Chapter 5: Stepping into the Dark

The wilderness beyond the city walls loomed before Elric like a vast, unknown ocean. The forest, with its towering trees and shadowed undergrowth, seemed to beckon him forward into its depths. Every step he took was a deliberate move into danger, away from the safety of the walls. The academy was behind him now, and in front of him lay the unknown—a place where beasts and demons roamed, where only the strongest dared to tread.

Elric wasn't strong. Not yet. But he had no choice.

The path he followed was faint, overgrown with weeds and vines. It had been used before, likely by the guards on patrol or other brave souls who ventured out. But Elric wasn't here on a mission sanctioned by the city. He was here because he needed to grow stronger, and the only way to do that was to put everything on the line.

The system weighed heavily on his mind, its promise of power lingering just beyond his reach. Soul points. He needed them to unlock the system's full potential, but to get them, he had to kill. The system had said "awakened beings," but Elric hoped that included beasts. If it didn't, he didn't want to think about what the alternative might be.

His grip tightened around the hilt of the knife strapped to his side. It was a simple blade, nothing special, but it would have to do. His Flame Spark was weak, barely more than a flicker, so he knew he couldn't rely on it alone. His survival would depend on quick thinking, reflexes, and the ability to outmaneuver whatever beast he encountered.

The night air was cool, the soft rustling of leaves the only sound that accompanied him as he moved deeper into the forest. Every shadow seemed to stretch out toward him, every creak of a branch making his pulse quicken. He wasn't far from the city, but it felt like he had crossed into another world entirely.

After what felt like hours, Elric paused, crouching low as he listened. His senses were on high alert, every sound magnified by the silence of the forest. He could hear the distant call of an owl, the soft trickle of a stream somewhere nearby, and something else—a faint rustling in the underbrush ahead.

He froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he strained to hear.

The rustling grew louder, the unmistakable sound of something moving through the undergrowth. His hand instinctively went to the knife at his side, his fingers trembling slightly as they wrapped around the hilt. He had prepared for this, but now that the moment had come, the reality of it was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

Slowly, carefully, he moved toward the sound, staying low and trying to keep his footsteps as quiet as possible. His pulse raced, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, to run to the safety of the city walls, but he couldn't. He had to see this through.

As he approached the source of the noise, Elric caught sight of the creature—a wolf, small but lean and muscular, with a coat of gray fur that shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Its fur was longer around the neck, forming a distinctive mane that marked it as one of the Grey Mane Wolves, a race of beasts known for their agility and speed. This one was still an adolescent, not fully grown, but even the young ones could be deadly.

The adult Grey Mane Wolves were ranked mid-tier among the first level of cultivation, their speed and viciousness making them formidable foes even for experienced hunters. Elric's breath caught in his throat. He knew he could never stand a chance against an adult, but this one—this adolescent—was something he might be able to handle.

Might.

The wolf hadn't noticed him yet, its head low as it sniffed at the ground, searching for food or perhaps sensing some nearby prey. Elric's muscles tensed. This was his chance. If he could take it by surprise, he might be able to end the fight quickly. But if he hesitated, the wolf would turn on him, and its speed would overwhelm him before he even had a chance to defend himself.

His mind raced, trying to remember the combat techniques he had learned. Quick strikes, aim for the throat, keep moving. But it was easier said than done. This wasn't training—this was life or death.

With a deep breath, Elric summoned his Flame Spark. The small flame flickered to life in his palm, barely illuminating the area around him. It wasn't much, but it was enough to catch the wolf's attention. The creature's head snapped up, its glowing eyes locking onto him, its lips pulling back in a low growl.

Elric didn't wait. He threw the flame forward, aiming for the wolf's face.

The wolf yelped as the flame hit its snout, the heat startling it as it recoiled in pain. Elric seized the moment and lunged forward with the knife, aiming for the creature's throat. But the wolf was faster than he anticipated. It dodged to the side, its claws swiping out in retaliation.

Pain exploded in Elric's side as the wolf's claws raked across his ribs, tearing through his clothes and drawing blood. He gasped, stumbling back, but kept his grip on the knife. His vision blurred for a moment, the pain radiating through his body, but he couldn't afford to lose focus.

The wolf was on him in an instant, its fangs bared as it lunged for his throat. Elric barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the beast's jaws snapped shut just inches from his neck. His heart pounded, the adrenaline making his movements frantic as he scrambled to his feet.

