The warth of Blood and the struggle for power

Chapter 3: The Wrath of Blood and the Struggle for Power

The forest stretched before Axel, as if it were a mirror of a shattered world, full of destruction and violence. The trees fallen on the ground and the dark stains of blood that blotched the soil told the story of a bitter battle that lasted for hours. The mangled corpses of the beasts that had been slain filled the place. Some were missing their heads, others with severed limbs, while the air was filled with the stench of clotted blood and burnt flesh, making the atmosphere suffocating and difficult to breathe.

In a distant corner, Axel sat on a large rock, panting heavily as the sounds of the wind moved through the destroyed trees. His armor, stained with blood and fleshy remnants, reflected the harshness of the battle he had just fought. His heavy sword, also covered in blood, lay beside him. His eyes were full of sparks as if they carried a storm of anger and hatred.

"How did I get to this point? Am I a beast? Or just a tool for the system?" Axel whispered to himself, looking at his bloodstained hands. His eyes moved between the corpses around him, while questions consumed his mind. Had he truly become a beast? Or was all this just a price for losing his humanity?

His memories, which began to crowd his mind, revolved around the days that preceded this moment. It started with his meeting with the wise man a month ago, when he was wandering in the forest trying to hunt beasts to strengthen himself. He was trying to become stronger, to raise his level in the system and gain more experience. During that time, he encountered a strange person, an old man with dignified features, who felt like he came from a distant time.

"Who are you?" Axel asked cautiously, raising his sword, ready for any danger that might appear.

The man smiled gently and said, "I am the wise man, the protector of this forest." The wise man's aura was overwhelming, as if nature itself breathed with him, and his presence was enough for the beasts around them to disappear.

"I am Axel, can you help me?" Axel said, sensing the power of this wise man. He knew that this encounter was the beginning of something bigger.

The wise man, who was more than just a teacher, began to guide Axel in learning the secrets of the forest. He taught him how to understand the beasts, how to exploit the so-called system to become stronger, and most importantly, how to control his emotions. The wise man's lessons were not limited to physical strength but also to the art of balance between mercy and cruelty. Emotions were considered a weapon in the battle of this world, but the strange thing was his knowledge of the system, which Axel discovered was not a secret from someone stronger than him.

But on one dark night, while Axel was training on one of the wise man's techniques, something unexpected happened. From the depths of the forest, a group of demons emerged, led by the terrifying entity "Angelo," a demon with dark red skin and huge horns that branched out like dead trees. His eyes glowed with a poisonous green color, and his voice was like a terrifying echo that resounded in the air.

"Finally, I found you, wise man of the forest. I thought you would remain hidden forever," Angelo said mockingly, his words carrying a terrible threat.

Axel tried to stand between the wise man and Angelo, but his strength was not enough to face a beast of this size. With one blow, Angelo knocked him away, leaving him bleeding on the ground. The pain was overwhelming, but he felt completely helpless. Axel tried to get up but failed. The wise man whispered in a broken voice, "Axel... run. You can't help me now."

But Axel couldn't escape. Before losing consciousness, he saw the wise man being pulled into a dark portal, and the sound of the demons' laughter faded into the darkness, while he was unable to do anything.

As he lay dying, the system's notification appeared before him: "You are about to lose consciousness, but there is another option. Do you want to survive?"

"What do you want?" Axel whispered in a broken voice, about to fall into the abyss.

Another notification appeared: "Survival is contingent on making a deal. Use your power to fight against the beasts and demons. Collect the primal energy from defeating them, and the greater your power, the greater your chance for revenge."

Axel had no choice. He pressed "Yes" without thinking, although he did not fully understand what awaited him. As soon as he accepted the deal, he felt a strange energy flowing through his body. He knew he had made a deal with the system and had become the soldier who fights for the system.

The battles followed one another, and each one was a step towards revenge. At first, his battles were against beasts of levels 10 to 15. They were small compared to those he fought later, but they were difficult challenges. He fought to raise his level and to vent his anger, continuing to move towards one goal: revenge. But gradually, the battles became more ferocious. Every time he killed a beast, he felt a strange thrill, but he also felt he was losing his humanity bit by bit. "Is this the path I must take?" Axel wondered, as each battle brought him more power but also more brutality.

One night, after a month of continuous fighting, Axel reached level 30. When he read the notification that appeared before him, he knew the real challenge had begun: "Secret Mission: Invade the lair of the demon Angelo."

The details were clear: "Location: Cave of Shadows. Goal: Eliminate the demon Angelo and retrieve the wise man. Time remaining: 7 days."

Axel was not sure of his ability to defeat Angelo, but he would not back down. This was the challenge he had been waiting for. And this was the only chance to save the wise man who had become like a father to him.

On his way to the Cave of Shadows, he faced many challenges. He confronted strange creatures like the "Shadow Lizard," a creeping beast with glowing eyes and fangs capable of melting rock. Each clash made him stronger, but it drained his spirit. His strongest battle was with the "King of the Forest," a level 35 beast with golden fur and huge fangs.

As Axel approached the lair of the King, he could feel the primal energy emanating from the depths of the forest. The trees seemed to part before him, as if the very earth was guiding him towards his formidable opponent. When Axel finally laid eyes on the King, he was struck by its sheer size and power. The creature towered over him, its massive body covered in thick, golden fur that shimmered in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. Its eyes burned with a fierce, predatory intelligence, and its jaws were lined with razor-sharp fangs that could crush bone with ease.

Axel knew this would be no easy fight, but he was driven by his burning desire for revenge and the need to grow stronger to face Angelo. He gripped his sword, Wrath's Blade, tightly and charged forward, his movements agile and precise.

The battle that ensued was a grueling test of Axel's endurance and skill. The King's powerful swipes and thunderous roars made the very ground tremble, and Axel found himself constantly on the defensive, dodging and weaving to avoid the creature's devastating attacks.

As the fight dragged on, Axel's stamina began to wane, and he knew he needed to find a way to turn the tide. That's when he remembered the Wise Man's teachings about the importance of balance and the power of the warrior's spirit.

Focusing his mind, Axel called upon the "Heart of the Warrior" skill, a technique the Wise Man had imparted to him. Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through his body, rejuvenating his muscles and sharpening his senses.

With renewed vigor, Axel launched a series of calculated strikes, exploiting the King's weaknesses and wearing down its defenses. The battle raged on for hours, the clash of steel against fangs and claws echoing through the forest.

Finally, with a desperate last-ditch effort, Axel managed to drive his sword deep into the King's chest, piercing its heart. The creature let out a thunderous roar of pain and anguish before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shaking the earth.

Axel stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily but triumphant. He had emerged victorious, but the cost had been high. His body ached, and his armor was tattered and stained with the King's blood.

As Axel retrieved Wrath's Blade from the creature's lifeless body, he felt a new power stirring within him. The "Heart of the Warrior" skill had not only saved him from certain defeat but had also unlocked a deeper well of strength and resilience.

With this newfound power, Axel turned his gaze towards the ominous entrance of the Cave of Shadows, his resolve hardening. "Angelo, your end has come," he whispered, his eyes burning with determination.

The final battle was about to begin, and Axel knew that he would need every ounce of his strength and skill to emerge victorious. But he was no longer alone. The Wise Man's teachings and the power he had gained through his trials had forged him into a formidable warrior, ready to confront the demonic forces that had stolen his mentor.