Saquin: Death To My Enemies

Saquin stood before the clearing, a straight line of open land dividing two forests: Brimar on one side and Rigar on the other. Brimar was a wild mix of vegetation, with trees from both savannah and rainforest ecosystems, while Rigar loomed with towering rainforest trees that formed a dense canopy, darkening the ground below.

"Are we really just going to enter?" Lira asked, standing at Saquin's side.

"Yeah, pretty much," Saquin replied, then paused thoughtfully. "Actually, Lira, lure the level 6s out here."

"On it," Lira replied, vanishing into Rigar Forest with a silent, catlike grace.

Moments later, Lira reappeared at Saquin's side, facing the forest as if waiting for the prey she'd drawn out.

"Come back here, you bitch!" A thick male voice roared from within, mingled with growls and the heavy footfalls of werewolves charging through the trees.

"They're angry," Saquin noted, watching the tree line. "I take it you killed the weakest one?"

"As perceptive as ever. Yes, I did," Lira replied with a hint of satisfaction.

"Good. You did well without needing me to spell it out." Saquin praised her with a gentle rub on her head.

Grr!

A werewolf burst from the forest, its eyes locked on Lira. With a furious snarl, it leaped at her.

Slash!

Saquin and Lira sidestepped in sync, letting the werewolf pass between them. It tried to twist midair, claws swiping—but too late.

Thud.

Its head hit the ground first, rolling into Brimar Forest.

[ +105 XP ]

Saquin flicked his SP-reinforced sword, clearing the blood from its blade with a casual motion.

Roarr!

Two more werewolves emerged, having seen the death of their comrade and howling with rage.

"Werewolves are powerful, but it's a shame they rely too much on instincts and loyalty bonds," Lira observed, her eyes on the approaching threats.

"To succeed without absolute power, you have to think and strategize. Seems like only humans grasp that," Saquin replied, readying himself as one werewolf closed in, this time on foot instead of leaping.

Once in range, the werewolf lunged with a direct left claw strike.

"Instinctual and bestial," Saquin murmured, sidestepping smoothly with minimal movement.

Thud.

The werewolf collapsed, its head severed in one clean slice.

[ +105 XP ] [ Level Up - Lvl 5 → Lvl 6 ]

A surge of strength coursed through Saquin. He glanced at Lira, who had pinned the other werewolf.

"Kill it," he instructed.

"But I thought you were getting 'XP' from them," she responded, sparing him a curious look.

"Just kill it. I want to test something."

"Alright." Lira's claws glowed with SP as she tore into the werewolf in a frenzy until it lay motionless.

[ Brutal. She takes after you. ]

I don't kill like that. I go for more efficient and quicker methods.

Lira stood over the dead werewolf, a satisfied smile curling her lips, flecks of blood on her face.

"Have you always enjoyed killing this much?" Saquin asked, observing her reaction.

"No, but it's definitely more fun now," she replied, her eyes gleaming with newfound power. "I guess it's because I'm stronger." She hesitated, then added, "I also feel like I can absorb some of the leftover SP from these bodies to make myself even stronger."

Saquin's eyes narrowed with interest. "I suspected as much. I gave you both types of blood separately, so you should have gained two abilities. It seems absorbing SP is one of them."

"So I'm part higher human and part primal vampire now?" she asked, placing her hand on the dead werewolf, drawing in the lingering SP to fortify her strength.

"More or less," Saquin replied.

A grin spread across her blood-streaked face. "So I'm part primal too."

"Do me a favor, Lira."

"Yes?"

"Go on a killing spree," he said, gesturing to the depths of Rigar Forest. "Absorb whatever SP you can from your kills and meet me at the center when you're done."

"Alright." Lira dropped to all fours, her expression twisted into a maniacal smile, and vanished into the forest in a silver-blue blur.

Saquin watched her disappear, then turned his gaze in another direction. Just as he was about to move, he heard a sudden—

Crack!

The sword in his hand fractured, splintering into a web of cracks before breaking apart into several pieces.

[ You overloaded it with SP. It might be a silver sword meant for Mythic hunting, but it wasn't designed for someone of your level to wield. ]

It's just a level 4 weapon.

[ You have unique SP attributes as a higher human—ones we still don't fully understand, but they're likely amplifying your power beyond what this blade can handle. ]

I wish I had my sword. He frowned. But if I did, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

[ What sword? ]

The reason I went snooping around in the forest that day.

[ I thought you were just a young village boy seeking adventure. ]

I'm 19. I stopped adventuring at 12; now I only go on quests.

[ What's the difference? ]

Not getting into that argument today. Any suggestions for a suitable weapon in the meantime? I'm not fond of punching things to death, and my claws aren't long enough for practical combat.

[ The reward for reaching level 7 is a set of armor tailored to your needs—and a sword. Until then, why don't you use Ryan's broadsword? ]

That oversized abomination? Not happening. Saquin ended the conversation with a dismissive thought, his afterimage fading as he left the spot.

---

In a cave near the center of Rigar Forest lay the body of Nenir, the alpha werewolf, his massive frame sprawled in defeat. His thick black fur was matted with blood, a once-mighty ruler brought down. Standing over him was a young man, his striking appearance marked by deep green eyes, green hair, and matching green eyebrows. Every part of him, from his military uniform to his battered frame, echoed an air of determination. He was bleeding from several claw-shaped wounds, and around him were the remnants of his battle-worn entourage—some barely standing, others lifeless on the cave floor.

"My prince, we finally did it. The monster is dead," one of the surviving men gasped, clutching his side as blood pooled beneath him. "Now, you'll be the undisputed heir to the throne, my prince."

The young man turned, a proud smile flickering on his face as he regarded his comrade. But before he could reply, he suddenly tensed, his gaze snapping toward the cave entrance.

Saquin stood there, calmly observing the scene. After a lingering silence, he spoke to no one in particular, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Just because I didn't kill the last one doesn't mean I'll be sparing this one."