Grr! Grr!
The dire wolves moved through their usual hunting route. Here, they were the apex predators. Nothing in this forest could normally threaten them.
But today was different.
Their pack leader, the Alpha, told them to stay cautious. His senses were sharper than any of theirs, and they trusted him without question.
"Grr--Howl!"
Soon enough, they felt it too.
Something was wrong.
In this usually calm place, they could smell something strange, ominous, but also… divine. Two opposite scents mixed together. What kind of creature could give off something like that?
The scent grew stronger, but they still couldn't see anything around them.
Where was it coming from?
"Howl!"
At the Alpha's signal, they looked up.
High above the forest, three figures hovered in the sky. Three halos glowed above them as they looked down on the pack.
They looked almost angelic…
But every instinct of them screamed run.
The pack didn't wait for another order. Their formation fell apart as they sprinted in every direction, panic breaking whatever discipline they had. They didn't know what those beings were, but they knew one thing, they were not from the Goddess clan.
They weren't smart creatures, but they knew one thing clearly, to survive, it was there primal instinct.
But… maybe they reacted too late.
A sharp, pained howl echoed. Their Alpha was torn apart in an instant, ripped open by black claws from one of the flying men.
He was Arc.
A creature of the Nephren race.
His eyes moved quickly, tracking every fleeing wolf before any could escape his sight. There weren't many left. With the Alpha dead, only ten members remained.
Once he confirmed their directions, Arc vanished. Blue flames burst through the snowy forest as he left nothing but sparks behind.
He appeared beside the furthest wolf, butchering him down, then moved to the next in line.
Arc was fast.
He finished the task in less than three minutes.
From above, the progenitor of the Nephren watched.
David's lips curved into a grin. "That's impressive. He didn't even use a weapon, but he made a great use of those claws. He's like a natural killing machine."
[QUEST COMPLETE]
Dire-Wolf Pack Threat
⟨Processing Results…⟩
Rewards Granted:
+50 CP (Total: 75)
+50 EXP (50 / 100)
Arc: +80 EXP (Level 4: 80 / 100)
Wolf Meat ×11
Dire Wolf Pelts ×11
Alpha Wolf Fang (Rare: can be crafted into weapon/accessory)
Reputation: +1 (Total: 1)
'So it really is like an RPG simulation. I got 50 exp for free, and once I earn another 50, I'll level up. That should increase my strength, or at least I hope it does. Arc is also close to leveling. I should grind with him more. After all until the others come out of their dormant state, he and I are the only ones who can fight.'
David studied the reward screen.
The rewards looked logical. Arc had done most of the work, so he earned more exp. He even got CP, though David still had no idea where those points could be used now.
There was also an increase of one reputation point. It wasn't a big jump, but it showed their race now had a presence in the world.
It wasn't his priority anyway. Until they were knowledgeable, strong, and had numbers, he preferred to stay low. If he didn't, they could be wiped out before they even truly began.
Another detail that caught his attention was Moa's expression, it hadn't changed when the system screen appeared. That confirmed it, only David could see the system.
That was good.
He dismissed the reward screen and turned his attention to the corpses of the dire wolves. On the Alpha's body, he spotted the fang the system had marked as a reward.
'So the system doesn't transfer the reward into storage. You have to take it yourself. Well, that's expected, I guess.'
"Master," Moa called. "From the way they walked before, it seems they pass through this path frequently. If the place they came from is their habitat, then forward from here should be their hunting ground. If that is true, shouldn't we investigate? In a harsh environment like this, information on prey habitats is important."
"You're quite observant, Moa. And what you said sounds reasonable," David said. He paused for a moment, then looked toward Arc. "Arc, I want you to investigate where these wolves usually went to hunt. Observe from a distance, and retreat the moment you sense danger."
"Master, can you send Moa instead?"
"Why?"
"Collecting information and scouting… Mere tasks like that don't suit me. I am a man destined for greatness."
"???"
David couldn't help but stare back blankly at Arc.
'Is this guy stupid? Or what kind of personality is that?'
He had seen Arc in a good light before because of his combat skills, but this comment made David reconsider. Maybe Arc was just a stubborn fighter who only understood brute battles.
In reality work like scouting could be handled by Moa. Even if Moa wasn't strong in combat, gathering information was something he could do well. He had wings, awareness, and intelligence for it.
But,
If David changed his order now, it would undermine his authority. Arc would treat his commands lightly in the future, and that would be dangerous.
So David spoke in commanding tone.
"I believe you are destined for greatness, but that doesn't make any job insignificant to you. I gave you an order, so you have to carry it out."
Arc gave a short nod, then vanished into thin air.
"Master," Moa said quietly. "He is inexperienced with the world and a little prideful. That is why he behaves like that, but he doesn't mean--"
"I understand. Don't worry about it. Gather the leftovers and let's head back to the clan."
Moa obeyed. He was good-hearted and carried a sense of filial bond.
As David turned, a sharp ding echoed in his ears. In some way the system was triggered.
[System Command Menu]
[Shop] [Genesis Altar] [Status] [Quest]
"Huh?"
He already knew about Status and the Quest window, but Shop and Genesis Altar were new.
Without hesitation, David selected [Input: Shop].
〈SYSTEM STORE ACCESSED〉
Current CP Balance: 75
Shop Level: 1
Available Grades: Common, Uncommon (For higher Grade availability please upgrade Shop lv 1→2 )
(DAILY): Rotating selection of unique items. Refreshes every 24 hours. (Currently: 3 items available)
(KNOWLEDGE & TECHNIQUES): Martial arts, magic systems, crafting knowledge, racial techniques.
(FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE): Build new structures, upgrade existing facilities, expand your clan's capabilities.
(EQUIPMENT & ARTIFACTS): Weapons, armor, and magical items for Nephren.
(RESOURCES & SUPPLIES): RESOURCES & SUPPLIES.
(CLAN UPGRADES): Direct improvements to clan level, reputation boosts, special permissions and access to shop lv 2.