Merging Skills To Reach The Top

Shay lied on a first aid station, providing necessary magic stones filled with healing power. One of the teachers, gorgeous and tall, operating, tried treating him for three consecutive hours without a break.

Suddenly, he gasped for air, not moving a muscle. They were strained and exhausted, disabled from the intense fight.

"You shouldn't move yet. It's a miracle you've woken up."

Although his injuries healed, he couldn't stop the delayed suffering he was supposed to experience. Vocal chords, muscles, nerves, everything was damned. He felt throbbing pain all over his body, tormenting his mind.

'How much longer will this go on?!' He screamed in his thought, as the ache intensified both physically and mentally.

Desire to move, to roll, to scratch his skin off, all came down to the painful remembrance. Thirty minutes later, the warmth finally overwhelmed his pain, easing his psyche and himself.

The teacher, attending to him, finished the process. Sweat dripped from her nose and her eyes twitched, saying, "This should be enough, I hope."

Shay, already conscious, rose, curbing his strength with focus. Handling twice the power proved difficult. He stretched his arms and legs, lighter than ever before.

"Thank you for the help, miss." He said while wondering, 'Flint could've done a better job. I wonder where he is.' Scanning around, he noticed nothing strange, and saw his friend nowhere near.

"If you are looking for the student that brought you this backpack, he's partied up and hunting." She was cleaning her pretty face with a fluffy white towel.

Shay wasn't interested in her looks and could only notice her long, muscular legs. A frightful woman, charming without revealing her features, as her skin was smooth and taken care of.

He jumped off and uttered nothing else, taking his bag to head off. Though his walk seemed strange, an idea struck him, "one hundred." The weight in his backpack steadied his gait. Later on, he needed to learn how to control his stability, but knowing his time shortened because of his rest, this served as a temporary solution.

Tied to his side, the singular sword rustled, reminding Shay he possessed one all along. However, he tested its firmness by slashing a thick tree. Bark and chips of wood scattered around as the blade broke off, leaving it stuck inside, barely entering the inner layer. Only the handle was left in his grip, which he tossed away right after. The throw was uncontrolled and hit a random timber, making a significant surface dent.

Sigh.

The forest never changed as he zigzagged through the woods; trees, bushes, and the weakening sunlight filled the scenery as fresh air brushed through his lengthy hair, wavering it gently.

"I should have scanned the map through. Without it, I'm like a lost fly." He mumbled to himself, still going around.

Now that he wasn't limited anymore, he could travel far while avoiding other students. At first, he walked to get accustomed to his doubled agility, speeding up the pace bit by bit.

"Where the fuck are the monsters? If it continues this way, I won't kill any beasts until sunset!" He shouted in frustration, since he was alone.

Before taking another step, a strange sensation came over him. His senses sharpened in one direction. A wolf beast leaped toward him, trying to bite his head off. Shay stepped back and threw a punch right into its narrow maxilla, which shattered to small bone fractures, killing the creature with painful shock.

The corpse lying in front of him was the size of a human. Its fangs and talons were razor sharp, and the hide was tough, covered by long, warm fur.

He looked down, awkwardness tightening his heart, thinking, 'I could have used my sword for gutting.' After that, he let out an annoyed sigh.

Left with no other choice, he collected the teeth and claws, cutting an opening toward the corpse's blank (without an element) magic stone using them. They were often found between thorax and stomach, but with exceptions, some had them embedded in their forehead, shoulder blades, and anywhere else.

"Now, let's look at the ability I received."

[Skills]

[Root Regeneration]

[Poison Defiance]

[Agile Might]

[Danger Sense] - Allows user to perceive danger and its direction in a 5m radius.

"Hmmm. It's understandable why it felt so natural, like I was born with the skill. Scarry."

While speaking to nothingness, multiple faint leaf rustles sounded nearby him. The interface closed up and he took a fighting stance, scanning the surroundings. Some bushes revealed a distinctive gray color from within, which dashed and hid around.

'I must be close to their wolf's den, right?!' Shivering excitement traveled through his veins, fastening his heart rate.

