Arlan stood amidst the bodies of the assassins, his breath ragged but his mind sharper than ever. The golden glow in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a deep, calm intensity. He looked at the sleek, black blade in his hand—the Shadow Dagger.
[Item: Shadow Dagger (Rank E)]
[Ability: Soul Hunger - Deals extra damage to wounded enemies.]
"So, this is the power of the system," Arlan whispered. He could feel his old wounds closing up, the pain replaced by a strange, cold energy.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the dense bushes. The scent of blood had attracted something far more dangerous than human assassins. A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness—a Shadow Wolf, a monster known for its speed and cruelty.
[Emergency Quest: Kill the Shadow Wolf!]
[Reward: 200 Exp, Agility +2]
The wolf lunged at him like a black streak of lightning. In the past, Arlan would have died instantly. But now, his reflexes were beyond human.
He didn't dodge. Instead, he stepped into the wolf's path. As the beast snapped its jaws, Arlan thrust the Shadow Dagger upward. The blade sliced through the wolf's thick hide like it was paper.
Awoooo!
The wolf let out a pained howl as the dagger began to glow with a dark, purplish light. It was drinking the beast's life force. With a swift twist, Arlan finished the kill.
[Target Defeated!]
[Experience Gained: 200 Exp]
[Level Up! Current Level: 3]
As the wolf's body dissolved into black mist, Arlan noticed something shiny on the ground where the beast had fallen. It was a small, ancient-looking key.
"A key? In the middle of this forest?" Arlan picked it up. He knew his journey was just beginning, and the system had much more in store for him.