A grey-furred wolf tore through the air with its sharp fangs, aiming for Zac’s neck. Zac’s spine folded back just enough to dodge, and he slashed his sword, cutting open the abdominal portion of the wolf. The momentum carried it past him and hit the ground in a dead slide, legs twisting once before going still.

[1 Grey wolf killed]

[+1 level]

Zac stood straight and turned around only to see more and more shadows surging from behind him.

The wolves looked angry seeing their companion get killed. Their hot breath and red eyes were trying to intimidate Zac before even the fight started.

Zac tightened the grip on his sword and made himself ready to face the wolves.

***

Hours earlier,

Zac was walking in the forest, leaving behind the two goblin corpses beneath the trees.

He soon found a crude goblin village with huts made of clay and stones. The village is extremely populated, which shows their reproductive abilities.

He climbed over a tree and scanned the village using the system and found out that all the goblins in the village were normal monsters without any mana.

Though they may be helpful to raise his level. Zac still decided it was a waste of time and started walking in a different direction where the forest is even thicker.

A cluster of slimes pulsed between the rocks and roots of the forest, with translucent bodies wobbling with faint mana cores at the center of their bodies.

At first he thought about hunting them, then he stopped himself and searched for other kinds of monsters.

There were two reasons for him to not kill these slimes.

First, the slime’s body is made up of acidic substances, and he doesn’t have any long-range ability to strike the core without penetrating the body first, which would either melt his arms or his weapon.

And for the second reason, he felt it would be a little embarrassing of him. who has an SS-level potential to show a bag full of cores collected from slimes.

So he decided to go for a real challenge and soon found footprints on the ground. The prints were fresh and newly formed; he followed the footprints and found a pack of grey wolves.

There were 12 to 15 wolves in the pack.

Zac wanted to play it safe. He thought about luring the wolves one by one and killing them. But the wolves instantly sensed him and started attacking him all at once.

***

Back to the present,

Name: Grey Wolf

Class: E

Race: Wolf

Ability: Enhanced Senses

Strength: Attack in groups

Weakness: Limited potential

[They are just dogs; kill them quickly.]

"They are wolves."

[Do you know Fenrir?]

"The mythical creature?"

[That’s what a wolf looks like. These are dogs.]

"Easy for you to say." Zac is not afraid of the wolves; instead, it’s their numbers.

A pack like this will usually have a leader, but he didn’t see it among this pack, which means the leader must be with the other packs.

"If a single pack held this many... then how many were lurking in the forest?"

[It doesn’t matter. Kill all of them and show that woman who you are!]

"You seem more interested in her than me."

[I don’t like people looking down upon my host.]

Before he could reply the wolves started lunging at him all at once.

He raised the sword and made a cut motion downwards; the first wolf was split into two and went crashing behind his body.

[1 Grey wolf killed]

Another came from the left, aiming for his thighs; he used his knees and hit the wolf straight in the face, breaking its canine while thrusting the sword at the other wolf.

[1 Grey wolf killed]

Three more closed in.

The first wolf’s jaws snapped shut on empty air as his blade punched straight through its chest. He ripped it free and turned with the motion, steel carving a brutal arc that forced the others back.

[1 Grey wolf killed]

[+1 level]

The wolves suddenly stopped attacking.

"Awoooo-oo-oo." "Awoooo-oo-oo."

"Why are they howling?"

[You wanted to level up, right? here is your chance.]

"What does that mean?"

[See around yourself.]

Numerous bright eyes became visible around the dark shades of the forest. An uncountable number of wolves, with sharp canines and saliva-dripping mouths, slowly creep towards Zac.

The alpha is also among them; its body is two times that of the other wolves. A large scare ran along its body.

It looked at Zac and howled at the other wolves. Hearing its howl, Zac strangely felt angry at the alpha.

[Do you want to know what it’s saying?]

"Yes."

[Big dog: you can’t even kill a worm like him?]

[Small dogs: Sorry boss. But this human is really strong.]

[Big dog: Shut your dog mouth and try to be a wolf.]

"Show me its info."

Name: Alpha Grey Wolf

Class: E+

Race: Wolf

Ability: Enhanced Senses, Strength, Speed, Alpha cry

Strength: Attack in groups

Weakness: Limited potential

"What is ’E+’?"

