The forest blurred past as Benji sprinted down the narrow dirt path toward Greenhollow. His chest burned, and his legs ached, but he didn’t dare slow down. The distant shouts and cries from the village were growing louder, joined now by an ominous rumbling beneath his feet. Trees swayed unnaturally, their branches trembling as if caught in some invisible storm.


    The first signs of destruction came into view as he neared the edge of the forest. Smoke curled into the air from one of the smaller cottages on the outskirts of the village. A sharp metallic scent—blood?—wafted on the breeze, mingling with the acrid smell of burning wood. Benji’s heart clenched.


    Please be okay. Please.


    He burst into the clearing, skidding to a stop. The scene before him was chaos. Villagers ran in every direction, clutching whatever they could carry. Some wielded farming tools—pitchforks, sickles, even a rolling pin or two. Others carried crying children or hobbled along with injuries.


    And then there were the creatures.


    They looked like wolves at first glance, but their bodies shimmered unnaturally, their fur rippling like liquid shadow. Their eyes glowed red, and their claws carved deep gouges into the ground with every step. A pack of three was circling a group of villagers near the well. One lunged forward, only to be driven back by a desperate swing of a pitchfork.


    [New Enemy Identified: Void-Touched Wolf.]


    Level: 3


    Threat Rating: Moderate.


    Benji froze. A primal fear gripped him, his hands shaking around the haft of his axe. These weren’t the harmless woodland animals he’d seen in the forest—they were predators, twisted by whatever power had brought the System.


    “Benji!” a familiar voice shouted.


    He turned to see Sara, the village healer, waving frantically from the door of her hut. Her apron was smeared with blood, and a makeshift bandage covered her arm. Behind her, a small group of injured villagers huddled in the shadows.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    “Get over here!” she yelled, her voice breaking. “We need help!”


    Benji’s legs felt like lead, but he forced himself to move. He dashed toward her, dodging panicked villagers and the occasional wolf darting through the melee. As he reached Sara, another notification flashed in his vision.


    [Quest Update: Aid the Villagers.]


    Objective: Defend the injured.


    Reward: +50 XP, Reputation Increase with Greenhollow.


    “You have your axe, right?” Sara asked, nodding toward the tool in his hands. It was old and worn from years of use, but the blade was sharp, and the handle fit comfortably in Benji’s grip. “Good. The wolves keep coming, and we don’t have enough fighters to hold them off.”


    “I’ve never fought anything like this,” Benji admitted, his voice shaking.


    “You’ll figure it out,” Sara snapped. “Because if you don’t, we’re all dead.”


    A low growl made Benji spin around. One of the Void-Touched Wolves had broken away from the pack and was stalking toward the healer’s hut. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, and its lips curled back in a snarl.


    Benji raised the axe, his hands tightening around the worn handle. The wolf crouched, muscles bunching as it prepared to lunge. Time seemed to slow. He could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.


    And then, something shifted.


    [Skill Activated: Power Strike.]


    A surge of strength flooded Benji’s body, banishing his fear. He stepped forward just as the wolf leapt, swinging the axe in a wide arc. The wolf yelped as the strike connected, dark ichor spraying from the wound. It hit the ground hard, scrambling to its feet with a limp.


    Benji didn’t let it recover. He stepped forward again, his body moving as if guided by some unseen hand. The axe came down in a decisive chop, and the wolf collapsed, its body dissolving into wisps of shadow.


    [Enemy Defeated: Void-Touched Wolf.]


    +20 XP.


    Benji staggered back, his chest heaving. The notification blinked out of existence, but his victory felt hollow. This wasn’t over—not by a long shot.


    “Benji!” Sara’s voice snapped him out of his daze. “There are more coming!”


    He turned to see two more wolves approaching the hut, their glowing eyes fixed on the injured villagers inside. A new kind of determination settled over him. He wasn’t just fighting for himself anymore—he was fighting for them.


    Clutching the axe tightly, Benji stepped forward to meet the next challenge.


    [Quest Reminder: Defend the injured.]


    Progress: 1/3 Wolves Defeated.


    The System wasn’t going to stop. And neither would he.