《Almighty Hunter》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1 Victor Marcus


    Waking up early before the sun even appeared, Victor Marcus who was 25 years old this year resolutely slid out of the bed and entered the bathroom to washed himself. Still in his clothes, he poured a bucket of water over his face that thoroughly woke him up.


    Shivering from coldness, Victor took off his clothes and continued his bath. After several minutes, he walked out of the bathroom and wore new pair of clothes.


    From under his bed, he pulled out a long box and within he took out an impressive looking long bow made of two rare materials. The string was black, durable and resistant to high and low temperature, as expected of the hair from an elite Black Mammoth, while the whole body of the long bow was carved out from a specially processed wood of Cirulas Bamboo, firm yet bendable to some degree.


    Victor named the long bow, Cirulas Long Bow. It had already accompanied him for a decade and had been inherited from his dead father that died from a monster''s attack.


    After finishing gearing himself up, Victor wore the Cirulas Long Bow and the quiver with hundred of arrows and left his small bungalow house built at the outskirt of Ferlan Village.


    In this vast world with unknown name, all beings were bestowed with a Skill upon birth and could acquire another Skill when a requirement for learning a certain Skill was met.


    There were also other ways to learn a Skill, the most convenient was learning a Skill through Skill Crystal that could only be acquired from all defeated Boss Class Monster within a Dungeon. The drop rate of Skill Crystal was indefinite and no one know what influenced it to drop.


    However, the most popular was acquiring a new Job through Job Changing Orb. Such Special Item couldn''t be found elsewhere. Within the entire known lands, there were only 99 Job Changing Orb that existed. Some were owned by the royal family of a kingdom, while most of it were in the possession of four known guilds; the Adventurer Guild, the Alchemist Guild, the Blacksmith Guild and the Magic Guild.


    The last way to acquire a Skill was by learning it in a very hard way and long process with the help of a teacher. Thus, academies were built.


    Victor was born in Ferlan Village. His father and mother died due to monster attack from Luqane Forest. Thus, he became an orphan. But he was already a teenager when that happened, and after mourning his parents death for several weeks, he trained and hunted monsters at Luqane Forest with burning passion and everytime he killed a monster, the same kind as the one that killed his parents, his hatred decreased.


    Several years later, his hatred disappeared and he hunted monsters for their a living. Unknown to him, he became a well known figure within the village due to the variations of monsters he always brought back to the village. High Orcs, Hobgoblins, Horned Tigers, Red Hind Bears, Demonic Arachnids and many Elite Class Monsters.


    All people in the village knew Victor wasn''t strong as the monsters he hunted, yet they died and became a sold goods on his hands. It only indicated his superb hunting ability.


    Steadily walking to the Alchemy Shop he patronized for many years, Victor was greeted by people along the way.


    "Oh Victor! Going to hunt? If you happen to hunt a Bull Rabbit, please keep the Horn for me!"


    "Victor! Still early as usual. If you find a Renaus Flower Vine, please keep it for me! I''ll buy it at the same price as before!"


    "Victor! Please, hunt a Green Salamander for me! I want the eyes of it!"


    "Good morning, Victor. Going for a hunt?"


    Victor smiled and nodded in return at all the people whom greeted him, noting to his mind all their demands. When he arrived at the Alchemy Shop, the owner of the shop greeted him. "Oh? Good morning, Victor."


    The person before him wore a long blue robe and purple cloak that reached beyond the knees and her black leather boots were visible. A shiny and straight raven black hair crowned her head, emerald eyes filled with wisdom stared at Victor. Her pinkish lips below the small attractive nose moved as she asked with a smile that could make many mens''s heart pound. "Are you going for the usual? Or do you want to add something?"


    Amellia Prymress was her name, an Alchemist from very far capital or so she said. She arrived at the Ferlan Village weeks after the disastrous monster attack with her father, Felix Prymress, but because of some unknown reason, her father left her to managed the Alchemy Shop.


    Victor and Amellia only have one year difference in age, and had a harmonious friendship. Victor smiled and nodded. "Good morning, Amellia. The usual. And oh, add some Juralgun Poison. I''m going to hunt at the hidden ruins I found at the end of Sinow River last time."


    Her head perked up. Intrigued, she asked. "Hidden ruins? It''s the first time I''ve heard of such place in Luqane Forest." She frowned and glimpsed at the carefree expression of Victor. "I''ve read all the informations about Luqane Forest and the surrounding areas around Ferlan Village, but I''ve never heard about a Hidden Ruins at the end of Sinow River."


    Eating some potato chips, Victor turned to Amellia. "I''ve scouted around it already and I can only say that it was a ruin of a large city. I found many kinds of monster within. Lizardmens, Goblins, Orcs, Kobolds, Arachnids, and many more."


    "Are you sure about that?! Why are you so happy about finding such a terrible place?! We need to let the whole village know about it and reported it! What if they tried to attack us?" Amellia exclaimed as she heard the kinds of monsters within the hidden ruins.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Don''t worry. Those monsters won''t be able to arrived here. They must cross the Sinow River first and foremost. In addition, there is a territorial beast around that area. Once they arrived at the other side of the Sinow River, a Demonic Asura Bear will welcome them with claws and maw." Victor sneered and stood.


    Looking incredulously at the man before her, she put the things he bought in a bag. "Five Gold Coins all in all." Seeing Victor''s embarrassed face. She added pointedly. "No loans. !"


    Victor sighed in defeat. "Alright. Here, that''s the last of my expenses..."


    Amellia snatched the five gold coins from his hand and threw a small bag at him. "Here are some freebies for buying many of my merchandises."


    Victor looked inside the small bag and found several Health Potion. He smiled and grabbed Amellia''s hands. "Thanks, Amellia! You''re really a good lady!"


    Her face reddened as she forcefully pushed Victor out of her shop. "Enough! Leave now!"


    The door loudly closed behind him as he obliviously left. "Why did she pushed me out? What''s wrong with her?"


    Remembering the feel of Amellia''s soft hands, he unconsciously looked at his hand and recalled her beautiful face. "But... I never thought her hands are that soft...."


    Inside the Alchemy Shop, Amellia''s face reddened even more as her chest pound loudly in her ears. "That guy..." Unknown to her, a sweet smile crept on her lips.


    Going out of the village, the guards at the west entrance waved him good luck as he did the same.


    "Victor! If you happen to hunt a Red Fox again, please keep the fur for me!"


    "I want a fang of Dire Wolf!"


    "Mine is poison sack of a Black Viper!"


    "Alright! I''ll note all your request so prepare your money once I return!" Victor shouted back.


    Before he could enter and disappeared into the towering trees of Luqane Forest, he heard Amellia''s voice at the village entrance. "Victor! Be careful! Don''t forget my request!"


    He saw Amellia at the west entrance panting heavily. His heart swelled up with glee and he felt reluctant to leave as he gazed at her, but he didn''t know why. His lips curved into a smile and shouted back. "I won''t!"


    At the entrance, the guards teased Amellia. "Hahahaha! And here I thought Ms. Amellia will confess."


    "Eh? I thought ms. Amellia and Victor are in relationship. My girlfriend always told me to be careful everytime I go for a duty."


    "Ms. Amellia is an outstanding lady, while Victor is the same. They matched each other."


    "Shut up!" Amellia blushed from teasing. As she ran back to her shop, she could hear the rang of laughters of the guards behind her.


    Entering the Luqane Forest, he looked at his Status.


    [Name: Victor Marcus | Age: 25]


    [Gender: Male | Race: Human]


    [Level: 11 | EXP: 12%]


    [Job: Hunter]


    [Power: 29 | Dexterity: 32 | Spirit: 25]


    [Physique: 33 | Vitality: 31 | Magic: 14]


    [Active Skill: Analysis | Screw Stab | Critical Strike | Triple Shot | Power Shot | Trap Search | Trap Make | Trap Disarming | Tracking | Stealth]


    [Passive Skill: Enhance Hearing | Low Light Sight | High Olfactory Sense | Shooting Accuracy | Nimble Hands | Ambidextrous | Sneaky Feet]


    Apart from Skills, Stats were very important as well. It couldn''t be gained as easily as Skills. Increasing a certain Stat needed hard work to breakthrough the limits. For example, Strength. To increased Strength on a hard way, one needed to exert all the strength one had through intense training and exercises.


    However, unlike Leveling up that increased over all Stats, training only increased certain Stat.


    Leveling up to the next level increased over all Stats. It could only be done by battling against stronger adversary and filling the EXP from 0% to 100%. Once that happened, a person only need to kill one monster a level higher then him/her and he/she would level up, while the EXP would be emptied back to 0%. This was the general path for almost all kinds of Job. Even Alchemist, Merchants, Farmers and other none-combatant Jobs were no exception.


    In accumulation of EXP, a monster that was killed personally and at an unfavorable situation could give more EXP, than a monster killed through indirect ways and several levels lower. Upon leveling up, the increase in Stats categorized through the Job the person possessed.


    For instance, the Job:Hunter inclined towards Dexterity, Physique and Vitality, therefore the increase of the three Stats were two times greater than the Strength, Spirit and Magic.


    Victor had killed most monster through the traps and ambush, thus he accumulated EXP very slowly and the increase in Stats weren''t that great.


    On this journey to the hidden ruins of a city, Victor decided to not relied on his traps, but fight head on with bow and arrows. Being in life and death battle had its reward. The increase of his stats if he level up would be greater. He heard that most Adventurers become stronger that way, by risking their lives.


    Leaving no traces as he run, Victor traveled straight to the end of Sinow River for five days and only stopped when he found some rare plants and doing some personal business. He encountered many monsters, but he didn''t touched them and stealthily passed through them.


    As he arrived at the end of Sinow River, he searched around the riverbank of the raft he made before to cross the Sinow River. Crossing the Sinow River was much faster than circling around it as the end of Sinow River was a very wide lake, but not very deep. It was also the safest, as there were no monsters that lived in the lake.


    Dragging the raft to the water, it floated without problems. He grabbed a long stick and used it to propel the raft to the other side as quiet as possible.


    After the raft reached the other side, he immediately dragged the raft off the water and burried it beneath the sand, while he also erased his tracks.


    He took out a spray bottle from his Magic Storage Bag and spray some on his body to eliminate his original scent. Now, he smell like a wild grass. Sniffing himself, he nodded and cautiously entered the forest as he recalled the path he took from last time.


    Walking stealthily for several minutes, he saw the ruins from afar. Ahead of him was a group of goblins with only rabbit fur wrapped around their waists and wooden clubs on their hands. They were easy preys for Victor.


    The goblins were heading towards his direction. Thus, he prepared a gift for them. Through Trap Make Skill, he easily made a pit fall trap and covered it with leaves as he waited for them behind the grasses.


    "Gubuh ah gukuhahk!"


    "Guhak gadihab!"


    "Gagak kuha!"


    The goblins were shouting at each other. Victor couldn''t understand their words and through their high pitch voices and gurgling sounds he thought they were arguing heatedly.


    Victor readied his Cirulas Long Bow and arrow as they stepped on the pit fall trap.


    "Guahk!"


    Four goblins fell in the pit fall trap out of seven goblins. Without letting them rest, Victor shot his three arrows mounted on the Cirulas Long Bow. His Triple Shot Skill showed its might. Three fast arrows whistled through the air and found their targets.


    One goblin was shot at the eye and died immediately, the second was shot at the chest and at the death''s doorstep, and the third had fast reflexes and evaded the third arrow by ducking down.


    Seeing the third arrow missed, Victor shot another one instantly before the third goblin got far. As it was fleeing at one direction, it was no different from immobile target and was shot at nape, boring a bloody hole through the neck.


    Victor didn''t examined the corpses as he headed to the four goblins in the pit fall trap and kill them with an arrow each. The scent of blood would attract wolves in the place, and so he immediately cleaned the place. He buried all the goblins in the pit fall trap and left without leaving something that could be tracked back to him.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2 Great Rewards


    Approaching the rundown colossal archway, Victor cautiously entered the ruins. Looking around the archway, he found several carvings on the walls, most were animals like tigers, eagles and many more.


    As he arrived within the ruins, a ruins of houses stretched far before him and at the very far center was a huge castle with half of it already turned into rubbles.


    Victor could imagine how prosperous this ruins once before and it puzzled him how such huge city with thick and several hundred meters high wall fell and turned into history.


    He frowned at the eerie silence. "Why is there no sound? It''s too quiet. Not like before... Something might have happened while I''m away."


    Mounting three arrows on his Cirulas Long Bow, he proceeded towards the huge castle, ready to anything that might jump out. If the enemy was beyond his capabilities, then he would escaped without a second thought. After all, his life was more important than his curiosity.


    Sensing a movement around, Victor caught a glimpse of a moving shadow at the corner of his eyes. Pointing his arrows at the rubble that was once a thick column, he jumped back and hid behind a thick rock as he waited for it to reveal itself.


    His eyes narrowed, never blink. The atmosphere grew tense, the grip of his hands on the Cirulas Long Bow and fletch of the arrow tightened.


    Suddenly, something jumped out of the rubble. It was fluffy and have a long soft ears. A black rabbit. At the sight of it, Victor revealed himself and sighed in relief. "I''m too cautious, but it''s better this way..."


    He turned around proceed walking towards the huge castle. Then, he heard some kind of sound behind him. When his looked back, the cute black rabbit was growing in size as its body bulged.


    His mind warned him to leave and thus he ran as fast as he could before it complete the transformation. Cursing in his mind. ''Fuck! I should have shoot it when it was still weak! Who would have thought it was a transforming monster? No one! Because they''re all dead!''


    As he ran very far, he heard a thunderous roar behind, the ground vibrated and the clouds above dispersed. Victor was tempted to looked back, but because he had already encountered a similar situation before when hunting, he didn''t. If a person flee, he/she must only look forward and used all the speed he/she could muster... or die.


    Hearing a booming sound from afar that was getting closer, Victor already arrived at the huge castle. Now that he took a closer look at it, it was no longer huge. It was massive! The entrance was 15 meters in his approximation and the thickness of many columns before him was 2.5 meters in diameter.


    He had no time to admire the massive castle and entered without hesitation. The interior of the massive castle compliment to the outer structure of it. The ceiling was high, the stairways were wide and at the center of the hall was a sharp pointed obelisk, nine meters high and one meter thick.


    "Roar!!!!"


    Victor was awakened by the roar as he immediately ran towards the stairs upward. Going to the balcony, he hid himself behind a wall and observed the incoming huge shadow.


    As it entered the hall, Victor saw what the monster looked like. It had a one meter horn over its forehead, two pairs of bloodshot eyes, a maw ripped with sharp fangs like a zipper, with precisely 12 feet height and packed with muscles that it walked like a gorilla.


    Bids of cold sweat formed on his face as Victor saw the monster. No, it was no monster, but a devil. It emitted a malevolent evil aura that the air around it distorted and black ghost flew while howling in pain.


    Victor had never seen a monster like it before. Never even in books. He was enticed to use his Analysis Skill on it to see what it truly was. But if he do that, it might uncovered his hiding spot.


    "This devil monster must be the reason there are no monster inside the ruins. Even the tribes of savage races outside never had the courage to take one step inside." Victor concluded as he used his Analysis Skill.


    [Name: ????? ?????]


    [Race: ???]


    [Level: ???]


    [Power: ??? | Dexterity: ??? | Spirit: ???]


    [Physique: ??? | Vitality: ??? | Resistance: ???]


    [Active Skill: ??? ??? | ?? ??? | ??? ???? | ?????]


    [Passive Skill: ???? ???? ??? | ????? ??? | ???? ???? | ???]


    [Unique Skill: ????]


    [Info: An unknown malevolent devil created through the most evilest ritual. Billions of soul was sacrificed to it.


    First Sealed Form: Black Rabbit | Second Sealed Form: Devil Gorilla | Third Sealed Form: ???? | Fourth Sealed Form: ???? | Fifth Sealed Form: ???? | Sixth Sealed Form: ???? | Unsealed Form: ????]


    Seeing the Status and Info of the devil monster, Victor''s heart pound in fear as his mind screamed with his face as white as paper while his legs were trembling.


    Overcome by fear, he ran upstairs and the devil monster noticed him, followed by a roar that shook the massive castle. Small rocks and dust fell out as the devil monster chased after Victor upstairs.


    Victor had never felt do fearful before as he ran for his life ignoring the roaring devil monster behind and loud crushing rocks as it bulldozed everything on its path.


    Third floor... Fifth floor... Ninth floor... Thirteenth floor... Twenty third floor...


    Victor never counted how many floors he had surmounted as his body ached from running and his breath turned heavy.


    Going into the last floor with many chests, Victor came into a dead end. However, he never despair and searched for a way out. But it was too late as the devil monster had caught up to him.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The entrance was destroyed as it glared at Victor and slowly walked towards him with quaking footsteps. Victor felt fear all over his body and couldn''t move as he was pasted on the wall.


    As the devil monster came into the center of wide room, the floor beneath it cracked and it didn''t noticed it, but Victor did. His eyes shone with hope as his trembling hand grabbed a dagger from his Magic Storage Bag.


    When the cracks had spread on the entire floor, Victor gave it the last thing it needed. He kicked the floor with all his might and it cave in. The whole floor was destroyed and everything on it fell along with the devil monster, while he was tightly grabbing on his dagger that was deeply embedded on the wall.


    "Roar!!!!"


    The devil monster roared in wrath as it destroyed floors as it fell from the highest floor due to its heavy weight. When it reached the ground floor after several seconds, Victor heard a very loud roar that he felt his eardrums aching. After that, everything turned silent.


    "It should have died..."


