Chapter 6: Thrill of Killing
From the depths of the forest, I could hear heavy footsteps along with rustles of trees getting ever closer to me and Solitaire. All I could do was sit still and await my inevitable end. There was no strength in my legs; they felt soggy like warm butter. Slowly, I turned my head towards Solitaire, seeking an explanation. When I noticed his grin facing the direction of the approaching roar, I turned back towards the unknown and saw it.
It wasn't a bear or an elephant, but its size was closer to the latter. It had a disproportionately large mouth with rows of snow-white teeth. Its black as coal fur swayed in the wind, or rather, from the smoke-like aura this beast emitted. Saliva dripped from its jaws and pale white eyes focused forward, solidifying its position as an apex predator in the food chain. Any hope that it might ignore such small prey as me shattered when our eyes met. The beast squinted at me, almost as if attempting a smile, before letting out another soul-crushing roar.
I was done for. There was no escape, no way to fight. My fate seemed to be swallowed by the unknown world I had spent less than a few days in. As I silently bid my farewell, a quiet chuckle and mocking words interrupted.
"Quite a monster, isn't it? Still thinking of giving up on society and encasing yourself in the unknown of local forests?"
"Monster..." I whispered, recalling something I had overheard from a guard. "From the monster realm?"
"You've picked up on that already? Well, we can discuss it later. For now, stand up, dear friend."
His demanding tone grated on my nerves as he voiced his request. Strangely, though, my body felt light. Disturbingly light. Meanwhile, the beast's movements seemed to slow down, or perhaps my eyes and brain merely perceived them as such. It started charging towards me, but instead of succumbing to what I thought was inevitable, I stood up and dashed to the side, barely escaping its deadly jaws. As the beast rushed past me, I caught a whiff of its heinous odor, reminiscent of rotten meat. Such was its natural smell, a reminder that this monster was designed to hunt, not be hunted.
Nevertheless, now it was exposed on the road, open and vulnerable. It slowly turned to face me once more. Its eyes no longer squinted; I had proven myself more nimble prey than it expected.
"A huge and slow monster versus a quick and agile man, with a weapon and a ghostly companion." Solitaire floated between me and the beast, his calm demeanour undisturbed. "These are perfect conditions to show you what you are truly capable of."
"Perfect conditions?" I scoffed. "What am I truly capable of?"
"In these conditions, you are more than capable of slaying this beast. Do what you must, and as a reward, I'll grant you some insight into this world."
The beast charged me once more, and this time, I was ready. I drew the rusty dagger I had found in Wülgenville and charged back at the beast. Fear and uncertainty clouded my mind, but my body moved on its own, fuelled by a strength that was entirely foreign to me. Before I knew it, I had dashed under the beast, narrowly escaping its jaws once again. Without hesitation, I thrust the dagger forward, tearing open its stomach. Despite this newfound strength, I couldn't pierce its fur deeply enough.
The beast emitted a sound, not its usual roar but a low cackle. Its massive legs trembled slightly; this was evidently its cry of pain. I stepped to the side, watching as the beast observed me, eyes wide and head lowered. It was more cautious now, but so was I. I charged at it once more, and it retreated deeper into the forest, still facing me. Attacking it head-on was impossible and far too risky; my gut told me to aim for its sides. I gambled my safety, leveraging my unusually light body to leap from tree to tree, with only the grip of my free hand as insurance.
My grin grew into laughter that echoed through the forest, confusing the beast as it turned from side to side. Never before had I felt such freedom, as if I were soaring through the sky. My aim was flawless, my stamina endless, my strength incomprehensible. When I saw the perfect opportunity to strike—while the beast's attention was elsewhere—I seized it. Leaping from one tree, then another, until finally, with dagger raised, I lunged forward. Once again, I was assaulted by its putrid smell, but I paid it no mind. My entire focus was on the blade that tore through its side and the satisfaction that warmed my hands and face with its black blood. The beast cried out in pain once more and collapsed to the ground, exhaling its last breath. Only its leg twitched slightly.
This was my victory. Despite being smaller and weaker than the beast, I had slain it, cut it open, and bathed in its blood. The feeling of satisfaction and pleasure was overwhelming—a sensation that might prove dangerously addictive...
"Oho, I am impressed! You adapted quite well to this newfound strength. I didn't expect you to perform so admirably."
I heard Solitaire's words, but I didn't want to respond or even look at him. My eyes remained fixed on the beast that I had killed with my own hands. However, as my triumphant pleasure wore off, I noticed a peculiar detail. The monster's body was slowly disintegrating into something resembling ash. Even the blood on my hands and face was dissipating. I turned to Solitaire in confusion.
"You did well. As promised, I'll explain a few things. But first, tell me—how much do you know about the monster realm?"
I shook my head. "Nothing, except that this beast came from there?"
"Bingo! It was a darewolf, a vicious creature that sneaks from the monster realm. They exclusively hunt humans, living solitary lives and fiercely defending their territory."
I made a mental note, nodding slowly. "And what about this monster realm? If it exists, where exactly am I now?"
"In the human realm, of course." Solitaire smiled, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Though it's a bit more complicated than that, for now, that's all you need to know."
Solitaire turned away, a clear sign that our conversation was over. I took a step forward, exclaiming, "Wait! Didn't you promise to give me more insight into this world!?"
"Well, I just did. That's all you need to know for now. It would be wise for you to return to the city, dear friend, or at least find other people. Don't wander in the forest like a savage. You won't survive on your own out here."
My glare sharpened at his words. I raised the dagger, now free of the beast's blood, and pointed it at Solitaire threateningly. "You're not going anywhere, you shitty ghost, until you tell me more. And I'm more than capable of surviving on my own now."
Solitaire remained motionless for a moment, then slowly turned to face me, raising his hand. Our eyes locked, and with a flick of his fingers, I suddenly felt overwhelming fatigue. The weight of the dagger felt unbearable, and I dropped to my knees. Solitaire stood before me, his smile now more unsettling than the jaws of a darewolf.
"As I said earlier, this strength was given to you by me. You are still nothing without me, but your potential is considerable. To unlock it, you must follow my guidance without question. Find people, dear friend. You'll need their guidance."
With those words, Solitaire dissipated like the beast I had slain, but much quicker. There was much to contemplate as my body adjusted to its former weak state, but for now, my mind was fixated on one feeling. It wasn't connected to Solitaire's words, but to the motion I had made before taking that darewolf's life. Seeing its body wither away under my hands had been thrilling, a sight to behold!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone