Chapter 9

After the skirmish, Nicholas decided he would check the notifications that arose during the bloodshed and struggle for both people and wolves alike.

Kills

Alpha Gray Wolf x 1

Gray Wolves x12

Priest x 1

*Congratulations! Upon the absorption of mana from your fallen foes you level up!*

*Level up*

*Level up*

*Level up*

*Level up*

Perception has gained a point through great analysation of movements performed throughout battle

Skill Shadow Footwork has leveled up!

Skill Combat Knife (Dagger) Mastery has leveled up!

Skill Shadow Footwork has leveled up!

Skill Shadow Manipulation has level up!

Skill Assassination has leveled up!

Title: Slaughterer has been obtained

Seemed the battle was not all for naught as Nicholas managed to progress quite decently in consideration to the losses that took place. He looked forth to the smoldering pile of bodies as they were cremated, his eyes scanning the field before coming across a path of human tracks, feet, embedded into the soft soil where it spanned out into the vast forest and foliage. It seemed to be the tracks of the people who had died this very day.

Curious as to where they came from, and if there were perhaps others like him, who were referred to as from the arrival. He resolved himself into tracking the path at which they came. But before that, it would perhaps be best if he assigned points to his status before going any farther.

Status

Name: Nicholas Gray

Class: None

Race: Shadow Demon

Titles: The Last of the Shadow Demons, Slaughterer

Level: 9

Health: 176/200

Health Regeneration Rate: 0.20 per second

Mana: 76/200

Mana Regeneration Rate: 0.20 per second

Strength: 20

Constitution:20

Vitality: 20

Agility: 40

Dexterity:25

Perception: 20

Charisma: 5

Intelligence: 20

Wisdom: 20

Luck:4

Unassigned Stat Points: 20

Active Skills: Identify (Active) lvl 5 (64%), Shadow Manipulation (Active) lvl 8 (24%), Mana Manipulation (Active) lvl 3 (34%), Assassination (Active) lvl 13 (18%)

Passive Skills: Sword Mastery (Passive) lvl 3 (9%), Combat Knife (Dagger) Mastery (Passive) lvl 10 (7%), Shadow Footwork (Passive) lvl 17 (2%)

Affinities: Shadow element

Nicholas abruptly assigned 10 stat points towards Agility, and 5 to both Intelligence and Wisdom before closing the status screen before him. He silently placed on a cloak of one of the deceased, as its red surface covered in both blood and dirt flailed in the wind from the sheer speed at which he moved. He looked upwards from the status as he began to move onwards, following the trail which the group had left in their quake. The depth of their tracks cut off a kilometre in, as he began to resort to examining the bushes. Broken twigs and branches littered the way as he proceeded on.

Skill Tracking has been obtained, lvl has been updated to lvl 7 through past knowledge and experience

As he effortlessly left the suffocating space of the forest, he came to the brink of its territory before finally stumbling upon what seemed to him as a trade route. The coarse and rugged asphalt surface, silent. Only the sound of a lone carriage, its wooden wheels crushing against the bumpy surface as it passed by, a pair of horses leading it on its way.

Nicholas finding this as a perfect opportunity of coming into contact with sentient beings, people, and the discovery of new information, lead him astray as he tottered over to the wooden structured carriage. In its front sat an old man, a gray beard protruding from his chin as his short build directed the pair of horses along the path. His eyes darted towards Nicholas, studying the mans build.

As he looked him over, he halted the horses to a stop as he questioned what seemed to him as a traveler.

“What is it that you want traveler, do you wish for a ride?” inquired the short dwarf like man, his blue eyes staring deeply into his own dark blue pupils hidden behind the visor.

“And what are you wearing? Some people might suspect you to be some sort of serial killer...” Disregarding what the dwarf had mentioned afterwards, Nicholas focused on the way he mouthed the words, they were not of his world, but he could understand its meaning. He tried not to pry much further into the matter as he formed a reply in a straightforward manner.

“I wish to travel to a town close by.” Nicholas’ voice sounded out from his throat, a similar construct to the one his old body possessed, mimicking the same battle hardened, harsh, and rigid voice he utilized upon his time in Reach among his comrades.

“Sure, but the cost is of 7 coppers, not any less, although, I’d appreciate it if you gave me some additional payment if you wish.” the old man flashed a greedy smile as he looked onwards at the mysterious figure.

‘Coppers? Ah, perhaps it’s this then.’ Nicholas rummaged in the interior of his cloak, finding a small pocket placed on the right side of the interior, before pulling out a small pouch as it made the sounds of coins clinking upon contact with multiple other coins. He opened the pouch to see around a total of 1 silver and 30 copper coins. He placed his hand into the pouch pulling out 7 coppers before placing it in the old short mans aged hand.