    Using his last bit of strength, grabbed another dagger from his Magic Storage Bag and used both his daggers as tool to come down. Slowly, he came down to the ground floor by stabbing his daggers on the wall while supporting himself. Fortunately, Victor had done something like this before in the mountains and forest. Thus, it was an easy feat for him. He to do it this ways as the floors and stairs was destroyed by the devil monster.


    After several minutes, he finally came back to the hall and the sight before him was unbelievable. His eyes widened in shock.


    The devil monster was impaled on the sharp obelisk on the chest!


    Victor sighed deeply and could not help but laugh as he once again survived. "No wonder, it roared very loud last time. So it was dying.... Hmm?"


    [You have killed an World End Class Monster. Your contribution was evaluated and you will receive your rewards.]


    Victor was stunned. "Huh? I killed it? But it fell on its own..."


    As he fell on his butt to rest, he recalled what happened before and saw how thick the floors were. "So... That kick of mine truly destroyed the floor. If I hadn''t done that, I might have died and became a food for this devil huh..." Laughing wryly, he shook his head. "I''m really lucky..."


    [Your level has risen from Level 11 to Level 31]


    [Evaluation complete. Power +25, Dexterity +33, Spirit +21, Physique +30, Vitality +29, Magic +15]


    [Due to defeating a Greatest Evil that will become a threat to the world in the near future. You have been rewarded with a Unique Skill.]


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil]


    [Grade: World End]


    [Info: Your enemies empower you. Half of the overall Stats of the being you defeated will become yours, as well as all the compatible Skills it possessed.]


    Reading the notifications, Victor was stumped dumbfounded as he read the Unique Skill. His body quivered with excitement as he roared. "Argh!!! Thank you, Voice of the World!"


    However, it still didn''t stopped there.


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil activated.]


    [You have killed a World End Class Monster - Greatest Evil?Devil of Catastrophe | Level: 890]


    [Half of the over all Stats of World End Class Monster - Greatest Evil?Devil of Catastrophe will become yours, as well as all the compatible Skills.]


    Sitting not far from the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe, several golden lights flew out from its body towards Victor as he was enveloped in golden lights that immediately disappeared. It was instantaneous, but he could feel the tremendous increase of his strength.


    [Your stats are increasing: Power +255, Dexterity +210, Spirit +290, Physique +305, Vitality +205, Magic +190]


    [New Skills learned]


    [Active Skill: Earth Collapse | Destruction Strike | Catastrophe | Armageddon]


    [Passive Skill: Titan Strength | Darkness Immunity | All-ailments Resistant | Dark Vision]


    [Unique Skill: Soul Collector]


    "This trip of mine has a great reward than all my trips before combined... Hmm...?" Victor muttered. He stood as leveling up revitalized his body, restoring his strength. When all was over, only did he noticed the treasures that littered the ground, glittering golds and awesome rare items.


    Also, when he thought back on what happened. He was very lucky. With the high Vitality and Physique of the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe, it wouldn''t die even if it fell from the 35th floor. Furthermore, from that first encounter when the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe transformed from a harmless Black Rabbit, if he hadn''t ran as far as he could, he had already died with how fast the it was. If he stopped or slowed his speed when running upstairs, he would also die. He was on the verge of death.


    "Anyway, thanks to my luck, I''m still alive. With this luck today, I might become unlucky tomorrow. This trip should stop here. I don''t want to stay here any longer. Who knows, there might be another one... If so, my death will be certain." Victor grinned as looked at the treasures around. "But before everything else, I''ll collect all this treasures. Leaving them here is a waste. Hahaha!"


    Victor left no rocks unturned as he collected every gold coins and items from the floor and put them inside the chest before storing them in his Magic Storage Bag as its space was only 100 cubic meter.


    As Victor was busy collecting his spoils, he didn''t noticed that it was already noon and the sun was in the highest point. Suddenly, a golden ray of light descended from above to the sharp obelisk. The carvings on the sharp obelisk lit up as it gave off a warm and soothing feeling.


    The corpse of the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe was enveloped in golden lights as all the blurry light surged out from it towards the sky. When Victor looked closely, he found out that all the blurry lights were actually the souls of the people that the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe had collected and eaten. Due to the golden light from the sharp obelisk, they were purified.


    As the last soul left the corpse of the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe, he floated and looked at Victor with a warm smile. "Thank you, for helping us be freed from the curse of Greatest Evil. I didn''t expected that this day would come as we have already lost all our hope. However, you gave us another chance. If we let you died just like the others we might no longer obtain the freedom we longed for. Thus, we used all our last bit of consciousness to help you."


    Another soul of a man appeared and sneered. "Don''t think that you are strong cause you defeated the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe. All you have done was run and flee. How cowardly."


    Victor felt his eye twitched in irritation, but he couldn''t refute. He sighed. "All I can say is, my luck is really good. So you all are the reason why that monster is so weak that couldn''t even catch me when I''m escaping with my life."


    More souls appeared and smiled at him. A soul dressed in royal robe and had a crown bowed to him in dignified manner. "You have my thanks on behalf of my subjects, Mr. Hunter. I am amazed how you can run so fast with only two legs. Hahahah!"


    Victor smile and nodded. "I''m amazed as well. It''s the first time I''ve run that fast. Even when I''m running away from an enraged Demonic Asura Bear, I''m not that fast. Actually, if I ever looked back when I''m running for my life, I might have died on the spot."


    "You''re right. For you to be decisive in your actions, you definitely encountered many life threatening dangers. It is one of the factors why you now stand before us." A knight soul said.


    A beautiful lady knight smile wryly and shook her head. "In the end, what we need isn''t a Hero, but a Hunter that knew how to escape when his life is in danger." She smiled at Victor and said. "You''re not the only person that discovered this Phantom City. Many Heroes came before you, but they died and their souls were devoured. And I am one of those peerless heroes. You have my thanks, Mr. Hunter."


    Victor nodded and smile. "No one will be angry if I take all the treasures here right?"


    The King answered. "Hahaha! Of course! Treasures are for the living to enjoy! Dead people have no use for them. Take it all. That is your additional reward for helping us. Also, don''t forget to take the Sun Obelisk and other treasures in the hidden basement beneath that staircase. You will find them very useful. Our time is up. Good luck on your hunting, Mr. Hunter."


    Another soul of a lady came and bowed to Victor. "Hero. I advise you to leave the city before night falls or you will be forever imprisoned here. Good bye, Hero. May you have a long and happy life."


    And the souls, one by one, disappeared into the sky.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3 Grades of Items


    Victor watched as more souls flew towards the sky. After the last soul left, the corpse of Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe turned into stone. Cracks covered it entirely like spider web and crumbled down. The pieces rolled on the ground as the wind swept it all away as dusts.


    He took a deep breath to stabilize his mind. What happened had taken a toll on his body and mind. What he did had truly surpassed the limits of his body. Only when he felt that the danger was gone did his fatigue came over him. If he hadn''t level up multiple times, which revitalized his body and mind, he would have had fallen unconscious the moment he stepped down on the ground.


    Taking out a golden ring out of the his Magic Storage Bag, Victor suspected it to be out of ordinary as his Analysis couldn''t identify the golden ring.


    Examining it closely from all sides, it was smooth and slick, and so large that not even his thumb could fit inside.


    He heard from Amellia that all items excavated from ruins of ancient era could only be used after dropping a bit of blood on it. This process was called, Blood Binding. Thus, he didn''t hesitated for a second.


    Pricking his thumb, he squeezed the wound and let his blood dripped onto the golden ring, when suddenly...


    [Name: Universe Ring]


    [Grade: Unique]


    [Info: An indestructible ring forged by a Phantasm Tier Item Maker that created Excalibur and other historically well known Holy Items that scattered around the world after his death. Coincidently, obtained by one of the greatest Space-Time Wizard of Source Ahk Era. And then, was turned into a marvelous item, engraved with the the Secret Runes of Space and Secret Runes of Time.]


    [Special Ability: Indestructible | Appraisal Nullification | Independent Dimension | External Transformation]


    [Bound User: Victor Marcus]


    "Whoa! What Amellia said are true!" Victor exclaimed in realization. "Eh? So that''s why I can''t identify it. It nullified my skill."


    The space inside the Magic Storage Bag couldn''t be compared to the Universe Ring. The former was an ant and the latter was a world. How many ant could a world contain? Innumerable!


    Intimately rubbing the ring as though it was his lover, he muttered in his heart. "My precious..."


    The space of Universe Ring was infinitely large, but it was completely empty. He took out all the things he stored in his Magic Storage Bag and put them inside the Universe Ring, while he wore the Magic Storage Bag over his shoulder.


    Priceless treasures attracted robbers like swarms of bees attracted to honey. In other to be inconspicuous, he changed the color of the ring from golden to silver. Gold was blinding and bewitching to many people, it attracted both good and evil, but silver was holy to all beings and commonly used by commoners.


    Thus, if people found him wearing a silver ring, they would thought of it as Common Grade or Rare Grade Item. Only bandits would have interest in his ring. And if it was too ugly, it might only attract suspicions.


    Cleaning the glittering golds that littered the ground, Victor happily picked up the all the gold coins as he thought back to the words the soul of a pretty lady had said.


    He looked outside, and saw the sun moving towards west, he decided to leave nothing and take everything with him. With the Universe Ring, he wasn''t worried about not being able to carry many treasures and that it might hindered his travel. If possible, he would take the whole Phantom City with him.


    Going to the basement behind the staircase on the hall, Victor lifted several large rocks barehanded and tossing them out of his way. He had truly became stronger. If it was before, the highest weight he could lift was at least over a hundred pounds. And it took him years to increase his strength that much without leveling up.


    Clenching his fist, muffling sound reverberated as his knuckles crackled. He could not help but smile. "With my strength, killing the Demonic Asura Bear won''t be a problem. But I can''t hunt that guy since it blocked the monsters on this part of Luqane Forest from coming to the village."


    The Demonic Asura Bear was aggressive and territorial. It would never allow another monster as strong as it was to exist within its territory, while ignoring the weaker monsters and feeding on them.


    Victor scrutinized the floor and found a hidden door knob. It was very hard for someone to notice if not examined closely, for it was embedded downwards and must be pulled out.


    Turning it counter clockwise like other door knobs, the thick and heavy floor split open, revealing a long narrow staircase leading downwards.


    There was no light, however, he had his Low Light Sight and newly acquired Dark Vision, thus didn''t hindered his vision and he could see the end of it.


    Victor sensed no traps on every corner, and so bravely stepped on the stairs. At the end, he arrived in a chamber after over thirty steps with only two large chest in his field of vision.


    Not knowing what was hidden inside, he opened it to see for himself. As he lifted up the lid, what he saw weren''t glittering gold coins, but a worn-out bow. Using Analysis Skill he easily identified it.


    [Name: Star Fall]


    [Grade: National Treasure]


    [Stats: Power +250 | Dexterity + 300 | Spirit +150]


    [Info: A bow created from the bones of Star Beast that eat stars. No one knows who created it and how it was created. But anyone who must use it shall defeat the Soul of the Star Beast that possessed it.]


    [Special Abilities: Arrow Materialization | Arrow Storm | Void Shot | Star Bombardment]


    [Bound User: None]


    Victor''s heart beat quickened as he saw the bow''s Info. He rubbed it with his trembling hands and got his finger wounded as the blood trickled on the bow.


    ''National Treasure Grade Items were only for the strong''. This words were spoke truth, for kingdoms would wage war just to obtain such item.


    As powerful as it was, kingdoms would do everything for the National Treasure Grade Item. If the owner wasn''t strong enough to possess it, to deter others from taking it away from him/her, then he/she would likely got himself/herself killed.


    Most people that had found a National Treasure Grade Item would choose to either conceal it and only use it in a hopeless situation or use it as a chip to become part of a powerful organization.


    Item Grade started from lowest to highest. Ordinary Grade, Rare Grade, Epic Grade, Legendary Grade, National Treasure Grade, Myth Grade, Phantasm Grade and Celestial Grade. Items were graded not in terms of durability and materials they were made of, but their whole destructive power.


    If National Treasure Grade was enough to turn the tide of war, then Myth Grade Items were enough to decided the winner, while Phantasm Grade could destroy a kingdom in one fell swoop.


    Celestial Grade Items were more of legends and no one had ever seen such thing. However, Celestial Grade wasn''t the end. There was also the World End Grade, enough to destroy a world. But like the Celestial Grade it was also only known to be stories and made of fictions.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The moment his blood was absorbed by the bow, Victor heard a world shaking roar in his head. When he turned around, he saw a colossal beast that looked like a dragon, but not, looked like a turtle, but not. It was the Star Beast. From its perspectives, Victor was only an ant.


    Surprisingly for Victor, he felt no fear. It must be due to the Star Beast not being as intimidating and fearful than the Greatest Evil ? Devil of Catastrophe.


    [A Soul has been detected. Do you want to collect it? Collecting the Soul of the Star Beast from the National Treasure Grade Item - Star Fall will affect the power of the item and will be downgraded to Legendary Grade, losing one Special Ability.]


    [Absorbing the soul of star beast will not affect you.]


    [Yes | No]


    Victor grinned at the Star Beast as he inspected his newly acquired Unique Skill.


    [Unique Skill: Soul Collector]


    [Grade: World End]


    [Info: Allow you to control souls, communicate with souls and collect the souls of enemies you slay. The souls you collected can help you in many possible ways.]


    Seeing the Info of the Unique Skill: Soul Collector, Victor gasped. "Control souls?"


    He looked up at the Star Beast and spoke. "Hey! Big guy! I advice you to surrender to me now or disappear!"


    A hot and strong wind swept down as the Star Beast snorted. "Ant! I not surrender! I eat you!"


    Victor smirked. "Really a nut head? I no longer want to eat him."


    "I not nut head!" The Star Beast roared in anger.


    Controlling the soul of the Star Beast, Victor made it smaller than him. How was that possible? It was a soul of a Star Beast after all, but it had been weakened tremendously by time. As it was weaker than Victor''s, he could control it without any problems.


    The so called Soul Battle was, in fact, a battle of consciousness. However, Victor could control souls, and consequently had absolute control over the soul''s consciousness and could do everything he liked to it. Thus, before even the Soul Battle started, he had already won.


    "I surrender! I surrender!" The little Star Beast shouted in a cute and tiny voice.


    The dark space that surrounded them shattered as Victor came back to the hidden basement. Immediately, Victor stored the Star Fall in his ring as well as the unopened large chest, and hurriedly ran outside the huge castle.


    Victor''s face paled as he noticed that the sun was about to set. There were only a sixty seconds before the sun disappear. Without giving much thought, he run as fast as he could before the last light of the sun in the sky left. While running, he noticed that the shadows were moving and chasing after him as though they were alive.


    Terrified by the thought of turning into a Devil and being imprisoned in the Phantom City for eternity, he kicked the ground and propelled him towards the exit. When he landed outside the entrance, his left foot was still within the archway and the shadows had already clutched onto his left foot.


    Seeing his left foot turned black, Victor decisively cut off his left foot and pathetically crawled away. Breathing heavily, he looked back at the entrance of Phantom City and saw how his foot transformed into a Dark Figure with countless blinking bloodshot eyes and laughing maws. Cold sweat trickled down his heart as he saw the Dark Figure smile at him.


    A sinister smile that when directed at someone, even the most courageous would feel fear in his heart. In Victor''s case, he was extremely horrified that he couldn''t lift a finger!


    "Kukuku! Kekeke! Buahahaha!" A series of wicked laughter echoed throughout the forest that all monsters that heard it were terrified to death, some fainted and some fell in nightmarish sleep.


    As the last light of the sun in the horizon disappeared and darkness arrived, the Phantom City slowly turned ethereal and returned into being a normal noisy forest. It was now nowhere to be seen like it never appeared on this place.


    Everything seemed like a nightmare for Victor, but the pain on his cut off left foot and blood stains reminded him that everything was real.


    "Fuck! That''s fucking scary I almost peed my pants!" He cursed loudly letting out some steam.


    Had Victor didn''t sacrificed his left foot, he would definitely turn into a Devil and forever be trapped in Phantom City. To anyone, such fate was no different than death.


    Drinking five vials of Health Potion and Recovery Potion, his wound healed, but his left foot was no more. This depressed him. However, Victor knew that there was no impossible in this world, only how, he consoled himself to rejoice that he was still alive at least.


    "As long as I''m alive, I can still recover my left foot..."He sighed and sat up. He gnashed his teeth as he take out the large chest from his ring. "Let''s see what''s inside the other large chest, there should better be something I needed!"


    Taking a peek inside, Victor''s eyes almost popped out at what he saw. Hundreds of glowing golden crystals silently sat inside. Victor was terrified and immediately closed the lid. Slapping himself, he found that he wasn''t dreaming as he felt pain.


    He fully opened the lid of the large chest and saw the glowing golden crystals. "Oh my goodness! S-So many Skill Crystals! How many Boss Class Monsters have they killed for all these?!"


    Grabbing one and examining it, he exclaimed. "Holy ghost mother earth! T-This is Legend Grade Skill Crystals! This one is Hero Grade! Epic Grade! Mystic Grade!"


    He closed the lid and inhaled and breathed deeply three times to calm himself. "I think I won''t be able to sleep tonight..."


    Recalling something at the back of his head, he felt a vague feeling of forgetting something. "Hmm? That''s right! I forgot to take the Sun Obelisk!"


    He laughed helplessly as he looked at the place where the Phantom City once stood. "Haha... I won''t go back in there anymore. With that Dark Figure within the Phantom City, going back is no different to suicide. I''ll just treat this memories of mine as a dream..."


