Chapter 9 Power!

As Alexander looked at his surroundings, a sound of broken twigs and heavy breathing could be heard from his right.

His eyes fixed on it deeply, and as the beast slowly stepped out of the shadows, he saw that the four-legged creature had pitch-black fur.

It blended with the surrounding darkness of the forest, standing at a height of nearly five feet. It was larger than any wolf he had seen on TV.

Its piercing eyes glowed like twin embers, locking onto his figure. Its jagged teeth were as sharp as daggers as it snarled.

Growl!!

The beast in front of him made a sound as Alexander prepared himself. He did not step back but stood still in his position.

Even though he was a bit afraid, he tried to steady himself. The only things he had ever fought back in the city were small dogs and kids, and he had been an adult at the time.

So, even though it wasn't fair to fight with a kid, it gave him great satisfaction because the kid had been so naughty. 

But a wolf that is three times larger than the small dogs he had fought, how could he not be scared?

The dire wolf, sensing that its prey was not afraid, did not falter. The air surrounding the two grew heavier.

Alexander, seeing that it was just eyeing him but doing nothing, was a bit confused, but this did not lower his guard.

The dire wolf's muscles rippled under its dark coat, and its claws began to sink into the dirt as it prepared to lunge.

Alexander felt tense at the sight of its movements. He could feel the beast's raw ferocity radiating from it.

His instincts screamed at him to move, but his legs felt like lead.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the wolf trembled as it launched itself toward him with terrifying speed.

Its maw opened wide, saliva dripping from jagged fangs, ready to tear into him.

"That fast?!" Alexander exclaimed, his voice shaking.

Panic began to course through him, but before he could react, something inside him stirred.

His heart felt like it was being hammered in his chest, and then a faint warmth coursed through his veins. Suddenly, the wolf in mid-air began to slow down in time.

Alexander's eyes widened in shock, "What's happening?" he thought.

Without understanding why, his body moved. His muscles felt lighter, his steps quicker. He darted out of the wolf's path with ease.

His movement was fast since he dodged so early that the wolf was stunned mid-air.

The dire wolf landed where he had been standing, its claws digging into the dirt. Its glowing eyes snapped toward Alexander, filled with confusion.

A low growl rumbled in its throat as it turned to face him again.

But something changed at this moment.

It did not know why its legs began to tremble and its eyes started to waver, nor did it understand why it sensed a feeling of dread in front of this weak human.

It's the aura of domination. The wolf only felt this overwhelming presence towards their Alpha.

But for a human to have this kind of aura? The wolf does not believe it.

Alexander noticed the wolf's trembling legs and the subtle step it took backward. A faint confusion formed on his eyes.

"Is the beast retreating?" he thought.

"Seriously? I haven't even done anything yet."

"Well, here goes." Alexander then spread his feet apart.

Beginning to pounce, his presence began to radiate with power, and the wolf, who was in a dilemma whether to escape or not, had now decided to escape.

The human in front of him was not normal, the wolf exclaimed inwardly as it turned its back.

The wolf finally turned to flee, its survival instincts taking over. But Alexander was not about to let it go.

"Not so fast," he muttered, his voice low.

Without thinking, he pushed off the ground, his body moving faster than he had ever thought possible.

In an instant, the three meters between them vanished, and Alexander was upon the beast.

"Take this!" he roared, clenching his fist.

A sudden surge of power radiated through his arm, making his punch feel like a battering ram.

The dire wolf tried to turn its head, but it was already too late. When the fist was closing in, the wolf's vision flickered.

In that brief moment, it saw something terrifying, a towering primal beast with eyes that burned like the sun and a roar that can shook the heavens.

Bang!

The impact echoed throughout the forest, the wolf let out a strangled yelp as Alexander's punch connected with its jaw, thus sending it crashing into ground with a heavy thud.

Dust and debris began to fly into the air as the beast skidded to a stop, its massive figure lying still as if it were dead.

Looking at this scene while breathing heavily, he glanced down at his trembling hands. The immense power coursing through him felt like endless waves.

"This power is so strong!!" he whispered to himself as he looked at the limping wolf. 

It was bleeding nonstop and seemed to have received numerous bruises from the impact. Even its snout was disfigured with just one punch.

He could not help but feel a little sorry for the wolf. However, remembering that the beast had tried to kill him, his pity turned to coldness.

"I'm actually this strong," Alexander said to himself.

Walking in low strides he arrived at the beast who looks like it was about to die, it was suffering and Alexander felt that his heart was heavy.

Since he was really not a cruel person, he despised killing so after contemplating for a while he decided in the end to not kill it.

Glancing sideways and gritting his teeth, he finally decided that what he was doing was for the greater good.

But suddenly, the beast in front of him stopped moving and moaning.

[System Notification: You have slain a Level 2 Direwolf! Rewards: 5 EXP | 10 Omnipoints]

Hearing the notifications from the system, Alexander was ecstatic. He then checked his stats to see his current status. Not caring about the Direwolf he had killed.

[Status:

Level: 1 (5/100)

Name: Alexaner Aurelious

Coins: 0

Omnipoints: 10

Class: None

Race: Human

Bloodline: Behemoth Bloodline

Innate Skills: Titan's Might, Behemoth's Wrath, Legacy of the Behemoth

Passive Skills: Unyielding Will, Behemoth's Presence, Unyielding Stamina

Active Skills: Earthen Fortress, Primal Roar, Crescent Blade Arc

Free Attributes: 0

Health: 450

Vitality: 50

Strength: 115

Defense: 110

Speed: 32

Stamina: 65

Mana: 200

Magic Power: 10 ]

Seeing that he had five points, he navigated his hand toward his skill, 'Crescent Blade Arc'. If he remembered correctly, this skill was one of the sword techniques his father had taught him.

