Chapter 5: The New Power

Kai stood motionless as the system window shimmered before him, displaying the rewards of his latest victory. He watched as the stats and abilities flashed before his eyes.

[System Notification: Skill Acquired - Earth Creation (Lv. 1)]

[Mana: 0/10]

[Strength: 5]

[Agility: 6]

[Endurance: 4]

[Intelligence: 11]

[Dexterity: 7]

[Abilities: Earth Creation (Lv. 1)]

Kai stared at the system window, his eyes scanning the details. *Earth Creation*—the ability to manipulate the earth, create barriers, and mold rocks. It was a powerful skill, but there was one problem. The skill seemed to rely on mana, and his current mana was depleted.

He raised a hand to his head, trying to make sense of it. Intelligence… that increases mana?

He focused his mind, thinking back to the moment he had been injured. A light flickered in his mind, the faintest whisper of an idea. If I increase my intelligence, I can regenerate mana.

He quickly upgraded his Intelligence stat. The system gave a notification as the points were adjusted.

[Intelligence: 11 → 12]

[Mana: 1/12]

[Mana: 2/12]

Kai could feel a subtle change. His mind felt clearer, sharper. His eyes fluttered as he concentrated on the ability to sense his mana, and slowly, he could feel it—an energy slowly regenerating within him. The sensation was faint, but enough to make him realize he had a new source of power at his disposal.

Before he could test the skill further, a sharp beep interrupted him.

[Main Quest: Survive the Wave]

[Warning: Incoming Horde – Timer: 30 Minutes]

A sudden cold shiver ran down Kai's spine. He glanced at the timer, his mind already calculating the time. *The next wave of monsters…* The quest hadn't just been a simple task—it was a countdown. The system had made it clear that survival was his only objective now.

He quickly looked around the building, analyzing his surroundings. From the streets below, the sounds of chaos were getting louder. A horde of monsters, ranging from Rank F to Rank D, was about to descend upon the city.

The warning and the timer only added to the pressure. Kai clenched his fist, trying to figure out an escape route. The city's layout had been changed drastically by the destruction, and his usual paths of escape were now blocked by rubble, burning wreckage, and, worst of all, monsters.

His mind raced, calculating options.

*To survive, I need to think strategically…*

He stepped back into the shadows of the building, slipping behind a row of cracked pillars. His heart pounded as he scanned the area for movement.

But the building wasn't empty.

Kai's senses picked up on the heavy breathing and soft growls. He glanced around, his body tensing when he spotted a pack of Beast Wolves, their glowing eyes scanning the area, searching for prey.

The pack's leader—a massive beast, its body covered in thick fur and muscles rippling—snarled and looked straight at Kai. It let out a low, menacing growl, signaling the pack to attack. The wolves lunged forward, claws scraping the ground.

Kai's mind snapped into action. He reached for his weapon, but then an idea flashed in his head. Instead of relying on his usual speed and strength, he decided to test his new skill.

Earth Creation.

With a thought, Kai slammed his hand onto the ground, and a wall of jagged stone shot up between him and the wolves. The stone was dense and solid, a barrier that was far stronger than anything he could've hoped for.

The wolves attacked, their claws striking the stone with ferocious force, but they couldn't break through. Kai stood, breathing hard, amazed by the power of his new skill.

But then the system window flashed again.

[Warning: Mana usage is high. Mana remaining: 6/12]

Kai glanced down at the mana gauge.

His mind raced as the wolves began to circle, trying to find a weak spot in the stone. He needed to act fast.

No more time for hesitation.

Kai drew his dagger and charged, weaving through the pack. He swung the blade, slashing at one of the wolves, its blood splattering across the floor as it flew backward, crashing into the wall with a howl.

The remaining wolves attacked with more coordination. Two of them lunged at Kai from opposite sides, but he sidestepped effortlessly, dodging their claws. In one smooth motion, he used his agility to get behind one of the wolves, kicking it hard and sending it smashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud.

The others growled, trying to surround him, but Kai smirked.

"Not today," he muttered under his breath.

He moved quickly, analyzing their attack patterns. The wolves weren't as intelligent as humans, but they were swift, coordinated. The two remaining wolves leapt toward him, but this time, Kai was ready. He dodged one and slashed at the other, sinking his dagger deep into its neck. It yelped in pain before collapsing, lifeless.

The last wolf charged with a roar, but Kai didn't hesitate. He reached out with his hand, focusing his remaining mana, and a stone arrow materialized in the air. With a sharp thrust, he pierced the wolf's body with the deadly projectile. It crumpled to the ground, twitching for a moment before going still.

[Warning: Mana usage is high. Mana remaining: 0/12]

[System Notification: Defeat 5 Monster.Quest Reward Unlocked.]

Kai staggered back, breathing heavily, his body covered in sweat. He had used up all of his mana.

But the system wasn't done with him yet. A new set of rewards appeared before him.

[Stat Upgrade: Strength +1, Agility +1]

[Item Reward: Ring of Mana (Rank E)]

He reached for the ring, placing it on his finger. The moment it touched his skin, he could feel the difference. The ring seemed to pulse with energy, and he noticed a subtle increase in his mana gauge.

[Mana Regeneration: 1 per minute]

[Mana: 0/12]

[Mana: 2/12]

Kai flexed his fingers, testing the new power he had gained. The mana regeneration was slow, but it was something—something that would help him in the coming battles.

From far above, a chilling roar echoed in the distance. Kai's eyes flicked upward, scanning the sky.

In the sky, a massive shadow was soaring above the city—a flying monster, its wings flapping ominously. The roar reverberated in the air, sending a shiver down his spine.

