Chapter IV : Blood Wolves

After the group's meeting and preparation to the game's opening day, the rest of them had prepared themselves and asked day offs to the ones that are working. With the help of Cray, Crest and Asher's research about the basics of the game and their theory of what to expect, they finish the preparation and the first day of the year arrived. Everyone haad gathered at the dojo before midnight of December 31st. If the rest of the people were waiting for the arrival of new year with fireworks and parties, Shin's group had eagerly waited for the game's opening. Everyone was already within their own respective unit that each has their names. The unit fit their physique perfectly, thanks to James who had setup even the tiniest details.

Shin: Everyone.. good luck! Go do all your best and fight to the fullest.

Cray: Yeah! Level up like crazy but don't get slaughtered by monsters kay.

Asher: Also, about what we've told you earlier, stick with raising your stats to the max... just kidding but as high as you can. Don't loose any loot and japtems, hoarde everything that will look useful so once we meet, one of us may be able to use it.

Celena: All right guys, that's enough, it's almost time!

As Celena said so, the clock start ticking 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... then everyone can be heard "Dive In!!".

Shin closed his eyes and when his body is entering sleep, he felt a sudden shift in his surrounding so he quickly opened his eyes. What he was now viewing is a vast green plain as far as the eyes can see. Then suddenly a melodius voice of a woman started speaking at the same time, he can see himself like looking in a mirror.

"Welcome to Conqueror Online"

"System detects this unit is customized, in exchange for logging in early, you will not start at any beginner town in the continent of Argonia, but in a random place or wilderness and survive until you are able to reach a town yourself"

"System detects you're a new user. Would you like to create an account?"

James had explained this to them beforehand, everyone thinks it's fine as long as they could start ahead. They were also warned that if they die, they won't be able to login until the next day, a 24 normal hours restriction for death and 50% experience lost of the current level as well.

Shin: Yes!

"Then please choose your race. There are hundreds of known race and more that you can choose from."

Shin: Any race is fine.

"Then the system will choose your race for you.."

After a minute, the image of Shin in front of him changed. The avatar's skin had become pale white skin however, his body remains. Even the scars on his body were visible. His hair had become longer as well.

"Choose your name."

Shin: Chaos

"Would you like to modify your appearance?"

Chaos: Yes, make my eyes crimson red. Make my hair longer till it reach my back and the color is black as dark as night. The rest as is.

"Would you like to familiarize yourself with movements and basic menu?"

Shin: Yes please.

Shin's avatar disappeared and he believe that whatever the image that was shown earlier is what he looked like now. He was still in the green plain field to practice. Shin was amazed at the realism of this place. The grass and the soft wind that's blowing against his skin, the smell of grass and fresh air, everything was so real. Afterwards, Shin started to move his limbs. First, he made the form that was thought by the master to warm up. After, he start to moved as if he's fighting a shadow of himself, trying to apply moves and skills he knows. He also called out his status screen and items to take a look.

Status Screen

Name: Chaos

Gender: Male

Race: Halfling (Dimension-Dragon)

Class: None

Sub Class: None

Alignment: Neutral

Title: None

Fame: 0

Level: 1

Exp: 0/1000

Health: 120

Mana: 110

Stamina: 120

Health Regen: 1/2sec

Mana Regen: 1/3sec

Stamina Regen: 1/1sec

Strength: 10

Vitality: 10

Agility: 10

Dexterity: 10

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 10

Luck: 0

Attack: 5-10

Defense: 10

Magic Resistance: 0%

Abnormal Status Resistance: 0%

Skills: None

-------------------------------------------------------------

Item Screen

Short Sword (Common)

-The most basic sword for beginners. Not very strong and would be discarded as soon as you get a new sword.

Durability: 100/100

Attack: 5-10

Requirements: none

Leather Armor (Common)

-Beginner armor. Grants small protection to scratches and weak impact.

Durability: 100/100

Defense: 10

Requirements: none

Health Bread x 100

-An enhance bread for long journey. Taste's good and able to recover 20% of satiety and 10% of health.

Big Canteen

-Contains fresh water. Temperature depends on the place you are in. Able to recover thirst and satiety by 5%. Must be filled when empty on a fountain or other source of liquid.

Then Shin checks his given race, halfling. Since he chose random for the system to choose for him. He was curious as to what dimensional is. He understand what a dragon is but dimensional is new to him. As Shin touch the halfling race "dimensional", a system explanation was given.