A third-tier technique known for its swift, precise attacks, it focuses on using momentum and accuracy to create a wide, arcing slash that maximizes the reach and power of the blade.

Don't think that just because it's only a third-tier technique, it's just a low-grade skill. This technique can be considered rare; even the nobles in his kingdom only had access to second-tier techniques.

[Active Skills: Cresent Blade Arc

Description: A powerful, sweeping sword strike designed to attack multiple enemies or deliver a single devastating blow. This technique focuses on using momentum and precision to create a wide, arcing slash that maximizes the reach and power of the blade.

 Effect: Generates a crescent-shaped arc of energy.

Mana Cost: 30

Cooldown: None

(Mastery: 23/100)]

...

[Do you wish to upgrade 'Crescent Blade Arc'? It costs 10 Omni Points for 1% Mastery]

Seeing the panel, Alexander was speechless. It was actually much more expensive than he thought. 

After contemplating momentarily, he couldn't help but sigh in dismay. "Why didn't you at least train?" he muttered in a low voice.

"With my current mastery, I still cannot create an arc of energy."

"I should try honing this sword skill before upgrading it, since I need to spend my omnipoints wisely," he decided.

Suddenly, a loud sound of heavy breathing could be heard to his right. He turned in that direction, and sure enough, he saw it.

The animal is about 2 meters tall, its rugged body is covered in dirt.

Its black eyes were staring at him menacingly, with its mouth opened slightly which its saliva draping the ground wet.

Its stench was a little hard to sniff, as its massive claws dug into the ground. Alexander and the eyes of the two interlocked for a moment.

When suddenly more and more of this creature started appearing surrounding him from all corners.

His eyes narrowed for a moment. "Are they attracted to the blood of the dire wolf? This is bad—I at least need to get out of their encirclement."

Preparing himself for any attack, he remained on high alert. Suddenly, one of the dog-like creatures pounced on him.

It rushed toward Alexander, filled with malice. Alexander, who was prepared, dodged sideways. The speed of these dogs was not as fast as that of the dire wolf.

After he dodged and the creature's side was exposed, Alexander raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick, which collided with the creature's side.

The bones in its ribs seemed to crack from the force, and a loud pah sound echoed from its flesh.

The creature wailed loudly as it was sent flying. The other ground hounds, seeing this, rushed toward Alexander, filled with anger.

As the ground hounds surged forward, Alexander's mind raced.

"There are too many," he thought, his eyes darting around the area to find an opening. The creatures' stench and their snarls echoed in his ears.

As one of the beasts lunged again, its claws glinted in the moonlight. Alexander twisted to the side, avoiding the attack.

His movement was fast and precise, the hound flank was exposed and without hesitation he delivered a punch

Crack!

Another cracking sound was heard, the beast flew through the air as well crashing to the ground in a loud thud. He was besides the ground hound, who was kicked by Alexander.

It was breathing heavily like its life was depending on it, then one charged from the side, but

Alexander met its advance head-on. He ducked beneath its swipe and delivered an uppercut to its jaw. The force of the blow sent it sprawling backward, its claws flailing uselessly in the air.

"Is that all you've got?!" Alexander growled, his voice carrying an air of arrogance.

The ground hounds were angry but dared not attack recklessly. Since he had dealt with two of their kind so easily, they did not want to risk it.

They circled him like vultures. There were a lot of them, but Alexander had no interest in counting them.

[System Notification: You have slain a Level 1 Ground Hound! Rewards: 3 EXP | 6 Omnipoints]

[System Notification: You have slain a Level 1 Ground Hound! Rewards: 3 EXP | 6 Omnipoints]

[System Notification: You have slain a Level 1 Ground Hound! Rewards: 3 EXP | 6 Omnipoints]

...

Three notifications sounded, indicating that he had killed the two from earlier and the last one he had hit.

But he had no time to check the panel, as there were still many more pests surrounding him.

Tightening his fists, his veins pulsed with power. The Behemoth Bloodline within him began to display its prowess.

The air around Alexander shifted, growing heavier just like an unseen force was radiating outward. It was dominating looking down everyone with its presence.

The hounds surrounding Alexander were now in a dilemma, starting to show signs of fear.

They did not understand how a human in front of them could possibly display power akin to that of a beast. Their eyes began to flicker with uncertainty.

In their minds they greatly wander if they have to run or fight, but Alexander didn't give them a chance. Taking a deep breathed he roared.

[Primal Roar Activated]

Then, a deafening roar erupted, covering at least a 30-meter radius around the area. The power of the roar was like that of a lion asserting its dominance.

The hounds surrounding him were slightly pushed back by the sound wave of the roar, while the leaves in the trees fluttered wildly.

When they skidded back a little leaving a straight line, their legs were shaking with pure fear this time. Their eyes were trembling as they looked at the human in front of them.

[-50 Mana]

[Mana: 150/200]

Seeing that they were disoriented, Alexander slammed his fist into the ground. The very earth beneath him cracked and split, sending a shockwave rippling outward.

The ground hounds yelped as they were thrown back, their bodies tumbling like leaves in a storm.

Seeing that they were in the air, he decided not to show any mercy, inserting strength in his foot.

The ground cracked and caved in slightly, and then, with a dash, he pounced like a cannonball being fired.

He appeared before each ground hound, sometimes delivering a punch to their faces or flanks, and other times landing a kick to their spines.

One by one, they yelped. Every second, a different hound's voice of agony echoed through the forest.

Alexander felt a twinge of guilt, but he knew he had to be cruel. Still, the smile on his face made it clear he was enjoying this.

It wasn't the killing or torturing of the ground hounds that he enjoyed, but rather the system notifications buzzing incessantly.