'You've got to be kidding me. I have to survive against that thing for 5 seconds?' I screamed internally.
However, even as the thought flashed through my mind, my legs were already moving as fast as they could, rushing into the woods not too far away without hesitation.
If there was any chance to survive those five seconds, it had to be in the woods.
Glancing at the system panel from the corner of my eyes, I noticed the section for the skill greyed out.
4 seconds left.
The number was boldly written atop the disabled skill.
Three seconds…
Roar!
A sharp, ear-piercing roar exploded behind me. I felt the wind brush violently against my skin and, without hesitation, I ducked low.
Boom!
Something detonated behind me, and the tree just ahead shattered into splinters, wood fragments flying everywhere.
The boar took a brief moment to steady itself, but it was barely enough.
1 second left.
My heartbeat nearly stopped when it charged again. Still on the ground, I pushed myself up, ready to move, when the greyed skill suddenly regained its color.
'About damn time!'
This had to be the most elated I'd felt in a long time, aside from the sex I'd had over the past two days.
I almost laughed in relief as I instinctively activated the skill.
Just as the boar lunged toward me, it froze.
I didn't hesitate even for a moment. My dagger slammed into its chest again and again.
As the shadow thinned, I shifted targets and struck its eyes.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
For the next five seconds, I attacked relentlessly, without restraint, without fear.
Finally, the skill ended and entered cooldown.
But the damage was already done.
The moment the boar regained movement, it attempted one last lunge before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
Its heart had been pierced through with my dagger. Both eyes were gone. Its nose had been completely ruined.
The boar only managed a few ragged breaths before growing limp and lifeless.
[Congratulations! You have gained 1200 EXP!]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]
[Your understanding of the Shadow Dancer class deepens!]
A series of notifications rang through my mind.
Instantly, a cool sensation spread around me as a wave of energy washed through my body.
The notifications blurred away and my stats appeared, along with the promise of 10 free attribute points.
Every time a person leveled up, they received 5 free attribute points to assign across their attributes depending on preference. Along with that came a 10% increase to mana and health.
STR (Strength): 6
AGI (Speed): 7
VIT (Health/Endurance): 5
INT (Magic Power): 8
DEX (Precision): 8
CHA (Charm/Domination): 4
Free attributes: 10
'A unique stats panel?' I muttered in surprise, noticing the addition of the Charm stat.
I'd never heard of anything called Charm before.
'Could it have something to do with the Eros Monarch System?' I wondered briefly.
Without any way to confirm it for now, I shifted my attention toward assigning my attributes.
After some thought, I placed 2 points into Strength and 3 into Speed.
I added 3 into Charm, just to see what changes it might bring, then split the remaining 2 between INT and DEX.
Swoosh!
A mysterious wave of energy washed over me again, stronger this time.
I felt my muscles tighten and refine, becoming denser beneath my skin. At the same time, a fresh surge of energy filled me. The lingering fatigue from running vanished completely.
I pulled up the system again and noticed the cooldown had decreased from 5 seconds to 4.
Pleased, I was about to nod when a sharp cry tore through my thoughts.
Awoooooo!
The instant the howl echoed, something brushed past me. A stinging pain followed immediately.
'Fuck. I forgot the wolf was here!'
I grabbed my shoulder instinctively and saw a chunk of flesh missing.
The wolf appeared before me, red eyes glaring as it casually tossed the piece of my flesh aside.
"Bastard!" I cursed.
Then it vanished again.
'A speed-type beast?' I muttered internally, panic creeping in.
Wolf-type beasts were among the deadliest opponents. Hard to track. Harder to hit. They wore their prey down piece by piece.
Bang!
Something slammed into me from behind, sending me staggering forward.
A moment later, burning pain ripped across my back. Its claws had torn through my flesh.
'I need to catch that sneaky little bitch.' I thought grimly, tightening my grip on my dagger.
At the same time, I clutched my back as blood dripped onto the ground.
Whoosh!
Hearing the wind whistle again, I threw myself sideways.
Bang!
Another attack struck exactly where I had stood moments earlier.
The instant it landed, I counterattacked.
The Shadow Dancer skill was off cooldown.
Without hesitation, I activated it.
Immediately, the wolf stiffened.
"Why aren't you running now, huh? You little bitch!" I snarled as my dagger drove into one eye.
I ripped it free and plunged it into the second eye before stabbing straight through its nose.
The wolf regained movement seconds later, but it was already dying. It collapsed before I even had the chance to activate the skill again.
'A shame,' I muttered while looking down at the corpse.
The system burst to life.
[Congratulations! You have gained 1500 EXP!]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]
[Level 4: 500/2000]
[Your understanding of the Shadow Dancer class grows deeper.]
[Please assign the free attributes!]
A flurry of notifications filled my vision.
I ignored them for now as the stinging pain and blood loss began catching up to me.
Thankfully, the level-up had closed some wounds, but it wasn't enough to fully stabilize me.
Staggering forward, I hurried toward the truck's location.
My eyes quickly caught sight of two horribly disfigured bodies lying nearby.
I shook my head faintly in pity, a trace of melancholy surfacing, before focusing on the truck.
A whimper echoed from inside.
I approached quickly.
"Please don't kill me… please don't kill me… please don't kill me…" the driver sobbed repeatedly.
Bang!
Since the howls of the beasts had stopped, the driver and passenger assumed everyone else had died.
The moment my hand slammed against the door, both men turned pale.
"Open up," I said coldly.
Startled, both men looked up at me.
The moment they noticed my bloodied figure, shock filled their faces.
"Wha… what happened?"
The passenger muttered before turning toward the trembling driver.
"Did… did you kill those two beasts?"
I looked directly into his eyes.
The shadows twisted unnaturally and wrapped around both men, forcing the driver's body to move.
Unable to resist, the driver's eyes widened in terror as his own hands opened the door against his will.
Pulling them both out, I drew my dagger.
I drove it through the driver's body and spoke in a low, chilling voice.
"I don't want word of what happened here today to spread. Got that? If it does… I'll come for your lives. Both of you."
A chill ran down their spines.
They had seen me before, assuming I was just another kid looking for quick money.
Who would have thought I was a monster instead?
They looked at each other, horror reflected in both pairs of eyes.
What kind of skill was that?
Why couldn't they control their own bodies?
And what was that look in my eyes?
For a moment, their entire lives flashed before them.
It was even more predatory than the gaze the wolf had given them earlier.
"Drive back home," I ordered before climbing into the back of the truck, releasing my control over them.
"Ye—yes, boss!"