The power of Greed (2)

In the perilous world of Argos, danger and mystery lurked around every corner. Dominated by expansive oceans, the planet boasted two colossal continents interspersed with a scattering of enigmatic islands. The greatest threat to the five races didn't come from the relentless swarms of magical creatures but from the war between themselves.

The vast continents teeming with many natural treasures, drew many eager for land and resources. As the population surged, so too did the desire for expansion, igniting frequent and devastating wars over territory. In Argos, survival hinged on having power.

Even though the fighting between the races were of most kingdoms concern, the magic beasts were still a major problem they had to deal with regularly. These creatures were the first to inhabit the world of Argos, they were formidable predators that grew stronger by devouring the beast cores of their own kind. Their ferocity and hunger made them a constant menace, occupying nearly 40 percent of the land

They were not sentient like the 5 races but the truly frightening thing about them was their ability to create hordes. A magic beast gained the ability to control other magic beasts as they got stronger. These magic beasts were put into classes to rank them by danger. They would attack cities and kingdoms to kill more people and get stronger.

The magic beast that Amir was going to hunt was classless and was F rank. It was called a Ravi, a massive, dog-like creature that prowled the darkness with malevolent intent. Its fur is a matted tangle of black and ashen gray.

Amir chose to sneak out of the village as he didn't want to deal with the guards asking him anything. Soon reaching the forest he went to the area he had almost died the last time.

The first time he came to the forest he wanted to try and escape but he knew at the time it was nothing more than a suicide attempt. He couldn't handle being in the village anymore and having to eat garbage just to survive. It was unbearable and every moment of it disgusted him.

"I think that should just about do it."

Amir had finished setting up his trap and was ready to take on the Ravi. He climbed a nearby tree and sat on a sturdy branch putting his back to the trunk. He took out the bag of coins and started converting them.

He waited for sunset, and the darkness of night to cover the forest. Breathing out to calm himself he climbed down the tree he ran in the opposite direction of the tree making up as much noise as possible. 

"Come on out ya damn beast! We have a rematch to settle!"

After a few minutes of shouting Amir started to hear some rustling in the bushes. The Ravi crept out of the bushes as it growled. Its eyes, cold and predatory, glowed faintly in the shadows, promising a swift and brutal end to anything unfortunate enough to cross its path. It growled more as its rows of jagged, uneven teeth jutted from its maw, each one capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease.

Amir swallowed his fear after seeing the menacing monster. He had a plan and all he needed to do was just follow it.

'It's the runt of the litter from all those scars it has on its body.'

Amir could tell that it had to be the weakest out of its pack if it was searching for food so far away from the others. Magic beasts of the lower classes couldn't form massive hordes but made packs with its species and hunted together. 

Drool was dripping from its maw as it pounced at Amir. Seeing it coming he shot off back in the direction he came from. The Ravi was faster than him but Amir did zig-zag moves around the trees to keep his distance. 

The beast nipped his legs with his sharp claws many times as he ran. He was scared it would catch him and then he'd be dinner. Running quickly around another tree the Ravi jumped as it swiped its sharp claws to his back. Just narrowly missed him. 

Amir pivoted off his right foot and quickly changed directions which created some distance between the two. He was running straight ahead with all his might.

'Come just a little more!' he thought

He was legging it with everything he had. Suddenly he tripped over a branch in front of him. The Ravi jumped as it swiped at Amir's back dug into his skin and drew blood.

"Ahhh!" Amir screamed in pain

He fell headfirst as he spun his body to the side revealing a large wooden spike. The Ravi was air-born and couldn't change its direction.

The spike impaled its skin as blood gushed everywhere. Its deafening scream echoed throughout the forest. It fell over as its body spasmed and it screeched in pain.

Amir fell and rolled as he hit the ground.

"Ughhhh that hurt so much!" he shouted

Amir pushed himself up off the ground stumbling as he gritted his teeth. He could allow it to continue making noise as it would draw the other members of its pack here. He pushed forward as he pulled out a piece of sharp Asher wood out of his pocket. 

He ran to the beast tightened his fist and started stabbing it in its throat.

"Come on die, you bastard!"

He continued to stab the beast until it stopped making noise and became still. Blood drenched him from head to toe, staining his pants, streaking across his face, and pooling in dark, wet patches on his shirt. His arms, dripped steadily with its blood as he breathed heavily.

He almost fell but held himself up. staring down at the corpse he felt ecstatic.

"I killed it"

Watching as the blood of the beast slowly stained the grass in a shade of red, he felt not one ounce of pity. He jumped for joy over his triumph over the beast.

"I just killed a magic beast hell yeah!"

This is it was it. This is what he wanted all his life, the power to rise among everyone and be the strongest. He held his head high and pointed at the heavens.

"I'm going to be the brightest star in the sky, and everyone else will be forced to hide in my shadow just wait and see," he said

Ding*

[As you have now killed a magic beast you can use the power of your bloodline to absorb the life force of that beast]

Hearing the message from his status he was surprised that he could do such a thing. He knew he could turn things that people were greedy for into stat point but it seemed the extent of his bloodline abilities were far more than he believed. 

"Wait status are you a boy or a girl I can't tell?" he asked with a curious look

[ I have no gender as I was something created to help you navigate the bloodline you've been given; I am not alive but could be said to be a mere extension of your power]

Amir didn't know whether that was sad or cool. Turning his head at the lifeless beast he smirked. Bending down to the beast he reached out touching it.

"Okay, how do I do this do I just touch it."

He focused his mind just like before with the coins. After a few minutes, nothing was happening.

....

"Why is nothing happening."

He didn't get what was different about it this time. When he focused on converting the coins into power, he would be able to feel it seeping into him and nourishing his body.

If he asked his status, it wouldn't answer just like last time. He had to do this on his own. This power was his after all, he couldn't expect anyone to help him.

"Okay let's calm down and breathe. Greed is the desire to gain something or want it."

What he wants right now is the power of this beast.

Its strength, its speed, and every part of it that makes it so powerful. He wanted it all.

As time passed the beast started to shake slightly as veins started to emerge from its body as it moved towards my hand. The veins moved onto me wrapped themselves around my fingers and pierced his skin.

"Ahh this feels amazing"

It was different from the feeling of when my stats rose as I took everything from the beast it felt like taking something that I had longed for years, it was like floating on clouds. This continued for several minutes and then I stopped feeling the sense of elation.

"Damn, I could high of this." 

He removed his hands from the beast opened his eyes and jumped back. The Ravi's body looked like a sucked-out bag of water. Not because it lost its blood but because all the color on its skin was gone as it was now completely white. Everything of color that was on the beast turned white making everything look truly horrifying

He was extremely shocked that it turned out like that. He didn't have time to think about it as he needed to quickly burn the body so no one could find tell what he did. He didn't want people to know about his bloodline.

He went for bushes and the different things he would need to start a fire. His shadow flickered in the moonlight before disappearing.

***

" It's rare for a lowborn to be birthed with a bloodline but isn't this boy a cripple. How could he have a bloodline if his body can't even access mana."

As the man watched Amir enter the woods and fight Ravi, he had to commend his determination even though he was pitifully weak. He watched how he killed the magic beast and was surprised to see such a young man kill something with such ferocity and smile so brightly afterward.

What truly shocked him was how he made coins disappear and turned the corpse of a dead magic beast white.

'I have to tell my lady about this.' he thought

The shadow of the tree started to flicker and then moved at lightning speed through the forest as it headed in the direction of the village.