Dimensional being

In a rare case, some species from Argonia would fall into a rift that leads to another world or dimension. In this case, a dimensional being are those that were trapped between worlds for a long time and evolved to cope up with the dimension's environment. Some called this "The Void". Time in this dimension is non-existent but at some point of time, a species that were trapped within are either able to escape through a rift that suddenly opens or get summoned to another world. Not many are known about this species, however, one thing is known about their traits. They obtained the power to manipulate dimensions to their will.

Shin has no idea about it but did not think too much as time goes on, he would learn it's skill soon enough. Once satisfied that he could move properly, and familiarising his body movement and basic command, he called out to continue. The broken voice continue the process he started.

"Would you like to end the training session?"

Shin: Yes please.

"You will now be transported to a random place. All 13 units has the same process and each one won't be close to each other, would you like to begin?"

Shin: Yes!

"Again, welcome to Conqueror Online. Goodluck adventurer and may you conquer everything in your path.."

Suddenly, Shin was bathe in light, but when he opened his eyes, he was within a dark surrounding, he was transported in a cave. The cave was not too dark. There are various glowing stones and mushroom all over the place that serves as light within the cave. Once again, Shin was in awe at how real the game is but it was cut short a sudden noise could be heard around him. There was one particular that is very close to him. When Shin was able to pinpoint where it's coming from, he noticed that it was from a flying creature, a bat that is coming directly to him.

Shin: Che! Right out of the blue huh, and not even few seconds after starting... perfect! (With a grin in his face, Shin prepared himself for battle)

Shin dodged the bat's first lunge at him, however, he was still grazed in his face with it's left wing as it swiftly flew in ready to attack him again. Before the bat attacks, he was able to see the name of the monster he's fighting above it's head.

"Darkwing of Blood [Unique] Level 30"

When Shin saw it's level, he had doubts but quickly remove it from his thoughts and continue the fight. The bat quickly lunge at him once more.

Shin: This little creep! Damn, my body is not moving as good as it should be. Must be because of my level or I'm not used to this yet. I can't even look at it because of this little creep.

Shin forgot that he was transported to a random location, he was transported to a cave by the system, and the cave he was in right now has monsters at a higher level than normal beginner could ever handle. Since Shin did not realize that, he was more focused on the monster that was attacking him, but every dodge he make, he was getting better. His body is becoming more synchronize by the system. Dodging the small bat using minimal movement that was thought to him by his masters, he was able to dodge better, but Shin still thought it was because of him being level 1 and still weak.

In reality, normal players would not be able to dodge the bat's lunge at all because of it's difficulty and level. The bat that Shin was currently facing, a level 30 unique monster in the cave and it's the strongest of it's kind, usually, normal vampire bat was just level 15. But the difficulty is a bit higher since it also have the ability to fly and regenerate it's health through vampiric skill. When James had explained this to them, they agreed as it is worth it to be in the game earlier than everyone. James believe that even if they were thrown into a higher leveled field, their abilities can cope with it. He knows that they will be able to overcome whatever they faced in there.

Shin: What to do, I've tried doing a chop at it when it lunge but it won't hit. If this fight goes longer, I'm screwed. I can't believe I'm being hard press by a small bat. My friends would laugh at me.

While dodging and trying to hit back the bat several times, Shin was already feeling fatigue as his stamina gets consumed when dodging the bat, even with minimal movement used. While Shin dodge the bat's attack, he was looking at his surrounding at what can give him advantage. Shin suddenly remember that he has equipment but does not come automatically equipped.

Shin: Can I equip it during combat? Let's try it.

Shin tried calling out Item screen, while dodging the bat. Another thing Shin did not realize is that no normal person will call his status or item screen during combat because it will hinder their eye sight, however, Shin was getting used to the bats attack pattern so he's able to predict when it's going to attack. Shin quickly equips his short sword as well as the leather armor for protection.

Shin: Now, let's see if this will help.

As soon as the bat lunge at him again, Shin did not dodge this time and had intercepted the bat with his now equipped sword. Doing so, he was able to flawlessly slash the bat right from it's head to it's tail. A big critical hit came up with a 20. As the bat halted and seems to be in pain, Shin quickly follow up with a stab on it's head and body, slash on both it's wings which had tear it and a final stab in it's head. This was done in a quick succession that can only be performed by an expert of a sword.