[The beginning stage is indicated with ’-’ symbol; the peak of a stage is indicated with ’+’ symbol.]

"So this alpha is on the peak of the ’E’ level?"

[More than that, it’s on the verge of breaking through to ’D’ level.]

"Then I have to kill it fast."

[Yes]

From a howl from the alpha, the wolves started attacking Zac. He took a stand, and when the wolves appeared in his cutting area, he went on a killing spree.

Blood sprayed in wild arcs across the ground, changing the nearby grasses into red. Bodies started piling up around him, making it difficult to move.

[1 Grey wolf killed]

[3 grey wolves killed]

[+1 level]

[2 grey wolves killed]

[+1 level]

Messages from the system are buzzing in his ear without end.

Zac also suffered scratches, claw marks, and small wounds with little bleeding. His whole body is full of minor injuries.

Suddenly his body jerked, feeling some kind of danger, before he could see what it was: a huge paw with sharp claws hit Zac on his back.

He flew away like a rag doll, crushing multiple trees on his way, and stopped hitting a large stone.

"Awoooo-oo-oo."

Seeing that the enemy had fallen, the wolves howled again.

Pain came after a few seconds. "Am I still alive?"

[Barely, 7 broken ribs, left lung punctured, crack in the skull, and a lot of internal and external bleeding.]

"I should have kept my eye on the alpha."

[No medicine for regret]

"Open the panel; it’s time for an upgrade."

⟦ STATUS ⟧

Name: Zac Godson

Level: 8 (E)(+8)

Age: 19

Race: Human

Title: -

Bloodline: -

Traits: Divine Aura, Unmatched Charisma.

Awakened Abilities: System (Unknown), Swordsmanship (SS), Lightning (S)

Skills: -

Available Info: None

Attributes

Strength: 30 (+8)

Agility: 26 (+8)

Physique: 36 (+16)

Wisdom: 21

Un-allotted points: 0 (-32)

He reached level 8 through the relentless killing of wolves until now. Each level gave him 5 attribute points, totalling 40 points.

He increased strength and agility by 10 and physique by 20 points. The energy in the surroundings got sucked into Zac’s body, increasing his strength and mending his wounds.

The feeling of pure ecstasy filled his mind. "This is the best feeling I have ever felt."

After the feeling was gone, he stood up, wiping the blood from his mouth. The alpha wolf stared at him, eyes burning with dissatisfaction.

Zac removed the leather armor, which was now torn apart by the last attack, the shredded pieces falling uselessly to the ground.

His eyes scanned the area for his sword, but it was nowhere to be found. The alpha lunged with a massive leap, jaws wide enough to snap him in half.

Zac shifted at the last second, body sliding just out of reach, and drove his fist straight into the wolf’s mouth. The impact staggered it for a moment and looked even more angry at Zac.

Zac grinned. "Round two."

Two claws vs two fists started a fierce battle. The alpha moved, a blur of fur and fangs that tore through the air.

Zac ducked, but the claws still grazed his shoulder, ripping the flesh with blood gushing out.

Instead of stepping back, he stepped forward, and a punch slammed into the wolf’s ribs, followed by another, faster and heavier one.

The alpha twisted mid-motion, whipping its tail across Zac’s leg. His balance broke, and he fell to the ground.

The wolf crashed onto him, its jaws snapping shut inches from his throat. Zac’s hands shot up, gripping the jaws of the wolf, arms trembling, veins bulging in his hands.

The jaws closed in on Zac’s throat. As death crept closer, he thought of his mother and sister, and suddenly something inside him got awakened.

[Wait a minute, seriously, now?]

His eyes burned red, and a dark aura began to seep from him.

[Host, get a hold of yourself. Your consciousness is sinking.]

The system’s voice rang in his mind, but Zac didn’t hear it. He had already fallen to his emotions.

Lightning flickered along his arms like a living current. With a roar, he forced the jaws apart as the lightning seared through the wolf’s body.

The wolf jumped back, but Zac didn’t give the wolf any space and closed the distance, throwing punch after punch on the wolf’s body.

Every punch carried more weight, with lightning energy in it. Even after the body collapsed, Zac continued punching it until the message hit him.

[1 Alpha grey wolf killed]

[+1 level]

[+1 level]

[+1 level]

Zac slowly stood up and felt a presence behind him with ferocious eyes, and he turned back with blood sweating from both of his fists.