章節 15: Mysterious gift
Victor placed his hand on the Warg's head and felt a strange sensation coursing through his veins.
Surprisingly, there was no pain, only a rush of exhilaration.
[You have successfully stolen the Warg's power. Congratulations, your agility and strength have increased by 10]
As the hologram faded away, Victor felt power flowing through his body. Despite being exhausted, he now felt more refreshed than ever before.
Closing his eyes to savor the feeling, Victor couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
"A delightful turn of events," Victor murmured to himself.
Rustle!
His contentment didn't last long, as he soon became alert again when he heard a rustle.
He turned around and narrowed his eyes, looking at a bush. His hand tightly gripped the hilt of Durandal's sword, ready for any eventuality.
Suddenly, an old man emerged from the bush, dressed in tattered robes and carrying a wooden staff.
Victor was surprised, but he quickly composed himself, "Who are you?" he demanded.
The old man smiled cryptically and said, "I am just an old man, nothing more."
Despite the old man's friendly tone, Victor felt a sense of unease. There was something about him that didn't quite add up.
"Anyway, you just killed a Warg," the old man said.
"And what's the problem with that?" Victor asked.
"He was my friend and also a rare breed that's been extinct for thousands of years," said the old man, his eyes narrowing.
Victor was surprised. "What? Was he your friend? I had no idea, old man. You can't blame me for that," he defended himself.
The old man let out a deep sigh. "I know, It was not your fault. It was simply his fate," he said, his voice heavy with resignation.
Before Victor could respond, the old man's attention shifted to a different matter entirely. "Tell me, what is your name?" the old man asked with sudden curiosity.
"Victor Redfield," Victor replied, still unsure of where this conversation was leading.
The old man raised one eyebrow. "Redfield? Are you from the Redfield bloodline?" he asked, his voice filled with intrigue.
"What do you mean?" Victor asked, confused by the old man's question.
The old man didn't answer him, Instead, stroked his white beard and scanned Victor from head to toe, taking in every detail.
"You bear a striking resemblance to the Redfields of old," said the old man, his voice growing more hushed. "And besides, there's an old debt I need to fulfill."
Victor raised one eyebrow. "Are you talking about my family? Well, only my brother and I bear the Redfield surname. My parents died in a car accident," he said.
The old man's eyes flashed, "Ethan Redfield, is it?"
A spark of surprise flared within Victor's eyes. "You know about my brother?" His curiosity bristled, questions accumulating like a snowdrift. "Who exactly are you, old man?" He demanded, yearning for transparency.
"Like a said before, who am I is not important. Just tell me the truth, do you have any other siblings?" The old man asked.
"No," Victor said.
The old man heaved a sigh, carrying the weight of untold stories. "Seems I'm left with no other choice but to bestow it upon you. It could've been Ethan's... But alas, his ambition runs too deep," he admitted, a lament resting on his words.
Before Victor could say anything else, the old man reached into his pocket and pulled out three apples.
"Take one of these," the old man said, holding out the apples to Victor. "Each one will grant you a gift."
Victor was skeptical but curious. "What kind of gift?" he asked.
The old man just smiled again, "That depends on the apple you choose. But choose carefully, for once you've taken it, there's no going back. And don't worry, none of this will harm you."
Victor considered the old man's words carefully. He knew that there had to be a catch, but the temptation was too great to ignore.
Without hesitation, he took one of the apples from the old man's hand.
The old man simply nodded, an inscrutable smile playing on his lips. "Fate's wheel turns unpredictably, lad. May it steer you well," he declared enigmatically.
Without waiting Victor's reaction, he disappeared into the mist, leaving Victor alone with his thoughts and the apple in his hand.
"What a strange old man," Victor said.
He looked down at the apple in his hand, wondering what the old man had said. As he pondered, he noticed that the forest around him seemed to have changed.
The trees were taller, and the leaves were a brighter green. Victor also felt a strange energy emanating from the apple he held.
He shrugged off the odd feeling and took a bite of the apple. It tasted delicious, but he didn't feel any different.
"Hmph, a strange old man with a strange gift," Victor muttered. "Well, at least the apple tastes good."
Victor finished the apple and then intended to find another beast.
But just as he was about to set his foot, his head suddenly dizzy.
As the pain in his head became unbearable, Victor cursed the old man under his breath. He wondered if the apple was poisoned.
"Damn, that old man!" He muttered before succumbing to the darkness, his body going limp and falling to the ground.
*********
Time had passed, and the sunlight had vanished, replaced by the dim glow of moonlight filtering through the massive trees overhead.
Groaning, Victor slowly sat up, holding his head, which throbbed with lingering dizziness. "What happened to me?" he mumbled.
His memories of the encounter with the old man who had given him an apple suddenly resurfaced. His expression darkened, "That old man must have done something to me," he growled.
He couldn't recall much else – only that he had come to the Wildwood Forest, defeated a warg, and met the old man with the apple.
"Well, that's all in the past now," Victor muttered, standing up and surveying his surroundings. The forest seemed more alive at night, teeming with insects and nocturnal creatures in every direction.
As he was about to walk forward, he suddenly heard a low growl.
Victor turned around and saw a giant lizard-like creature with scales as black as night. The creature bared its sharp teeth, ready to attack.
Victor quickly unsheathed Durandal and prepared to fight. "You picked the wrong guy to mess with, lizard," he said calmly.
The creature lunged at Victor, but he sidestepped and swung Durandal with all his might. The sword struck the creature's scales, creating a loud clang.
"You're tougher than you look," Victor said as he dodged the creature's attacks.
The lizard hissed and continued to attack Victor, who parried each blow with Durandal. They circled each other, neither gaining the upper hand.
Victor saw an opening and swung Durandal at the creature's neck.
Slash!
The sword sliced through the scales, and blood spurted out. The creature let out a deafening roar and collapsed on the ground.
Victor stood over the fallen creature, breathing heavily. "Another victory for the Redfields," he said with a grin.
The fight with the Warg had tested Victor's strength and sharpened his senses, and the power he had gained from the battle had left him stronger and more perceptive.
Victor's eyes gleamed with a sinister glint as he surveyed the lizard's corpse. He approached the creature and placed his hand on its head, closing his eyes in concentration.
As he focused his energy, he felt a faint sensation in his veins, though it was much weaker than the power he had stolen from the Warg.
[You have successfully stolen the lizard's power. Congratulations, your strength has increased by 1]
"Not bad," he murmured to himself. "A little extra strength is always welcome."
Victor knew that he couldn't expect to gain a massive power boost from every creature he defeated. Sometimes the rewards would be small, but he was determined to take advantage of every opportunity.
Victor took a step forward, unsheathing Durandal from the spatial ring.
"Let's see what else this forest has to offer."
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