Uriel slowly advanced out of the cave, moving cautiously to avoid drawing attention. The cold air sliced through his skin like invisible blades, and the landscape around him was a white mantle of snow, interrupted only by the silhouettes of three wolves with bluish fur. They were sniffing the air, their breaths forming small clouds of vapor.
"Isn't it me? No... With this cold, my scent must be nearly erased. Besides, if the system really works like I designed it, killing these wolves should give me XP."
Uriel murmured as quietly as possible, his heart racing with the anticipation of combat.
---
Frost Wolf
- Race: Wolf
- Level: 3/10
- HP: 150
- MP: 50
Stats
- Strength: 4
- Speed: 5
- Intelligence: 1
- Vitality: 3
- Defense: 1
Abilities
- [Enhanced Scent]: Can detect any scent from miles away and identify whether something is edible or not.
- [Ice Bullets]: Can condense mana to form ice projectiles sharp enough to pierce iron (defense 13), traveling at a speed of 300 km/h.
- [Night Vision]: Sees in the dark as clearly as in the daytime.
---
Uriel's eyes scanned the information as if it were etched in his mind.
"So that's it... the system is identical to the one I designed for my game. And fortunately, all three wolves have the same level and abilities. That means there are no unexpected variations, which is good. But that Ice Bullet... that ability is dangerous. If it hits me, it could be fatal."
His small but sturdy body was hidden in the snow, his light scales camouflaged by the environment. He crouched even lower, sinking into the cold mantle. The cold breeze blew against him, bringing the wild scent of the wolves and the subtle odor of damp ice.
"I need a surprise attack. If I can lure one of them into the cave and kill it before the others notice, I'll have a chance to level up. But that Ice Bullet ability... if I get hit directly, I don't know if I can withstand it."
The Frost Wolves were imposing, each about two meters long, their paws leaving deep imprints in the snow. Their eyes glowed like sapphire stones in the darkness. Compared to them, Uriel's newly born body seemed smaller and frailer—but his stats told a different story.
"If a dragon were really that weak at level zero, then dragons wouldn't be called the most powerful creatures in the world."
He whispered to himself, feeling the weight of his own existence. His claws slid over the soft snow, gathering a handful and shaping it into a firm snowball.
"I have to lure one of them... I know they've already caught some scent, but I don't know if it was mine. If I can isolate one and kill it quickly, the others might not notice in time. I just hope my aim is on point."
Closing one eye to improve his accuracy, Uriel raised his claw and threw the snowball.
The projectile spun through the air and hit one of the Frost Wolves squarely on the snout. The creature recoiled with a low growl, shaking its head to rid itself of the snow sticking to its fur. Its eyes narrowed in suspicion before suddenly beginning to advance toward the cave.
Uriel felt the wolf's piercing gaze on him, his instincts telling him that he had been spotted.
"This isn't just paranoia... it really saw me!"
Uriel's heart raced, and he knew he couldn't stay still. Without wasting time, he spun on his paws and dashed toward the back of the cave, the sound of snow being crushed by his claws echoing around him.
"Is speed 5 really that fast? It's already catching up to me!" Uriel exclaimed, feeling the wolf's presence almost brush his tail. His heart pounded, and a chill ran down his spine as he realized how little space remained between them.
The Frost Wolf advanced with ferocity, its eyes gleaming with anticipation. Uriel couldn't hesitate. The moment he felt the heat of the creature's breath closing in, he propelled his body upward with an explosive movement, using the strength of his hind legs and the flexibility of his tail. The upward strike was precise, hitting the wolf's chin with a dry, brutal impact.
[You dealt 13 damage.]
[You caused stun.]
The wolf let out a surprised yelp, its head jerking back. Its paws faltered, and for a brief moment, it became completely vulnerable.
"Such weak damage... But it worked. I didn't know I could cause such a stun effect," Uriel thought quickly, his eyes analyzing the stumbling opponent. A fierce smile spread across his lips. "I need to take advantage of this opportunity. Sorry, little wolf! But since you wanted to devour me, now you're the one being devoured!"
Without hesitation, he spun his body and sank his teeth directly into the wolf's neck. The thick skin offered resistance, but his sharp fangs pierced the flesh, going deep.
[You dealt 30 damage.]
The metallic taste of hot blood spread in his mouth. Instinctively, he began shaking his head violently, like a fierce dog tearing apart its prey. Each movement shredded more muscles and tendons, intensifying the wolf's pain.
[You dealt 70 damage.]
[You caused bleeding.]
[Straight bleeding dealt 10 damage.]
The wolf tried to react, but its body trembled with weakness. Its paws scraped the stone floor in desperation, its gaze becoming glazed as life drained from its body. Blood poured in jets, staining the surrounding snow a deep red.
Uriel felt the wolf's resistance fade, and without wasting time, he opened his jaws again and attacked the creature's head, biting with all the strength he possessed.
[You dealt 30 damage.]
[You leveled up.]
[You leveled up.]
The moment the wolf stopped moving, a wave of energy coursed through Uriel's body. It was a warm, comforting sensation, as if every cell in his body was being strengthened. His muscles adjusted, his scales seemed tougher, and his breath became steadier.
"This feeling... is incredible!" Uriel murmured, soaking in the sensation of growth. He felt stronger, faster, more alive.
---
Name: Uriel Redstone (Miguel Ramos)
Race: Dragon
Age: 0 (28)
Maturity: Newly Born
Level: 2/5
HP: 250
MP: 150
Stats:
- Strength: 5
- Speed: 4
- Intelligence: 3
- Vitality: 5
- Defense: 4
---
Uriel looked at his updated status and then at the lifeless body of the wolf. His gaze shifted to the cave entrance. Outside, the two remaining wolves had already caught the scent of fresh blood. Their silhouettes stood out against the faint light, their eyes glowing like blades of ice.
"Can I reach level 5 after killing these two?" he murmured, feeling the excitement building inside him.
But before he could formulate a plan, the wolves charged into the cave, their agile, muscular bodies cutting the space between them in seconds. As they entered, their mouths opened, and a light blue glow appeared in their throats.
"Ice Bullet..." Uriel immediately recognized the danger. If those projectiles hit him, he would be in trouble. The cold emanating from the wolves' mouths was intense enough to freeze the air around them.
"I can't let them attack first!"
Without hesitation, Uriel leapt forward. His newly strengthened muscles responded to his will with precision. He launched himself at the wolves with ferocity, determined to bring them down before they had a chance to fire.