    Grinning to himself, he nodded. "Right! A good nightmare!"


    Opening the large chest again, he happily counted them. "One... twelve... Thirty-one... Fifty-nine... Ninety-nine... One hundred five. One hundred five Skill Crystals."


    He put his hand under his chin and muttered. "If I''m going to sort them by grades, Epic Grade Skill Crystals are 70, Legend Grade Skill Crystals are 20, Hero Grade Skill Crystals are 10 and Mystic Grade Skill Crystals are 5."


    "Right! There must be something here that can recover my left foot!" Using his Analysis Skill, he grabbed one Skill Crystal.


    [Active Skill: Burning Sky]


    [Grade: Mystic]


    [Info: Summoning large amount of Fire Spirits to burn the sky. ]


    "Not this... Not this as well... No, not this..." After identifying most of the Skill Crystals, Victor finally found what he was looking for. "This is it! This is the right thing!"


    [Passive Skill: High Speed Regeneration]


    [Grade: Hero]


    [Info: Regenerates fatal wounds, cut of limbs, high degree burns, smashed internal organs, and even if half of the body from the waist is sliced.]


    "Such a good skill. With this skill, I''m no different from an Immortal." Without hesitation, Victor ate the Skill Crystal as he felt it melted into a liquid when it entered his mouth.


    Immediately, his cut off left foot ached like ants were gnawing on it and started growing back. After two seconds, he had recovered his left foot.


    He shed tears of joy as she moved and touched his newly grown left foot. "Finally, your back. We won''t separate ever again, lefty.... I know, you too righty."


    He took a pair of black boots in his ring and used his Analysis Skill.


    [Name: Dark Storm Boots]


    [Grade: Legendary]


    [Stats: Magic +100 | Dexterity + 200 | Spirit +110]


    [Info: A pair of boots created from the skin of Boss Class Monster - Dark Storm Beast. Imbued with Secret Runes of Speed by a well known Grand Magi.]


    [Special Abilities: High Haste | Cloud Walking | Featherlight Weight]


    [Bound User: None]


    "A beautiful pair of boots." He took off the boots on his right feet and sighed softly. "This Wind Wolf Boots accompanied me for several years. I didn''t know that this time will arrive so quickly... I''ll keep it as memento of my father."


    Wearing the Dark Storm Boots, Victor felt his body lightened as though he would be blown away by the breeze. Tapping the front of his right boots on the ground, he set off. He stored the large chest in his ring and left swiftly as the wind.


    Meanwhile, within the vast and arid land of Monoore Kingdom, through the mostly used route towards the Oasis of Jaiga, the largest city in the kingdom, a ruin of a city emerged out from the dry sands. The traveling merchants saw the silhouette of the ruin of a city from afar, even if it was being covered by the sand storm, it was strangely stood out.


    The night had descended and the people and mounts were tired from the long journey, thus they decided to rest in the ruins for the night. As they entered through the archway, the sand storm strangely disappeared.


    Unknown to them, a Dark Figure was watching them with delight. No, it was not alone, another ten Dark Figures emerged from the shadows and giggled like a children that found their toys....


    [Name: Victor Marcus | Age: 25]


    [Gender: Male | Race: Human]


    [Level: 31 | EXP: 67%]


    [Job: Hunter]


    [Power: 309 | Dexterity: 275(+200) | Spirit: 336(+110)]


    [Physique: 368 | Vitality: 265 | Magic: 219(+100)]


    [Active Skill: Analysis | Screw Stab | Critical Strike | Triple Shot | Power Shot | Trap Search | Trap Make | Trap Disarming | Tracking | Stealth | Earth Collapse | Destruction Strike | Catastrophe | Armageddon]


    [Passive Skill: Enhance Hearing | Low Light Sight | High Olfactory Sense | Shooting Accuracy | Nimble Hands | Ambidextrous | Sneaky Feet | Titan Strength | Darkness Immunity | All-ailments Resistance | Dark Vision | High Speed Regeneration]


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil | Soul Collector]

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4 12 Saving 12 poor girls


    Running as swiftly as the wind, going deeper into Luqane Forest. After some thoughts, Victor decided not to return yet and continued on his hunting trip. He had list of materials needed to collect.


    An entire six days was wasted in Phantom City, but he couldn''t call it a waste of time as he ripped great rewards. However, such thing was only one of the passing experiences in his life and he needed to return to his main objective: To Hunt!


    Jumping over several thick branchs of a very tall tree, Victor climbed up to the top and propelled himself into the sky. His body light as a feather, he glided into the air, space rippled as he slowly descend like stepping on a stairway.


    From high perspective, he could sew the Orc Tribe at the edge of one of the branches of Sinow River, the Goblin Tribe at the top of a hill, the Kobold Tribe near the largest tree around the vicinity and the Lizard Men Tribe near a waterfall.


    The distances between each tribes were only several kilometers and they seemed not in friendly terms. Life and death battle was happening ahead, the loud angry warcries and collision of weapons could be heard from Victor''s position.


    Victor could see everything far clearer than before, although it was night time. The vast sea of greenery, the high rocky hills from afar and the branching Sinow River that covered half of the continent.


    "So this is the combined effect of Low Light Sight and Dark Vision. What I can see, in either night or day, makes no difference." It surprised Victor. He noticed it late, after his mind cleared.


    Heading towards the site where monsters battled against each other, Victor landed at one of the trees, concealed by leaves and with his Stealth Skill, no one would notice him.


    What''s more, darkness field the entire Luqane Forest as the moon wasn''t present tonight. Only the the twinkling stars above the nine clouds could lighten up the darkness, but most lights were blocked by the towering Quaren Trees that propagated across Luqane Forest.


    From the darkness, Victor peered down through the opening of the leaves at his hiding spot, his eyebrows almost became linear at what he saw. A group of orcs and goblins were fighting each other to death, led by three High Orcs and three Hobgoblins. Under each of their leaderships were 20 goblins and orcs. This wasn''t a simple force use for hunting, but a raiding group!


    But it was not the lineup of the groups mentioned that made Victor angry, but the thing they were fighting for. On the sideline, thirteen people were watching the battle, bounded by chains and ropes.


    The shadows covered them and their appearances were vauge, but Victor could see them as clear as day. Their skins were pair white with silver, blonde and green hair, sharp pointed ears and emerald eyes. They were twelve of them and all of them were female with age ranging from young to adult.


    Seeing the elves, wearing only tattered and stained clothes, looking like beggars, Victor thought. ''Is there an Elven Village around this part of the forest? For these monsters to capture a group of female elves, they sure have guts!''


    After some thought, he decided to help. Putting the Cirulas Long Bow in his ring, he took put the Star Fall and heard a voice. "Master?"


    It was the voice of the Star Beast.


    "Do you have a name?" Victor asked.


    "I don''t." It answered.


    "Well then, from now on I''ll call you, Strall. Lend me your strength." Victor said as he pulled the string and an arrow materialized, mounted on the bow.


    "Yes, master!" Strall roared.


    "Gruahh!" Cried the Hobgoblin leader as the battle arrived into the climax.


    There were no commands issued in the battle, as the number on both sides were even, they faced their own opponent. The orcs were strengthful and possessed more stamina, but the goblins weren''t normal at all. The movements of the goblins were nimble and quick, they could easily dodged an incoming attacks from the orcs. In a battle such as this, the goblins were still in disadvantage.


    "Guah kha guha!"


    "Chiwik chikki!"


    The leaders conversed as their weapons clashed. Victor had no idea what they were talking about and he had no interest to find out.


    At this moment, Victor shot an arrow towards the sky. The arrow glow as it whistled, piercing through the air. When it reached the highest point above the clearing where the goblins and orcs were battling, the second the arrow descent it multiplied into hundred, then thousands as they rain down like storm.


    Arrow Storm, the second Special Ability of Star Fall. Replicating arrows into thousands according to the number of the targets. In this case, 23,000 arrows rained down on both sides without mercy.


    The arrows glow, and thus were easily noticed, but the speed of the arrows as they rain down surpassed that of an actual rain drops. Unable to defend, one after another, goblins and orcs were turned into porcupine, no one was spared.


    Clouds of dust field the area as the elves in captivity saw what transpired in disbelief. They couldn''t understand what happened, but they knew they still weren''t saved.


    After the dusts cleared off, the once plat clearing became a pasture of grasses, and the plants that sprouted were arrows stuck on the ground.


    Looking at the scene, Victor gasped in amazement. ''Worthy of being an National Treasure Grade Item. No wonder, any kingdom would do anything to possess such items at all cost. I should better not used this bow at all times.'' He thought and talked to Strall. "Well done, Strall. You can rest for now. I''ll call you when I am in need of your strength again."


    "I''m at your disposal, Master." Strall answered loyally.


    Victor stored the Star Fall in the Universe Ring and took out his Cirulas Long Bow as he jumped down from his hiding spot.


    The elves didn''t rejoiced when they saw the monsters that captured them died as another came. They saw a Human, appearing from the darkness as the arrows on the ground were disappearing as they were mere copies, leaving only a single arrow, pinning down the head of the orc group leader.


    While storing the dead bodies of the High Orcs and Hobgoblins in the Magic Storage Bag, he heard the Voice of the World.


    [Your battle performance has been evaluated.]


    [You killed 3 High Orc, 3 Orc Scout, 5 Orc Warrior, 7 Orc Spearman, 5 Orc Archer, 3 Hobgoblin, 8 Goblin Thief, 5 Goblin Archer, 7 Goblin Spearman.]


    [You gained.... 270,900 EXP.]


    [Due to the large difference in Levels, the Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil hasn''t been activated.]


    [Unique Skill: Soul Collector has been activated.]


    [46 souls of monsters you slay has been collected. You can choose to absorb them or store them in your Soul Space for future usage.]


    Through thought, Victor commanded. ''Absorb the souls.''


    Victor could see the 46 small flames, floating aimlessly around him. The small flames then entered his body.


    The Voice of the World resounded in his ears and listened to it.


    One of the elves were frightened at what she saw.


    [Your Stats increased. Spirit +90, Vitality +120, Magic +150]


    [You have learned new Skills]


    [Active Skill: Blunt Smash | Angry Roar | Stench | Physique Up | Dexterity Up | Power Up | Resistance Up | Full Thrust]


    [Passive Skill: Libido | Rapid Digestion | Physical Endurance | Danger Perception]


    [Unique Skill: Forest Guide]


    The soul was based of pure energy, and when Victor absorbed the souls, it then turned into three form of energies his body needed.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The embodiment of Spirit, Psionic.


    The embodiment of Vitality, Life Force.


    The embodiment of Magic, Mana.


    Spirit increased the being''s the calculation speed, thought process and memory recollection, while Vitality increased the being''s lifespan and regenerative ability, and Magic increased Mana capacity and Mana regeneration.


    These three Stats could be increased efficiently through Leveling Up. There were also other means, but it required more tedious process and sometimes needed rituals and special items.


    Victor could feel something inside him bubbling up and expanding. He felt full, but this feeling immediately disappeared. After processing his spoils, Victor turned his head to the elves and approached them.


    Their fears and anxiety were visible on their faces as they saw the Human that slaughtered their captors walked towards them. Bounded with chains and ropes, at both hands and feet, a dirty clothes blocking their mouths, there was no escape for them. They could only weeped and begged for mercy in silence.


    Aware of their distrust in Humans, Victor amiably asked as he freed one of the elves from being bounded. "Can you speak Human Tongue?"


    Trembling, she heard Victor spoke in language she couldn''t understand, but one of her friends that were also captured spoke some words she vaguely understood as her friend''s mouth was covered with a cloth.


    Looking at her friend, she gulped down her fear, stood up and freed her friend. She no longer cared if the Human before her killed her.


    After being freed, her friend spoke in Elven Tongue and hugged her tightly. "Euresha, thank you. I''ll talk to the Human, you untie the others."


    Euresha cried and spoke. "Amber, you stall the human while I''ll free the others and escape."


    Amber looked at her friend and shook her head. "There''s no need. This Human is here to help us. He''s good."


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll everything will be alright." Amber reassured amd approached Victor.


    Victor heard them exchanged words, but couldn''t understand them. ''Communication will be hard.'' He thought. Then, he remembered something that could help him in his ring.


    Amber saw Victor took out something from his small bag and ate it. No idea what it was, she steeled herself and spoke in Human Tongue. Though, not proficient, she still tried. "Friend, saving us, thank you."


    She waited for the human to reply and observe him. The Human was looking at her other kins as though listening to their conversations. She started to feel nervous and thought the Human would changed his mind and capture them instead. They would fetch a high price in the Slave Martket after all.


    A minute later, Amber saw the Human turned to her. She was taken aback. Then, she heard the Human spoke in Elven Tongue proficiently. "I''m a friend."


    Amber stopped and the other girls also looked at Victor in surprise. Elves were known as reclusive in the society and seldom leave their land. The known kingdom of elves, the Graindia Kingdom, only invited people of other races they fully trust. And those that learnt their language were close friends of their race.


    The girls cried and sighed in relief as they heard Victor spoke more. "Is anyone of you hurt? Fortunately, I''m hunting in this area and spotted you. If not, I''m afraid you''ll live a miserable life."


    The girls heard him couldn''t help but cry even louder and Victor felt it was his fault. He sighed helplessly. "I came from Ferlan Village. It''s seven days away from here. You can call me Victor. Anyway, we need to relocate first. The scent of blood will attract monsters here and I doubt you have strength to fight them."


    Amber smile and show courtesy as she spoke. "Thank you for saving us, Victor. We will follow you."


    Victor nodded and pointed behind him. "Alright. Take up some weapons there. You might need it somehow."


    Watching the girls grabbed their own weapons, Victor look up to his Status.


    [Name: Victor Marcus | Age: 25]


    [Gender: Male | Race: Human]


    [Level: 31 | EXP: 68%]


    [Job: Hunter]


    [Power: 309 | Dexterity: 275(+200) | Spirit: 426(+110)]


    [Physique: 368 | Vitality: 385 | Magic: 369(+100)]


    [Active Skill: Analysis | Screw Stab | Critical Strike | Triple Shot | Power Shot | Trap Search | Trap Make | Trap Disarming | Tracking | Stealth | Earth Collapse | Destruction Strike | Catastrophe | Armageddon | Blunt Smash | Angry Roar | Stench | Physique Up | Dexterity Up | Power Up | Full Thrust]


    [Passive Skill: Enhance Hearing | Low Light Sight | High Olfactory Sense | Shooting Accuracy | Nimble Hands | Ambidextrous | Sneaky Feet | Titan Strength | Darkness Immunity | All-ailments Resistance | Dark Vision | High Speed Regeneration | Language Acquisition | Libido | Rapid Digestion | Physical Endurance | Danger Perception]


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil | Soul Collector | Forest Guide]


    ''Language Acquisition Skill really helps a lot. Now, they''ll listen to me.'' Thinking his next move, Victor couldn''t continue his hunt any longer. ''I should take them back to the village first for their safety. I can''t continue hunting while protecting them.''


    "Mr. Victor, were ready to leave." Amber said out loud.


    Seeing them holding on to their own weapons, Victor nodded. "Alright, let''s leave. Follow me and don''t stray away. We''ll go back to our village. There are elves living in Ferlan Village and you can ask them to help you contact your families."


    Following behind Victor, they walked back to the river, traversing the route he thread before for several hours. When they arrived at the riverbank, the night had deepened, Amber and her kin were already tired out.


    Amber proposed. "Mr. Victor, can we rest for a moment here? Some of us are already exhausted and can''t walk anymore. Furthermore, we still hadn''t eaten anything since yesterday. We''re... very hungry."


    Looking at the elven girls collapsing on the sandy riverbank, Victor agreed. He wasn''t like them whom could travel for seven days without sleeping and eating. "Alright, let''s set up a camp here."


    Victor took out several tent in his ring by using his Magic Storage Bag as a disguise. "These are what all I have with me. You set up the tent, I''ll leave for a moment and set some traps. Let others collect some firewoods, but don''t go too far."


    He took out several bag of jerky and bottles of clean water. "Help yourself."


    When Victor disappeared between the trees, the girls observed each others, quite hesitant, and attacked the bags of jerky like hungry wolves.


    "Hey! Give me some!"


    "Give me too! I''m hungry!"


    But because it wasn''t enough for them, Amber took them away before they could eat anything. "Wait! Don''t be selfish and only fill your own stomach! We''ll share this evenly to everyone."


    The girls stopped and begrudgingly sat back.


    Then, a young girl interjected innocently. "It''s meat! Are we really going to eat it?"


    Another said. "Then, don''t eat! I''ll take yours instead! I don''t care if it''s meat! Why care? I''m so hungry!"


    "No! That''s..." The young girl looked at Amber for help.


    The others that heard the young girl hesitated as they stared at the jerky on their hands.


    Someone gnashed her teeth and bit on the jerky. She chewed the meat for a moment as the taste spread inside her mouth and swallowed it. She choked and drank some water, taking a deep breath. She commented. "I-It''s not that bad..."


    Seeing one of them eat the meat, the rest followed. They knew with their current situation, they had no choices to be picky or they would starve to death before they could reunite with their families.


    Amber sat before the young girl and spoke, seeing her hesitation. "Don''t worry. We will not let others know that we ate meat." He turned to others and said. "Right, guys?!"


    The other girls nodded while eating.


    "Right! This will be our secret. So eat now, Daisy. And tomorrow you will be full of strength to travel back to our village. You will see your mother again! Isn''t that good?" Euresha stated.


    Daisy pursed her lips, as her eyes moistened and bite on the jerky and drank some water.


    Amber stood and led three other girls to collect some firewoods, while the others set up the tent. Euresha asked carefully. "Sister Amber, can we really trust, Victor?"


