Chapter 11: The Blood That Burns – Feral Rage Awakens
> Name: Fury
Race/Species: Chimera Wolf
Bloodlines:
• Royal Black Wolf (Active)
• Dark Elf (Awakens at Lvl 10)
• Wyvern (Hidden, Awakens at Lvl 20)
Level: 5
Class: Hybrid Wolf
Title: None
EXP: 130/240
Skills:
• Midnight Sovereign (Active)
• Predator's Sense (Passive)
• Lunar Pounce (Active)
• Feral Rage (Active)
HP: 500/500
MP: Locked
————
The moonlight shimmered faintly through the dense canopy of Nightmare Forest. The winds howled faintly above the trees. Deep inside a shadowy glade near the Nightmare Fang Tribe's sacred grounds, Fury crouched low to the ground, eyes glowing like twin embers.
Before him stood Varok, his mentor and guardian, pacing slowly in a circle.
"You've awakened a dangerous skill, pup," Varok growled with mild caution. "Feral Rage isn't something you should use without control."
Fury's body still felt sore from the previous night's hunt, where he had barely held onto his consciousness while the rage consumed him. Twenty-four kills—he'd surpassed expectations, but the cost had nearly crippled him.
Fury lowered his head. "Then teach me. If it's part of me… I need to master it."
Varok's deep eyes gleamed with pride. "Good. You're no longer a pup with raw instincts. Now you're a warrior in training."
With a loud thud, Varok stomped his paw against the moss-covered ground. "Let's begin."
---
Skill Training Session: Feral Rage
A mission prompt flickered in front of Fury.
> Training Challenge: Control the Beast
Survive three minutes in Feral Rage without HP dropping below 50%.
Reward: +10 EXP, Improved Control Trait
Fury inhaled deeply. With a growl, he activated the new skill.
> Skill Activated: Feral Rage
-1 HP/sec | +20% Physical Attack | +25% Speed | +10% Defense
Remaining HP: 499...498...497...
His muscles bulged. A red mist surrounded his frame as blood surged through his veins like fire. His claws elongated, fangs sharpened. His body felt like it was burning—but in the best way. His senses went wild. He could hear the flutter of moth wings and the tremble of insects underground.
Varok dashed forward, claws slashing toward him.
Instinct took over. Fury leapt sideways, using Lunar Pounce, chaining the dodge into a claw swipe.
> Combo Attempt: Lunar Pounce → Basic Claw Swipe
Combo Rating: C
Varok grunted as Fury's claws grazed his fur.
"You're fast," the older wolf snarled, "but you're bleeding out every second. Focus!"
The glowing damage ticker ticked down: 455… 454…
Fury shifted his weight, ducked under a charging feint, and launched into Midnight Sovereign—a black mist shrouding his body as he blurred into three afterimages.
> Combo Attempt: Feral Rage → Lunar Pounce → Midnight Sovereign
Combo Rating: B+
He struck. His claws raked Varok's left shoulder—but it cost him.
His HP dropped to 400.
Breathing heavily, Fury pulled back. "It's… it's like holding fire with my bare soul…"
"You're doing better than I expected," Varok admitted. "Now again!"
---
Mid-Training Flashback: The Memory of Rage
Fury's mind briefly flashed back to last night—his first full activation of Feral Rage. Surrounded by nightwolves, he had lost control. His movements had become a blur. The blood mist had drowned all reason, his own allies retreating in shock.
He'd heard screams. From himself. From others.
But when he returned to awareness… there was only silence, and blood.
That won't happen again, he told himself. I will command the rage… not be its slave.
---
Back in the clearing, Fury activated Feral Rage again.
> Mission Progress: 2 minutes / 3 minutes
HP: 360/500
Fury began to pace. His instincts told him to attack. Tear. Kill. Bite. But he forced himself to stay still. Controlled breathing. Channel the blood… not drown in it.
He roared. Not in madness—but in focus.
> 3 minutes reached!
Challenge Complete!
+10 EXP
Trait Gained: Controlled Rage
(Feral Rage now loses -0.5 HP/sec instead of -1 HP/sec when standing still)
> EXP: 140/240
Fury collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily.
"I did it…" he murmured.
Varok padded over and stood beside him.
"You've taken your first step in mastering yourself," the older wolf said. "It won't get easier. But now, you can build your style."
---
Later That Night: Skill Combo Practice
After resting, Fury returned to a rocky training glade where broken stumps, thorned bushes, and dummy targets had been set up.
> Training Objective: Develop Combat Combos (Max 4-chain)
Bonus: Unlock Passive Trait if Combo exceeds Rank A+
Fury breathed out. He began slow.
Lunar Pounce → Leap across the dummy.
Claws slash downward: Basic Claw Attack
Mid-strike, activate: Feral Rage
Chain into: Midnight Sovereign blur
> Combo: Lunar Pounce → Basic Claw → Feral Rage → Midnight Sovereign
Combo Rating: A
"Almost…" he grunted.
Again.
This time he waited—Feral Rage first. Let the speed kick in.
Feral Rage → Close gap → Lunar Pounce
→ Mid-air Spin Claw (basic movement) → land into Midnight Sovereign
> Combo Rating: A+
Skill Synergy Detected
Passive Trait Gained: Instinct Combo Flow
(Using 3+ chained skills reduces cooldown of last skill by 1s)
> EXP Gained: +10
EXP: 150/240
Fury grinned.
This is it… the beginning of my own fighting style.
Status Update
> Name: Fury
Race/Species: Chimera Wolf
Level: 5
EXP: 150/240
Class: Hybrid Wolf
Title: None
Skills:
• Midnight Sovereign (Active)
• Predator's Sense (Passive)
• Lunar Pounce (Active)
• Feral Rage (Active)
New Traits:
• Controlled Rage
• Instinct Combo Flow
HP: 500/500
Feral Rage Cost: -0.5 HP/sec (Stationary), -1 HP/sec (Moving)
End of Chapter