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Rave released his arrow.
The arrow flew through the air—silent, sharp, and fast. His aim was perfect this time. It sped straight toward the Shadow Wolf's head.
Rave exhaled, just slightly letting his guard down.
Then his bracelet buzzed.
New information on the Shadow Wolf unlocked!"The Shadow Wolf is immune to long-ranged attacks."
His face went pale.
He watched as the arrow passed clean through the creature's body—no resistance, no blood. It was as if the arrow had struck smoke.
He gulped.
The Shadow Wolf growled and charged. Before Rave could react, it pounced, slamming him to the ground. Its crushing weight pinned him down. The impact knocked the breath out of him.
"Get off me, you fucker!" he growled, pain shooting up his ribs.
The wolf lowered its head, baring its jagged teeth. Its jaws opened wide, inching toward his neck.
Then—another buzz from the bracelet.
You've accomplished a great feat! "For your hard work, you will be granted a sword with a random affinity." Do you wish to redeem your reward?
"Yes—FAST!" Rave screamed, his panic outweighing any excitement.
Reward confirmed. "Your sword will arrive in: 5 minutes."
"Fuck you!" he yelled in frustration.
He twisted, searching desperately for anything he could use. His eyes landed on something just behind the wolf: a cracked human skull. Through it was embedded a single arrow—the same one he had fired long ago. The skull of his former teacher.
He reached for it, stretching his arm as far as it would go.
But the wolf stepped on his arm.
Rave screamed in pain, then spat directly into the wolf's eye. The beast recoiled for a moment, snarling.
That was enough.
He lunged forward, grabbing the skull and ripping the arrow free.
With all his strength, he smashed the skull against the wolf's head. Again. And again.
Cracks formed.
Blood splattered.
The wolf staggered.
He kept swinging until the skull shattered completely, shards scattering across the ground.
The beast, dazed and bleeding, tried to retreat. Rave seized the remaining arrow and drove it into the wolf's eye.
The creature howled in pain. It thrashed, half-blind now, blood pouring from its ruined socket.
But then—too late—Rave saw its jaws again.
The wolf lunged.
Its jaws clamped down on Rave's arm.
And tore it off.
Rave stared at the bloody stump in disbelief. A scream tore out of his throat.
"AGHHHHH! AHHH!"
Rave stared in horror at the stump where his arm used to be. Blood gushed freely. His vision blurred.
He fumbled through his inventory, desperate. Anything. Anything.
Then—he found it.
Skinwalker's Mask
Grade: 6
Info: Forged from the face of a real Skinwalker by the greatest blacksmith in the world.
Affinity: ???
Ability 1: Allows the user to change their appearance, but only to resemble people they've killed. Does not replicate physical stats.
Ability 2: The first hit from an enemy will pass through the user, causing no damage.
"If I'm right... this should work."
He activated the 1st ability.
Darkness flooded the air around him, swallowing the light in every direction.
The shadows deepened—then shifted.
Rave's body grew taller, his frame broadening. The wounds disappeared. The pain faded.
Moments later, the light returned.
Rave was gone.
In his place stood a tall, uninjured man—his former teacher, Wil.
The wolf snarled and began circling him, wary now. He looked at his arm.
Then the bracelet buzzed once more.
Sending sword...
"Congratulations. You've received: Light Sword."
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