    Collecting some firewoods, Amber turned to Euresha and nodded. "Yes, I think so."


    "I think that Human is a good guy. If not for him, we will definitely live in hellish place. If it is another Human, he''ll definitely not free us." The girl that followed them said out loud.


    Amber nodded. "Yes, Mina is right. But let''s not fully trust him yet. None of us can fight monsters and can only rely on Victor, but I don''t believe he''s doing this for free. My grandfather said Humans never help without compensation. He might ask something we couldn''t afford to give."


    "I think we''ve collected enough firewoods. Let''s return to the camp." Euresha stated. "I disagree with you. I think Victor is definitely not like that. He can speak our language fluently, he is definitely trustworthy."


    Amber shook her head and muttered. "We can''t fight him. If he forced us to do something unpleasant, we have no strength to refuse... I hope that doesn''t happen." Tying a bundle of branches, she took a deep breath. "Alright, these should be enough."


    The girls were about to return when suddenly, they heard screams coming from the campsite.


    "Kyaaah!"


    "Others are in danger! Let''s hurry back!" Amber shouted and they rushed back to the camp.


    When they returned, they saw the other girls holding their weapons against a five Lizard Men, protecting the young ones.


    The grinning faces of Lizard men and flicking tongues came into view. The five Lizard men conversed, sounds of hissing came out from their mouths.


    They didn''t know what the Lizard Men were talking, but they all have a bad feeling about it.


    Amber and the other three girls rushed to the aid of other girls who were in danger as they saw the Lizard Men drew near. From their movements, Amber judge that the Lizard Men intend to capture them alive, and so she decided to fight back.


    She and the other three girls with her stood before the girls whom were cowering in fear, and raised their weapons. The Lizard Men halted on their feet for a moment, and then rushed towards them. Knowing that this four female elf were a threat, the Lizard Men decided to kill them.


    Amber saw the sword coming towards her and deflected it with her spear. Her spear was long, and so, she was able to push back the one that attacked her safely. But the other Lizard Men weren''t standing still, they also attacked.


    No matter whether in speed or strength, they were not a match to the Lizard Men as they were only Level 1, while the Lizard Men were in Level 20.


    The sword was about to decapitated the four of them when they closed their eyes, waiting for death. Then, they suddenly heard a whistling sound through the air.


    When they opened their eyes, they noticed the four Lizard Men fell down into the river. The blue water turned into red as the four Lizard Men floated on the surface with arrows stuck on the side of their heads.


    Then, a voice came from where the arrows came. "Is everyone alright? Fortunately, I''m not too late."


    It was Victor.


    They were saved once again. With no danger present, Amber and the other girls slumped down in exhaustion, sighing in relief, while others crying and whimpering.


    Victor wasn''t insensible. He sympathized with these unfortunate girls, but he wasn''t good at comforting other people, specially women.


    "You''re now safe. Sleep. I''ll take the guard tonight." That''s all Victor could say.


    Hearing his words, the girls silently went to their tents, taking a look at their savior before they slept. Though, space of the tents were small, they compromised so that they could all fit inside, better than sleeping on the sand.


    Victor sat before the camp fire and closed his eyes, with bow and arrow at his side. Half asleep, in this state, he could still clearly sense everything around him. This was how he slept in the forest, where something might jump out and attack him any second.


    Thus, he was always prepared for everything.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5 Journey Back I


    The night quickly went by as the next morning arrived.


    At Ferlan Village, the people had started their daily morning businesses. The silence at the entrance of the village was shattered when a group of people on horses came.


    Clad in steel with crest of lion head on their chest plate, they were no mere soldiers, but knights of Illunar Kingdom. Though, very far, Ferlan Village was still part of it and paid taxes annually, which not necessarily needed.


    Even so, the guards showed respect and courtesy upon sight of them. "Honorable Knights, what can we do for you?"


    The one that seemed to be the captain looked at the guards one by one, and waved his her hand. "Don''t mind us. Were only here to escort someone back. We won''t stay for long so don''t worry too much."


    The knights went inside the village and the guards didn''t obstruct them. One of the guards whispered to the captain guard. "Should we inform the Chief? From what I observed, some of them aren''t fond of Demi-Humans. Specially that guys at the back, there eyes were like knives."


    The captain guard shook his head. "No need to disturb the Chief. They seems decent guys and definitely won''t do anything inappropriate. But still, watch them, just in case."


    "Yes, Captain." Several guards saluted and follow behind the knights.


    The sun arise from the east and wind blew from the west. Victor was still sitting before the campfire that had already burned out. Through the night, he reviewed his status and all the new skills he acquired.


    The new Unique Skill, [Forest Guide] was a useful skill on finding his preys.


    [Unique Skill: Forest Guide]


    [Grade: Mystic]


    [Info: Allow the user to communicate with every plants in the forest, hear what they hear and see what they see. Any creatures affiliated with nature will see you as a friend and not attack you, unless they were attacked.]


    Thinking of how he could use this new Unique Skill, an idea came in his mind, but he must first see for himself how it worked.


    The girls were still asleep, truly tired in both mind and body. He stood and approached a tree, he touched the trunk with his palm and closed his eyes.


    At this moment, his Unique Skill activated. An image converged in his mind. He saw himself in the image, with his palm on a tree. He felt no sensation, only the connection between him and the nature. He could see and hear every sound that nature made.


    It was a skill made for locating and spying!


    Looking for location of the Demonic Asura Bear, the image in his mind zoomed, traveling as fast as the speed of light, in but an instant, the form of the Demonic Asura Bear came into view.


    It has a form of a bear, but it was covered in dark skeletal shell. Black spikes adorned its back, connected to the spinal cord, from the tip of its lizard like tail up to the forehead. With three meters height, it was a small giant. Its claws were glistening in sharpness and its fangs were secreting purple slimy liquid. Strong, deadly and venomous, it was simply demonic. Worthy of the name Asura.


    Giving commands through thought, the image in his mind changed. The entrance of Ferlan Village came into view. The village was still the same the day he left, he saw several guards he knew.


    As he thought of looking for an Elven Village where the girls came from, the image in his mind changed and a village built on the high rise trees appeared. He didn''t know what it was called.


    Victor saw a group of elves hiding behind the tree foliage, and others patrolling around. The location of the Elven Village was very far to the east, near the Buirne Mountain.


    As the houses in Elven Village was built on a tree, he could spied at them easily, he could move from house to house and listened to their conversation. He could very much understood their words as he had already learned the Elven Tongue from the girls he rescued due to [Language Acquisition].


    He changed from places to places, until he found the place were the village Chief resided and several elves were having a meeting. They say before a circular table and from their words, he found who was the Chief.


    A blonde elf said in agitation. "Chief, many of our children went missing for more than a week already, aren''t we going to form a group to find them?! Time is essence!"


    "Carrick is right chief!" Another man supported. "We don''t know who kidnapped our young ones, but they''ll definitely not kill them yet, instead they''ll sold them to the slave market! We must give chase before they could leave the forest!"


    An elderly male elf sighed softly and said. "There''s no need for that. I''ve already tasked Laurel, Maria and Frey to track the kidnappers. They''ll definitely return with great news. What we can only do now is pray for the safety of those in danger."


    Everyone one in the room turned silent as they heard the Chief. Victor was about to leave change location, but caught a glimpse of two people smiling as they bowed their heads. He ignored it, as he thought it to be a scheme between old elves and left.


    Hearing their short conversation, Victor searched for the three people that were mentioned. Using his connection to the forest, he immediately found their exact location and their situation wasn''t good.


    The three were escaping from trouble, they were being chased by an angry Steel Hide Rhinoceros. A non-aggressive monster, and it must be them that provoked it. It would not attack, unless it was threatened.


    Though, Victor wanted to help, but the distance between them was very wide, going back to Ferlan Village was much safer and would take lesser time.


    Severing the connection with the forest, Victor returned to his body. When he turned around, he saw the girls looking at him with funny faces and giggling, wondering what he was doing standing beside a tree.


    Some of them were still wary of him, but that was normal since they didn''t know each other. He shook his head and thought. ''After giving them to Myra, I''ll continue on my hunt. I still have many monsters I need to hunt.''


    He approached the girls and gave them water and a bag of wheat bread for breakfast. Seeing a bread, not meat, they ate their fill quietly. Victor spoke. "Fill your stomach. We will depart once you''re done. We''re heading to our village. Just like I said, there are many elves in our village. You can ask them to help you contact your families."Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Humans and Elves living in one village?" Amber asked doubtfully.


    Victor smile and bite on his bread. "Not just Elves, there are also Dwarves and Demi-Humans. The villagers in Ferlan Village is consisted of different races."


    The girls thought he was boasting, murmuring amongst themselves, but Victor ignored their doubtful glances. He was sure they''ll definitely knew once they arrived at Ferlan Village.


    "Ah! Before we depart, can you introduce yourselves? I can''t just call you, You, everytime, can I?" Victor tried.


    The girls exchanged glances and introduced themselves, starting from the blonde haired girl that seemed the oldest. "I''m Amber Cera. I''m the oldest, 53 years old."


    ''5-53?! That''s half of my age! Her appearance is that of a physically fit and extrovert young lady that has just reached adulthood, but she is enough to be my mother?!'' Victor sighed inwardly. ''Elves cannot be measured by human standards.''


    "Euresha Lynne! I''m pleased to meet you!" The second was a girl with curly silver hair, as tall as Amber, with considerable bosom and slightly thin. Must be due to lack of food for several days in captivity. Not just Euresha, the rest were the same.


    The third girl was petite, with brown hair that reached her shoulders. "I''m Bionna Earnae, thank you saving us, Mr. Victor."


    Victor waved his hand. "Don''t thank me yet. You''re still not safe."


    The fourth was a girl with short blonde hair and looked boyish. "I-I''m Shyli Forrest. Please to meet you!"


    The fifth was a girl with straight and long green hair, and kind of expressionless. "I''m Ynari Gaelic. Please take care of me."


    The sixth was a girl with long brown hair. She beamed a smile and said. "I''m Pestil Aceans, 23 years old and I live in Curthim Village. My hobbies are- hmmm! "


    Amber covered Pestil''s mouth to stop her from speaking further as she would definitely continue on until she couldn''t think of anything else to say. The others could only smile wryly as they were used to Pestil''s behavior when she was happy. She was a talkative girl.


    The seventh was a girl with over the shoulder silver hair. "Ferries Ashmay."


    The eighth was a girl with long silver hair. "Lola Moraine."


    The ninth was a girl with silver hair tied in a bun. "Acacia Delrosa."


    The tenth was a girl with green hair tied in a ponytail. "I''m Yuna Adenna"


    The eleventh was a girl with silver pigtails. "I''m Seina Freua."


    And lastly, was the youngest of the rest, with emerald hair. The cutest of the rest. "I-I''m Daisy Sylva."


    After several minutes of eating and resting, they continued on their journey.


    Last night, Victor created a large raft, which make it easier for them to cross the river and go to the other side, then proceed onward on foot.


    The journey would without a doubt long this time with the girls as company. If Victor was alone, he only needed three days to arrived at the village, but with the girls, he estimated it to be more than a week. He must consider the safety of the girls, first and foremost. They''ll definitely encounter monsters on the way, and they''d get tired and would need some rest, making the time longer.


    Victor couldn''t help but sigh. "I just hope it will not rain."


    As though making fun of him, the clouds suddenly let out a flashing light and booming sound. On the second day of their journey, a heavy rain came while they were walking, resulting for all of them to get soaked.


    "What a very unlucky day..." Victor grumbled. "As I thought, after an fortunate encounter, what follow next is a series of misfortune...."


    Following behind Victor, Amber heard his words and wondered what he meant by misfortune.


    The heavy rain would seem continue for the entire day. Though, it was still in the middle of the day, darkness had already filled the forest, and due to the rain, mist formed and obscured the sight further away. Fortunately, Victor had the ability to communicate with the forest or they might have lost their way.


    At times like this, the Luqane Forest would sunk into silence. Only the sound of the raindrops could be heard and the occasional thunderous roar in the sky. The top predators in the forest, the Horned Tiger, Red Hind Bear, Dire Wolf and other furry monsters would locked themselves in their holes as they hated the rain.


    Victor knew about this from his own experience. And this time was when the Doroth Leeche and other insect monsters would come out.


    The Doroth Leech wasn''t huge, in fact, it was only as small as a thumb and thin as a fingernail. It was almost transparent, but as it ate leaves, it could be seen and almost the same with a normal leaf. It has no limbs and stationary. It could only moved through gliding the wind and it also had no eyes for it to know where it was going.


    Eating was all what it know. It only ate leaves, but it didn''t know what a leaf looked like.


    However, no matter how weak a Doroth Leech could be, it was still a monster. Each Doroth Leech inhabited at the top of the trees could reproduced into thousands through dividing itself. It couldn''t lay eggs as it had no reproductive system.


    Apart from that, it also have a neurotoxin, a strong paralyzing poison that could paralyzed even the thick skinned Red Hind Bear. Though, it could only live for two days, it could clone itself into thousands to continue its existence.


    Once the heavy rain came, the real problem would began. Thousands of them would be swept down by the rain and those that it touched would be paralyzed!


    With his [All-ailments Resistance], Victor was fearless against the rain, but the twelve girls weren''t. Thus, he lent them all his clothes for protection, even the one he was wearing, leaving his upper body bare. He really didn''t know why he was helping them so much...


    They traveled without stop while raining. Most monsters were hiding due to the rain, and so, there were lesser monsters blocking their way, mostly Cave Spiders, Man-eating Beetles and the likes. Due to the large difference in Levels, Victor''s Unique Skill [Hero''s Gift from the Devil] never activated, but he collected the monster''s souls in his [Soul Pouch].


    Night came when the rain stopped. The clouds dispersed and the moonlight gleamed through between the leaves. Though, the ground was muddy, the girls were tired and needed a rest.


    After making a campfire, the girls circled around the fire to warm themselves. Comfortable sighs could be heard as they put their hands near it, at a safe distance.


    "Warm! I''m so tired..."


    "My legs hurts... Massage them for me, Pestil."


    "Don''t wanna!"


    "I''m hungry..."


    "We travel for the whole day without stop. You must be very hungry. Eat and replenish your stamina. Then, sleep early. You need to wake up early tomorrow so we can arrive at Ferlan Village earlier." Victor heard their complaints and gave them foods and drinks.


    The girls nodded and fill their stomach before entering their tents. They were no longer wary of him, only bashful. Only Amber and Euresha could talk to him in reserved manner.


    "Victor, we''re very thankful for you for saving us and you even escorted us to your village where we can contact our families. You''re a good person. We will compensate you once I''ve contacted my grandfather." Amber said before going in her tent.


    Victor waved his hand. "Yes, I''ll count on you for compensation."


    Euresha smile to Victor and followed Amber. She muttered. "Thank you, Mr. Victor."


    Victor shook his head and sighed. He thought. ''What an unlucky day...''


    Sitting before the campfire, Victor scouted the surroundings through his Unique Skill [Forest Guide]. He could see all the monsters nearby and take note of those nocturnal monsters that carried poisons in them, like snakes, scorpions and the likes, not differentiating the sizes.


    Though, poisons were ineffective against him, the girls were different.


    Using the [Star Fall], he eliminated all the monsters that would enter his range of sight.


    An arrow would materialized as he pulled the string and released it. The arrow shoot out disappearing in a blink of an eye, targeting a black snake slithering towards the camp.


    Hiss! Hiss! Hissing at the last moment of its life, it limped down after constricting in pain as it was shot at the head, pinning it down on the ground.


    The night deepened and the surrounding of the camp, hundred meters away, was littered with corpses of small monsters with an arrow on the head. After shooting down all the small monster that numbered to a hundred, no more monster approached.


    "It''s really hard to be a good man... Villains have it easy." Victor took a deep breath and yawned tiredly.


    He closed his eyes and entered a half sleeping state, in which his senses were still active. Being too complacent wasn''t good while in the wilderness, however, they were still within the outermost region where monsters were quite weak.


    If they were within the middle region, Victor wouldn''t dare to even make a sound, much less a fire. Thus, it was fine, as long as he made the monsters knew that the place where he stayed was his territory through killing many monsters around, making it seemed a forbidden zone.


    This was base on his experience as a hunter. Though, he was stronger than before, Victor believed that he wasn''t the strongest. Thus, he would never let his guard down even a second.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6 Journey Back II


    Night passed peacefully and another day came. The sun rose from the east and early morning light gleamed on the entire forest. The night fog was still visible, but it immediately evaporated after several minutes.


    Victor woke up and stood as he saw the girls came out of their tent with messy clothes and disheveled hair, sleepiness still evident in their faces. Victor couldn''t help but sighed in his heart, he thought. ''These girls won''t survive in the forest...''


    Only Amber and Euresha were in best condition. The two blushed in embarrassment as they saw what the other girls looked like. Some were still asleep as though they were in their houses. But since they were in the middle of the wilderness, Victor didn''t mind their appearance.


    "Amber, wake up the others. We''ll depart after eating." Victor said and took out some food in his Magic Storage Bag.


    And the third day of their journey began...


    The girls followed closely behind Victor, no one wanted to be left behind. Victor told them to be vigilant and cautious. If they saw something, they must immediately told him what they found. If they walked off track and got left behind, it was their own fault for not paying attention.


    After walking for around five hours, they came into a clearing and some sort of scent attracted the girls.


    "Can you smell it? That sweet scent like a ripe fruit." Euresha said, sniffing the air.


