"Fuck, it's chilly." Alex proclaimed, walking outside as he clung to the black, neat jacket that rolled around him like a teddy bear.
"Hey fucker," Alex whispered harshly.
"I know you're not talking to me." Victor curiously added.
"I am," Alex attacked back, "any place for me to sleep for the night? The moon's already out."
"You think I would know? Kids these days." Victor sighed, clearly disappointed in some way.
"We're the same age." Alex snapped back, "Anyways, we're in Beastfall Capital, but the prices there are too high to rent a room by myself." Alex paused in thought as he walked past the porta-potty.
He stepped into the vast open snow area that was surrounded by forests, and in the middle of all that was the place where he was finally deemed a failure, the 'Gymnasium of Awakeners.'
Yet, Alex didn't awaken anything. So what was it for him? The 'Gymnasium of Failures' or something of the sort.
"Beastfall Capital renting it is, I'll just have to use parts of my savings." Alex began walking forward, his gaze focused with confidence, when something appeared through the forest.
A Grey-Wolf. The second-lowest-F-ranked beast that exists within human territories. Classified as an F-Rank. But Alex himself was now classified as a 'Regular.' That's what they would call individuals who couldn't awaken any contract with magical beasts.
"Any weapon for me?" Alex asked kindly, as the wolf began rushing towards him rapidly, its jaws clenched, and saliva dripped from its mouth, seeing the sight of such a vulnerable young man.
Snowflakes dropped to the floor. Alex's gaze didn't once falter.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Quest Received!]
└ Kill The F-Rank Grey-Wolf
[Abilities]
└ None
[Weapons]
└ None
[Skills]
└ None
[Combat]
└ Imminent
[Failure]
└ Death
[Slain: 0/1]
[Goodluck!]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Grey-Wolf's Health: 100/100]
[Quest Rank]
└ Lower F-Rank
[Creature Rank]
└ F-Rank
[Rewards]
└ Proper System Access
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
But for some reason, Victor stayed silent; no response came through.
"Hey Victor, hello, he's getting closer, where's my fucking weapon?" Alex continued to demand, "If you're not gonna answer, guess I'll have to do it myself."
He layered both of his feet tightly into the ground, his gaze never once flickering. Seconds were passing while he watched the Grey-Wolf come to him closely. Alex started smoothly taking off his jacket, with clear intent.
"1…"
"2…"
"3…"
"Fuck, I messed up my countdown."
Snow continued to shower down, as the wolf growled, intensely rushing towards Alex without a break. He tried keeping his composure, opening his arms wide, as he blocked the view between the wolf and him perfectly, using the body leather of his expensive clothing piece.
"It's chilly, let's make this quick."
Alex dropped his jacket, then the wolf slid to the right, dodging almost perfectly but slightly sliding too far because of the icy floor.
"Got you." Alex sneered as he stretched his right leg backwards, kicking it forward like a soccer ball.
He had kicked the snow right into the wolf's eyes.
"Grrrr." It growled, rolling over as it tried to get the snow off of its gaze, making it difficult for Alex to attack.
Alex slowly stepped towards it, and he looked down at it maliciously. "Sorry, but this is for the greater good."
Bam!
[Grey-Wolf's Health: 95/100]
Alex stomped on the wolf's belly, again and again, as the wolf despaired cutely; it sounded young and innocent. But to Alex, it was just a path to his own vengeance, and to that, he must rise through those ranks.
"And again!"
His boots gave an alarming threat to the wolf as Alex wouldn't stop; the wolf couldn't move; it seemed frozen, with Alex's jacket still covering it.
"Grrr!"
[Grey-Wolf's Health: 85/100]
The wolf forced itself out of the jacket, ripping through the inside, even though it had cheap leather on it.
Alex tried kicking it again, but with the F-Ranked beast now extremely angered, it shaped into something larger.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Effect Inputted…]
└ Grey Wolf's Size Is Increasing
└ Effect Cause: Beastly Disturbance
└ Grey-Wolf's HP Increased By 100
└ Grey-Wolf's Strength Increased By 10%
└ Grey-Wolf's Health: 185/100
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex stared in shock towards the wolf, and the creature had now changed.
Its weight, widening.
Its height, increasing.
And the creature's eyes left out a greenish, terrifying glow.
Alex stepped back.
"You've got to be shitting me." A wide nervous grin ran across his face as the creature had somehow become his exact height, while weighing more.
Alex continued to step back; he didn't know what to do exactly. No weapon, no tools, no nothing. It was just him and his raw strength.
He gradually picked up his pace, looking back, he began to run, leaving his loveable jacket behind.
The wolf followed closely, its pace exceeding Alex's. It was only a matter of time before it caught up. Alex was clearly about to be munched on like a tasty dessert. Yet, he was the one who needed to kill such a horrifying creature.
Run. Run. Run.
Alex didn't look back. He continued. The growling and hustling coming from the Wolf's breath made his heart race, but he rushed even faster, far exceeding what he was normally capable of.
"Hhmh, hmhm," Alex breathed tirelessly. He looked around, possibly seeking some help, but nobody was there.
Almost every other teenager came out of the gymnasium happy, so they enjoyed the rest of their day through drinks and parties. Some, only the few who are wishing for more power, were probably training through conditions worse than the ones Alex has been put in.
The wolf bit down on Alex's cloth, ripping off his right sleeve, slightly missing his skin. The creature threw it away, as its intent continuously followed Alex, 'The Failed Noble.'
Alex felt the breath of the wolf coming closer, so he rolled down to the right side. The wolf's bite came right after, missing by an inch, a great awareness play coming from the failure.
But with no time to waste, he got back up.
"Grrr," the beast continued without hesitation, chasing Alex throughout.
"Come on!" Alex yelled, "There's no way F-Rank beasts are this tough! I was just trying to go to the club and maybe hook up with a girl! You ruined it, you muddy mess!"
Alex now sprinted even faster; his anger climbed up to his expression.
"Awooooo." A squeaky voice came just in front of Alex. Time seemed to slow as he looked closely.
And something met his gaze, it was a small pup, more like a baby wolf. The creature stood layered on the freezing terrain, while Alex continued to run in what seemed now like a slow, tense moment.
The creepiest sneer ran across Alex's face, "as I said…"
He continued to run, and time felt like it resumed once more.
"It's for the greater good."