NOVEL NEXT Chapter 70: Next
His body moved through the trees in silence, boots pressing against the branches without so much as a crack to give him away.
Each leap carried him closer to the wolves, his movements so controlled that not even their sharpened instincts caught what's approaching them from above.
His eyes never left the target, the distance shrinking with every step forward, every second pulling him deeper into the range where mistakes would no longer be forgiven.
He landed on a thick branch, the bark rough beneath his grip as he crouched low.
The wolves had stopped their scattered pacing, settling into a loose formation near the tree line, their heads shifting from side to side as they kept watch for threats.
But their heads soon locked on to the duel that was about to begin.
Lanz remained still though, his presence buried in the shadows of the canopy, every muscle in his body frozen until he knew the exact second to strike.
Then he raised his hand, and the system responded.
The Aged Blade Fragment began to form in his grip, its jagged edges piecing together in faint pulses of light before hardening into steel.
The weight settled into his palm, and the smile that stretched across his face showed exactly what that meant to him.
His lips parted slightly, his teeth brushing against the edge of his own skin until he bit down, the sharpness grounding him, reminding him that was the opening he had chosen, and he would not waste it.
His gaze flickered to the side.
Through the corner of his vision, he caught movement that set the stage even better than he had hoped.
Four gray wolves, a little separated from the others, laying down a distance away from the main cluster.
Their heads forward, anticipating the duel, their paws dragging across dirt that had already been clawed apart from earlier battles.
They were distracted. But more importantly, they were vulnerable.
It was perfect.
Lanz's grin widened, his breath slipping out in a short hiss between his teeth.
He adjusted his grip on the blade, the edges catching the faintest shimmer from the moonlight breaking through the canopy above.
The sight only pushed his anticipation further, his heart now steady, his body ready to move at a moment's notice.
He had no illusions about what came next.
If he lingered for even a second too long, the rest of the pack would notice the shift, their heads would snap to the sound of blood being spilled, and his advantage would evaporate before it even had the chance to settle.
He needed to be fast. He needed to end it before any of them could alert the others.
The grin that stretched across his face hardened into something dangerous, his teeth still pressed against his lip as he whispered to himself.
"This has to be quick."
Lamz bent low, the tension in his legs coiled until it felt unbearable.
Then he let it all go at once, his muscles exploding with force, his body rocketing forward with a single, merciless intent.
[Phantom Stride – Activated.]
His form blurred, the distance closed in an instant, and when he reappeared he was no longer above, no longer was he watching.
He stood directly behind the four wolves that had no idea death had already reached them.
His grip tightened, his knuckles whitening against the hilt of his blade.
[Crimson Slash – Activated.]
The blade swept outward in one smooth motion, a horizontal arc ignited with crimson energy that tore through the air.
The resistance was almost nonexistent, the wolves' bodies offering no challenge as steel and skill ripped through their throats in a single stroke.
Blood sprayed outward in a violent wave, coating the ground, painting the bark of nearby trees, and splattering across Lanz's helmet.
Their heads separated cleanly, severed from their necks with perfect precision, before collapsing onto the dirt in four dull thuds.
Their paws twitched once against the soil, tails giving short spasms before falling still.
Warm blood spread across the dirt in uneven rivers, steam rising faintly as it met the night air, the stench clawing upward with a raw, metallic weight that hung heavy in his lungs.
Not a single sound came from their mouths. There were no yelps, cries, or any last attempts at survival.
The only noises that lingered were the wet slap of flesh against earth, the steady drip of blood pouring from open necks, and the mechanical chime of his system registering the kills.
[EXP +7]
[EXP +7]
[EXP +7]
[EXP +7]
The notifications rang in his ears, but they were drowned out by the rush in his chest. His shoulders rolled once, the blade still humming faintly in his grip, and he relished the weight of it as though it was begging for more blood. A low laugh threatened to escape his throat, but he bit it back, savoring the tension instead.
He dragged his thumb across his helmet, smearing the warm blood that had struck him, then flicked it away with absolutely no hesitation.
His breath came out in quick, deliberate beats, the grin stretching his lips refusing to fade.
"Next."
His gaze lifted, his visor catching the faint glow of the remaining wolves gathered.
Their formation was still steady, but this guy had a plan. A plan so genius, even Einstein would be impressed... (I'm over glazing here, so don't get your hopes up!)
So he immediately moved, so that the remaining wolves didn't catch the scent of blood a couple meters away from then.
End of Chapter 70.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
ALT SYSTEM — USER PROFILE: ZERO
Level: 15
EXP: 88 / 150
Next Reward: Quick Sever
Global System Tracking: DISABLED
World Rank Association: UNLINKED
Stats:
STR: 20 | AGI: 10 (Affinity) | VIT: 5 | DEX: 5 | INT: 17 | WIS: 5
[Available Stat Points: 0]
[Derived Stat — MANA: 85 / 90]
Skills:
[Crimson Slash Lv. 1]
[Phantom Stride Lv. 2]
[Instinctive Blade Lv.1]
[Predictive Guard Lv.1]
[Skill Fusion Menu: Active]
[Dev Tree: Tier 0 Access Granted]
[Developer Node – Fusion Core Anchor: Active]
[Skill Slot Available — Unassigned]
Equipment:
Aged Blade Fragment (??? Rarity) (Bound)
Training Ring (+1 VIT)
Bag :)
Ring of Genorya - ???