Usually, the first slash should have bisected but since it was a game and Shin was still a level 1, he had to slash several times without giving the bat a chance to retialiate. Even though it was a higher leveled monster, it has a very low defense and health so it died quickly. After defeating the bat, several system window came up in front of Shin that he had ignored earlier as well as new system window from killing his first monster.

"You're the first adventurer to discover the Blood Wolve's Lair. The lair of a large pack of blood wolves with their alpha who are terrorizing nearby towns and caravans."

"You gain 100 fame and +1 Luck for being the first one to discover this cave."

"Experience and item drop chance is doubled for 7 days, first monster killed in combat will drop all loot."

"Congratulations, you have encountered and defeated a Unique monster: Darkwing of Blood, you have gained 20 fame, +1 Luck"

"You have gained a level"

"You have gained a level"

"You have gained a level"

"You have gained a level"

"You have acquired a skill: Counter"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Counter has advanced to level: Intermidiate"

"You have gained gained +5 Dexterity, +5 Agility, +5 Strength, counter damage: +10%, +5% chance to paralyze"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Counter has advanced to level: Novice"

"You have gained gained +10 Dexterity, +10 Agility, +10 Strength, counter damage: +10%, +5% chance to paralyze"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Counter has advanced to level: Advance"

"You have gained gained +15 Dexterity, +15 Agility, +15 Strength, counter damage: +10%, +5% chance to paralyze"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Counter has advanced to level: Expert"

"You have gained gained +20 Dexterity, +20 Agility, +20 Strength, counter damage: +10%, +5% chance to paralyze"

"You have acquired a skill: Unarmed Combat"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Unarmed Combat has advanced to level: Intermidiate"

"You have gained gained +5 Dexterity, +5 Vitality, +5 Strength, Unarmed damage: +10%, Weapon damage: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Unarmed Combat has advanced to level: Novice"

"You have gained gained +10 Dexterity, +10 Vitality, +10 Strength, Unarmed damage: +10%, Weapon damage: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Unarmed Combat has advanced to level: Advance"

"You have gained gained +15 Dexterity, +15 Vitality, +15 Strength, Unarmed damage: +10%, Weapon damage: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Unarmed Combat has advanced to level: Expert"

"You have gained gained +20 Dexterity, +20 Vitality, +20 Strength, Unarmed damage: +10%, Weapon damage: +10%"

"You have acquired a skill: Sword Mastery"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Sword Mastery has advanced to level: Intermidiate"

"You have gained gained +5 Dexterity, +5 Agility, +5 Strength, Sword damage: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Sword Mastery has advanced to level: Novice"

"You have gained gained +10 Dexterity, +10 Agility, +10 Strength, Sword damage: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Sword Mastery has advanced to level: Advance"

"You have gained gained +15 Dexterity, +15 Agility, +15 Strength, Sword damage: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Sword Mastery has advanced to level: Expert"

"You have gained gained +20 Dexterity, +20 Agility, +20 Strength, Sword damage: +10%"

"You have acquired a skill: Weapon Switching"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Weapon Switching has advanced to level: Intermidiate"

"You have gained gained +5 Dexterity, +5 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom, Number of weapon slot: +1"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Weapon Switching has advanced to level: Novice"

"You have gained gained +10 Dexterity, +10 Intelligence, +10 Wisdom, Number of weapon slot: +1"

"You have obtained Darkwing of Blood's Fang x 2"

"You have obtained Crimson Leather Wings x 2"

"You have obtained Darkwing of Blood Soul Card"

"You have obtained Vampiric Ring x 1"

"System detects your advance movement and motion during combat"

"You have gained +1 Agility, +1 Dexterity"

Shin was surprised at the number of system window he received after just one battle. What he was most surprised about are the 4 level gains he received and the number of skills learned. This time, he realized that he's not in a beginner dungeon. He also noticed that the system is able to determine if a user is already an advance or expert at some skills. He quickly opened his status screen to distribute his earned stat points. Each level, he gains 10 stat points, so now, he has a total of 40 stat points. He placed 20 in strength, 10 in vitality, and 10 in intelligence. Then he checked the skills he'd just gained.

Skill: Counter (passive)

Level: Expert (250/500)

-Able to perform an attack after dodging an attack from opponent.

-Counter attack damage: 90% of min/max attack.

-Chance to paralyze opponents: 25%

Skill: Unarmed Combat (passive)

Level: Expert (250/500)

-Able to fight without weapons. Fight with your fist and legs as your weapon. This skills also lift restrictions when holding a weapon.

