Point of View: Rangar
I stood atop a mountain with my people. Snow blanketed the land, and the freezing wind battered our armor as if trying to cast us out of this world.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
The cold air reminded me of home.
But something felt different.
I frowned.
"The energy here is… strange."
I didn't dwell on it for long. Three of my subordinates were returning from scouting the surrounding area.
One of them spoke first.
"King, we found a cave. It's large enough to hold all of us and close to our current position."
"That large? We are nearly two hundred in total."
"Yes, King. But it's inhabited. A species of wolf. Around three hundred… perhaps more. Not all of them are Ascended."
"How many are?"
"Approximately sixty."
I looked at my two hundred warriors. Their breaths turned into mist in the frozen air. Their gazes were steady.
I bared my fangs in a grin.
"Ten will remain to guard the supplies. The rest… follow me to hunt."
A deep roar rippled through our ranks.
We descended.
By the time we reached the cave, the wolves had already detected us.
One by one, they emerged, growling, baring frost-covered fangs.
There were more than expected.
Four hundred.
And this time, I counted over a hundred Level One Ascended.
At the front stood their leader.
Larger than the rest. Thicker fur. A more compact frame. Smarter eyes.
We stared at each other.
The silence lasted only a moment.
I roared.
Activating my Frost Armor, I charged.
The impact was brutal.
My claw struck his jaw and sent him flying backward, but the wolf twisted midair and landed on his paws, retaliating with a savage bite aimed at my shoulder.
I felt his fangs pierce through the frost layer.
I growled and brought my claw down in a crushing strike, slamming him into the ground.
Around me, battle erupted.
The bears roared as they charged with their full weight, crushing wolves into the snow and tearing out throats with savage bites.
The wolves fought in packs. They leapt onto backs, bit at legs, clung desperately.
One bear fell as three wolves surrounded him. Another warrior intervened, smashing one against a rock and ripping another's neck apart with his fangs.
The snow turned red.
The leader lunged at me again.
He was strong.
But his regeneration was the real problem.
Every superficial wound began closing within seconds.
Only when I infused Origin Energy into my claws could I prevent the healing.
Interesting.
We exchanged blow after blow. Claws against fangs.
I had the advantage.
Until he suddenly retreated.
He unleashed a deafening roar.
A white circle appeared beneath his paws.
The other Ascended wolves immediately backed away.
I roared at my subordinates:
"Formation! Do not lower your guard!"
The circle shone intensely.
The leader began to grow.
His muscles expanded, tightening until every fiber stood out. His size increased by at least fifty percent. His fangs lengthened, and a heavy pressure radiated from his body.
His presence became imposing.
Intimidating.
My smile faded.
My eyes hardened.
Now he was a real threat.
He charged.
Faster.
His claw struck my chest and sent me several meters back, carving a deep trench through the snow.
I rose slowly.
I roared.
This time, it wasn't an amused roar.
It was a war cry.
My warriors answered.
The battle turned savage.
The transformed wolves tore through weakened armor. Their bites pierced flesh. Their charges shattered formations.
But my bears did not retreat.
They responded with devastating blows. They seized wolves by the neck and smashed them into the ground. They bit and tore without mercy.
The leader attacked again.
I narrowly avoided his bite and drove my energy-infused claws into his side.
He roared in pain.
He tried to ram me with his full weight.
I met him head-on.
Our bodies collided like mountains.
I felt his fangs tear into my arm.
I ignored the pain.
I seized the opening.
I plunged both claws into his chest, driving them in as deep as they would go.
Then I pushed with all my strength.
The wolf fell.
His body trembled… and went still.
The white circle vanished.
The remaining wolves tried to flee, but my subordinates gave them no chance.
Minutes later, the cave was ours.
I breathed heavily.
We were wounded.
But none had died.
Good.
Then the notification appeared.
[You have obtained 100 FD]
[System updating. Please wait…]
After a few seconds:
[Update complete. Status interface improved. War updates downloaded.]
I checked my status.
A new section appeared beneath it: War Interface.
I opened it.
A map occupied one side. A mission log filled the other. There was also a communication function.
I wondered aloud,
"What do I do now?"
The System answered.
[Main Mission: Conquer the World]
[Mission Chain Initiated]
[Arc 1: Initial Establishment]
[Mission 1: Establish a secure base and create the return portal]
[Completion Reward: Large amount of FD points]
[Note: Failure will result in penalties]
I smiled.
I looked at my subordinates. They were checking their own notifications as well.
"Rest. Those in the best condition will help bring the supplies afterward."
"Yes, King!"
But a doubt gnawed at me.
What was that white circle?
I asked the System, but it did not respond. Instead, it informed me of something else.
[Environmental analysis complete.]
[Energy detected: Vital Energy.]
[Vital Energy is a natural force that strengthens the body through combat and survival.]
[Note: Its practitioners exhibit high levels of physical development.]
I looked at the leader's corpse.
I tore off a piece of flesh and ate it.
I felt the Vital Energy enter my body—hot and dense—accelerating my healing.
But part of it did not merge with me.
The Origin Energy within me expelled the excess.
Interesting.
It's similar to a potion, but of lower quality.
And it's free.
Better to save the Guardian's potions for something more important.
I noticed my subordinates had discovered the same.
After some time, our wounds began to close.
I ordered some to retrieve the supplies.
I muttered,
"These wolves were useful after all. Their energy heals us, and their flesh feeds us."
I ordered the cave entrance cleaned. Bodies moved. The scent of blood erased.
I do not wish to attract more beasts.
I studied the map as well.
It updated constantly, marking the positions of my subordinates.
Then a new notification appeared.
[Side Mission Activated]
[Multiple presences detected near the cave]
[Investigate threat level]
[Reward: FD points]
[Do you accept?]
[Note: No penalty for failure]
I smiled.
The main mission compelled me.
This one offered a choice.
A quiet chuckle escaped my throat.
"This is becoming more and more interesting… I accept."
[Side Mission Accepted]
Outside the cave, the snowfall intensified.
I wiped the blood from my body.
And stepped out to investigate.
This world…
It truly promised entertainment.