He remembered, in the further northern east region, there had been a canine mark on the Flint's map, which they examined in class. Some had questioned why couldn't they practice where Shay was at the moment. The reason was behind the overwhelming numbers of wolf monsters, which evolved the deeper you went.

Sometimes, the strongest ones lurked inside the outer layer of their zone, which signed danger all over the place for novices.

As he smirked, six creatures jumped at him, while the other three ran around to trap Shay. He couldn't jump or crouch, since each beast aimed at a different height level. So, he decided to brute-force his way by running through one of them, snapping its neck by a direct punch to the head.

Among the wolves, one howled, sensing danger from his might. He needed to end the battle fast, or he would face another wave of monsters, supporting the present pack.

When the other wolves witnessed their companion's death, they stopped moving, assuming a defensive stance. None of them flinched, growling and gazing at Shay.

Swoosh

He flung his backpack in the air and bolted forward, earth shaking and showing signs of ruptures. As he threw a high kick, each wolf dodged back through their predatory instincts, still snarling in a guarding position. Shay was too quick and frightening for them, staying locked in place.

Bonk!

His bag landed on one of their heads with precision, crushing its skull and creating a blood bath beneath it. As the others were shaken, Shay threw another rapid rotating kick, passing through and killing every close by threat.

"Phew, I almost missed."

The three other beasts snarled and ran away. He wanted to chase them, but being graded by the count of gathered magic stones. Instead, he gutted them with the collected claws, losing interest in chasing.

[Bestiary]

[Lower Growler - 7/50]

[Reward Skill: ?????]

While examining the interface, his jaw dropped as he stared at the specific number '50,' wondering if he has enough time before sunset. Although this fight took a few minutes, finding and slaying 43 beasts, as they become more cautious around him, might prove impossible.

However, he wouldn't give up easily, preparing for a dashing killing spree. On that occasion, he circled a certain zone where the Lower Growlers lived, and murdered them within their habitat, collecting their loot and checking up the progress.

[Lower Growler - 49/50]

"So close. I just need one more," he said, stooping for the magic stone inside the corpse before him.

The sun reached the horizon, beams of orange, dazzling light touched his feet inside a den, warming up the place.

Crunch.

An animal stepped over a stick outside, making a faint perceivable noise.

"This should be the last one," he remarked, not delaying his success.

Unbeknownst to him, something else awaited him by the entrance.

Slash!

Shay sensed the danger because of his skill, but was still late to avoid the attack, inflicting a deep wound on his side. He groaned from the stinging pain as he felt warmth escaping his body.

'Fuck!'

He stopped at the beast's overwhelming shadow, at least three times bigger than his own. The beast on its own had a mixture of red and gray fur. Its scarlet eyes were the size of Shay's head, letting out a fearful gaze which sent shivers down his spine. The fangs and claws were pointier, larger, and steel like. Without realizing it, he might have entered the deeper part of the zone where evolved beasts lurked.

Pop!

Shay reached for a water bottle and forced the lid to fly toward the giant, which, of course, evaded it. However, it was enough time for him to soak himself, healing his cut flesh with Root Regeneration. It took the entire half a liter to recover. The room for mistakes narrowed, leaving him in shambles. Cold sweat dripped down his brow as stress filled his mind.

'Why is it standing still, for fuck's sake?!'

Suddenly, a swishing sound traveled through the air, getting closer each fraction of a second.

Smack!

Shay turned and pounded a Lower Growler to the ground, shaking the unstable soil around the den.

[First Bestiary milestone reached. Reward: Growler's Sight]

[Description: Grants the ability to see clearly in dark environments and enhances reflexes during combat.]

[Achievement 'Baby Steps' unlocked. Reward: +2 point for each stat]

——————

[Strength: 20 (18%)] - 4x

[Endurance: 16 (29%)]

[Agility: 20 (13%)] - 4x

[Dexterity: 22 (4%)]

[Intelligence: 18 (0%)]

With his new improvements, the world around him slowed down significantly, enabling Shay to knuckle spun the immense beast's eye, popping it like a liquid balloon.

'Woah. Am I still the same person as before?' While being left flabbergasted, the gigantic wolf let out an agonizing sharp sound, fleeing away while stumbling a few times, as its legs trembled uncontrollably.