-Unarmed attack damage: 140%

-Weapon attack damage: 150%

Skill: Sword Mastery (passive)

Level: Expert (250/500)

-Able to use Sword type weapon better. Able to grasp and cut with ease.

-Sword attack damage: 150%

SKill: Switch Weapon (active)

Level: Novice (0/300)

-Able to switch weapon during combat

-Number of weapon slot: 3

Shin was in awe how good the system of the game is. It's able to detect user's proficiency with skills used everyday. Of course not everyone can do martial arts but various skills that if your proficient enough to use in real life will be recognized as well within the game. This gives a bit of an advantage to users but none can say that not just martial arts is usful but other skills as well that other people have that they uses in their everyday life.

Now that Shin is aware of how the system treats skill works, he promised to take full advantage of it and apply the various skill he learned from the 4 masters. Since the system scans the user's brain which in turn quicken the pace to learn skills that would take others countless practice to learn. Example of this is since Shin has knowledge and skills in fighting or using a sword, he was able to move fluidly alerting the system of precise movement and accuracy of attack which in turn activating the requirements and learning the skill. This also gives bonus to stats for the body to cope up with the skills. However, since it's the first virtual game that's ever been released, Shin didn't know that the game has a feature were it helps the user to perform skills. It's called "system assist". This feature helps people to perform feat that normal person cannot perform, but since Shin does not know of it, Shin performs skills with effort, knowledge and mastery.

Next, Shin checked the item drops he acquired, one that he's curious about is the accessory ring and the soul card.

--Vampiric Ring--

Type: Accessory

Level: Rare

-Ring which allows the user to drain vitality from their enemies.

Effect:

5% of damage dealt goes into health. Stackable.

+10 attack

+100 HP

+50 Mana

Requirements:

Level 20

Attack 100

Wisdom 60

Card: Darkwing of Blood, Lestaht: Unique

Type: Soul

-Rare type of card is soul type. Can be use in many different ways but there are still many application that wasn't known yet. Pure type of essence can be use with equipment strengtening, enchanting, engraving and can be use as consumable attack item.

-Additional Effect: HP Drain 10% of damage dealt

Shin: Awesome, although I'm unable to use this yet it's a pretty good start heh~. Okay, now that I'm pumped up, it's time to search this cave for more enemies and loots..

After checking on all system window, Shin continued through the cave. Shin was able find several different types of mushrooms that are spread all around the cave. He found poison mushroom, dark mushroom, shiitake mushroom and glowshroom. Occasionally, he will find some rare blood shroom. He remembers when he was training with the masters, they often travel to mountains to train for survival and Shin was often tasked to collect herbs from the mountain and needed to identify which is edible and poisonous, he was used to identifying characteristics of poison and which are safe to eat. So with instinct, even though he does not need to, he still search for herbs and plants.

However this didn't go without any encounter with monsters. While going deeper into the cave, Shin had encountered bats again. Sometimes alone but most of the time, in groups of 5-10 or a whole swarm. Unlike the first encounter with the unique bat, vampire bats were lower leveled, and now that he's level 5 with a higher attack power because he received a huge boost to his strength when he learned the skill which is already in advanced level, he was able to insta-kill the bats, because of his knowledge of where to hit where it hurts. Before Shin encounters the other resident monster in the cave, he had already killed more than a hundred bats due to it's swarm attacks. His gained some stat bonus and this also had leveled him up from 5 to 22, unlocked the flexibility stat and this only took him 4 hours game time. He even got a title from killing more than a hundred vampire bats and another skill after getting to level 20.

"You obtained the title: Vampire Hunter"

"You have unlocked a race specific ability: Dimensional Space Creation"

Shin: Eh? What's this race specific ability? Sounds interesting.. I'll try this later and experiment it's uses.. for now, more exp!

Shin then equipped the ring that he was not able to equip before, then continue forging through the cave. As he get's further through the cave, the bat's seems to have become scarce but the scent of blood that Shin smelled faintly earlier have become stronger and that the bats were also avoiding him, he can only shrug his shoulders on the weird occurence. After walking for several minutes with no encounter, Shin kept collecting every mushroom he sees in the cave. Then in a distance, he heard the second sound of another creature that is residence on the cave he were in. Bracing for the encounter, soon the silhouette of the monster came up and he noticed that what was heading for him was a lone wolf. A blood red wolf, most likely the creature where the cave has been named after. As it get closer, he was able to see the name and level of the monster. Blood Wolf Level 40.

