I can survive this

[Level 1 Necromancy skill: Life force absorption skill acquired]

[Life force absorption skill (Passive) has been Activated]

-Increases Life regeneration by 10% for each enemy within 20 feet.

Zak observed as dark purple beams of energy streamed out from the wolves' bodies and flowed directly into his chest.

[Health has been restored: 10/10]

The wolves were considerably weakened by the loss of their life force, and their movements had become sluggish.

The sudden surge rejuvenated his energy and gradually reduced the pain he experienced from his wounds.

[Basic level 1 Survival skill: Rejuvenation skill acquired]

[Rejuvenation skill (Passive) has been Activated]

- Host can heal injuries and wounds.

-Healing effects are subject to the level of the Rejuvenation skill.

-Requirements: Rejuvenation is possible once the host has absorbed life force from targets.

Zak noticed that the tattered flesh around his bite wound had slowly begun to heal. The torn muscles and tendons were repaired through the activation of the Rejuvenation skill and the rapid bleeding of his wounds had ceased.

He checked the wound on his leg to find that it had been completely healed. No sign of a scar or injury, but there was a slight ache. Perhaps the wound was not as severe as the one on his shoulder.

The bite wound on his shoulder was still in dire need of medical attention but for now, he was safe.

"Time to counterattack," Zak said with a smirk as he conjured his strength and stood up from the ground.

He inhaled a deep breath and concentrated on the mental connection between himself and the system.

'Deactivate,' He issued a mental command.

The crimson sphere of energy voluntarily dissipated from sight which once again exposed him to the monstrous wolves.

'Can I view the stats of the wolves?' Zak inquired from the system.

[Level 3 required to unlock Enemy detection Skill and Enemy analysis skill]

"Guess I need to level up then."

Zak outstretched his left arm and closed his eyes to focus. There was a calm flow of energy that coursed through his body, just as the blood flowed in his veins.

He had become more conscious of the presence of this newly instilled power within him.

[Host attempting to cast skill...]

[Available attack skills under necromancy skill class:]

- Level 1 Necromancy skill (active): Ray of Enfeeblement

- Mana consumption: 5

- Range calculated: 20 feet

[Proceed to cast skill?]

'Approved,' Zak assured the system.

The mana that coursed through him gathered into a single point in the middle of his palm. The concentration of mana conjured a black ball of energy that swirled in his palm.

"I may have underestimated you," The Alpha groaned as the life force was drained from its body.

'Will the width of the ray increase if I add more...er mana into it?'

[Outcome of the skill attack is subject to the caster's level and mana capacity]

'So that means I can add more mana than the required mana consumption to amplify it?'

[Calculating possibility...]

[Calculation result: Caster can amplify the skill attack by an additional 5 mana points at the current level. Minimum Amplification is possible]

'Good enough. I can work with this. This system is just similar to an RPG game."

Zak paid no heed to the monstrous creature. When he had gathered a medium-sized sphere of black energy, he shot his arm forward. The beam of power expanded into a wider range as he fueled it with more mana.

However, the ray of black energy weaved directly over the Alpha's head and struck the other six lower wolves.

There were squeals and howls as the black energy immediately engulfed each wolf like a powerful flame and devoured their flesh and fur. All that was left in the black energy's path was the skeletal remains of the six wolves.

[Six (Level 1) dire wolves have been defeated]

[Exp gained per dire wolf: +2]

[Total Exp gained: +18]

[Congratulations! You have reached Level 2! All stats have been restored to maximum and increased by 5]

[You have obtained 3 stat points and 2 skill points]

"I underestimated the effects of that skill," Zak whistled a drawn-out tune of approval.

"Why did you keep me alive?" The Alpha grunted as it attempted to move but the constant life force drainage made it difficult.

"I have questions that you need to answer," Zak said as he walked towards the Alpha.

"And what makes you think I will answer your questions?" The Alpha groaned in pain.

