too many people like this in his life—greedy, cowardly, hunting in groups. Frogs in a well, unaware of the world beyond.
Deathwhisper.
That was the name people like them had given him.
The bandit leader chuckled. "Doesn't matter. Whatever it is, it's worth something."
His grip tightened around his sword.
"So here's the deal. Drop everything—your weapons, your bag—and walk away. Do that, and we'll let you live."
The other bandits smirked, some chuckling under their breath.
Alex met the leader's gaze.
"And if I refuse?"
The bandit leader sighed dramatically. "Then we take it off your corpse."
The moment he finished speaking, the bandits moved.
The archer acted first, his fingers pulling back the bowstring—
"Dash."
Alex vanished.
Before the archer could even react, a cold blade pressed against his throat.
His body went stiff.
"Shoot," Alex whispered.
The archer's breath hitched. His hands trembled.
The other bandits froze. Eyes widened. The leader's grin faltered.
"What the—"
Alex didn't wait.
His dagger slashed.
A gurgling scream.
The archer collapsed, clutching his throat as blood spilled onto the dirt.
Chaos erupted.
The closest bandit lunged with a sword.
Alex sidestepped with effortless precision. His dagger flashed—slicing through the man's wrist.
A scream. A weapon clattered to the ground.
Alex moved like a ghost in the moonlight.
"Stealth."
One moment he was there—then he was gone.
"Where is he?!" one of the bandits shouted, his eyes darting wildly.
Alex appeared behind him.
His dagger pierced the back of the man's neck.
The body dropped silently.
The leader's face twisted with rage.
"What level are you?! What are you doing in this village?! Do you have no shame, killing people weaker than you?!"
Alex grinned. And vanished.
A moment later, a thin red line appeared around the leader's neck.
Then—
The head dropped.
One bandit turned and ran. Then another. And another.
Alex watched them disappear into the trees.
He didn't follow.
He sheathed his dagger.
They were weak—feeding on the weak. But it's not my job to kill people like that.
It has nothing to do with me.
Without another glance, he turned and continued down the path, heading back toward the village.