Blood wolf always travels in packs of 4-6 and are higher leveled than the bat. However, the wolf that is rushing to him seems to be alone, most likely a scout. It heads into him, most likely, thinking of him as an easy prey.

Shin: Let's see how strong wolves are within this game. I hunt your kind for dinner when I was a kid.

This time, since Shin was not surprise with the attack, but can feel the killing intent of the wolf as it gets closer. It's definitely a higher monster than bats. This can be enough to be seen as a boss to beginners and encountering a pack will be a one sided slaughter. However, Shin was calm and was observing the wolf that is almost near him. As soon as it neared, it lunge at him with incredible speed and breaking Shin's expection, it did not lunge to bite him but used it's claw to slash at him. This surprised him greatly as it's not the usual attack a wolf would do. Because of the surprise attack, he was not able to dodge the wolf's attack.

"Critical hit! You received 260 damage!"

"You have been inflicted with status, Bleed. You will loose 10 health per second until battle is over."

Being attacked made him shake out of his surprise. Now focusing and knowing how dangerous the wolf is. He did not waste any time and instead of taking his distance, he attack the wolf head on. His first thrust had hit the wolf on it's right eye, causing the wolf to flinch. He then jumped towards the wolf and rotate his body clockwise and deliver a swirling upward slash hitting it's throat. This did not kill the wolf as it has way higher health than the bat. He did not relent and attack again at the same spot on it's throat, causing critical hit. After hitting the same spot again two more times, the wolf finally fell. After the wolf's death, he quite a lot of experience, also with the help of his 1 week double experience buff as well as the difficulty of the wolf.

After the fight, his bleeding stopped but when he notice his current health, it was in critical condition. He quickly ate 5 bread to recover his health and sat down to recover his stamina. While in a meditative position, only 10 minutes had passed but another set of growling can be heard. It seems that other wolves have smelled the blood of their brethren and rush to check what happened. Seeing him, the two wolves quickly head towards him and each separated and paced on both of his side.

One wolf faces Shin, while the other quietly paced further back. Shin thought it's a good tactic but as soon as the two wolves lunge at him at the same time in front and back, Shin stood lower to the ground and thrust what he's holding on his left hand to the wolf that was in front and deliver a slash at the one that is coming in the back. Shin had picked up a broken stone stalagmite earlier and was able to use it as a weapon.

Shin had learned from his master Asuna, to use anything in his surrounding as a weapon, Shin took advantage of the technique. The stalagmite he thrust to one of the wolf were stuck deep in it's throat causing it to roll in pain and stagger, while the other has a slash on one of it's eye, blood spraying from it covering the other eye. This gave Shin an opening he needed and quickly lunge at the one with stalagmite stuck on it's throat and he kept slashing it on it's underside, another of it's weak spot repeatedly until it died.

The other wolf was able to recover, it lunge at him again in a frenzy while it's body glowed red. Shin tried to use another technique his master thought him but before he could complete the slash to the wolf, as system message appeared in front of him. Shin was trying to do one of the skills his master Kenshin had thought him, Vorpal Cutting. The message in front of him says:

"You failed in performing and creating a skill with the current equipment you are using, try again once you have an ancient blade that can perform this skill"

"Due to failed skill activation, you are paralyze for 5 seconds"

Shin: Sh-Shittt!!!

Being paralyze, Shin was able to raise at least his sword in defense, but the wolf did not stop and repeatedly clawed him non-stop. The scent of blood was in the air as Shin's blood flew for every slash the wolf had done to him. After 5 seconds, he was barely alive and again, in critical condition, worst than before.

"You received 110 damage!"

"You received 150 damage!"

"You received 120 damage!"

"You received 190 damage!"

"You received 220 damage!"

"You received 180 damage!"

Another surprise within the game which had caused him severely. He was still lucky as the paralization lifted before the final attack of the wolf that could've killed him. He was able to perform a parry which he made to deflect the wolf's attack. Again, he lunge the enemy even though he knows that only one hit could kill him. He repeatedly slash with all his focus on the wolf's neck until it died after the 6th hit.

Shin did not stopped as he knows he's also has a "bleeding" status. He quickly stuff bread after bread in his mouth and drank water from his canteen. Then run back where he came from just to the edge of the wolf's territory. This gave him a safer place to meditate once again to stop his bleeding and speed up his inner body function and metabolism.

After another 30 minutes, as he felt that his body is at least back to normal, when he opened his eyes, he immediately got another system window.

