The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Chapter 5: Battle With The Wolves

As soon as I saw them, every cell of my body told me to run.

As I was running, I desperately started thinking of what I should do to get out of this situation.

In the end, I will have to defeat them.

I took out my sword and stopped as I took two HP potions in my other hand.

The wolves surrounded me and started circling me.

One of the wolves jumped at me, I tried to dodge by jumping to my left, but another wolf jumped at me from the left. 

I stopped and jumped backward without looking back. As I jumped, I tripped over something and fell on my back as my sword slipped out from my hand.

I saw the third wolf jumping at me.

I rolled and grabbed my sword as I stood up.

"Come on, Das."

You can do it.

All the wolves jumped at me at the same time. I crouched a little and analyzed their jump.

I quickly raised my sword and moved back swiftly as I swung the sword, which cut one of the wolves.

The wolf's HP went down to 3 %.

It looks like they are set to level 1 skill and stats.

The injured wolf fell near me.

I immediately slashed its neck, and soon after, the body disappeared. And so did the blood. 

[Level increased]

"Level up?!"

[Level increased]

"By killing just one wolf?"

[The rewards were set for the high players. But since you are level 1, the rewards would look too much to you]

"I see."

So I guess I will be leveling up several times.

There are two wolves left. And is it just me, or do they look more furious now?

Are they angry that I killed their buddy?

Both of them jumped at me at the same time; I didn't know where to dodge. 

"Heh!" I smirked as I tried to analyze their jump again.

I guess they are programs, after all. I will just analyze everything and...what the--!

I can't analyze this jump.

Will they land on the right? Or will they jump over me and attack?

I can't figure it out.

Their trajectory motion is...I can't do it after all!

I ran to find a better place to kill them.

"I leveled up two times; that means I am level 3 now, right?"

[Yes]

"So why am I still running this slow?!"

[You suck]

"I don't suck. And I don't need to run in the real world every day. And I am sure I can run ten times faster in the real world. This game sucks!"

Ten times might be an exaggeration, but I can run up to 4 times faster! Okay...3 times faster than I am running right now.

After running for a while, I reached a dead end.

There was a cliff in front of me. I walked near the cliff and tried to look down,

"Nope"

I was scared of heights, and if I fell from here, I would die. I looked back to see those two wolves coming my way...slowly.

"Dammit!"

I should have run the other way.

If they both came at me at the same time, I would die.

I can't dodge backward; if I do, I will fall.

I can either jump on the right or the left. But if both of them jump at the same time...

I grabbed my sword and said, "I will just have to move forward." 

Both of them jumped at me at the same time.

I immediately dashed forward and jumped on the rock, stabbing one of the wolves in the stomach.

"Aw, shit!"

My sword is stuck!

I tried to pull my sword, but before I could do that, the wolf swung its claw at me and sent me flying as I slammed into the wall.

Why didn't it work this time?

I quickly killed the first wolf, and I am sure I was using more strength-- "I see!"

My level increased, so his stats increased too.

That just means the more I level up, the stronger they will get.

And if I reach a certain level, they will eventually become invincible.

I got up and said, "So I just have to defeat them before I reach a certain level.

Though I have no idea what that particular level is.

My HP went down to 63 just by getting slammed into the wall.

I used 2 HP potions to max my health again.

I glanced at the injured wolf, who looked more furious than before.

My attack must have hurt it enough.

I gazed at its health bar to expect some damage, but it had only taken 7 damage.

I have to attack the wolf in the same way 14 more times to kill it.

"But..." I glanced at my sword, which was sticking out from the wolf's stomach.

I touched my dagger and said, "I still have this."

I took out the dagger and waited for the wolf's next move.

The injured wolf dashed at me, and I raced at it.

As soon as the wolf tried to jump, I slid down and grabbed my sword, and the momentum did the rest.

[Level increased]

"Hmm."

I stood up and said, "So they can't regenerate."

I thought they might regenerate or something. But I guess I am using my mind too much,, and it's making me look stupid. 

I glanced at the last wolf as I tightened my grip on the sword.

I was ready for its attack, but instead of moving forward at me, it was moving backward.

"Is it retreating?" I questioned myself.

It was moving backward steadily. The look in its eyes showed no sign of fear.

"What if he calls for backup? I should finish him here quickly."

If I kill more, I will level up. And I want to avoid that.

I dashed at him with a sword in my hands, but he jumped and dodged me.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Now,, this is bad."

Behind me were piles of rocks, the same on my left and right side.

"I can't dodge now!"

The wolf charged at me. I couldn't dodge backward, I couldn't avoid to my right or my left, so the only thing I could do is charge forward. I know it's risky, but it's better than doing nothing and dying helplessly.

I leaped forward, and the wolf slammed into the piles of rocks and got buried under it.

And they are supposed to be adaptive monsters?

"It wasn't that hard."

[Did you receive the 'level up' message?]

"I didn't"

[So the wolf must be alive.]

"It is not given that I would level up every time by killing a monster."

[Why don't you try stabbing your sword in that gap.]

I stabbed my sword in that gap.

[A New Skill Acquired]

"Skill?"

[Wow, you got your first skill.]

Yet again, the pixie was flying in front of me.

"Where the hell were you when I was being attacked?"

[I can't help you with the fight, so I was--]

"Watching me die."

[I wasn't, I was cheering you on]

"Oh, you were?"

She nodded while pouting.

"So I got a new skill, how can I use it?" I questioned.

[Equip that skill.]

I opened the menu and checked the skill chart...

"Runner!"

[That's the skill name]

"So I got this because I was running?"

Or is it something like a reward?

[No, you get monster abilities as skill when you kill them.]

"You mean I can run faster now.."

[You can't if you suck anyway.]

"Shut up!" I tried to grab the pixie, but she flew up.

"Let's go."

[Yeah, let's go defeat that boss.]

"I was talking about, 'Let's go and hide.'"

[Why?]

"Why, you ask? Because I don't want to die. I will just wait until maintenance ends."

I don't think I can fight any more monsters.

It's too tiring.

[But you can't go out unless you clear this floor.]

"Hah?"

[But you can get out of here if you die.]

"Okay, let's go and die."

[It will hurt, you know?]

Dammit!

I have to die to get out from here or clear this floor. And there is one option which leads to both.

"Let's go and defeat that boss."

I will either die there and get out of here. Or defeat that boss, and get out of here.