Perseverance

Ragnar had been walking through the dense forest for what felt like hours. The shadows grew long as the sun began to set, casting eerie shapes on the ground. Every sound made him jump—a rustling leaf, the call of a distant bird, or the distant growl of a predatory creature. He was alert, but fatigue was catching up to him. That's when he noticed a small cave in the distance, partially hidden by overgrown foliage.

He approached cautiously, peering into the dark entrance to make sure nothing was already occupying it. After a few tense moments, he concluded that the cave was empty. With a sigh of relief, he slipped inside to rest and gather his thoughts.

Ragnar sat down, his back against the cool stone wall, and pulled out the handmade bottle he'd fashioned from the plant monster's leaf. It wasn't completely sealed, but it was good enough to hold a small amount of water. He took a drink, feeling the cold liquid soothe his parched throat, then tucked the bottle away. Now that he was in a safe place, he decided it was time to explore the system's features and learn what it could offer.

"System, besides absorbing souls, what other features do you have?" he asked, his voice echoing softly in the cave.

[The system can display the skills learned and the host's status. To access the status feature, think or call 'Status Window.']

"Status Window," he said, curious about what he'd find.

A glowing screen appeared before him, displaying a detailed list of information.

---

[Name: Ragnar] 

[Trait: Soul Eater] 

[Constitution: Celestial Body (Locked)] 

[Rank: Unawakened] 

Strength: 15 

Agility: 12 

Intelligence: 22 

Skills: 

- Tribute (Passive)

- Soul Collector (Active)

[Soul points: 2] 

[Status Points: 0] 

---

Ragnar examined the stats, noting his above-average numbers. "If the average human has a strength of 10, I'm already ahead," he thought. What intrigued him most were the skills. He tapped on them for more information.

---

Skills: 

Tribute (Passive) 

A passive ability that consumes the corpse of the enemy and automatically transfers the souls of defeated enemies to the system, earning soul points.

Soul Collector (Active) 

When activated, the user absorbs all souls within a two-meter radius, converting them into soul points.

---

"Soul points seem like the key to getting stronger," he mused. "System, how do I use soul points?"

[Soul points can be used to unlock features, convert to status points, or strengthen the soul. One status point requires 10 soul points. The value of each soul varies depending on the lifeform.]

Ragnar rubbed his chin, considering his options. He'd need more soul points to start boosting his stats or unlocking new abilities. It seemed the best way to gain them was through combat, but he also needed more information about this world and its dangers.

While Ragnar was deep in thought, a low growl echoed through the cave. He froze, feeling the hairs on his neck stand up. He grabbed the sharpened bone he'd been using as a weapon and held it in front of him, ready for whatever might come.

'Damn it, now of all times?' he thought, tightening his grip on the bone.

A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. It was a wolf, but not just any wolf—it had grey-orange fur and a mane made of flames that flickered and danced without burning the wolf. The creature's eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and its low growl grew louder as it spotted Ragnar.

"Goddamn, a wolf on fire? Just my luck!" Ragnar exclaimed, bracing himself for the attack.

The wolf wasted no time. It leaped toward Ragnar with a vicious snarl, its fiery mane blazing brightly. As it was pouncing, Ragnar noticed that his senses was sharper than usual and he was able to follow the wolf's movement. Ragnar's instincts took over, and he rolled to the side just in time to avoid the wolf's pounce. The beast crashed into the cave wall, sending dust and debris flying.

Ragnar scrambled to his feet, now positioned near the cave's entrance. He could have used this opportunity to escape, but he knew better than to turn his back on a predator. Also, there was no guarantee that the wolf would let him live if he ran. Instead, he decided to face the wolf head-on, preparing for its next move.

'It's either me or the wolf,' he thought, resolve hardening in his eyes.

The wolf lunged again, its flaming mane trailing behind it. This time, Ragnar was ready. He sidestepped the attack and plunged the sharpened bone into the wolf's neck, driving it deep. The beast let out a final growl before collapsing to the ground, its flames extinguishing as it disintegrated into nothingness.

Ragnar exhaled, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. He'd survived, but he knew he couldn't stay in the cave much longer. The noise from the fight would likely attract more predators. He gathered his things and stepped out into the forest, cautious but determined.

As Ragnar made his way through the forest, he avoided more plant monsters and carefully hid from roaming wolf packs. After what seemed like an eternity, he saw the forest's edge in the distance, with a dirt road beyond it—an indication that civilization might be nearby.

"Finally, a sign of hope!" he said, picking up the pace.

Following the road, he soon spotted smoke rising in the distance—a sure sign of a village. He quickened his steps, eager to find other people and maybe some answers. However, as he approached the village entrance, a group of people gathered, armed with pitchforks and shovels. An older man with a pickaxe stood at the front, glaring at Ragnar with distrust.

"Stop right there, thief! We won't let you steal from us anymore!" he shouted; his voice filled with anger.

Ragnar stopped in his tracks, realizing his troubles were far from over. He had escaped the forest, but now he had to navigate a new set of dangers—those that came from other people.