The Moonlight clan

[You have defeated the moonlight werewolves' 12th prince, Lagrik.]

[This is a great achievement!]

[Your existence becomes more defined]

[You have partially understood the concept of 'Status']

Multiple blue notifications rose in front of Beowulf's eyes, however, his vision was focusing on something else, it wasn't the corpse of the fallen werewolf either.

[The moonlight werewolves' King, Lycaeon, has begun to observe you]

[You have become hostile with all the Werewolves clan]

[If the hostility reaches its peak, there's a high chance that you will become subject of 'Fenrir's curse']

Focusing on the red windows that flashed above the blue ones.

'This XXXX!'

He had worked relentlessly for years, training more than anybody else, he had lost so much yet persisted despite everything, and now when he finally achieved his goal he was faced with a looming punishment for his efforts. All efforts are rewarded? For Beowulf, these words sounded like random bullshit right now.

[Your level has risen!]

'Oh!'

The message he awaited the most appeared, and not only one...

[Your level has risen!]

[Your level has risen!]

[Your level has risen!]

[Your level has risen!]

...

[You have satisfied the conditions for the first awakening]

A total of 12 identical windows stood still in front of him, he had finally broken through the unsurmountable wall that he worked to surpass for years. This was the effect of raiding a named monster with more than 50 levels of difference while accumulating most of the contribution without going through the first awakening, enhanced further by the title [Transcendent Desire].

[You have cleared the open dungeon, `Forest of the damned`]

[Your contribution is higher than 90%]

[You have completed the hidden objective of the dungeon, `Face Lagrik alone`]

[Conditions have been satisfied]

[The hidden dungeon `Moonlight werewolves' 12th Outpost` has been revealed]

[Confirming players eligible for entry]

[2 players identified]

'2? Wait, what the hell is happening in the first place??'

Beowulf was shocked as new notifications kept popping up after his first awakening notification.

[You have used a skill that's too advanced for your current physical abilities]

[Recoil will occur]

'Fuck...'

This was Beowulf's last word before pain crawled through his veins and turned his body rigid, the timing wasn't the best either since multiple cracks appeared on the ground he stood on. Fortunately...Or maybe unfortunately from another perspective, the dungeon had confirmed the entry of another player.

''WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING AHHHHHH''

Poor Esther who thought she was in for an easy reward was dragged to a much greater danger than the one she was facing before.

''I knew I shouldn't have trusted this goddamn game, FUCK!''

Her cussing lightly echoed through the pit as she fell down with the stunned Beowulf, her quest had only just begun.

****************

''My king...Are you sure it's safe to allow these lowlifes to access the outpost...''

''Gardos.''

''Yes, my king!''

''I am Lycaeon, the descendant of Hati, the great moon wolf. The one who carries the weight of the prophecy on his shoulders, what's important is to ensure the prophecy is not distorted by anything.''

''But Lagri-''

''I am sure my son would understand... After all, he is... the kindest among them...''

Although Lycaeon's words sounded cold and harsh, his tone expressed the anguish that he buried in his heart while mentioning his son's name. Lagrik, the 12th prince, was Lycaeon's youngest son and the one he dotted the most among his siblings. Despite that, Lagrik loved his siblings deeply and wished the best for the clan, frankly speaking, if one disregarded the hierarchy in the throne inheritance, Lagrik was the one fit to lead the moonlight werewolves clan forward. A king who was ruthless to enemies yet compassionate with his people; it was similar to how the first king of the clan, Hati, was described.

''Will you... Meet them yourself, my king?''

''No, it doesn't seem that they are in a state where they could survive being thrown in the outpost, make sure to finish it clean, Gardos.''

''As you wish, Lord Lycaeon.''

*******************

''HEY!''

at the bottom of the pit whose entrance was once covered by the center of the forest, only the sound of slapping could be heard.

''HEYYYY, I TOLD YOU TO WAKE UP!''

The voice of a woman crying desperately as she clung to a young adult, perhaps a widow...

''ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??! YOU WANT ME TO GIVE YOU A PIGGYBACK RIDE OR SMTH YOU STONEHEAD?''

...Or not...

Unlike Esther's thoughts, her voice had long reached Beowulf's ears, though it didn't mean that he could respond, the recoil of forcefully using the slaughter festival skill was great, his body would be stiffened for 3 minutes and he would suffer from broken tendons and bones as an aftermath.

'Can't this XXXXX shut up already, what the XXXX?!'

If only his thoughts could reach her head, these were Beowulf's wishes right now.

A genius, that was Beowulf's first impression of Esther, however, after suffering from her constant shouting of desperation for 2 minutes non-stop, it was impossible to keep the same image he had of her. Knowing that his thoughts would not get out, he continued venting his anger mentally.

''HEY! CAN'T YOU HEAR ME?''

''SHUT THE XXXX UP FOR XXXX's sake you XXXXing XXXXX!''

''So you c- wait, what?''

Yes, it was when Beowulf's frustration reached its peak that the effect had worn out, he couldn't determine if it was salvation or divine punishment.

''Me? you called me a XXXXing XXXXX ,you XXXXing Embalmed macho?''

As their quarrel went on, their voices only increased in volume, they had been so immersed in their respectful conversation that they had forgotten their objective.

*one eternity later*

''So... why did you pass out like this?''

''Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?''

Although she was annoyed by Beowulf's rough personality, Esther still decided to go with the flow in order to complete her quest as smoothly as possible.

''You can call me Esther, level 236, That's enough introduction for now.''

''236...And you're struggling with the dungeon...?''

