Chapter 3: Baptized in Blood

The fires had died down, leaving only ruins and the echoes of what once was. The wind carried the scent of burnt wood and flesh, a cruel reminder of the massacre that had taken place. Vale stood in the silence, his body battered, his mind still reeling from what had transpired.

His parents were dead. His village was gone.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms until they drew blood. Every ounce of pain, every drop of sorrow—he burned it into his soul. He would not forget. He would not forgive.

But grief would have to wait. The System had awakened something inside him, something raw and unfamiliar. He needed to understand it before he could wield it properly.

A transparent screen floated before him, waiting for his attention.

[System Interface]

Name: Vale

Level: 2

Credits: 3.08

Strength: 7

Agility: 6

Vitality: 5

New Skill Unlocked: Abyss Hunter's Instinct

The numbers didn't make complete sense yet, but he felt the changes in his body. His reflexes were sharper, his movements swifter, his senses keener. He had fought an Abyss Enforcer and lived.

But he needed more power.

Vale forced himself to his feet, muscles aching in protest. He retrieved the shattered blade at his feet, its once-pristine edge now chipped and stained with black ichor. It had served him well, but he needed something stronger—something that wouldn't fail him when it mattered most.

His eyes scanned the battlefield, searching for anything of use. Among the charred remains of the village, something glinted in the moonlight.

A dagger. Not just any dagger. It was lodged in the corpse of an Abyss warrior, its blackened blade pulsating with a faint violet glow. Vale approached cautiously, his instincts screaming danger.

He reached for it, fingers curling around the hilt. The moment his skin made contact, a surge of information flooded his mind.

[Item Acquired: Abyss-Touched Dagger]

Rank: Uncommon

Effect: Increased damage against Abyssal creatures. The wielder's body will gradually adapt to Abyssal energies.

Vale's breath hitched. The System wasn't just guiding him, it was changing him. He could feel the dagger's energy seeping into his veins, not harmful, but… altering him.

He didn't know whether to be afraid or exhilarated.

His grip tightened around the weapon. It was a risk, but if it gave him even the slightest edge, he would take it.

Then, a sound shattered the eerie stillness.

A deep, guttural growl.

Vale whipped around, dagger raised. From the shadows of the ruined village, something moved. Something massive. Two crimson eyes glowed in the darkness, filled with primal hunger.

Then, it stepped into the moonlight.

A wolf. But not an ordinary one. Its fur was dark as the void, its claws long and gleaming with Abyssal energy. It was larger than any beast Vale had ever seen, standing at least seven feet tall at the shoulder. It was wounded—deep gashes along its side, black ichor dripping onto the ground—but its gaze was locked onto him with terrifying focus.

Vale took a step back, pulse quickening.

Abyssal Direwolf. A predator of the night.

He didn't need the System to tell him this thing could tear him apart in seconds.

The wolf lowered its head, growling deep in its throat. It was sizing him up, debating whether he was prey or a threat.

Vale had only seconds to decide. Run or fight.

His instincts screamed at him to flee. He was injured, exhausted, and barely understood the System's power. But if he ran, the wolf would chase him down. There was no escaping a hunter of the Abyss.

He tightened his grip on the dagger. Then I'll become the hunter.

The wolf lunged.

Vale barely had time to react. His body moved on its own, dodging at the last moment. The beast's claws tore through the air, missing him by inches. He slashed out with the dagger, aiming for its exposed flank.

The blade connected.

A violent pulse of energy erupted on impact. The wolf howled in pain, staggering back as Abyssal energy crackled through its wound.

Critical Hit! +0.5 Credits Earned.

Vale didn't let up. He pressed the attack, moving faster than he ever had before. His newfound agility allowed him to weave around the beast's counterattacks, his dagger carving through fur and flesh alike. But the wolf was relentless.

It roared, spinning on its heels and slamming into him with its full weight.

The air was knocked from Vale's lungs as he crashed to the ground. The wolf's massive paw pinned him, its jaws opening wide to tear out his throat.

For a split second, fear paralyzed him.

Then, something shifted.

A pulse of heat erupted from within his chest, spreading through his limbs like wildfire. His mind cleared. His muscles surged with power. Time seemed to slow.

His eyes flashed with an unnatural golden light.

He twisted his body, wrenching the dagger free from the wolf's side. In one swift motion, he drove it straight into the beast's throat.

The wolf gurgled, its crimson eyes widening in shock. It thrashed wildly, but Vale held firm, forcing the blade deeper until the tip burst through the back of its neck.

With a final, shuddering breath, the wolf collapsed.

Silence.

Vale remained still, chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. His hands were slick with black ichor. His heart pounded against his ribs.

Then, the familiar chime echoed in his mind.

Abyssal Direwolf Defeated! +5.0 Credits Earned.

Level Up!

New Skill Acquired: Hunter's Reflex

Vale exhaled slowly, the tension in his body releasing all at once. He had won. Again.

He had fought, and he had survived.

He rose shakily to his feet, wiping the blood from his face. His wounds still ached, but the System had granted him another power—another step toward the strength he needed.

His golden eyes flickered as he stared down at the beast's corpse.

This is just the beginning.

There were more monsters out there. Stronger ones. And beyond them, the ones responsible for everything that had been taken from him.

Vale tightened his grip on the dagger.

I will become stronger. No matter what it takes.