Extra's Magic

The facility meant to contain the Boss monster was nowhere to be seen. All that remained were steel pillars jutting out from the snow-covered mountain peak, the only evidence that the structure ever existed.

Although it was worrying that an E-rank monster had managed to escape from Trygnomy's building, the Boss itself posed no threat to Rose. She was an E- Rank Awakener and was even on the cusp of a breakthrough.

Her only concern was for the other people trapped in the dungeon, as they would undoubtedly be affected by the Boss's escape. Rose deduced that the facility must have been destroyed before it had a chance to send out a warning signal, since there was no sign of Trygnomy's personnel evacuating the dungeon.

Screech...

Suddenly, an inhuman screech pierced the air, causing Rose to look up. A creature the size of a truck was soaring through the sky, its massive bat-like wings flapping with powerful force.

The monster's long tail was adorned with sharp spikes that extended all the way to the nape of its neck, and its two powerful legs were equipped with razor-sharp claws that could shred through metal with ease. The creature's slightly parted jaws revealed row upon row of razor-sharp teeth.

It was a wyvern!

Rose's expression fell as she realized the monster that had been held captive in the facility. Trygnomy kept these matters hidden from the public, so no one knew about the Boss of this dungeon.

"I have to escape..." Rose muttered to herself.

She quickly realized that engaging in battle with a wyvern would undoubtedly lead to her demise.

While she was capable of defeating an E-Rank monster, wyverns were different. They were related to dragons, monsters similar in appearance to them. One thing that dragons and wyverns had in common was their ability to grow stronger by consuming other creatures.

Rose knew that even if she were to catch and face the wyvern, it would already be too late, as the monster would have consumed countless other creatures, making it too strong for her to handle.

Howl...

All of a sudden, Rose's attention was diverted by the sound of multiple wolves howling nearby. She quickly turned her gaze towards the slope, where a thick spruce forest was growing.

***

'...'

I watched as the jaws of a Winter wolf slowly closed in on my neck.

My arms felt like they were made of lead, so heavy that I couldn't even lift a finger. My muscles burned with searing pain, and my black Katana had already slipped from my grasp.

Though everything seemed hopeless from the outside, I was struggling to circulate my Mana in a strange pattern. Despite the pain, as if my skin was being torn, I pushed through and continued to guide it through my capillaries and towards my right hand.

With every surge of Mana that reached my fingers, it felt as though they were suddenly ripped from my hand, but I refused to give up. This was a do or die!

Mana particles seeped out from my palm, shining with a slight yellow glow, as I concentrated harder.

Whoosh...

Suddenly, a thin golden blade slid out from my fingers, entirely made out of Mana. Its length was that of a small dagger and it flickered constantly, its power demanding a high consumption of Mana.

The Wolf's bloodshot eyes regained some clarity at the last moment as he sensed danger, but it was already too late to change his jump's trajectory as he slid onto the blade like a barbecue on a spit.

Howl...

The monster winced in pain, its eyes slowly losing their glow and soon closing.

Thud...

The golden blade I had created disappeared, and I fell face-first into the bloody snow. The impact of my shoulder hitting the ground was excruciating, and I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from screaming out loud. I didn't want any more predators to know my location.

Slowly rolling onto my back, I accessed my Spatial Inventory and retrieved a Low-Tier health potion. With trembling arms, I brought it to my lips and began drinking it with a grimace.

It tasted like fish, and I hate fish!

However, as soon as the liquid touched my throat, I felt the pain slowly receding as the potion began to work its magic. It repaired bruises and cuts, and finally, it even began restoring the flesh of my half-ripped shoulder.

I groaned in relief, feeling my body relax as the potion took effect. Slowly, I raised myself into a sitting position, and my eyes landed on the Katana that was lying just a few feet away in the snow. I reached out and grabbed it, relieved to have it back in my hand.

"Status..."

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My pupils glimmered with excitement as I read my new skill, Aura Blade.

"It was easier than I expected..."

I thought to myself, surprised that all I needed to do was circulate my Mana in a strange way and endure a pain similar to being skinned alive to obtain a B-Rank skill.

It was too easy!

A grin made its way onto my face as I recalled all the skills I could acquire through some pain.

I wasn't masochistic or anything, and I certainly didn't enjoy pain.

I just had a desire to grow stronger, and survive, even if that required walking through flames.

Assessing the condition of my body, I made sure that most of my injuries had been healed. Although the stab wound on my abdomen and the damage to my shoulder would require some time to heal completely, I knew they weren't life-threatening.

Crunch...

Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps crunching on the snow behind the trees and quickly shifted my body in the direction of the sound.

I felt my muscles tense as I tightly gripped the handle of my Katana, hoping that the source of the sound would turn out to be a Yeti. The thought of having to fight another pack of wolves wasn't appealing to me, to say the least.

As soon as the silhouette emerged from behind the trees, I froze.

'On the other hand, wolves don't seem that bad...'