Chapter 26: One Skill

The soldiers raised their swords and shields, bracing themselves as the sound of thundering footsteps and growls echoed through the forest.

At first, they thought it was just a typical pack of wild wolves—until the beasts emerged from the thickets.

But these weren't ordinary wolves.

They were massive, easily twice the size of a normal dire wolf, with glowing crimson eyes and dark matted fur that rippled with muscle. And riding on their backs were grotesque figures—humanoid, but hunched and wild, with leathery gray skin and jagged wooden spears.

[Troilo Hunter]

Level: 13

HP: 260 / 260

MP: 0

Physical Attack: 38

Magical Attack: 0

Skills: (Rushing Spear) (Thrust) (Taming) (Riding)

[Dire Wolf]

Level: 13

HP: 300 / 300

MP: 0

Physical Attack: 40

Magical Attack: 0

Skills: (Bloodlust) (Jaw Lock) (Rend)

Ashen's heart skipped a beat. Forty enemies—twenty mounted Troilo Hunters, each one riding a Dire Wolf.

The other soldiers began to sweat in anxiety. Murmurs and stammered prayers escaped trembling lips. Fear was rapidly taking hold.

"Soldiers, Square Formation!" Pyro's deep voice cracked like a thunderclap through the air.

The troops moved immediately, obeying out of instinct and drilled training. In moments, four platoons formed a hollow square formation, shields outward, spears braced in the center.

This was a classic anti-cavalry tactic used when surrounded or under threat of a charge—perfect against mounted foes.

But before the wolves could reach them, Pyro moved.

With a single bound, he leapt more than ten meters forward, landing with a quake-like thud that left a crater beneath his feet. His massive black greatsword shimmered with strange, dark energy—not mana, but something primal.

"Trembling Sword Quake."

With both hands, Pyro brought the blade down into the ground. A deafening boom tore through the clearing.

A pulse of destructive force rippled outward in a wide radius, like a shockwave exploding from the earth itself. The ground split. Trees shattered. Dust and rocks flew like shrapnel.

The mounted enemies didn't even have time to react.

CRACK!

The shockwave smashed through their formation like a tidal wave. Troilo Hunters were flung into the air. Dire Wolves were bisected or crushed instantly. Blood sprayed the foliage. It was over in seconds.

Ashen stood frozen. His mouth hung slightly open.

Not a single enemy had reached the square.

The corpses of forty monsters now littered the forest floor, and from them—loot orbs and EXP notifications began to sparkle.

EXP Gained: 0

(No contribution made to the kill.)

Ashen clenched his fists. So that's Pyro's power… and I didn't even get to swing my blade once.

He wasn't scared—but he felt the overwhelming gap. A wave of admiration and ambition surged inside him. That kind of power… it didn't hide in the shadows. It didn't dodge. It conquered.

I want that power…

"Starting now, I don't want anyone getting cocky just because you're surrounded by allies," Pyro spoke calmly, the wind stirring his cape. "This is your chance to train, to bleed, and to grow. The people of the kingdom depend on you. Be brave."

His words weren't grandiose, but they ignited something in every soldier. Morale surged like wildfire. Swords were held higher. Eyes gleamed with renewed purpose.

Ashen tightened his grip on his new Damascus Blade.

Stand out. That's what Alex said, right? He would. He must.

As they delved deeper into the forest, the air changed.

The light dimmed beneath the tall canopy, and the cries of birds gave way to the eerie silence of a predator's domain.

Suddenly, a screech echoed.

A large arachnid burst out from the underbrush.

[Giant Spider]

Level: 18

HP: 520

MP: 0

Physical Attack: 50

Magical Attack: 0

Skills: (Rend) (Leg Strike)

Its fangs dripped venom, and its front limbs struck with enough force to shatter shields.

"Enemy ahead!" one of the captains warned.

The soldiers didn't falter. With their confidence restored, they surged forward in tight formation. The front line took the spider's frontal assault while the backline thrust their spears between the gaps.

Clang! Crack!

After a brief but intense skirmish, the Giant Spider collapsed, releasing a grotesque shriek: "Shrkk!"

Its death echoed unnaturally.

Ashen frowned. "That sound… it didn't feel like a normal death cry."

No one noticed the way the leaves rustled unnaturally, nor did they pay attention to the sudden silence that followed.

Six kilometers away...

Beyond the reach of the soldiers and past the veil of trees, a hidden valley concealed something far more sinister.

In this secluded place, dozens—no, hundreds—of Troilo gathered.

But these were not the same as before.

They were larger, bulkier, more feral. Their eyes gleamed with cunning and intelligence unnatural for beasts.

Crude structures of wood and stone were being built—a primitive village in the making. Bonfires crackled. Spears were sharpened. Children screeched. It wasn't a monster den—it was a burgeoning society.

And at the center, resting in a hut of bones and hide, was a beast among beasts.

[Troilo Savage Lord]

Level: ???

HP: ???

MP: ???

Title: Primal King of Anguish

He lay in the shadows of his shack, breathing deeply. Seven feet tall, with skin like coal and muscles that looked like they'd been carved from obsidian, the beast resembled a gorilla more than a monkey. Its body was covered in coarse, black fur, and its mouth bore massive canine fangs meant for ripping flesh.

Its eyes—still closed—seemed to pulse with malice.

Even asleep, his very presence filled the camp with dread and submission.

The lesser Troilo didn't dare make noise near him. Even the younglings crawled quietly in his presence.

In the corner, a crude map of the region—scratched into a piece of animal hide—marked their next target: The Anguish Forest Garrison.

The moment this beast wakes, war would erupt.

And the soldiers, confident and bold, had no idea what was coming.