The earth trembled beneath Kai's feet as the massive flying creature soared above, its wings causing a violent gust that shook the building. With a deafening screech, the monster launched a devastating strike at the building, the shockwave knocking Kai off balance. The walls cracked and groaned, and the foundation began to collapse. The world spun wildly as debris rained down on him.

Kai barely managed to leap toward a nearby pillar, using it as a brace to steady himself. The building around him groaned and creaked, and just as it looked like the entire structure was about to cave in, he made a desperate sprint for the exit.

Rubble fell behind him in an avalanche, but Kai leapt out of the way, the sharp shards of concrete narrowly missing him. He dove for the door, and with a final push, managed to escape the crumbling building, his heart pounding in his chest.

Before he could even catch his breath, a familiar roar reverberated through the air—this time much closer.

Kai whipped around just in time to see the creature descending from the sky, its massive talons extended as it aimed straight at him. The monster, resembling a giant bird with piercing red eyes, was coming down at full speed, and its sheer size was enough to make Kai freeze for a split second.

Then, the system beeped, a cold notification flashing before his eyes.

[Warning: Rank C Monster Detected – Threat Level: High]

[Status: Critical Danger Level]

Kai's blood ran cold. A Rank C monster? He knew the difference in power between their ranks. The gap was enormous. The monster was far beyond his capabilities.

But there was no time to hesitate. The beast was already charging at him, its wings flapping with hurricane-force winds, its beak open, ready to strike.

Kai's body reacted before his mind could catch up. He activated Quick Step, his speed skyrocketing in a flash. In the blink of an eye, he dodged the creature's deadly strike, but the force of the impact from the monster's descent still sent him tumbling across the ground, crashing into a pile of rubble.

He struggled to regain his footing, coughing as dust filled the air. The pain from the impact was overwhelming, but Kai forced himself to push through. He saw the monster soaring back into the air, preparing to attack once again.

Kai's eyes narrowed. I can't let it get another hit like that.

The bird-like creature took a deep breath, and suddenly, a fireball erupted from its mouth, hurtling toward Kai at breakneck speed. The flame was massive, intense, and there was no way to dodge it if he didn't act fast.

His heart pounded as the fireball closed in, but Kai was ready. He thrust his hand forward, invoking Earth Creation. A massive stone wall erupted from the ground, blocking the fireball with a resounding crash. But even as the flames collided with the barrier, the sheer force of the impact blew the wall apart. Kai felt the heat scorch his face, and the force of the explosion sent him staggering backward.

Warning: Mana usage is high. Mana remaining: 6/12]

He gritted his teeth and gathered what little mana he had left. His body was drained, but there was no choice now. He had to fight back.

Kai quickly formed a massive stone arrow with his hands, the ground beneath him shaking as the projectile took shape. With all the strength he could muster, he hurled it straight at the flying monster. The arrow shot through the air like a bullet, piercing the beast's wing with a sickening crunch.

Warning: Mana usage is high. Mana remaining: 2/12]

The monster let out a piercing screech, clearly wounded, but it wasn't enough to stop it. It immediately turned back toward Kai, fury in its eyes. The ground below rumbled as it dived toward him once more, its talons aiming straight for his chest.

Kai was running out of time. The stone arrow had used up much of his mana, and the monster was about to strike again.

But just as he thought things were hopeless, the system flashed.

[Mana Regeneration: 6/12]

Kai's eyes widened. The mana had started regenerating at just the right moment. He had just enough power left.

Kai focused, calling upon Earth Creation one final time. This time, he didn't form a wall. Instead, he conjured a massive stone arrow—bigger than anything he had created before.

He aimed carefully, the monster flying straight toward him. The beast opened its mouth, preparing to unleash another fireball. But Kai was faster.

With a roar, he fired the stone arrow directly at the monster's chest. The projectile struck with devastating force, exploding upon impact. A cloud of dust and debris filled the air, blocking the view of the creature.

Warning: Mana usage is high. Mana remaining: 0/12]

Kai stood still, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. The monster's roar had ceased, replaced by a sudden silence. Had he done it?

Slowly, the dust began to clear. The silhouette of the monster's massive body was visible in the distance, but it was struggling to remain in the air. Its wings flapped weakly as it fought to stay aloft. Kai wasted no time. He sprinted toward it, pulling out the Beast Fang Dagger, his fingers curling tightly around the hilt.

The monster let out a final, desperate screech, attempting one last strike. But Kai was ready. With speed and precision, he jumped into the air, stabbing the dagger into the creature's throat. The blade sank deep, and the beast's body convulsed in its final moments.

Kai landed with a heavy thud, breathing heavily, as the beast crumpled to the ground with a thundering crash. The world around him was eerily quiet as the last remnants of the monster's fiery breath dissipated into the air.

[System Notification: Quest Complete - Rank C Monster Defeated]

[Reward: Stats Upgrade]

[Reward: Rank Upgrade Rank F to E]

[Item Reward: Monster's Heart (Rank C)]

Kai stood over the fallen beast, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had done it. The monster was dead, but the cost of the battle had taken its toll. He was drained, both physically and mentally. But this was only one fight.

Before he could even process the rewards, he heard a soft crackling sound.

From the top of a distant building, a man in a black suit stood, watching him with cold, calculating eyes. The man's hand reached for a walkie-talkie.

"I've got some news," the man muttered under his breath. "Send the helicopter after the next command."

The man's voice was calm, almost detached, as he spoke into the radio. His eyes never left Kai.

To be Continued.