The forest slowly returned to its normal rhythm. The wind whispered through the leaves, and distant birds cautiously began singing again. The violent battle that had just taken place in the clearing seemed almost unreal now.
Alex stood over the fallen Shadow Wolf Alpha, still breathing heavily. The massive creature lay motionless, its black fur darkened with blood. For a few seconds, Alex simply stared at it.
"I… actually did it."
The Alpha had been far stronger than any monster he had faced before. One mistake could have killed him instantly. Yet somehow he had survived.The glowing system interface appeared again.
[Boss Defeated — Shadow Wolf Alpha]
[Quest Complete]
Reward: 200 EXP
Bonus: 1 Beginner Skill Point
[Level Up!]
Level 5 Achieved
Strength +1
Agility +1
Alex felt the familiar surge of energy rush through his body. His muscles tightened slightly, and the exhaustion that had been weighing on him eased a little. He stretched his arms slowly.
"Level five already…"
If someone had told him two days ago that he would be fighting monsters and leveling up in another world, he would have laughed. Now it was reality.
Alex crouched next to the Alpha's body. His Analyze skill activated immediately.
Shadow Wolf Alpha
Rare Monster
Recommended Level: 6+
Possible Drops:
• Shadow Core (High Quality)
• Alpha Fang
• Beast Hide
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Rare monster?"
That sounded promising.
Carefully, he searched the monster's body. After a few moments he found what the system had mentioned. A large dark crystal embedded inside the Alpha's chest.
Unlike the small Shadow Cores he collected earlier, this one glowed faintly with deep purple energy.
High-Quality Shadow Core
Energy Source
High value material used in crafting and magic tools.
Alex smiled. "This should sell for a lot."
Next he removed one of the Alpha's long curved fangs. It was almost as long as his hand and extremely sharp.
Alpha Fang
Rare Monster Material
Often used for high-grade weapons.
"Nice."
Alex carefully placed the items inside his bag.
Even the Alpha's thick hide might be valuable, but removing it would take too long without proper tools. He decided to leave it.
The most important items were already secured.
As Alex stood up, the system appeared again. New Skill Point Available
Choose Skill Upgrade:
Analyze Lv.2 – Gain more detailed enemy information
Agility Boost Lv.1 – Temporarily increase movement speed
Vital Recovery Lv.1 – Slowly regenerate stamina after battles
Alex studied the options carefully. "All three would be useful…" But after the brutal fight with the Alpha, one thing was clear. He needed stamina.
If the battle had lasted even a little longer, he might have collapsed from exhaustion.
Alex made his decision. "Vital Recovery."
The system responded instantly.
Skill Acquired
Vital Recovery Lv.1
Slowly restores stamina when out of combat.
A gentle warmth spread through his body. It wasn't dramatic, but he could feel the difference. His breathing steadied. The tight pain in his muscles began to fade slightly.
"That's… actually really helpful."
Alex picked up his dagger and looked around the clearing one last time. The quest was finished. Now it was time to return to town and collect the reward.
But just as he began walking away— A strange feeling ran down his spine.
Like someone was watching him.
Alex turned quickly. Nothing. Just trees.
Shadows. And the silent forest.
"…Weird."
Unbeknownst to him, someone really was watching. High above in the branches of a massive oak tree, the hooded figure from the guild remained perfectly still.
The man had witnessed the entire battle. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"…Level five already," he murmured.
That growth rate was abnormal. For a beginner adventurer, defeating a Shadow Wolf Alpha alone should have been impossible. Yet the boy had done it. The man pulled out a small crystal device again. This time the crystal flickered weakly.
But once again— It failed to scan Alex.
The hooded figure's eyes narrowed.
"Just as I suspected."
He whispered quietly.
"The system…"
"…has chosen a host."
The man closed his hand around the crystal.
For the first time, genuine interest appeared in his voice.
"This might become very interesting."
Below, Alex continued walking through the forest, completely unaware of the dangerous attention he had attracted. But one thing was certain. His life in this world had truly begun.
And the Forbidden System inside him was only starting to awaken.