Benji wiped the sweat from his brow, his grip tightening on the axe. The two Void-Touched Wolves prowling toward the frightened group near the well were larger than the first, their eyes glowing brighter and their growls reverberating deep in his chest. He knew he couldn’t take them both alone.
“Benji!” a voice called from behind him.
He turned to see a lanky boy sprinting his way, holding a makeshift spear cobbled together from a broom handle and a knife. It was Eli, the son of the village blacksmith. Though only a year older than Benji, Eli was taller and slightly better built, his brown hair flopping wildly as he ran. His eyes were alight with determination—or perhaps desperation.
“Thought you could use a hand,” Eli said, skidding to a stop next to Benji. He twirled the spear awkwardly, his hands unsure but his resolve clear. “What’s the plan?”
Before Benji could answer, a third figure joined them. This one was smaller, a girl with fiery red hair tied back in a messy braid. Lena, the baker’s daughter, had her sling loaded and ready. Her freckled face was smudged with ash, but her green eyes were sharp and focused.
“Don’t think you boys are leaving me out of this,” she said, standing beside them. She spun the sling in a practiced motion, the stone whistling through the air. “I’ve hit plenty of foxes raiding the chicken coop. These things can’t be that different.”
Benji felt a flicker of hope. They weren’t seasoned fighters, but they weren’t alone anymore. Together, they might stand a chance.
[Quest Update: Defend the Injured.]
Progress: 1/3 Wolves Defeated.
[New Objective: Work with Allies to Defeat the Wolves.]
Bonus Reward: +10 XP for Each Ally Remaining Uninjured.
“Alright,” Benji said, his voice steadier than he felt. “Eli, you take the one on the right. Use that spear to keep it back. Lena, cover us with your sling. I’ll go for the one on the left.”
The wolves didn’t wait for them to strategize further. The one on the right charged at Eli, its claws tearing up clumps of dirt as it lunged. Eli planted his feet and jabbed with the spear. The tip grazed the wolf’s shoulder, making it snarl and back off momentarily.
The second wolf darted toward Benji, its jaws snapping. He sidestepped just in time, bringing the axe down in a heavy swing. The wolf dodged, but the blade clipped its flank, leaving a shallow wound. Dark ichor oozed from the cut, the scent acrid and wrong.
“Gotcha!” Lena shouted. Her sling let loose a stone that struck the wounded wolf square in the side of the head. It stumbled, dazed but not defeated.
Eli’s wolf was quicker than its companion. It darted past his spear and lunged, claws raking at his arm. Eli cried out but managed to shove it back with the haft of his weapon.
[Ally Status: Eli - Minor Injury.]
“I’m fine!” Eli gritted through his teeth, raising the spear again.
Benji focused on his target. The wolf circled him warily now, its glowing eyes calculating. Benji’s heart pounded, but he felt the faintest whisper of something else—guidance from the System, perhaps. He took a steadying breath and waited for the wolf to strike.
It pounced. Benji shifted his weight and swung the axe upward in a diagonal arc. The blade connected under the wolf’s jaw, and with a sickening crunch, it collapsed, dissolving into shadow.
[Enemy Defeated: Void-Touched Wolf.]
+20 XP.
“One down!” Benji shouted, turning to see Eli and Lena still holding their own. Lena’s sling whistled again, striking the second wolf in the flank. Eli took the opening, driving his spear forward with all his strength. The tip pierced the wolf’s chest, and it let out a final, guttural snarl before collapsing.
[Enemy Defeated: Void-Touched Wolf.]
+20 XP.
[Quest Progress: 3/3 Wolves Defeated.]
[Objective Complete: Defend the Injured.]
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.Reward: +50 XP.
The field fell silent, save for the ragged breaths of the trio. Benji leaned on his axe, his arms trembling from exertion.
“We did it,” Eli said, his voice tinged with disbelief. He clutched his arm where the wolf had clawed him, but he was smiling through the pain.
“Of course we did,” Lena said, grinning as she tucked her sling back into her belt. “You boys just needed a professional on your team.”
Benji chuckled weakly, the tension in his chest easing. They weren’t warriors or heroes—not yet. But today, they had protected their home. Together.
The clearing was silent save for the faint rustle of the wind through the trees and the labored breathing of the three figures standing amid the fallen wolves. Benji leaned on his knees, exhaustion crashing over him like a wave. Blood stained his tunic and hands, but none of it was his own.