"You have gained a level"

"System detects your advance movement and motion during combat"

"You have gained +1 Agility, +1 Dexterity, +1 Strength"

"You have acquired a skill: Chakra"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Chakra has advanced to level: Intermidiate"

"You have gained gained +5 Vitality, +5 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom, Restore HP: +10%, Probability of healing status effect: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Chakra has advanced to level: Novice"

"You have gained gained +10 Vitality, +10 Intelligence, +10 Wisdom, Restore HP: +10%, Probability of healing status effect: +10%"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Chakra has advanced to level: Advance"

"You have gained gained +15 Vitality, +15 Intelligence, +15 Wisdom, Restore HP: +10%, Probability of healing status effect: +10%"

"You have acquired a skill: Meditation"

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Meditation has advanced to level: Intermidiate"

"You have gained gained +5 Intelligence, +5 Wisdom, Mana Regen: +10/sec."

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Meditation has advanced to level: Novice"

"You have gained gained +10 Intelligence, +10 Wisdom, Mana Regen: +10/sec."

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Meditation has advanced to level: Advance"

"You have gained gained +15 Intelligence, +15 Wisdom, Mana Regen: +10/sec."

"System detects your advance knowledge of the skill, Meditation has advanced to level: Expert"

"You have gained gained +20 Intelligence, +20 Wisdom, Mana Regen: +10/sec."

Shin: (sigh) That was close.. I don't want to die on the first day of logging in but this was more than I expected. Even with the skills my masters thought me, I had to use all of my strength and skills to overcome these monsters in this game.

Shin took a look at the new skills he gained.

Skill: Chakra (Active)

Level: Advance (360/400)

Mana Consumption: 50

-Increase your inner body workings making your body fight sickness and abnormality and wounds heal faster.

-Restore HP: 40%

-Probability of healing status effect: 40%

Skill: Meditation (Active)

Level: Expert (250/500)

Mana Consumption: 0

-Upon entering a meditative state, mana will regenerate faster. Caution, while in meditative state, damage is doubled.

-Mana Regen: 50/sec.

Shin felt more excited than discourage with the difficulty of the game. He was thankful to James that he was thrown into a harder dungeon than a boring beginning one. With this, he will definitely become stronger fast. As soon as his health had recovered to full after eating 5 more breads, he continued hunting the wolves and sometimes, vampire bats that gets in his way. Several times, he gets cornered when facing more than 4 wolves, he did not realized that wolves also calls for backup when critical. He was lucky, his first wolves died quickly or else, he would have died already.

Shin became more used to the wolves movements, just like with the bats, his battle became a easier, to the point that he was able to battle 6 wolf at the same time with minimal damage. Since the wolves were of higher level, he was also able to reach level 33 after killing several dozens of wolves.

Shin also randomly gained stats after combat. Because of constant movements, dodging attacks and using minimal movements with expert sword and martial arts tecniques. By experimenting during combat, sometimes, Shin would not use a weapon and just use hand to hand combat when the wolves he face were just 2-3. He was able to unlock the endurance and resilience stat.

While fighting great numbers of blood wolves and vampire bats, the number of items he had collected had made his bag almost full. Shin looked for a safe place to rest, then he tried organizing his items and take a look if there are any important drops he obtained. After checking each item, a system window appeared in front of him along with all the others he ignored while fighting.

"System detects your advance movement and motion during combat"

"You have gained +16 Agility, +14 Dexterity, +11 Strength, +9 Vitality, +8 Endurance, +7 Resilience, +6 Flexibility, +3 Luck"

"System detects deeper understanding of herbs and items gained from monsters and surroundings"

"You have acquired a skill: Plant & Herb Identification"

Shin: Cool! But.. the last loot i picked up are bloody fangs, claws and blood wolf's pelt. However, I cannot store it in my bag anymore. Damnit! (with sad expression and a feeling of regret) Should I throw this..? If I have more space like a merchant, I could at least save some of this.. tsk! This will start to suck from now on. I'll start throwing precious items because I don't have space! I'm far from a town as well.. I promise I'll buy a bigger bag when I get out of here...

While Shin was contemplating with throwing the extra items or not, he suddenly remembered about the skills he learned earlier, especially the racial ability he ignored. When he opened up his skill list, he found the ability on another tab and then started checking on it.

Ability: Dimensional Space Creation (Active)

Level: Beginner (0%)

Mana cost: 10

-The first racial ability learned by a dimensional being. Will enable you to create a personal pocket space that may serve as a resting place or storage.

