I ran towards the woman, trying any way to gain her attention. Even with the increase in stats, I was barely able to catch up, which was with me using {Qi Augmentation}. The difference was noticeable. When I finally gained some considerable distance, I reached my hand out to grab her shoulder; she had reflexively turned around and thrown a punch right towards my gut.

Let Me Go!!!

That was what I heard as I felt my stomach cave in on itself. Goddamn, that woman can hit. Seeing her run into the dark didn't help me figure out what the hell was going on.

As I was hunched over on the ground looked around. I saw the village or the burning remains of what it once was. Down the burning path, I could see a figure of a wolf with what looks like small flames dancing across its body, slowly dragging the corpse of a severely burned young boy. As it watched it's created flames dance across the destruction, it caused it feasted on the young boy without a care in the world.

Death awaited any poor soul still trapped in that village, as if a second win washed over my body, I could feel my energy reserve replenishes, may they be in my mind or not. But I ran this isn't a game of numbers and stats but life and death.

Running in near pitch-black darkness with nothing but the dim light passing through the clouds above was a daunting task indeed. I could hear the screams of the woman as she told whatever she was fighting, "Burn you motherfucker”

Using the only skill, I could guarantee a result.

{One who questions} use ⅓ of my remaining Stamina

What's the fastest route to the woman and child?

As the words left my mouth, I could feel my body twist my feet slightly pivot. My mind organizes its current surroundings, and somehow in the recess of my brain, a somewhat blurry image of one of the enormous trees sparsely growing around here popping into the distant view. Questioning what happened wouldn't help anyone, so I went with the flow. I asked and received what I needed.

As the clouds shifted and the dim light from the blue moon shined above, it gave me enough visibility to see the mother fighting what seemed to be a Giant size snake 6 feet in length with a foot or less in height. The mother was being eaten alive with her entire right arm inside the giant snake's mouth, and with its body on top, it's best to wrap around her waist. The surprising part was she was giving it one hell of a fight. The inside of the snake's mouth was glowing as you could see a flame being emitted. This explained the words from earlier.

With only two options at my disposal, I had to use them both, letting the cards fall and rushed them. Do and Die were all coming out alive. Activating {Qi Augmentation} with the horn in hand. I slammed as physically hard as I could, aiming at the general location of fires rampaging in the snake. Repeatedly I stabbed with the desperation of going against the clock. Even though tender from the internal flames dancing in its body, the snake's scales were still resilient. I could feel its blood loosen the horn's grip, but I would not let it go. Drawing more from my Qi reserves, I did one final plunge into the ever-increasing bloody hole I've created. I drove it far and deep into the beast, feeling the tension between the scales and muscles tear apart. Its mouth finally loosens on the women's arm; this was my chance. I grabbed and pried the creature's jaws open; the smoothness laced around its mouth gave me goosebumps as even I know all animals need teeth. Before I could react and pull my hands free, I could feel the teeth curve inward on my hand. The agony of feeling my nerves in my hands sliced back and forth with what felt like sharp jagged tiny daggers.

In a low whisper, only so I could hear, "Do and Die were all coming out alive."