    "You''re right! Let''s find it!" Bionna suggested in glee. "It''s time to have a change of taste! We''ve been eating bread for two days!.... Opps."


    Victor just shrugged when he heard her. "Nah. That''s all I have anyway. Let''s find that tree and see what kind of fruit it bear." Using his sensitive sense of smell, he followed the scenr up ahead and found a not very tall tree with several fruits, some were already ripe.


    "There it is!" Daisy delightfully exclaimed.


    "Wait." Victor stopped them and used his [Analysis]. He found it to be an [Anglo Fruit], its seed was one of the core ingredient in concocting a [Recovery Potion].


    Since the fruit was edible, Victor nodded to them. The girls ran towards the tree like greedy wolves and plucked all the ripe ones.


    "Hahaha! So sweet! Yummy!"


    "At last, a new taste!"


    "The taste of meat is now gone!"


    Victor didn''t mind their comments and only shook his head. He wasn''t someone whom could be swayed easily by words.


    Amber came to him, a bit bashful, with a fruit on her hands. "Here, Victor. It won''t be good if you only eat meat."


    He smiled and took the fruit on Amber''s hands. "Thanks, Amber. We''ll rest here for half an hour."


    "Your welcome. This is not enough for what you''ve done for us." Amber said and watched the girls laughed and chatted. "Look at them. All of us were still crying and in despair just a couple of days ago, but now we''ve forgotten about it. It''s all thanks to you."


    Just a couple of days ago, the girls were wary of him and didn''t showed their emotions, but now they would laugh and smile at him. However, for Victor they were only one of the passing experience in life. Looking at the round [Anglo Fruit], Victor took a bite and sweetness spread in his mouth with strong sour aftertaste.


    Absentmindedly looking at the fruit on her hands, Amber asked. "What are you going to do after escorting us back to your village?"


    "Well... I''ll return to my normal routine. Going in the forest for a week and hunt some monsters to sell. I''m a Hunter after all." Victor answered as he thought of what he''d truly do after this. He still hadn''t actually made a decision on his own and only gave a satisfying reply.


    Now that it came in his mind, he had only been in Luqane Forest and never traveled too far. He became too obsessed in hunting the monsters in Luqane Forest and bent his hatred by killing monsters of the same kind that massacred his parents for far too much.


    Bold dreams never crossed his mind as he thought that being a hunter was enough. He could fill his stomach and earn money for himself. A simple, comfortable and peaceful life. He might found a woman and married her somehow, the money he saved from hunting would be helpful in purchasing a plot to plant some crops. Eventually, having two offsprings and die at old age. That''s how he envisioned his entire life.


    All these were his original thoughts when he left the village more than a week ago, but it seemed to have changed now, specially after miraculously solving the problem of the Phantom City and making him much stronger than before.


    ''Power pushed a person to changed'' this phrase somewhat had some truth in it and Victor was currently savouring the experience.


    "How about you?" Victor asked halfheartedly, his mind thinking of other things.


    Amber looked at Victor and saw him looking at the sky, she wondered what was going in his mind and answered. "After contacting my grandfather, I''ll ask him to train me so I can become strong to protect myself and my friends. When I''m strong enough, I''ll travel around the world to become an Adventurer."


    ''An Adventurer huh... Not a bad idea.'' Victor thought. He stood and finished his fruit. "Alright, we''ve rested enough. Let''s continue on the way!"Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Then, he felt something. "Everyone! Get behind me!"


    The girls were startled by his shout and hurriedly took cover behind him. Suddenly, they heard several loud growls and shadows jumped out pf the bushes.


    "Rwar! Woof! Woof!"


    "Gray Wolves!" The girls screamed in fear.


    Gray wolves lived and hunt in a large pack compared to other species of wolves, mostly numbered from fifteen to thirty. It was the reason they were feared. And the number of Gray Wolves before them was twenty five! The largest they could found within the outer region of Luqane Forest!


    "Were have to run! There''s so many of them!" Euresha shouted at Amber.


    "W-We''re gonna die!" Pestil wailed.


    "No! I don''t want to die! I''m too young!" Lola cried.


    Victor took out two daggers from his ring and shouted at them. "Go climb up the tree! I''ll stall them!"


    "Listen to Victor! Let''s climb up the tree!" Amber seconded and hurriedly pushed the others.


    "Sister Amber, I''m scared!" Daisy whimpered.


    The other girls started climbing up the tree behind them as Amber pursed her lips and carried the trembling daisy with her.


    "Rwaarr!!!"


    That''s the signal to attack!


    "Victor! Be careful!" Amber reminded out of concern as she climbed up on the tree.


    The pack leader was much larger than the rest by several inches, while the rest were almost one meter tall. Though, Victor could take care of them alone, he feared that the Gray Wolves would have argeted the girls. Therefore, he told them to climb high up the tree.


    In that case, there was no need for him to worry and fight without thinking of their safety, because no matter how high the Gray Wolves jump, their sharp claws weren''t made for climbing and would be able to reach the girls.


    Five Gray Wolves came rushing towards him at five different directions at the signal of the pack leader, while another pairs circled him and targeting the tree on which the girls climbed unto. Their speed was fast, but still not enough to delude Victor to show fear.


    [Power Up]! [Dexterity Up]! [Physique Up]!


    Three consecutive use of supportive skills, Victor stamped his feet and threw his daggers towards the pack leader, but got intercepted by two Gray Wolves that exchanged their lives for their leader.


    Then, he took out the [Star Fall] and pulled the string, releasing it immediately.


    [Triple Shot]!


    Three arrows shoot out targeting three different Gray Wolves and killing them. As he dashed backwards and shoot another two arrows to the two circling Gray Wolves. The two were hit at the head and died on the spot.


    Five seconds and seven Gray Wolves were killed.


    "Rwaar!!!"


    Seeing its underlings died one by one, the pack leader gave out another command. All the remaining eighteen Gray Wolves rushed forward and their only target was Victor. They intend to tear him into pieces!


    Victor saw them, but didn''t panicked and waited for them to come closer. When suddenly worn-out spears, old swords, rusty daggers and dried small branches rained down at the Gray Wolves.


    "Die! Bad wolves!"


    "Go away!"


    "Give more branch!"


    "I have thrown all of them already!"


    "Then, use your clothes!"


    "I''ll be naked!"


    "Then, only use your panties!"


    "Are you for real?!"


    "Don''t feel lost for panties that weren''t replaced for more than a week already!"


    "Pestil!"


    Victor heard them and didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. They could still argue in this kind of situation. Well, they could, because it wasn''t them that needed to face the Gray Wolves after all!


    It was him alone!


    ''These girl''s true selves are now leaking!'' Victor sighed in his heart. ''Where are the silent and innocent girls I''ve rescued?''


    At one meter distance, when the Gray Wolves jumped towards him, Victor threw out a punch and roared loudly. His roar was like that of a wrathful beast! The trees vibrated and the ground shook!


    [Angry Roar]!


    The Gray Wolves were stunned for a second! Before they could fell on the ground. His fist bump onto the body of the nearest Gray Wolf and a powerful force spread around, pushing the Gray Wolves several meters back.


    [Blunt Smash]!


    This skill could not only be used with a club or a hammer, but also by bare fist. All the Gray Wolves fell on the ground and immediately stood up. No injuries were inflicted, a little stunned, only one Gray Wolf had died from his attack, the one that caught his punch. It died with its internals bursting into pulp.


    "Rwaarr!!!" The Gray Wolf Pack leader roared


    Victor dashed forward and grabbed an old sword on the ground. He hacked and slashed the Gray Wolves that were still stunned. Blood sprayed as he decapitated each and every Gray Wolves that he saw. One slash for each Gray Wolf, leaving only the pack leader alive. Corpses littered the ground and blood soaked the green grasses red.


    The pack leader posed and bared its fangs at Victor with anger and hunger. It never had intention to flee. Rushing up towards him, its movement was too slow for Victor.


    However, it did something Victor hadn''t seen before. It jumped around him and move in accelerated speed as it bitten him at the left thigh. His pants was ripped and a shallow bite mark appeared, bleeding stopped immediately and healing in speed visible to the naked eye.


    Victor had never encountered such thing before, but because he was too weak to confront a pack of Gray Wolves. He would only throw his life away if he did so, but it was different now. And he was certain that it was a skill.


    He raised his sword and waited for the pack leader to attack again. Walking slowly around him, the pack leader rushed and the same thing happened, but if it caught him off guard the first time, there would be no second time.


    Raising his sword, Victor vertically slashed down the coming pack leader. It managed to evade narrowly, and jumped at the left side, then rushed up to him again. It would stop until one of them was dead!


    Victor didn''t intend to prolong the battle any longer and dashed towards the pack leader. Caught in surprise, Victor exploited it and used [Full Thrust]. His sword shone, along with him, his sword zoomed towards the pack leader, the sword''s penetrating power increased tremendously.


    Shiinng! Puchi!


    His sword pierced through the forehead of the pack leader, blood trickled down the blade. Victor pulled out the old sword and brain matter spilled from wound. The pack leader fell and died. Victor took a deep breath and stabbed the sword on the ground.


    [Your battle performance has been evaluated.]


    [You killed 25 Gray Wolf, 1 Elite Gray Wolf (Pack Leader)]


    [You gained.... 375,590 EXP]


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil activated.]


    [You have killed an Elite Gray Wolf (Pack Leader) | Level: 29]


    [Half of the over all Stats of Elite Gray Wolf (Pack Leader) will become yours, as well as all the compatible Skills.]


    [Your stats are increasing: Power +15, Dexterity +19, Spirit +13, Physique +16, Vitality +20, Magic +5]


    [Due to incompatibility, no skills were learned]


    [Unique Skill: Soul Collector activated.]


    [26 souls of monsters you slay has been collected. You can choose to absorb them or store them in your Soul Space for future usage.]


    ''Store them.'' Victor thought and the small flames floating around entered his chest.


    He turned to the girls and shouted. "It''s okay now. You can go down!"


    The girls heard Victor and sighed in relief. Amber saw Victor beneath them and smile. Then, she saw that no one moved to leave the safety from the tree.


    Victor looked at them and saw something he shouldn''t have, dried tree branches rained down at him.


    "Don''t look up!"


    "Pervert! Victor is a pervert!"


    "Hey, stop! Stop! I didn''t mean it!" Victor walked further and said "Why don''t you come down so we can leave now?"


    "B-But.... We don''t know how to climb down!"


    "Seriously?!!! Don''t climb trees if you don''t know how to climb down!!!"

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7 Immortal Skull brewed trouble


    At Amellia''s Alchemy Shop, the Captain of the Knights of Illunar, the center of attention of many knights and squires came out behind the door at the counter. She temporarily lived in Amellia''s Alchemy Shop, which was also Amellia''s house, while waiting for Amellia''s decision.


    "Lifi, good morning." Amellia greeted as she busied herself organizing her merchandises.


    "It''s Lifiarda, Lia. If my subordinates heard you, they''ll curse you for making me increase their trainings to save my reputation." The Captain of the Knight of Illunar grumbled and lounged on the sofa.


    Amellia smile disdainfully and eyed the sexy posture of Lifiarda, relaxing on sofa. "They won''t curse a Princess."


    She looked at Lifiarda''s bountiful twin peaks shaped by her loose clothes, but appeared tight due to their sizes. Then, turned to her own, squeezing them and grumbling. Amellia thought. ''I wonder what is Victor''s preference? Small or large? Will he still look at me once he sees Lifi''s? That man, if he drools at Lifi, I swear! I will gouged his eyes out!''


    "You''ve been living here for a week now. Tell me, what are you doing here? Shouldn''t you be at the Alcraz Trident Mountain Range fighting some barbarians?" Amellia asked as she glared at her best friend.


    She know Lifiarda too well. Though, they both have different personalities, their taste in other things were pretty much similar in many aspects. They even sometimes argued on one thing and end up in a cat fight, and Amellia seldom won.


    "Why? You don''t want me to be here?" Lifiarda sulked. "It hurts my feelings, you know?"


    Amellia, though knew that Lifiarda was merely acting, she corrected her. "That''s not what I mean. I know you''re busy, I just want to know why you spend your precious time coming here this far."


    When she saw Lifiarda grinning, she blushed, looked away and angrily said. "I-It''s not like I''m worrying about you! Idiot."


    "Hehehe! My lovely Amellia still as adorable as ever!" Lifiarda approached Amellia from behind. "Come! Let me hug you!"


    "Hyaa! What are you doing?! I''m busy!" Amellia struggled to free herself but failed.


    "Oh! You gained fat!"


    "No! I didn''t!"


    "Not that! I mean these!" Lifiarda grabbed Amellia''s chest and squeezed them, which caused Amellia to squeal.


    "Hiya! Stop! Hey, stop!" Amellia slapped Lifiarda''s hands and moved away.


    "Are groping those growing chest of yours to make them bigger? You''ve grown quite a lot." Lifiarda touched her chin and thought out loud. "For a girl to grow so big in just a short time, there must be a stimulus."


    With gasp, her eyes widened and pointed at Amellia. "Don''t tell me you''re seeing someone?!"


    Amellia''s face reddened and denied. "W-What are you saying?!"


    ''Not enough! She''s definitely hiding something! I must let her spit it out on her own accord!'' Lifiarda shook her head. "No, that''s not it. You''re definitely having a romantic relationship with a man and did ''that'' with him!"


    Amellia''s entire face was now red in embarrassment. "N-No! I... We''re still not in that kind of relationship yet!"


    "So there''s really someone!" Lifiarda grabbed her shoulder and asked. "Tell me, who is he?! How dare he lay his paws on you!"


    "Stop! Stop shaking me!" Amellia complained.


    "Oops... Sorry. Tehe~" Lifiarda let go of Amellia and smile faintly.


    "Geez! Don''t make that face in front of me! Your tactics won''t work on me anymore!" Amellia turned around and left, going back to where she was working before. "In addition, I don''t have a lover!"


    Bu Lifiarda didn''t believed her words. She sneered. "I will know him eventually! By then, I''ll know everything from his mouth!"


    Lifiarda stood up and stretched her arms. "Anyway, speaking of serious matter. I am ordered by your father to take you back. The barbarians retreated deeper into the Alcraz Trident Mountain Range and a new problem came up... Agents of Immortal Skull has been spotted around the capital. Your father, the king, thought it would be much safer for you if you return to the palace."


    She entered back to the door at the counter and came out after several minutes. From a simple pretty lady, she turned into an valiant lady knight that many people looked up to and revered.


    "If I return, wouldn''t I be in more danger?" Amellia asked, narrowing her eyes. "I don''t want to return. I''ll remain here. As long as, you don''t talk to much, and stitch those mouths of your subordinates, no one will know that the 3rd Princess Amellia Vyn Grineaece Prymress is living in this remote village."


    "Are you forgetting something?" Lifiarda asked, raising an eyebrow. He crossed her arms and haughtily said. "Who do you think I am? I''m the Captain Knight of Illunar Kingdom, the Silver Moon Knight! Are you looking down on me too much? Even if thousands of Immortal Skull agents comes, I''ll just kick them back to where they come from!"


    Amellia rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But I won''t go back. Those criminals will only have a chance to kidnap me if I do so return to the palace."


    A glint in her eyes flashed and sneered coldly. She thought. ''Do they still think I''m the same naive princess several years ago? How dare they use me as a bait under the guise of my own safety! They even used my oblivious best friend in their plans!''


    Amellia glimpsed at the leaving Lifiarda and muttered in her mind. "I won''t play in there plans, neither my best friend!"


    Going inside her room, at the corner where hundreds of book piled up, she cleaned them away, revealing an inconspicuous secret compartment.


    It was sealed by Magic Lock and whoever open it with the wrong password, it would explode and destroy everything inside. After all, what lies inside were things that she created using her alchemy.


    Touching the compartment, she muttered several words. "Agna Uhlshara Gram valhqar."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The words were ancient demon language, which means ''To the sky, the Gate of Heaven opens and all Souls are welcomed by the hands of God.''


    A completely difficult password, but those that were expert in deciphering ancient languages could open it as easily as Amellia did. Hence, she added another form of password by using Voice Recording Magic and Blood Sacrificing Magic. In this case, only Amellia could open the secret compartment.


    The secret compartment opened and revealed several items and all of them were in Legendary Grade. She took a vial of black liquid and closed the secret compartment, locking it with Magic Lock, overlapped with Voice Recording Magic and Blood Sacrificing Magic. Then, blocked it my piling books on it.


    On how messy her own room was, no ordinary person would thought that there was a secret compartment at the corner, where hundreds of book piled up.


    "With this, I will know who are the dogs of my sisters that were disguised in Lifi''s knights." Shaking the vial, her rosy lips curved into a sneer as the black liquid inside moved as though it was alive, which was a fact.


    The black liquid was created through an accidental experiment of Amellia when she tried to create a living homunculus.


    It was a Dark Slime.


    From how small the vial, it was only at the size of a thumb. She uncorked the vial and poured the Dark Slime on her palm. It wiggled and congealed into a jelly sphere. With a drop of her blood, their connections were established. She could now order it around as a master and they could exchanged words through thoughts. Amelia could also see and hear what it saw and heard.


    With the Dark Slime''s Unique Skill [Dark Meld], it could merged into the shadow of a person, split itself into hundred and monitored that person''s every movement.


    "Go!" Amellia threw the Dark Slime out of her shop as it drifted into the shadows, then split itself into the exact number of knights that came along with Lifiarda.


    There were 12 knights that came along with Lifiarda and they temporarily reside in the Owlet Beak Inn that only offered comfortable accommodations for individual, couple and a group. They even have a royal suite and amd common suite.