Blood trickled down his side, the wound burning with every movement, but he forced himself to keep moving. The wolf circled him, its eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. It was testing him, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Elric knew he couldn't outrun it. His only chance was to fight.

He raised his hand, summoning the Flame Spark again. The flame flickered weakly in his palm, but it was enough to make the wolf hesitate. Elric took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate as he tried to close the distance between them.

The wolf growled, its hackles rising as it crouched low, preparing to pounce.

Elric didn't wait. He threw the flame toward the wolf's eyes, hoping to blind it. The creature yelped in pain as the fire seared its face, but it didn't stop. It lunged at him again, its claws slashing through the air. Elric dodged, but not fast enough. The wolf's claws raked across his leg, sending him stumbling to the ground.

His body screamed in pain, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. The wolf was disoriented, shaking its head as it tried to recover from the flames. Elric saw his chance.

With a surge of adrenaline, he rushed forward, the knife in his hand. He didn't aim for the throat this time—he aimed for the side, where the wolf's ribs were exposed. The blade sank into the beast's flesh, and the wolf howled in pain, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake him off.

Elric gripped the knife with both hands, forcing it deeper into the wolf's side. Blood poured from the wound, staining the ground beneath them. The wolf's movements grew weaker, its growls turning to pitiful whimpers as it staggered back.

Finally, with one last breath, the wolf collapsed.

Elric stood there, panting, his chest heaving as he stared down at the dead beast. His legs wobbled, threatening to give out beneath him, but he remained standing. His side burned from where the wolf had clawed him, and his leg throbbed painfully from the fresh wound. He could feel the warmth of his own blood mixing with the wolf's on the ground.

For a moment, he simply stood there, too exhausted to move.

I did it.

The thought seemed distant, as though it belonged to someone else. He had killed the wolf—an adolescent Grey Mane Wolf, but still dangerous. The fight had been far more brutal than he had expected, and he was left with more injuries than he had anticipated. But he had survived.

With trembling hands, he wiped the blood off his knife and took a deep breath, summoning the system's interface in his mind.

[Creator System Menu]

Soul Points: 1Available Creation Options:Items Skills Talents

The faint glow of the system's interface confirmed what he had hoped. Soul Points: 1. It had worked. The system had accepted the kill, rewarding him with a single soul point. Relief washed over him, but it was quickly followed by the sharp sting of pain from his injuries.

Elric sank to the ground, his body trembling from exhaustion. His side and leg were bleeding, the wounds deep enough to slow him down but not fatal—at least not yet. He needed to treat them before infection set in. But the knowledge that the system worked, that he could gain soul points by killing beasts, gave him a sense of hope.

Elric leaned back against the tree, his breathing ragged. He stared up at the dark canopy of leaves above, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins as the reality of the fight settled in. His body ached from the wounds—the claw marks on his side and leg burning painfully—but the relief of having survived washed over him. He had done it. He had killed the Grey Mane Wolf.

But more importantly, the system had accepted the kill. Soul Points: 1. It was real. His gamble had paid off, and now he knew that killing beasts would grant him the soul points he needed to unlock the Creator System's power.

He was on the verge of closing his eyes, exhausted beyond belief, when a sharp ping echoed in his mind. His eyes snapped open, his pulse quickening as the system's interface materialized in front of him.

Achievement Unlocked: First Blood

Reward: +1 Free Ability Spin

Elric stared at the message, his heart racing. First Blood. He had unlocked some sort of achievement by killing the wolf, and the reward—a free ability spin—was now his to claim.

His mind spun with possibilities. The Creator System had mentioned spins before, but this was the first time he had seen an option to use one. A free ability spin—could it mean that he could unlock a new skill, a talent, or even something greater?

Before he could even begin to comprehend the full significance of what this meant, the interface began to glow softly, the words fading in and out as if the system were urging him to act.

Ability Spin Available: Do you wish to spin now?

Elric's breath caught in his throat. His hand hovered in the air, trembling as he reached out toward the glowing screen.

What will it give me? He wondered. What could I gain from this?

But the exhaustion, the blood loss from his wounds, and the weight of what had just happened pulled him back from the edge of making that decision. He was in no condition to focus on whatever came next. The thrill of unlocking the First Blood achievement faded slightly as he realized how vulnerable he still was.

With a heavy sigh, he dismissed the interface for now, pushing the decision to the back of his mind. He needed to get back to the city, tend to his wounds, and recover before anything else.

The wilderness was no place to make careless choices, and the tournament was still looming ahead.

End of Chapter 5.