"I just killed your pack," Zak snorted and folded his arms across his chest. "It won't be difficult for me to kill you, but that would be a waste."

"You might have what it takes to survive this."

"Explain. I find it highly impossible that you could have evolved to such a state in a span of a few hours. And judging from the way you speak, you seem to know what's going on," Zak pointed out as he arched a brow.

"You are a soldier from the looks of your attire. You should have knowledge about the wave. I came with it. Not born from it," The Alpha revealed.

"Came with it? Where did the wave come from?"

"As I said. You should know about it..." The Alpha's words had gradually become softer. "I don't know what it is that you are using...but I am almost done for."

"You haven't explained anything yet!" Zak had begun to lose his patience.

His wounded shoulder suddenly ached more than before and he felt a faint pain that brewed in his head. His vision had also turned slightly blurry.

"Looks like the venom from the bite is working..." The Alpha breathed heavily.

"Venom? The fuck did you do?!"

"Find out for yourself..." The Alpha's eyes slowly fluttered closed and in his last breath he said, "I was once human too..." And with those final words, the creature waned into silence as its head dropped to the ground.

"Damn great," Zak sighed. "I'm starting to feel exhausted..."

'Pull up stat menu,' He ordered the system.

[Calculating new stats...]

- Strength: 20/20

- Agility: 15/15

- Mana capacity:55/25

- Health: 15/15

- Stamina: 15/15

-Exp: 3/30

- Necromantic Energy: 45/30

*Available stat points: 3

'Hmm...what does the system suggest?'

[Would you like to activate automatic stat point distribution?]

'That sounds easier. Approved.'

[The following stats have increased:]

- Stamina: 15>>>16

- Agility: 15>>>16

- Strength: 20>>>21

'Is there any other way to increase stats faster?'

[Answer: Stats can be increased through potion boosters which can be obtained from loot dropped by monsters or purchased from the system shop]

'View system shop,' Zak requested.

[Request denied. System shop is available at level 10]

"That's gonna take some time to reach."

'Distribute skill points to Ray Of Enfeeblement and Rejuvenation skill.'

[Skill points have been respectively distributed]

[Ray of Enfeeblement has evolved into the Level 2 (Active) Necromancy skill: Devouring darkness]

- Range: 100 feet

- A black cloud composed of several rays banded together envelops one or more targets and traps them within a ball of necromantic energy. This energy will devour the whole of the target and leave nothing in its wake.

- Requirements: Targets must be of a level lower than the caster.

"Sounds quite effective," Zak commented approvingly.

[Basic Survival skill: Rejuvenation>>>Level 2]

'What is Necromantic Energy and why are some of my stats higher than its maximum?'

[Answer: Necromantic Energy is the power source required or used in certain Necromancy skills. Necromantic energy can be obtained by absorbing it from corpses or dead monsters]

[Answer: Stats that are higher than their maximum indicates that the host has surpassed the basic capacity for those stats in their current level]

Zak felt himself become drowsier by the second and it didn't help that there could have been nearby monsters. Could he fight them in his current state?

"I wonder if Niki is okay..." His words trailed off in regret. "I should not have left her to fend for herself...would I have been able to protect her from these wolves if she was here?"

The soldier dragged himself forward despite the venom that sapped his stamina.

"I need to find her..."

[Stamina has been reduced by 5 due to the rapid spread of detected venom]

"Dammit...poison resistance would be quite useful right now..."

There was the sound of gunshots that suddenly fired nearby but Zak could barely deduce what was happening. He heard faint squeals and roars of creatures too. Did the military finally arrive?

He fell to his knees due to a lack of stamina and started to pant heavily as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

It was not long before he completely collapsed to the ground, flat on his abdomen. His eyes slowly blinked but the venom made him delirious.

The sound of footsteps that approached was the last thing he heard before he drifted into a state of unconsciousness.

"Well now, what do we have here?"