“Did we just… win?” Eli gasped, wiping sweat from his forehead with a shaky hand. His hunting knife, slick with dark blood, hung limply at his side.
Lena, still catching her breath, gave a weary nod. “Barely.”
The System chimed softly in Benji’s mind. A notification unfurled before him, its glowing text more vibrant than usual.
<hr>
[Victory Achieved: Pack Leader Defeated]
Experience Gained: 240 EXP
Contributions: Shared Among Party Members
[Level Up!]
<ul>
<li>Benji: Level 0 → Level 1</li>
<li>Lena: Level 0 → Level 1</li>
<li>Eli: Level 0 → Level 1</li>
<li>+3 Attribute Points Available.</li>
</ul>
Rewards Unlocked:
<ul>
<li>Minor Attribute Boost (+2 to Health, Strength, or Agility)</li>
<li>Skill Option Available: Choose to Unlock a Basic Ability</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Benji’s eyes widened as the familiar surge of warmth rushed through him, filling his limbs with renewed energy. He stood up straighter, the soreness fading slightly as his body adjusted to the boost.
“I think… I just leveled up,” he said, glancing at Lena and Eli. “Did you feel that?”
Eli stumbled backward, blinking as if trying to process what just happened. “I—wait. I feel… stronger.” He clenched his fists, staring down at them with wide eyes. “This is the System, isn’t it? It’s working for us!”
Benji opened his System interface, feeling both curious and apprehensive. The options hovered before him.
<hr>
[Attribute Bonus: Choose One]
<ol>
<li>+2 Strength (Increases physical power and damage)</li>
<li>+2 Health (Improves durability and survivability)</li>
<li>+2 Agility (Boosts speed and reaction time)</li>
</ol>
<hr>
He scanned the list, his fingers twitching slightly as he weighed the options. Strength seemed tempting, especially after how hard he’d struggled against the Alpha Wolf, but Agility felt just as important. Being faster could mean the difference between life and death.
“Strength,” Benji muttered under his breath, selecting the attribute with resolve. He couldn’t afford to be weak—not out here.
A surge of power rippled through him, his muscles tensing for a brief moment before relaxing. It wasn’t dramatic, but he could feel the difference—a faint steadiness in his stance, a readiness in his limbs.
Eli laughed as he fiddled with his own System panel. “I picked Health. After that fight, I don’t want to be on death’s doorstep ever again.”
“What about you?” Benji asked, turning to Lena.
Lena gave him a faint smile as she dismissed her interface. “Agility. I’ve always been fast, and I intend to stay that way.”
Benji nodded, a sense of camaraderie settling between the three of them. They had survived something far greater than any of them had faced before, and the System had seen fit to reward them for it.
The quiet was interrupted by a sudden pulse from Benji’s interface. A new message flashed before him.
<hr>
[Basic Ability Available]
Choose one to unlock:
<ul>
<li>Earthbound Strike: Channel strength into a grounded blow, staggering enemies.</li>
<li>Focused Dash: Enhance speed momentarily to evade or close distance.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Benji’s brows furrowed as he considered the choices. Both abilities were practical, but after the fight with the wolves, it was clear he needed better ways to stay on the offensive.
“Focused Dash,” he said, feeling the System acknowledge his choice.
The knowledge sank into him, as if a door had unlocked in the back of his mind. He could already imagine how it would feel—leaning forward, muscles coiling, and then bursting forward with speed that defied his natural limits.
Lena and Eli stared at him as if waiting for an explanation. “New ability,” Benji admitted with a sheepish grin. “A dash of sorts. Should help me move faster in a pinch.”
Lena tilted her head. “Huh. That’ll come in handy.” She stretched, clearly recovering faster than either of them. “We should get moving. The wolves are dead, this won’t be the last time we run into something worse.”
Benji glanced back at the bodies of villagers he couldn''t rescue. The faint glow from their veins had already dimmed, leaving behind a husk of a body. His fists clenched at the thought of what lay beyond Greenhollow’s borders—what else the Void might have tainted.
For now, though, they had survived. They were stronger than before, and the System had given them the tools to keep growing.
“Let’s head back,” he said, leading the way toward the village.
As the three of them disappeared into the treeline, Benji couldn’t help but glance up at the sky. Somewhere out there, the System was watching—tracking their progress, guiding them forward.
And they had only just begun.