    If the knights were hungry, they could be seen in the Wood Crane Food House, the only place that provided the best dishes and delicacies and the most expensive. Though, there were other restaurants, the Wood Crane Food House was unbeatable. Thus, the place was considered only for rich Adventurers and Merchants and food lover.


    Next to the Owlet Beak Inn was the Growling Bear Tavern, the most noisiest place within the village. It was always full at night due to their delicious and strong beer. Most men went there to see the beautiful and sexy Beer Girls, and of course have fun after a long day of work.


    Ferlan Village was a pit stop for most Adventurers that were heading to Hallgruff Prairie from Illunar Kingdom, a vast plat land that spread from north to west, and Luqane Forest was the fastest route, while the aspect of it being safe was pinned on the strength of the individual or group that would travel across it.


    Thr Hallgruff Prairie was a home for the Centaurs, a people with the lower body of a horse and a torso of a human. The prairie was infested by Dungeons and those that weren''t cleared after so long would explode, creating a monster flood. This event was widely known as, Overflow.


    Dungeons were treasure trove without an owner, thus attracted countless Adventurers, even with the cost of their lives.


    Lifiarda went out to assemble her subordinates to brief them of their next movement. She knew how bad her best friend, Amellia''s relationship with her sisters, the other princesses.


    Though, she had no idea how politics worked in Illunar Kingdom, she wasn''t oblivious that there was an underlying meaning to her subordinates and her''s prompt dispatchment after she solved the problem at Alcraz Trident Mountain Range.


    She don''t like thinking such complicated things as it made her head dizzy.


    Having found most of them still in the Owlet Beak Inn, her lsubordinates greeted as soon as she entered the building.


    Lined up before her, they shouted. "Good morning, Captain!"


    Looking at them, she found three of her subordinates absent. She asked in dignified manner. "Where''s Alto, Errick and Dramul?"


    "Captain, those three left early and didn''t say where they were going to! But with my knowledge of their personalities, they''re either at the Growling Bear Tavern having fun or the Wood Crane Food House!" He asked, "Do you want me to find them, Captain?"


    Lifiarda nodded and waved her hand, telling them to continue on their breakfast. "Garrin, you find them. The others finish your meal and meat me outside the village, at the western entrance."


    "Yes, Captain Mulrg!" Lifiarda''s subordinates said in unison.


    The Knight System at Illunar Kingdom and other kingdoms follow; from lower to highest, Knight Squire, Knight Apprentice, Knight, Elder Knight, Captain Knight, Knight Commander.


    Knights in Illunar Kingdom were gathered into a Knight Team of twelve, with one Captain Knight, two Elder Knights and ten Knights. The Knight Team had their own name and Illunar Kingdom had many Knight Team, one with each Noble Family. Only those strong Knight Team and accumulated military merits could received resources from the kingdom.


    Lifiarda''s Knight Team was known as, Silver Moon, taken after her title.


    Having recieved the resources of the Royal Family, Silver Moon Knight Team could be easily dispatched into a mission by any person part of the Royal Family. The reason why Lifiarda and her subordinates were at the very far place, such as Ferlan Village. They were the personal Adventurer Team of the Kingdom.


    The mission Lifiarda recieved was actually to invite and escort an Alchemist to the Royal Palace, but who would have thought the person was the 3rd Princess and her best friend, herself? Lifiarda didn''t, until she saw the Alchemist.


    Thus, Lifiarda was sure that the mission this time was only a part of a conspiracy. The target should be her best friend. And Lifiarda would do anything to protect her best friend as it was the reason she became a knight!


    ''I will protect her with my life!'' Lifiarda vowed in her heart as she walked out of the village.


    Within a black castle, a group of people could be seen seating around round table. There were 13 of them, each and everyone of them were releasing a strong vibration of power. Not a single person wanted to lose to anyone in the chamber and thus never concealed their auras.


    A dark-skinned bulky man with shiny bald head and metal eyepatch roared in laughter. "Hahaha! I''m enjoying this game everytime I came here. This is the only thing I enjoyed in this boring and gloomy pla, so why don''t we make things more lively?" He turned to the white haired old man sitting next to him and asked. "What do you think, Levgard?"


    The white haired old man took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his darkened faces with his trembling hand. "Allahar, can you please not talk to me with your mouth next to my face? And here I thought it''s raining, I was only you! Dammit! Your breath stinks!" Levgard turned to the other people and said. "I suggest on forcing Allahar to brush his teeth! Any objections?"


    "No objection!" The others said in unison.


    Allahar stiffened and laughed harder. "Buahahaha! Then, come at me! But prepare to hacked into pieces!"


    The others only shook their heads and ignored the loud mouth hulk. Suddenly, a man in black cloak with face couldn''t be seen due to the shadow that concealed his entire being, emanating dark and evil aura appeared. This man was no doubt stronger than the rest.


    They greeted him with mixed expressions in their faces, fear, reverence, and hate. "Glory to the Dark God!"


    The black cloaked man nodded and sat on the 14th chair. He started. "The Dark Envoy has given his order. The Illunar Kingdom must fall for opposing the Immortal Skull. Do what we usually do, adding fuel to the fire and letting the forest burn into ashes! Make the nobles fight each other to death. Control whom should be controlled and kill any hindrance. At the end of the year, the Dark Envoy will come personally to see the fall of Illunar Kingdom. Failures will result to death... Any questions?"


    Who would dare asked questions if the black cloaked man let his evil aura ran wild, suffocating the others? If one of them really asked question, that person would definitely be killed the moment a word came out of his mouth.


    "Hmmmp! Very well. The person with most contribution to the fall of Illunar Kingdom will have the highest reward! A compatible National Treasure Grade Item and a Mystic Grade Skill Crystal!" The black cloaked man sneered.


    Gasp and shock could be seen on the faces of the rest as they watched the black cloaked man disappear.


    "Buahahaha! That National Treasure Grade Item will be mine!" Allahar laughed loudly as he left.


    "No, that will be mine. I will kill whoever block my hand!" Levgard solemnly swore as killing intent surged out madly from body.


    "Hmmp! We''ll see!" A blonde young lady snorted and left in elegant strides.


    "Hehehehe!" The eerie laughter of the thin and tall man echoed through the chamber as he left.


    A murderous glint flashed in others eyes as they also take their leave silently. Now, they all have the same thing in mind. Exceed others in contribution even it means killing others!

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8 Some decisions changed lives


    Sitting on a comfortable chair, Amellia watched and listened while eating some snacks in her Alchemy Shop, through her Dark Slime as Lifiarda assembled her subordinates at the western entrance of Ferlan Village, which was leading towards the Apor Mountain Range.


    The Dark Slime was split into twelve smaller versions of itself and have had successfully attached themselves onto the twelve knights without their knowledge.


    Though, the knights possessed sensitive sixth sense that were honed and tempered, and could sense all living things around for a considerable range without using their other senses, they were still unable to find the Dark Slime as it wasn''t part of the living.


    It was an Homunculus, a creature more similar to a puppet. It was alive, but have no life. Such creature wasn''t rare. They could be found in dungeons, more often placed before an entrance and programmed to guard the treasure within.


    Amellia smirked as she saw Lifiarda furrowed her eyebrows and looked around. ''Lifi is worthy of her title as a Captain Knight. What are a sharp sense she have.''


    ''Why do I feel like being watched?'' Lifiarda thought as he glared at her subordinates and shook her head. ''Must be my misconception...''


    She cleared her throat before speaking. "Attention!" And all her subordinates looked at her attentively and continued. "Our mission here is to escort an Alchemist back to the Royal Palace, but when I saw the Alchemist, I have a feeling that we''ve used as a cannon fodder."


    The twelve knights frowned. One of her subordinates, Tarrant asked. "What do you mean, Captain?"


    "This mission was given by the 1st Princess herself. She dispatched us at the same time I''ve found the that the agents of Immortal Skull were found within the capital." Her countenance turned solemn. "You know them. They worshipped a Dark God and their deeds were infamous. Sacrificing a whole kingdom to their Dark God, they are no doubt strong and most of all evil. Wherever they are, chaos happened."


    Lifiarda asked. "Don''t you recognize the Alchemist? That raven black hair lady with emerald eyes, the symbol of Illunar Kingdom''s Royal Family..."


    "Now that Captain mentioned it... I think I''ve seen her somewhere before, but I can''t seem to remember where..."


    "It should be in the capital. We never left the capital before we''re dispatched to fight the those barbarians."


    "This idiots! Think carefully!" Lifiarda shouted in annoyance and impatience.


    "Ah! I think I know now! I''ve seen her at the Royal Palace! She must have gone there once before- ugh!"


    The others watched in sympathy as Lifiarda kicked the man away. "Lucio! Go take him back here!"


    "Y-Yes!" And Lucio ran as though his life was on the line.


    "Still not remember?" Lifiarda glared at her subordinates, whom flinched at her knife like eyes stabbing at them. Had her eyes were real knife, they might have been bleeding by now.


    The long haired blondie and pretty looking man that he somewhat appeared like a girl, but quite attractive to many women. He smile gently at the knights that could melt the hearts of many girls, hugging himself and wiggling. "Let me answer this question, oh beautiful Captain Mulrg."


    "Ugh... He''s sparkling again..."


    "Elder Knight Resze... Will he be alright?"


    "Newcomer, don''t worry about him. Just watch the show! Don''t blink!"


    Knight Resze spin like a ballerina and kneeled before Lifiarda. "Oh beautiful Captain-"


    Lucio came back with the Knight that Lifiarda kicked and saw Knight Resze flew away in a dramatic way. Glittering tears fluttered around him and several teeth flew as well. He even smile like he was intoxicated.


    Lucio asked. "Captain, should I go take him back?"


    "No. Let that masochist alone."


    Lucio smile wryly and shook his head. ''That guy will only get happier...''


    Lifiarda coughed and spoke in all seriousness. "Stop your nonsense and listen. This is serious matter! The identity of the alchemist is very sensitive. Therefore, I want you to keep it to yourselves if ever you remember who she is. The time of our departure is considered by her alone. Thus, our true mission isn''t to escort her back, but to protect her at all cost. You mustn''t be complacent. Our enemies are the agents of Immortal Skull and they might show up at any moment. Be alert and don''t go somewhere alone. Take note of every suspicious person you see. That''ll be all, you can go back now."


    She sighed and decided to head back. Being near to Amellia, she would feel more at ease. In case something happened, she could ascertain her safety and protect her. As Amellia''s best friend, they knew each other very well and she also knew that Amellia had no intention to return to the palace. Though, Amellia wasn''t disowned, she had been away from the palace for far too long. She would only become a chess pawn if she do so return.


    "I hope, we''re able to get pass this tribulation..." Lifiarda muttered, looking at the direction of the capital. She prayed with reverence, but uneasiness could be seen on her face. "May the Goddess of Light guide me with her holy radiance."


    Amellia was touched that Lifiarda still thought of her as her best friend even though they hadn''t communicated with each other for several years after she left the royal palace.


    The Immortal Skull was an evil organization that was hell bent on destruction and those that opposed them were sacrificed to their Dark God. Illunar Kingdom was definitely one of the list as Illunar hindered their plans at the Alcraz Trident Mountain Range.


    However, it wasn''t the Immortal Skull that conflicted her, for she knew that they''d come anyway and anytime, but the words that Lifiarda spoke.


    ''Eldest Sister Olivia... What are you thinking? You already successfully drove me away from your path to the throne and even father''s love for me was diverted to you... Is it because, you''re still not satisfied and now you want my life?'' Amellia balled her fist tightly, frustration was evident on her face.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Inadvertently, tears trickled down her cheeks. Amellia wiped them away and controlled her tears, but her eyes seemed to have their own minds. Her tears kept pouring down like droplets of rain as she weeped. "Why?!"


    When Lifiarda arrived at the door of Alchemy Shop, she heard someone crying inside. Alarmed, with her sword drawn out, she pushed the door and entered. She was surprised to see her best friend crying. Knowing that her friend needed her, she took off her armor and put away her sword. Lifiarda was worried and embraced Amellia onto her bosom, while brushing her hair.


    "Wuwuwu! Lifi!" Amellia cried even stronger.


    "Don''t cry. I''m here! I will protect you." Lifiarda consoled. Then, she asked angrily. "Tell me, who is he? Did you broke up with your boyfriend? How dare he do that to you!"


    Amellia looked stopped crying and freed herself from Lifiarda''s embrace. "Thanks, Lifi. I''m fine now."


    Lifiarda''s eyes narrowed and held Amellia''s shoulders. "You really broke up with your boyfriend?"


    "What are you saying? I don''t even have a boyfriend. How will I be able to break up with one? Hmmp! Your teasing me again." Amellia snorted. She asked. "Tell me, is it really Elder Sister Olivia who asked you to come here?"


    "How did you know? I only told about it to my subordinates. Are you the one that was watching us the whole time? How did you do that?" Lifiarda asked with curiosity.


    "Hmmp! Answer me first! Why would I tell you that it was indeed me?" Amellia shrugged off Lifiarda''s hands and stood up. She took out a tea set under the table and brewed a tea for herself. Doing this, she could calm herself.


    Lifiarda let go of her hand and nodded. "Yes, it''s indeed the 1st Princess, but I don''t know why." She watched Amellia brewed some tea and continued. "I know that you two are very close when you''re young. I don''t know what happened to you two, but I feel that she still look at you as her precious little sister."


    Amellia halted for a moment, and continue pouring hot water into the tea pot. Lifiarda didn''t missed it. "When she spoke of your name, I saw sadness in her eyes. It''s genuine. When I found that she conspired with the Prime Minister to drive you out of the palace, I was shocked. But maybe, it was her way to protect you."


    Seeing no change in Amellia''s expression, Lifiarda took a deep breath as she grabbed the tea cup and sipped a little bit. Bitterness spread in her mouth as she cringed, and followed by a sweet after taste. Warm feeling flow through her stomach. "Only you two can solve this issue between yourselves. As your best friend and friend of the 1st princess, I advice you two too ask her yourself."


    Realizing how her words, Lifiarda corrected it. "Wait. I''m not persuading you to return to the royal palace. I-It''s only my opinion.... Wait... Why that sounds similar?"


    "I''ve decided. I''ll go back... but not now. Give me several days to prepare." Amellia said determinedly as she stared at Lifiarda in the eyes.


    Lifiarda looked back at her. "Are you sure? Is that your final answer?"


    "Final answer!"


    Lifiarda nodded and finished her tea. "Alright! I''ll inform my subordinates."


    Amellia watched Lifiarda left after wearing her armor as she fell in deep thought. ''Elder Sister Olivia... What truly happened to you after that incident? What did you went through?''


    These were questions Amellia yearned to be answered. Sadness and pain, she had endured for so long. It was about time for her to know the truth from her Elder Sister Olivia. Amellia could remember it, when she was driven out of the palace by her dear sister of all people. That memory was deeply engraved in her mind, the words Olivia spoke and the emotions in her eyes.


    ''It''s because of you that our mother died! You killed her! It''s all your fault and you have to atone for it! Get out of the palace and don''t ever return! I don''t have a sister like you. Once you''re not here, all what father and mother gave to you will become mine! I will have everything while you''ll be left with nothing! And so is the throne! Haha- Hahahaha!


    Olivia''s words were harsh, yet these exact words were spoken with extreme pain in her eyes. Amellia had no knowledge why Olivia suddenlys became thirsty for authority and even hurt her both physically and emotionally.


    It was true that their father and mother favored Amellia so much, and this favor was the reason why most people within the palace thought that Amellia would be the heir apparent. It caused displeasure to other princes and princesses, but Amellia never had once thought of the throne in her mind. Her dream was to become the greatest Alchemist and create an [Immortality Elixir].


    However, she never told this dream of her''s to anyone than Victor, the only friend she ever had.


    Amellia cleaned the tea set and entered her room to prepare. The Alchemy Shop was closed for entire three days and in those three days, while she was concocting potions and creating items to help her in times of need, Victor was in the forest, fighting a monsters with his barehands.


    Victor and the elven girls continued their journey in routine, traveling for the entire day and resting the entire night. In his estimation, it would take them seven days to arrived at Ferlan Village as they were traveling on foot.


    He calculated the time in regard to the factors that would affect their traveling speed. The stamina of the girls, the distance, their own speed and the frequency of encountering monsters on the way.


    The elven girls were all pampered daughters and never had once exercised. Their stats were average and most of them have non-combatant Jobs. At most, it would take them seven days.


    However, Victor never thought of the girls'' potentials. As they walked farther and longer, the girls'' Dexterity, Physique and Vitality increased by slowly, very slow, yet it was enough to greatly affect their speed.


    Then, on the fourth night, they came across an Ogre. The girls were terrified, but they didn''t panicked as they saw Victor immediately by settled down the problem swiftly. The Ogre was only Level 20, and thus a small fry.


    At the same night, Amber walked up to Victor and begged him to teach her to fight. Victor knew that the feeling of being weak, triggered Amber''s thirst for strength, thus he taught her how to fight every night.


    On the sixth ninth, Victor and Amber were having a spar. Victor only used one dagger as handicap, while Amber used a sword. Truth to her Job, as a Fencer. Amber was without a doubt a genius in the sword.


    While others were watching, Victor and Amber exchanged blows.


    "[Piercing Thrust]!" Amber cried as she panted. Her sword shone and stabbed straight towards Victor, but was easily parried and rendered her attack useless.


    "You''re doing it again! Don''t shout your skills when you''re attacking. You''re only signalling your enemy that you''ll use a skill. If you''re enemy is smart and knew how your skill works, they''ll definitely knew what to do. It only works on stupid monsters!" Victor stated while parrying the strikes that were coming at him. "Unpredictability and ambush! That''s the key to defeating your enemy! You have to use your skills at times when your enemy least expected it!"