The elderly man gestured to the back of his carriage where what seemed to be room for housing ingredients and consumables. Possibly other people wishing to travel. He walked to the doors of the carriage before placing his hand upon the handle. Turning the knob as the doors parted for him, 3 people greeting him upon appearance. The 3 people consisted of an elderly woman of the same stature of the dwarfish man, perhaps smaller, and two young women just opposite of her.

He stepped into the carriage before turning to close the doors upon entry. He took a seat near the door for easy access before lying against the wooden interior of the carriage. The two young women took a quick glance at him before bearing signs of disgust upon their faces at the sight of his rugged clothing, the cloak. As they went back to their conversation, the old elderly woman carving masks and objects of all kinds, looked up and came towards Nicholas. Her short stature ever so more evident. She seated opposite of him wood and equipment in hand.

“Hello there dear, my name is Edna, wife of the old toad outside, Gareth. What has brought you here?” the elderly woman, Edna, asked genuinely.

Showing no concern at the fact she held traits similar to that of a dwarf, a race of fantasy, he replied, “I'm going to the nearest town to resupply.” As he gestured towards the cloak he wore and vacant space meant for a bag. Nicholas having replied in earnest, began to ask in regards to information relating to this world, as the opportunity had began to present itself.

“Could you tell me what the surrounding regions are?”, the elderly woman, Edna, surprised at the sudden inquiry and straightforward manner of speaking hesitated. Thinking why he would need such information, but decided to rather not pry into such matters as she then kindly explained thoroughly regarding the surrounding areas and the basic information in relation to the regions in which they were separated in.

From what she told him, there were 6 regions, the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern region. In the epicentre, was the Neutral region. The area around these 5 regions were encompassed by what seemed to be called “The Chaos Region”. In the Neutral region, people of all backgrounds, be it; demon, dwarven, elven, human, or something entirely different. They worked and collaborated in harmony among themselves in this region, the region not being owned by a certain race, but by a council consisting of an individual chosen from each race.

The Northern Region was ruled by the majority of the human race, they held great animosity against demons due to their innate affinity for the demonic arts and due to things such as calamities and the birth of monsters being, apparently, directly related to them.

In the Western Region there were the dwarves. They thrived and strived in this region due to the abundant resources around the area. The resources being used to create armour and weapons, as which were the dwarven races specialty. Their race consisted of the majority of craftsman, their great affinity for the runic arts being displayed through the engravings embedded into the armour and weapons they sold, providing additional effects in which boosted the equipment’s properties or provided completely new ones in turn.

The Eastern Region was occupied by the elves, their great prowess for the spiritual and divine arts being magnificently displayed through their great shows of magic for their god. Their deep affection for the environment, showcased through the great forests and landscapes that decorate the region. The Southern Region consisted of what were the Demons. Their great affinity for, as stated before, the demonic arts, made them a battle honed race who specialized in battle. Their thirst for blood, evident throughout history at the war crimes committed by their race, not to say that all demons are as blood thirsty as they seem.

Lastly, the Chaos Region was what seemed to be a warzone. The majority of its inhabitants being monsters, materialized from the world’s seemingly endless supply of mana. The mana from this part of the world being denser within the region, additionally making the monsters stronger as they were birthed from that very mana. The quality and density of mana determining the strength and potential growth rate of the monsters.

Also, there was apparently another region, that had consisted of beastmen. But unfortunately, during the Great War that was waged between races many years ago, they were left with nothing except a small few of their race who lived on. War destroying their homes and collecting the lives of their people. It was a massacre, well, that was what he was told anyways.

The beastmen now roam and vary in shape and form from region to region as they left theirs in hopes of thriving on. After this war which drove races against one another, the races had all formed a pact, an alliance of sorts, creating the region which is now named the “Neutral Region”, in which the people of many different races live on with their lives in a somewhat peaceful bliss.

In regards to what Nicholas had asked about those of the arrival, he was told they were people from another world who either seeked redemption or salvation, appearing in the temples of the race they reincarnated in. Others are summoned from their ordinary lives in order to act as heroes for the people of their race. They are sent to the frontlines in an attempt to allow their people to be granted salvation through the heroes actions. The heroes were usually summoned to fight for their races during acts of war or against foes with the aid of other races that threatened all the regions as a whole.

‘But if that was true, why in the fuck was I placed in the middle of a forest, reincarnated as a race of demons, long dead, all the way out in the Northern Region, where humans think of demons as some sort of great harbinger of death, who only brings tragedy and harm in its quake?’

It was a true mystery as to why he, himself, was here. But for now, his goal was to survive in this harsh world, gaining both strength, information, and power, before he could actually begin to live out the life he so desired, the life he so desperately longed. He wouldn’t waste his precious life this time around. He would live every moment as if it were his last.