-Only the user can enter this pocket space until the ability advance further.

-When inside coming inside the created pocket space, mana will drain 10/sec. If mana runs out while inside the space, stamina will be used with double the amount, then next is life with triple the amount.

*additional 5 mana drain, if surface customization is used.

*additional 5 mana drain, if lighting customization is used.

-Current size: 5 x 5 square meter

-Customizable options: surface customization, lighting customization

-Surface customization option: default(empty space surface), solid stone surface

-Lighting customization option: single lamp light type

Shin: Huh... this ability is kind of complicated and it's mana consumption is quite big.. but storage! Hahahah! I will not have problem with storage anymore!Every merchant will be jelous of this.

Shin activated the skill immediately. Having an idea of what to expect, feeling the mana within his body, then forming a picture in his head, he released the energy from within. This created a dark space in front of him, a door that can fit a single person to enter.

Inside the space, Shin knows he had stepped in another different area altogether. The atmosphere were calm, not the atmosphere that can be felt within a cave. Shin could still feel that he was stepping on a hard surface even though everything is just like a black abyss. When Shin remembered about the customizable option he saw on the skill information screen, a system window came up in front of him automatically.

-------------------------------------

-Space Customization-

Current Size: 5 x 5 meter

Current Surface: Default

Current Lighting: None

Current Mana Consumption: 10/sec

-------------------------------------

Shin selected the surface option and he was given another option, and selected it. Then he enabled the lighting option on. As soon as he finished the selection, the room lighted up dimly and his surrounding became a stone surface. No sand nor pebbles on it's surface. It was clean. Shin looked again at the System window.

-------------------------------------

-Space Customization-

Current Size: 5 x 5 meter

Current Surface: Solid Stone

Current Lighting: Dim

Current Mana Consumption: 20/sec

-------------------------------------

After checking, Shin started experimenting. He tried closing the door and reopening it. He was able to do so with just a single thought. He had a dominion on the space he had created which delighted him. Next, he left a few items on the floor, then left and came out of the space. Being within the space for just half a minute, he had spent a staggering 500 mana. If he didn't have 1625 mana, it's possible for him to get killed. Before entering again, Shin meditated until his mana is full again. He decided to go back to the space later once his inventory is full again, since he had freed up 5 item space (he only have 15 item space), it will take awhile until he run out of space again, then he will continue his experiment with the space he created.

Shin continued deeper, encountering less and less of the wolves and bats, until he was able to get to the innermost section of the cave. He also obtained another title by defeating over a hundred blood wolves. As he go further, there were no more wolf or bats. However, the scent of blood have become stronger. Bloodshroom that was scarce had increase in number so Shin collected them. But Shin knows, it only means one thing, he was close at the end of the cave. The lair of the boss. When he finally stumble upon a stair leading downwards, Shin had started preparing. He can feel a life force at the bottomm of the stairs and it's full of blood lust. It also knows he's there.

Then without hesitation, he went down to the deepest part of the cave. At the bottom of the stairs goes to a wide opened space. In the middle is a raised dais and sitting atop of it is the largest wolf Shin had set eyes on.

It's a huge wolf. It's color is deep red, like blood. It's mouth has blood dripping from it. And looking at it's eyes, Shin could see a hungry beast, ready to devour him.

Shin could already see it's name and level. "Wolf of Carnage, Redmoon", Level 100. Shin was a bit hesitant because of the huge level gap between them. He was level 40, a 60 level gap, however, with the stats he gained from skills and added stats, he's equal to a level 100 player. He psyche himself up and removed his emotion. Afterwards, his focus on the wolf had become sharp as a blade.

Shin, then drew his sword. Then without anymore hesitation, charge at it. This had surprise the wolf as it's used to anything that stands before it to cower in fear, none had been able to confront it when standing at it's presence. Shin was able to close in on the wolf, taking advantage of it's brief surprised. He quickly delivered a quick slash to it's eyes, hoping to blind the beast. Shin was able to do so but onlny on one eye. Blood gushed out of it's wounded eyes and cause the wolf to wail in pain.

This had quickly enraged the wolf, and looking at him on it's now single eye with hatred, charged at him. Even with it's huge size, the wolf moved and slash at him in quick succession using it's giant claw. Shin was not idle either. Before the wolf moved, he had tried to anicipate the giant wolf's move. Because of it, he was able to dodge and negate 90% of the damage dealth to him.