Grounding my feet firmly, I lifted the snake's head, and with all my might, slammed it hard ground below. I could feel the ground shutter as the force vibrated outward. This goddamn snake was going to die, and I had 10 seconds left in me to do it. I gathered all the strength I could and continued to assault the beast. Even after {Qi Augmentation} canceled and I could feel my legs become heavy, my lungs tire, and hands weaken. I lifted it once again, feeling ever so heavy with every inch I hefted it. I breathed profoundly, inhaling all the air my tired lungs could intake with the ferocity of a rabid animal; I reared its ugly head and slammed it into the tiny pit created from the multitude of crashes before. The sensation of its head caving almost brought me to tears. This shit was finally over. I collapsed to the ground; again, I couldn't control my body with my arms convulsing at random intervals. I pushed it this time. I could see what looked like a small figure run towards the woman and me. I couldn't pass out from this; if I did, I would surely die from blood loss. I was scared to look at my hands, not knowing the horrors I would see, but what I was feeling could only leave me to imagine what they looked like...As the blood poured from the new hole created in the snake's cranium poured out and flowed my way. I thought back to my first kill and wondering how I lived through that experience as it touched my lips and ran down to my tongue. The overwhelming sweetness and ecstasy that permeated my body made me desire that delicate ambrosia. This foreign invading force extinguished my mind. Control was out of my hands, and I could only watch in some 3rd person viewpoint as my body pulled the monster to itself, discarding the still unconscious woman. Ripping flesh with my hands and teeth, greedily drinking on the blood, I could feel the blood-curling pain from my hands receding as it did that. The deep holes in my hands started closing even my bloody soles from running barefoot all day started healing. Whatever the fuck, I? IT? I was doing was helping and at a more expedited rate than my stats would allow. 3 mins passed before I regained control of my body. I felt violated; every part of me dirty and vile. I needed a shower; I needed to be clean again to wash away this filth. To be normal for even a little bit. Looking around, I could see the girl dragging her mom, trying her hardest to get as far away as she could from me, the savage who devours monsters. I understood how she felt, even though her attempt was wasted only moving a mere 10 or feet away. Still better than most children I know.

Not knowing how to approach the subject, I got up and walked over there in her hands. She held what looked like a kitchen knife, with the dim light coming from the moon above.

Raising my hands, I spoke, "Is your mom ok? I'm Jack, what's your name?"

She didn't answer my question but continued to stare me down; I walked closer slowly but surely.

"I'm new around here and saw what happened at your village. I know what I just did was scary looking, but I promise that I'm not here to hurt you or your mother. I can maybe help her? Can I come closer?"

As the words left my mouth, I realized one fundamental error in my plan, and that was the language barrier that could exist between us. My thoughts race trying to figure out another way as I heard her speak.

I'm Emily, can you really help my mom? You're not gonna eat us like the bark viper, are you?

She said those words with no waiver in her voice, even though her body betrayed her small frame. As gentle as I could speak, "I'm here to help Emily. I'm sorry about before, but it's a special skill I have. It only works on monsters, so I'm 100% safe, I promise". Not knowing if my bluff worked, I watched her, and she did me for what felt like forever. She lowered the knife in her hands, and with that, I dropped mine. I went to where the mother and daughter were. As I got closer, I could see the arm of the mother. I could feel the bile in my stomach churn. From the shoulder to the tip of her fingers, she was horrendously burned easily 3rd degree; if this resulted from her fire magic, then the snake was on its last leg if the inside is even remotely similar. The deep puncture marks all through her arm bone broken and piercing the skin. Blood oozing from all the open wounds. This is fucked.

Again 2 options and only those to choose from. I did the only thing I could. Grabbing the woman's blouse, I ripped it. Trying to make the most extended piece I could get in one go.

"Stop!!! What are you doing? You said you would help her. You can't touch her like that."

The scream came from the little girl, again the knife raised. Goddammit, Jack, I thought to myself. "Emily, I have to stop the bleeding; otherwise, she's going to die" Those words hit her like a ton of bricks, and tears flowed from her eyes, and small sobs flowed from her mouth. "Just let me help her, please, Emily, watch my back and make sure nothing comes and jumps us. Can you do that for me?" The brave young woman I saw from earlier came back, and the tears left. She nodded her head and, with diligence, started scanning the area for anything out of place.

Getting back to work, I took the cloth and tightly tied the fabric to her arm. Applying enough pressure to where the veins in the small-framed woman started to pop. This had to work; faith was all I could have. In a world of gods and stats, faith is what I put all my cards in, oh fucked up world indeed, with nothing but a slight chuckle came from my mouth. Walking over to the destroyed corpse of the bark viper. I tilted the body to have the remaining blood start to flow. Cupping my hands, I filled them to the brim 5 times and slowly poured the liquid down her throat, making sure she didn't choke. I did 5 more times before the wounds on her arm started closing another 5 before the burns began to fade. As I helped her, one thought continued to cross my mind repeatedly, "Why did my body do that?". Mid thought, I caught the woman's eyes start to twitch and open.