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.

"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.