    "Like this? Hah!" Amber twisted her body and waved her sword at Victor''s knees.


    Victor evaded the sword by jumping, but Amber seemed expected it and followed with an aerial attack. A sword zoomed towards his chest, attempting to stab him. It was true that people would have a hard time evading an attack while in mid air, but Victor wasn''t one of them.


    He smile at Amber, praising her from coming up with such tactics. If he it was before, it might injured him, but he wasn''t the one he was before. Using his dagger, he flicked the sword to the left and chopped Amber''s head with his left hand.


    Amber lost her grip on the sword and it fell on the ground as they landed. She fell on her butt and cried. "Ouch! Oww! You hit me on the head again! What if I became stupid?!"


    Victor smile and helped her up. "That won''t happen. I didn''t use any strength. You did well, I didn''t expect that last attack. Looks like you can now fight on your own."


    Rubbing her forehead, Amber blushed bashfully and smile. "Thanks!"


    "Alright, let''s stop here. We still need to wake up early tomorrow. Sleep, I''ll be the sentry tonight." Victor nodded and sat on the log near the campfire, leaning on a tree.


    Amber head in to her tent and glimpsed at Victor before going inside.


    ''I''ve decided! I''ll become strong and definitely repay you someday!'' She firmly decided in her heart, but she didn''t know that this decision would be the starting point of the change in her life and birth of the Hero.


    The debt she owed him couldn''t be payed by mere golds. He had rescued them from all the calvaries they would have encounter, even willingly provided them with safety and even guided them to reunite with their families.


    If she would not compensate him properly, then it only means she never treated her life and her companions'' lives as something as important and precious.


    Scanning the whole surroundings with his [Forest Guide] and having found no strong monsters nearby or any suspicious things, only then did Victor closed his eyes to sleep.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9 A Wolf in sheep''s clothing killed the three wicked pigs


    At a certain place, two people were conversing, one standing in midair, the second was riding on one of the known evil dragons, the Crimson Dragon. The former was Levgard, while the latter was another agent of Immortal Skull, Dranhir.


    "Dranhir, have you thought through my offer of cooperation? I know you want the National Treasure Grade Item, and I only want the Mystic Grade Skill Crystal. If we worked together, we can win this competition!" Levgard started as he observed no change of expression on the former''s face.


    Dranhir was the same expressionless bastard he knew. His Crimson Dragon snorted towards Levgard as hot red flame shoot out from its nostrils.


    Levgard countenance turned dark as he shielded himself with white barrier. He glared coldly at the grinning Crimson Dragon and turned to Dranhir. "You should teach your pet lizard to be polite, Dranhir. If not, it will definitely die early!"


    He turned around and snorted before he left. "Looks like you have no intention to team up with me. Then, I''ll just ask others. Don''t let that pet lizard of yours run anywhere. If I spotted it alone, I''ll definitely kill it and eat it!"


    Dranhir patted the Crimson Dragon gently and muttered with a smile of a greedy dragon. "Nicely done, Ruby. With you here, I don''t need to team up with anyone. Those two rewards will be mine! And mine alone!"


    He looked at west and his pupils shrunk like that of a snake. "Luqane Forest, eh? Let''s play there for awhile, like ten years ago."


    Ruby, the Crimson Dragon, growled and flew towards Luqane Forest, leaving trails of red flame behind.


    Unaware of the coming disaster, the people in Ferlan Village continued on their daily lives. Three days had passed, after Amellia locked herself in her Alchemy Shop. Many people went to the Alchemy Shop to buy some potions, but they left in disappointment as they saw that the Alchemy Shop wasn''t in business.


    Lifiarda patiently awaited Amellia outside her shop and also guarding her in case something happened. She couldn''t let her guard down as their opponent was the Immortal Skull and they might strike anytime when they least expected it.


    Standing at the doorstep, Lifiarda felt that the door opened from the inside and saw Amellia wearing a dark blue hooded cloak. "Lia! At last you came out! Had you not came out any longer, I might have had destroyed your door!"


    Amellia smirked and said. "If you did that, you''ll definitely pay for it." She beckoned Lifiarda to come inside. "Anyway, come and help me with my things. I won''t be able to come back for a long time, so I might as well take everything with me."


    Lifiarda nodded and asked. "Alright. Have you decided when we will leave?"


    "Yes, tonight. I''m going to talk to Uncle Leon before we leave. I have to leave a message for someone." Amellia said, slightly down. She pointed at the corner. "I''ll entrust you with all of that. All of it would be helpful for us. Call your lackeys so they could help you."


    "Wait! You''ll just leave me here?!" Lifiarda asked as she stared at the huge piles of assorted things in disbelief. When she looked at Amellia, she already disappeared behind the door. "Ah that woman really left! How am I going to sort all these things? I don''t even know some of them!"


    Taking a deep breath, Amellia walked towards the next shop, five blocks away from her Alchemy Shop. At the top of the entrance, a sign could be seen, Black Steel Forge. The only place in the whole village where kitchen utensils, weapons and other necessities for daily life, all made of metals were created.


    As it was the only smithy in the village, the place enjoyed a good reputation and endless flow of customers, from ordinary villagers to adventurers and the likes.


    When the blacksmiths saw Amellia, all their eyes lit up and the sounds of metals colliding grew louder. She looked around and spotted the bulky old man with an average height for a human and long white beard resembling a dwarf. A Half Human-Half Dwarf.


    Amellia smile to him and greeted. "Uncle Leon! Seems your business is flourishing!"


    Leon was spouting some nonsense to an apprentice before him when he heard someone called his name. "Hmm?" A smile broke into his face and laughed. "Ahahaha! Little Girl! Why are you here? This place is quite smelly! Let''s talk outside!"


    But Amellia shook her head and rejected. "No need. I''m only here ask you to help me give this to Victor once he returns."


    "Hmm... Alright. I''ll make sure that he''ll recieve this." Leon took the box from Amellia and asked. "Anything else? You''re leaving right? Don''t you have a farewell gift to me as well?"


    "Of course, I won''t forget about you Uncle Leon. You''re like a true father to me after all." Amellia took out a bigger box from her Magic Storage Bag and put it on the ground. "It''s quite heavy for me. I hope you like it."


    "What''s this?" Leon asked examining the huge box.


    Amellia only smile mysteriously. "Open it!"


    Leon ripped the box and the object inside revealed itself. He gasped at the sight before him and burst into laughter. "Hahaha! I like this! An Epic Grade Forging Hammer! Little Girl, this is the best farewell gift! I will definitely remember you whenever I''m looking at it!"


    He grabbed the several thousands pound hammer with considerable size for forging and swung it in the air. All the apprentice watched in envy.


    "I won''t forget about you as well, Uncle Leon." Amellia smile and hugged Leon.


    Leon ruffled her hair in return and sighed emotionally. "This Little Girl... I can still remember when you first came here. You''re listless and distrustful. I wonder what you went through. But that''s not important anymore. You''re now different from that Little Girl. You''re now a Big Girl! I hope you can visit me someday."


    Amellia nodded before she left. "I will, for sure! Don''t forget to give Victor the box, Uncle!"


    "I won''t! Take care, Little Girl!" Leon shouted at the entrance of his smithy, looking at Amellia''s back.


    When she disappeared in his sight, he entered his shop and saw the box for Victor. He sighed once again. "This Little Girl..."


    Meanwhile, Victor and the elven girls were only two days away from Ferlan Village. They didn''t hurry and even hunted monsters on the way. Amber would fight the monster as her training, while Victor would lured monsters and supervised the fight.


    Currently, Amber was fighting with a goblin. Victor captured it at the nearby cave of goblins. He didn''t killed them, and only captured one of them. Though, hundred of goblins would be a great sum of EXP, their level gap was quite huge, and thus, he lost interest in them.


    Victor could somewhat understand goblin language and told to the goblin that if it could win, he''d let it choose any girl it fancied amongst the elven girls.


    The goblin was quite unbelieving though, but it still complied as it knew that if it didn''t, it would be killed. Victor gave it a short sword and long sword for Amber.


    Seeing the valiant girl in front of it, the goblin turned to the other elven girls which made them cowered and hid behind Victor. When it saw Victor smile, it turned away hurriedly in fear and rushed to Amber.


    Amber frowned as she saw the goblin charged at her. She confronted it with fastest sword slash she could muster and ended the fight instantly.


    The goblin''s head flew on the ground as its body fell with a thud. Amber sighed and smiled at Victor, waiting to be praised.


    The girls came out behind Victor and cheered for Amber''s win.


    "Wow! Sister Amber is strong!"


    "I want to be as strong as Sister Amber!"


    "Then, you train as well!"


    "But it''s too tiresome. I better not..."


    Awkwardness couldn''t be felt between them anymore. Going through many dangers made them closer to each other as Victor kept protecting them again and again. They slowly opened up to Victor and wasn''t shy anymore, but it sometimes gave him headache.


    He took a deep breath and shook his head. "Okay, stop arguing. You''ll end up scratching each other again." He turned to Amber and smile. "You did great, Amber. You can now become an Adventurer. You''ll definitely pass the Strength Assessment Test that all aspiring Adventurers must go through and become an Iron Rank Adventurer."


    "Iron Rank?" Amber asked. "What''s that? Does Adventurers have ranks?"


    Victor nodded as he walked and beckoned others to follow. "Come on. Let''s continue onwards. I''ll tell you on the way."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The girls followed behind him and listened. "Adventurers are people that take missions, they do everything from Escorting, Subjugating and Collecting. In order to become a full-fledged Adventurer, one must underwent a Strength Assessment Test first. If you can''t pass it, then you''re not qualified as Adventurer. You''ll be only throwing your life and the Adventurer''s Guild won''t let you tarnish their good reputation.


    Once you passed the the Strength Assessment Test, you''ll start as an Iron rank. Doing missions and completing them will give you points and it will increase your rank to Bronze Rank, following that are, Copper Rank, Silver rank, Gold Rank, Mithril rank and Adamantine Rank. The highest is the Dragon Rank. Someone that can take down a Dragon on his own."


    "Wow! there are really many ranks!" Daisy exclaimed.


    "T-Then, what rank are you, Victor?" Shyli asked bashfully.


    "Me? I''m not an Adventurer. I''m a Hunter. I only hunt monsters and sell them to people for money and I like this way of life. But if you''re asking how strong I am, I might be as strong as an Silver Rank." Victor said casually.


    "You can''t defeat Dragons? B-But you can kill that big and fat monster from before, and those bad wolves! You''re super strong!" Lola firmly believe.


    Victor smile at her and shook his head. "Well. I''m still not that strong, but I can become stronger. In the future, I can surely defeat a Dragon as well!"


    "Right! I definitely believe, Victor!" Daisy shouted.


    "I, too believe Victor as well!"


    "Me too!"


    "Victor is the strongest!"


    Suddenly, a several shadows descended before them. Victor stopped the girls took out his Cirulas Long Bow.


    "Hehehe! What beautiful ladies you have there, young man!" Said, a fat man with a lecherous smile, a scar over his face and holding a war axe. He licked his lips and said. "Why don''t you give me one- no! All of them! Give me all of them and you can leave with your life!"


    Another fat man stepped forward, holding two daggers on his both hands and said. "Young man, this is no robbery. No hard feelings. We''re only doing our job."


    A fat man in lavish robe came from behind the two men and eyed the girls. He smiled wickedly and laughed. "Kukuku! Those stupid goblins did a very good deed! Luckily, I''ve found you before you manage to contact someone. Kid, since I''m in a good mood today, I''ll give you two choices; either return those slaves them back to me on your own and spend your life serving, at least you''ll live or die here!"


    Victor was no idiot. By the words he heard from these people, they seemed have had a hand in capturing the girls from the elven village they lived in. The goblins he killed were just unlucky to have met a hunting group of Orcs. With Orc''s high libido, they were attracted by the female elves and thus attacked the group of goblins.


    He coincidently happened to passed by at that very time of the day and saved the girls out of pure good will. These people might have had gotten the trails they left behind and tracked them. It could be said partly due to Victor''s fault for not thinking that a group of goblins couldn''t have had kidnapped the elven girls for the use of breeding, but instead ordered by someone.


    Goblins were stupid monsters after all. Although, Hobgoblins were pretty smart, they weren''t that smart and brave to kidnap a group of female elves from a guarded elven village with only a small number. They must''ve accomplices within the elven village.


    "What do you mean? I saved these girls from a group of goblins and orcs. Furthermore, slavery is forbidden in Illunar Kingdom. Once the authorities know this, you''ll spend your remaining life in prison!" Victor said, acting afraid and without knowledge.


    The fat man held his bulging belly and laughed. Complacency brimming on his face. For him, Victor was already a rabbit caught in trap, he had no places to escape. "So you''ve chosen the latter... Kukuku! Since you''ll die anyway, I''ll enlighten you. Those slaves behind you have already been bought by me with a very high price which made them automatically my properties! Those goblins are my slaves as well, only disposables! For them to fail to bring the goods to me, I must thank you for doing the for killing them."


    Victor frowned and whispered. "Amber, once I attack, go and escape to the forest. I''ll take care of them."


    Amber''s face was pale. "But..."


    "Wuwuwu! Victor don''t leave us!"


    "Victor, w-we won''t escape alone!"


    "Right! We won''t leave you alone!"


    "Don''t worry about me, I''ll be okay. Just escape and hide yourselves far away here. I''ll come and find you after I''m done with them." Victor reassured them solemnly.


    "How touching!" The fat man frowned and sneered. "Going to escape? Caras, Toru, no need to talk, just kill him! leave the slaves to me!"


    Caras, the dagger wielding man and Toru, the one with war axe, both rushed towards him with intention to kill. A Thief and a Warrior that had gone through their new job selection at Level 50. Caras was Level 52, while Toru was Level 50


    There were only 25 arrows left in the quiver after Victor pulled out two arrows and mounted them on his [Cirulas Long Bow]. Using Analysis, he found out that the fat man was actually a Level 45 Mage, specialized in Water Magic.


    Releasing the the string, Victor shouted. "Run!"


    Though, two arrows whistled through the air, another two pairs shoot out without consuming another arrow. It was due to the Triple Shot, a skill the triples any projectiles that were shot or thrown and followed the same trajectory wirh the same amount of force and power.


    The axe man roared and shielded himself with his war axe, while his skin shone with white light as he charged forward.


    Clang! Clang! Clang! "


    "Argh!" Toru grunted as he was pushed back. He never expected that a thin man like Victor could unleashed powerful arrows.


    The same arrows flew at Caras, but unlike the all brawn brain Toru, he knew how strong the arrows as his eyes narrowed and he vanished in sight. Victor was not surprised at that as he was a Thief, with Assassin as his Second Job. They were people that were good at concealment and killing in one hit.


    However, Caras have had just acquired his Second Job and still wasn''t proficient in using his concealment skill. Thus, Victor found him easily through his scent.


    [Power Up]! [Physique Up]! [Dexterity Up]!


    Victor shoot another two arrows, targeting the running fat man intending to stop him from pursuing the fleeing girls.


    [Power Shot]! Two powerful arrows flew to the air as though a pair of beam of light.


    Swoosh! The fat man saw the arrows and felt a dangerous vibe. He shouted in panic. "[Water Shield]! [Water Shield]! [Water Shield]!"


    Three layers of [Water Shield] enveloped the fat man from the two arrows. Two layers was destroyed, while the last layer was punctured through and superficially wounded the fat man. His shoulder bled as he squealed. "Ahh! It hurts! You two! What are you doing?! Kill him! Kill him! I want him dead!"


    Victor sensed something behind as crouched down and swept his leg. Caras suddenly appeared behind him with a dagger and got tripped forcefully. He jumped back and shoot three consecutive arrows at Caras that fell on the ground.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Caras rolled back and evaded the arrows as she vanished once again.


    Victor, then turned to the incoming war axe and side stepped, swiftly dodged being hacked. The war axe hit the ground and....


    Booom!


    Propelled by the force, Victor jumped away and shoot an arrow at Toru that was completely defenseless after his failed attack.


    [Power Shot]!


    An arrow flew at lightning speed and struck Toru at the back of his spine, directly through his heart and chest. He coughed up blood and groaned. "Ughh!"


    When Victor landed on the ground he looked around and his face darkened as he hadn''t found thefat man. He tapped his boots on the ground as his speed increased and his body was covered by orange light. The moment Caras appeared behind Victor again, he disappeared in his sight like a ghost.


    Caras was alarmed anf thought that Victor was also an Assassin like him and not an Archer or an Hunter and more proficient in using the concealment skill, [Assasinate].


    Immediately, Caras used [Assassinate] and vanished in thin air, but before he could move, an arrow penetrated his heart and another through his skull. Caras died instantly, while his partner Toru was still hanging by hairsbreath.


    Victor ended Toru''s suffering by shooting an arrow through his skull and left to track the girls before the fat man.


    Not far away, the girls were being cornered by the fat man. The wound on his shoulder have healed already after he had drank vial of [Recovery Potion]. "Hehehe... I admit. That hunter is good. For the likes of him to inflict wound on me, he is truly good, but that''s all! He is definitely dead by now! It means, no one will be able to help you!"


    The girls were crying and cowering in fear.


    "No! Victor is not dead!"


    "He''ll come and save us! He''ll beat you to death! You stinky ugly fatty!"


    The fat man flinched as he saw Amber determinedly pointed her long sword at him. His face darkened as the fat on his face trembled. "How dare a slave like you point your weapon at me! I''ll show you how I punish bitches like you!"