"You have received 80 damage"

Shin tried to follow up with another few slashes to the wolf's wounded eyes, to it's throught and underside. Each strike Shin he did to the giant wolf causes critical hit. This would also amazed others if they see this fight. The probability of landing critical hit is at most 10% and lower for a fast and moving object.

Shin kept his onslought on the wolf, until it's health went down 50%. Upon reaching 50% damage, the atmosphere around the wolf changed again. Shin once again charged the wolf again. As he get near the wolf, it suddenly raised it's head, then gave a piercing howl. Shin suddenly stopped completely in his track and unable to move, followed by a feeling of dread. This was followed by a system window.

"You have been paralyzed by fear. You won't be able to move for 10 seconds."

Shin: Che! Shit! I'm in trouble...! The range is 20 meters from it's center.. it's dodgeable if I'm able to get out of this alive!

Shin has been stunned for 10 seconds. He mustered all his strength to raise his sword arm up to at least prepare for the coming onslought from the huge wolf.

The wolf did not rush to him, like he thought. However, it's moving closer and closer. Once it's in front of him, it raise it's right paw full of sharp claws. Then it came. Strike after strike of it's sharp and bloody claw came at him. If he didn't raise his defense up, he would have died at the sixth strike. System window indicating damage kept coming up.

"You have received 501 damage"

"You have received 523 damage"

"You have received 512 damage"

"You have received 505 damage"

"You have received 511 damage"

"You have received 505 damage"

On the seventh strike, Shin was finally abe to move, but the seventh strike is already coming. Shin grit his teeth and brace for impact of the seventh strike. Once it hit, Shin was thrown towards the wall with great force and suffered great damage.

"You have received 600 damage"

"You have been inflicted with status, Bleed. You will loose 10 health per second until battle is over."

Shin: Guahg! (When Shin hit's the wall, it force takes the breath out of him.) Cough! Th-that's way heavy. Damn! One more hit and I'm a goner!

While trying to recover, the wolf head towards him again to finish him off. Shin quickly sprinted away from the wolf. Once far enough, his body glowed blue as he started using "Chakra" to recover from the status effect and health. On the third time he used it, the bleed status disappeared.

Before the wolf reaches him, Shin quickly sprinted away once more. Fearing the effect of it's howl, he quickly went out of it's range. And as he expected, it howled once again, but before it reaches him, hes already out of the range. After the wold used it's skill, Shin noticed that it's only staring at him and did not move.

Shin: Wait the minute.. what is it doing? Why did it not charged? Is this..?

Having an idea, Shin tried to rush the wolf again, which is starting to move. As soon as Shin was in range again, it tried to howl once more but Shin step back instead before the howl was completed. He avoided the skill range again, and like before, it did not move for several seconds.

Shin: Heheh.. that's an opening! Now I got you!

Shin quickly charged the wolf while it's idling and slash at it's throat, causing critical damage. He was finally able to break the stalemate, and continue to give damage to it. Whenever it will raise it's head, Shin would step just outside it's range, then swiftly continued attacking, stacking critical damage to the wolf.

Shin was finally able to whittle down it's health to 5%. At it's critical, it's speed rose again and did not use it's howling skill but continously pressure him with strikes and lunge. When it was down to 1%, it abandons defense and did a desperate attack. Shing attacked as well but instead of the strikes, the wolf was now trying to bite him in half. Successfully evading the continous strikes and bites with minimal damage, Shin delivered the final blow with a stab on it's head, in the center of it's eyes. The wolf did not die yet, and striked him upwards. Defending the strike, he was blown upwards and as he falls down, the wolf was waiting for him to fall with it's mouth full of sharp teeth, waiting for him.

Using a momentum he learned from one of his master, to alter direction even while in mid-air, altered the location where he would fall at the last minute. He then flipped and hit the sword that was already embedded in between the eye of the wolf, plunging it further to it's brain, this time, causing a fatal hit.

"Fatal Hit! Damage 3,423!"

With a final cry, the giant wolf finally fell. Shin also noticed that his health was in critical condition and he almost died.

Shin: (sigh) That was hard.. But this is what I'm talking about! A challenge that would need to give my all. (clenching his fist in front of him)

Upon beating the final boss of the cave, the game system came up, but this mark was the beginning of Shin's path to the top. All of his companions were also making their way and paving a path of strength within the game, with a goal of meeting some day when they were all at the top and gather to form a legend.