''I-I wasn't struggling, it's just that I was surprised!''

Esther's flushed face hiding her embarrassment made Beowulf more suspicious, however, he decided to try to clear the dungeon with her as he couldn't afford to lose his gear.

''Beowulf, level 107''

''What kind of bullshit are you spouting? This isn't the time for jokes for XXXX's sake!''

''I...am not lying''

Esther stared at Beowulf's face for few moments before kneeling on the ground.

''GOD DAMN IT WHAT KIND OF ROTTEN LUCK IS THAT, THIS SHITTY GAME, AHHHHH''

Although she remained optimistic despite all the odds they were faced with, Beowulf's words were enough to destroy the last ray of hope that was left. Beowulf stared blankly at Esther, who was screaming like an angry monkey, then checked his skill.

[Slaughter festival lvl.5]

[A custom technique created by hunter 'Beowulf'. It is the result of constant training and enlightenment in linking weapons and learning a large variety of fighting styles. It is incomplete and will grow with the User's enlightenment, body, and mastery.

Choose a target within a 50m range from your body, if a weapon is equipped the first step of the technique would use that weapon and then connect to the next optimal weapon depending on the situation. While using this skill the weapon linking time is fixed at 0. The first step/attack deals 300% of your physical AP to the enemy, the coefficient increases by 50% for each extra step.

*Each successful attack will slightly lower the enemy's status resistance and defense.

*The damage of the attack slightly increases with the number of combos.

*Attack speed slightly increases with the number of combos.

*The stamina cost of the step will increase with each extra step.

Mana cost: 80% of your maximum mana

Cooldown: number of steps * 20 minutes]

'I was really lucky back there...'

If not for the 'Last stand' skill, which is a conditional active skill from his 'Experienced hunter' title, he would have surely died from Lagrik'scontinuous onslaught. The conditions for 'Last stand' weren't exactly known to him yet, however, it seemed that being encouraged or protecting someone was one of them. Beowulf was in deep thought when he was brought back to reality by the silence that surrounded him.

''Esther?''

Esther was nowhere to be seen, He has thought that she had lost her voice due to the prolonged screaming, but she wasn't even there anymore, Beowulf's intuition warned him...

There was something watching him.

He quickly pulled out his bow as he jumped to the only spot where sunlight reached the bottom of the pit. After waiting for a few seconds while keeping a fighting stance, a red name started flashing and it gradually closed the distance with him, the name could be easily read, and the notification didn't take long to appear.

[Gardos, the general of the Moonlight werewolves' tribe, has appeared]

Gardos' red eyes seemed to emit great bloodlust and pressure.

[You have seen Gardos' cursed eyes, an uncontrollable fear dominates your body]

[You are unable to move for 10 seconds and all skills will be temporarily sealed for 30 seconds]

'No! I can't die that easily, ugh, Come on, MOVE, MOVEEE!'

[Player 'Beowulf' has been confirmed to be in a stable state]

[The rewards for achieving the first advancement will be given]

[You are qualified to change to the growth class 'Weapon master', do you agree?]

Cold sweat dripped off Beowulf's body, he had decided to progress as a beginner, it was a goal he didn't wish to abandon, but he also needed to repay Esther for her help, and didn't wish to die helplessly again, his mind accelerated as Gardos continued approaching him calmly, only 2 seconds had passed.

'NO!'

He couldn't abandon his path right now, as it meant abandoning his dreams and denying all the sacrifices he made along the way.

[User's refusal confirmed]

[...]

[The compensation for all your achievements and decisions will be given]

More sweat appeared all over his body as Gardos stood only 5 meters away from him now.

[User's class confirmed as Beginner]

[You are the first person to have reached level 100 as a Beginner]

[You are the first to have refused advancement at level 100]

[You are the first to have created your own skill before level 100]

[You are the first person who has peeked at the birth of a new martial art before level 100]

[The title 'Experienced hunter' has evolved to 'Debirion's Blessing']

[The god of the hunt, Debirion, has taken interest in you]

[The 'Remaining stats' will be multiplied by 3 as the result of choosing the beginner class at level 100 and refusing class change]

[The passive skill 'Weapon master' has been acquired as a reward for creating 'Slaughter festival']

[The mastery skill 'Enhanced weapons mastery' has evolved to the growth mastery skill 'Martial mastery']

[!!]

[Martial god Zeratul is slightly interested in your potential and will keep an eye on you]

Despite being happy at the results, Beowulf couldn't help but sigh, after all, even with everything beating the enemy that has shown up in front of him was nothing short of impossible. Gardos finally arrives in front of him, a huge man with a long black beard and hair, he was at least 2 meters tall.

'Fuck...'

He knew he was about to die, and nothing could save him anymore as he was still under a state of 'Fear'. Gardos raised his large hand as if preparing to chop his head off...But then.

''You.''

[The fear status has disappeared]

'?'

''Y-yes?''

''How about we make a deal?''

'A deal?'

Beowulf's eyes narrowed as he heard Gardos' words.

''And what might this deal be?''

Gardos' previously expressionless face was covered with a grin as he heard Beowulf's words.

''I will let you live and train you, so help me kill the clan's head and his heirs.''

''...what?''

[The hidden quest 'Gardos' revenge' has been generated]

[Debirion is interested in your choice]

''Ah...venting my anger by punching rocks...what the hell did this game do to my tender self...''

Esther who just arrived at the scene widened her eyes as she saw the scene of a large hairy man patting Beowulf's shoulder, yes, her imagination had run wild.

''Y-Y-You guys! At least do it discretely!''