    "[Water Rope]!" A long rope made of water congealed on his hand and whipped Amber.


    Amber was no longer an ordinary elven girl. Though, she only train with Victor for a few days, it was enough for her to fight. At the very least, she could evade attacks the fat man could unleashed and bought time, for she believed that Victor would come to save them yet again.


    "Arghh! Stay still, you bitch!" The fat man disgruntled in anger as he saw Amber clumsily continuously dodged his Water Rope. "I had enough! [Water Ball!]"


    "Kuhk! Ugh!" Amber cried as the Water Ball hit her on the shoulder. Her long sword fell from her hands as she was blasted to a tree due to the impact.


    Badly hurt from the attacks, Amber crawled up. The fat man didn''t stopped as he smile wickedly and conjured a Water Rope again. He whipped Amber on behind that pushed her back on the ground.


    "Elder Sister Amber!"


    The girls ran at the fat man and punched him, but they were only hurt and whipped away. "Kekeke! That''s what you got from going against me! You slave bitches!"


    "Wuwuwu! Victor, Brother Victor where are you?!"


    "Victor, wuwuwu! Help us!"


    "Kuahaha! A dead man won''t hear your plea!" The fat man kicked Amber on the stomach and pulled her hair up. "Hmm... You''re quite pretty. But I don''t like your attitude. Disobedient slaves like you only have one end. Death!"


    Amber felt her her neck being gripped tightly, and her air ways clogged as she choked and coughed. She grabbed the arms and clawed them to break free, but her strength wasn''t enough. Unable to breathe, her face turned red as tears trickled down her cheeks.


    She muttered and closed her eyes. "Vic... tor..."


    Then suddenly, Amber could breathe again. Her force squeezing her throat disappeared as she coughed and gasped for air. She heard the fat man spoke, stuttering in fear and disbelief.


    "I-impossible! Y-You! Why are you still alive?! You should have died! No! That''s not possible!"


    Then, a familiar voice answered. "Nothing is impossible. I admit, those two were quite strong, but I''m stronger."


    "V-Victor..." Amber muttered as she smile, before fainting.


    The other girls had long fainted from being whipped and Amber was the last person awake. Victor''s voice echoed in the fat man''s ears, devoid of emotions. "You hurt my friends and almost killed one of them. For that, I''ll return everything you inflicted to them a hundred fold!"


    "Hii! Wai-! Ugh!" The fat man flew as his face was smashed. His several hundred boy kilogram body was blown away by a single fist. His nose and several teeth broke.


    "You! I''m a member of Three Eyes Congress! If you kill me, they''ll definitely make your life miser-! Ughh!" Victor kicked him as he flew to another tree, leaves fell along with him.


    "W-Wait! We can talk this out!" The fat man no longer have his haughty attitude.


    Walking up to the fat man, Victor grabbed the long sword on ground and slashed the fat man. "Ahhhh! Haa!!! It hurts! It hurts!"


    The fat man squealed like a pig as he flailed on the ground with his left hand missing and bleeding. Snots and tears rained down his face. "Please! Stop! Don''t kill me! I''ll do anything! I''ll give you everything!"


    Victor sneered coldly. "I don''t need your everything, or I''m afraid of your so called congress. I''ll make sure to torture you until you begged me to kill you! Don''t blame me for killing you. Blame yourself. If you hadn''t tracked and attack us, you might have had lived for more years. But to bad! You bump to a wrong person!!"


    "Hii! No! No! Don''t come over! Ahhh!" The fat man screamed in fear.


    With the girls unconscious, Victor tortured the fat man thoroughly until he died of blood lost. Victor hated people like the fat man, not because they did someone to him in the past. Selfishness, greedy and wicked, people like them were no different to a monster- no, they were much worse than monsters.


    But that''s how the world worked. The strong prey on the weak. It was his reason for hunting monsters stronger than him.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10 Leaving without saying good-bye


    When the fat man drew his last breathe, the battle had ended.


    [Your battle performance has been evaluated.]


    [You have killed Caras Bonem Level 52 (Theif, Assassin), Toru Frecks Level 50 (Warrior, Axe Man), Crusten Moorbe Level 45 (Mage)]


    [You gained.... 450,000 EXP]


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil activated.]


    [You have killed Caras Bonem (Theif, Assassin) | Level 52. Toru Frecks (Warrior, Axe Man) | Level 50. Crusten Moorbe (Mage) | Level: 45]


    [Half of the over all Stats of Caras Bonem Level 52 (Theif, Assassin), Toru Frecks Level 50 (Warrior, Axe-Man), Crusten Moorbe Level 45 (Mage), will become yours, as well as all the compatible Skills they possessed.]


    [Your stats are increasing: Power +158, Dexterity +146, Spirit +107, Physique +172, Vitality +139, Magic +111]


    [New Skills learned]


    [Active Skill: Assasinate | Shadow Steps | Cut Throat | Back-Hand Stab | Shadow Stealth | Pick Pocketing | Lock Picking | Crescent Slash | Iron Axe | Hack Down | Shield Break | Physical Reinforcement | Power Strike | Magic Up]


    [Passive Skill: Night Vision | Great Strength | Lesser Recovery]


    [Magic: Fire Magic (Lv 1) | Water Magic (Lv 2) | White Magic (Lv 1)]


    [Unique Skill: Soul Collector activated.]


    [3 souls of enemies you slay has been collected. You can choose to absorb them or store them in your Soul Space for future usage.]


    ''Store them...'' Victor thought as he helped the girls. He carried them and leaned them beside a tree before he treated their wounds with vials of [Health Potions]. Fortunately, he bought many of them.


    [Health Potion] was the same as the [Recovery Potion], but the latter''s effect was much faster. Due to limited capital, he couldn''t afford to buy bulks of the expensive [Recovery Potion], only [Health Potion] as it was cheaper. While he was waiting for the girls to wake up, he looked up to his [Status].


    [Name: Victor Marcus | Age: 25]


    [Gender: Male | Race: Human]


    [Level: 32 | EXP: 86%]


    [Job: Hunter]


    [Power: 482 | Dexterity: 440(+200) | Spirit: 546(+110)]


    [Physique: 556 | Vitality: 544 | Magic: 485(+100)]


    [Active Skill: Analysis | Screw Stab | Critical Strike | Triple Shot | Power Shot | Trap Search | Trap Make | Trap Disarming | Tracking | Stealth | Earth Collapse | Destruction Strike | Catastrophe | Armageddon | Blunt Smash | Angry Roar | Stench | Physique Up | Dexterity Up | Power Up | Full Thrust | Assasinate | Shadow Steps | Cut Throat | Back-Hand Stab | Shadow Stealth | Pick Pocketing | Lock Picking | Crescent Slash | Iron Axe | Hack Down | Shield Break | Physical Reinforcement | Power Strike | Magic Up]


    [Passive Skill: Enhance Hearing | Low Light Sight | High Olfactory Sense | Shooting Accuracy | Nimble Hands | Ambidextrous | Sneaky Feet | Titan Strength | Darkness Immunity | All-ailments Resistance | Dark Vision | High Speed Regeneration | Language Acquisition | Libido | Rapid Digestion | Physical Endurance | Danger Perception | Night Vision | Great Strength | Lesser Recovery]


    [Magic: Fire Magic (Lv 1) | Water Magic (Lv 2) | White Magic (Lv 1)]


    [Unique Skill: Hero''s Gift from the Devil | Soul Collector | Forest Guide]


    "... This Unique Skill... As I thought, it is too overpowered." Victor gasped as he saw his Stats. "I even acquired Magic?... But it''s more messed up."


    Dismissing the notifications, he turned to the girls that were slowly waking up one by one. Groans and moans of ache echoed as the girls became conscious. When Daisy woke up, she abruptly sat up and looked around in fear. She dreamed of being sold in a slave market and thus anxious that she cried. At the sight of others that also woke up, she saw that none of them were taken away.


    A big hand patted her head and a familiar voice gently came in her ears. "Don''t cry. Everything is okay."


    When she looked up, she saw Victor. And her tears gushed as her nose wrinkled and mouth curved downward. "Uwah!"


    Daisy pounced on Victor and buried her small face in his bosom. "Wuwuwu! Victor! It''s you! It''s really you!"


    The other girls that woken up also cried and surrounded Victor.


    "Victor! You''re here!"


    "Brother Victor!"


    His heart melted as the girls hugged him and felt their emotions. Patting their heads and consoling them. "Now, now. Don''t cry. Crying will make you ugly as a goblin."


    "U-Ugly as a stinky goblin?!"


    "Wuwu! I don''t want to become a goblin!" Daisy whimpered, only she bought it.


    Victor smile gently. "Then, don''t cry." He turned to the others and sighed in relief. "All of you must be hungry. Let''s set a camp here and rest. We''ll continue our journey tomorrow morning."


    The girls nodded and sat down around him. Victor could only smile wryly as hands clutched tightly on the hem of his clothes. Being the oldest, when Amber woke up she immediately readied herself, but when she saw Victor, she too couldn''t help but cry and hugged him.


    "V-Victor! You''re safe! I-I thought, Wuwuwu!" Amber weeped on his bosom.


    "Sister Amber, not fair!"


    "SSister Amber! You''re heavy!"


    "Puwah! I can''t breathe!"


    "Hey! Me too! Me too!"


    "Hahaha!" Victor couldn''t help but laugh as they argued.


    After the tents were set up neatly, the girls slept very soundly. They were both physically and mentality exhausted after feeling a sudden rush of adrenaline. The [Health Potion] could only heal wounds, unlike the [Recovery Potion] that could revitalized the body and swept away fatigue.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    It was only afternoon and the sun radiantly hovered up above their heads, but due to the rich foliage, the heat was mostly absorbed by the trees and could be felt slightly beneath.


    Using [Forest Guide], Victor searched for the three elves which he saw and heard were ordered by the Elven Village Chief to find the girls that were now in his care, to know if they were still alive.


    He found them instantly and saw that they were approaching his location. Observing them, he listened to their conversation.


    "Maria, are you sure that you felt your younger sister on this direction?" A male elf asked as he followed behind the two female elves.


    Maria only nodded. Seeing it, the other female elf sighed. "I hope they''re in good situation. I''m afraid, they''d already been defiled."


    The male elf frowned in dissatisfaction and Maria spoke. "Don''t speak like that, Frey. I''m sure they''re in good state from what I felt. At least, be positive like Laurel."


    Frey sighed. "I just want you to be prepared."


    When they arrived at their destination, they saw the site where Victor and the three fat man battled. They saw two corpses, both were killed by arrows. Laurel examined the corpses and searched for a track. "They seems have had fought with someone, underestimated their opponent were killed.... Furthermore, more then ten different foot prints were heading deeper into the forest and they seems like fleeing."


    "It''s them! They have escaped! But someone pursued them! Let''s hurry!" Maria exclaimed in agitation.


    Laurel and Frey nodded and hurriedly left. After running for a minute, they arrived at the campsite and saw a man with a bow and quiver of arrows sitting before an unlighted stack of firewoods for campfire.


    "Be careful. I sense a very dangerous vibe from him..." Laurel whispered at Maria and Frey. What they saw from their own perspective were different, thr two woman saw the man as very dangerous criminal, while Laurel saw was a monster as powerful as a dragon.


    "What should we do?" Frey asked as she stared at the man''s back. The gleams of sun''s light made him quite clear in her vision.


    Frey could recognized the man''s clothes, made of Dire Wolf''s, Ogre''s and Troll''s. From this alone, she knew that the man was an excellent hunter himself. Being a nature inclined race, she could feel the friendliness of the forest for him that she only felt from Druids and her same kind.


    "He seems not alone. Look at thise tents...." Maria hesitated, but still said. "For some reason, I feel my little sister in one of those tents."


    "Is that true?!"


    "Are you sure?!"


    Maria nodded, firmly answering Laurel and Frey''s doubts.


    They hid behind trees and watched the man and started at the four tents around the campfire. When suddenly, the man spoke in Human Language. "Since you have come, at least introduce yourselves."


    The three doubtfully looked at each other, wondering if the man was talking to them. The man spoke once again. "There''s no need to hide. I know what you''re looking for. Perhaps, I can help you."


    Then, they saw the man looked at their direction and meet eyes with him. Though, astounded inside, the three cautiously walked towards the man. When they arrived before him, the man faintly smile in relief. "At last you''re here." He sighed. "Why are you so slow?"


    The three exchanged glances, mentally conversing. What is this human saying? Can you understand him?


    What the man said next made glared at him. "I know you''re looking for those girls."


    Maria pulled an arrow and aimed the bow at him. "Tell me where they are!"


    Frey and Laurel followed.


    The man chuckled and pointed at the tents. "They''re sleeping in there. They''re exhausted after everything they had gone through. I''m Victor Marcus by the way."


    "Are you one of the kidnappers?" Laurel interrogated, with his experience, the man seemed not, but for him to know their purpose, he was definitely related, at the very least.


    Victor only smile. "Be careful on your bow and don''t accuse me of something I didn''t do."


    "Then, why do you know we''re looking for our missing kin?" Frey asked.


    With a mysterious smile, Victor answered. "As a friend of the forest. I can see and hear what they saw and heard. And I''ve been watching you for while now." He pointed at the bloody remains of the fat man Mage, and said. "If you''re looking for answers, then take a look at that pig''s belongings. You might find some clues."


    He solemnly spoke in Elven Tongue, which surprised the three. "I promised to Amber and the rest that I''ll help them reunite with their families. But since you three are now here, I have already fulfilled that promise."


    "You can speak our language? Then, you ought be a friend." Frey gasped.


    "You only thought of that now? If I''m one of those slave traders, would I even allow those poor girls to sleep in a comfortable tent while I''m guarding outside?" Victor sneered.


    Frey looked at Maria and Laurel as they lowered their weapons, and bowed apologizing. Maria spoke. "So you''re a friend. We''re very sorry for pointing our weapons at you, we''ve been disrespectful. Also, we''re grateful for saving our kidnapped kin."


    "That dead fat human, is he one of those kidnappers?" Laurel asked and frowned. "It seems he died due to torture."


    "No, he''s the mastermind. He ordered a group of goblins to kidnap the girls, he pursued us after I saved them from the goblins. Look at his things, you will definitely find something." Victor took a deep breath and grabbed his bow and quiver of arrows. "He hurt Amber and the rest, I only avenge them since they can''t do it themselves..."


    He stood and about to leave. "Well that''s all, I need to leave now. I''ll count on you three for looking after the safety of those girls."


    "Wait, you''re leaving?" Maria stopped him. "At least, let us repay you properly for saving them and my sisters life."


    Victor shook his head as he left. "No need. A true friend help his friends. Give my regards to the girls, tell Amber to continue her training and if you encounter something in the future and needed help, just find me at the outskirt of Luqane Forest. I lived in the village known as Ferlan. That''s all, let''s meet again in the someday."


    Watching Victor disappeared between the trees, the three sighed in relief and exchanged knowing glances.


    Frey muttered. "What a weird human."


    Laurel smile and looked inside the tent. He found the girls, safe and sound asleep. They were all in good health, he found no signs of maltreatment. "At least, he''s a good person. These girls were lucky enough for encountering him. No matter how eccentric he is, as long as he''s a good person, then all is better."


    Maria entered one of the tents and saw her younger sister. She cried. "Daisy..."


    "Hmmmm? Big Sister? Why are you here?" Stirred awake, Daisy yawned and rubbed her eyes. Then, her eyes widened and moistened. "B-Big Sister?!"


    Daisy crawled towards Maria and pinched her cheeks. Feeling the familiar soft skin of her older sister, she cried. "Wuwuwu! Big Sister it''s really you!"


    Maria embraced Daisy and brushed her hair gently as she cried herself. "I''m extremely glad you are okay. If anything happens to you, Big Sister won''t be able to forgive herself... Don''t worry, from now on, I won''t leave your side. I promise."


    Due to Daisy''s loud cry, the other girls inside the tent, as well as in the other tents were all awakened. They were alarmed as they heard someone cried, but when they peeked outside and saw someone they knew, delight filled their hearts.


    "Uncle Laurel! Elder Sister Frey!"


    "Look! Look! Big Brother Laurel and Elder Sister Frey is here! They''ve found us!"


    Looking around, Frey smile widely as she saw everyone were fine. When she saw Amber, she gasped in worry and hurriedly approached her. "Amber! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"


    "Elder Sister Frey? How did you find us? Is my grandfather okay?" Amber questioned.


    Laurel nodded and answered instead. "Yes. The Chief ordered us three to find you." He sighed helplessly. "Though, were very late. It is all thanks to that man for saving you. If not for him, we might not see you again."


    "That''s!... Wait!" Amber looked around upon realizing that she couldn''t see Victor, even his shadow. "Where''s Victor?"


    "That human friend?" Frey asked as she turned to the other girls. She could feel their sadness.


    "D-Did Victor left already?" Euresha asked, slightly down.


    "He left. He said he still have something he must do. Therefore, we three will be responsible for taking care of you from here on." Maria said. She turned to Daisy as she felt her emotion. "Don''t be sad. We will find him in the future and thank him properly for saving you. You''ll definitely meet again someday."


    Amber and the girls were silent for a moment, while some shed tears. Amber sighed. "He just left without saying goodbye?"


    Frey patted Amber''s head and said. "Before he left, he said that you mustn''t stop your training and you are free to find him in Ferlan Village. It is only at the outskirt of Luqane Forest. Though, slightly far from our village, you can travel there once you''re strong enough."


    Laurel nodded. "Alright. Your families are worried sick about you. We''ll rest for several hours and set out."


    Amber, Frey, Maria and the other girls agreed with a nod.