Chapter 15: Charm

[Your body absorbed Dark power]

[Dark power is being registered into your Spirituality]

[Your Physiology is evolving to Synthesize Dark power]

[Dark Power Assimilation: 0.05%]

Sam looked at the system panel without any notable expression. 

When he awakened his innate ability during the awakening ceremony, he not only unlocked the dormant power but also gained all the memories and knowledge related to it.

"Dark power..." he murmured.

Even though he had anticipated this outcome due to his ability to absorb anything and use it as a resource for his growth, he couldn't help but be amazed.

"I might have to cross paths with Yami again. Poor bastard is fated to get his face slapped by me," Sam chuckled to himself.

"I can't believe that with this dark power assimilation, I have gained three rare stats. It's unbelievable." 

Rare stats were not easily obtained; martial artists who managed to acquire them often became some of the strongest heroes in history.

There weren't many ways to obtain stats like Yami's dark power or its counterpart, holy power. 

Most existing rare powers were either inherited through bloodlines like Yami's or awakened during the ceremonies. 

Another way was through fortunate encounters.

There were also unconventional methods, which usually ended with poor results, and then there was sheer luck.

"Speaking of rare power, I also obtained the rare stat, Charm," Sam thought, focusing his attention on the charm stat.

[Rare Stat: Charm]

[Description: This supportive type power greatly influences how other beings perceive and are influenced by you. The higher the charm, the greater the level of influence.]

[Effects: Increased Persuasion Mastery, Enhanced Ability to Sway Decisions and Opinions, Charisma Boost, Trust Manipulation, Allure Enhancement, Emotion Manipulation, Social Dominance, Emotion Control, Seduction Skill, Deception Immunity, Fear Suppression, Loyalty Induction, Empathy]

"No wonder Yami's dark power didn't affect me," Sam realized. 

Dark power could influence negative emotions, but when he was hurt by it, he remained unaffected. 

Now he understood that it was because of his charm and its effects that he could maintain control over his emotions.

"It looks like I was wrong. The charm is more useful than I realized," he concluded.

[Time Remaining: 22:30]

An hour and a half had passed since the beast hunt began.

After bullying Yami and his pals, he went on to hunt beasts for about half an hour before stopping to rest for a bit.

He pointed his hand at the several dead bodies of the beasts he had gathered and activated his innate ability.

[Innate Ability Activated: Extraction]

A bluish, water-like energy manifested before transforming into a spiraling force that pulled the beasts into it, disappearing into him.

[Extracting resources from the beasts' bodies]

[Pure mana detected]

[Extracting mana and using it to replenish energy reserves]

[Excessive mana is fed to the Mana Core]

[Mana Stat increased: +6]

[Mage Level increased: +1]

"With this, I can fight without a break," Sam muttered to himself, clenching his fist.

His attention then shifted to a particular direction where he sensed a disturbance in energy.

Sam's senses were distinct from both mages and heroes.

Mages had mana sense, and heroes had heroic sense.

Mages could sense the presence and circulation of mana in their surroundings.

It was akin to how sharks smell blood, but instead of using scent, they perceived mana.

Heroic sense, however, was more intricate than mana sense.

A hero used all their seven senses to perceive their surroundings, similar to echolocation used by bats, but instead of relying solely on sound, they utilized all their senses simultaneously.

Being both a mage and a hero, Sam could use these senses concurrently.

Additionally, his soul power further enhanced his perception, making his natural senses significantly mightier than those of others at his level.

Following his senses, he arrived at the top of a small mountain, instantly noticing the relatively cold temperature.

Seeking a better vantage point, he climbed a tall tree.

From there, he saw a girl wielding a sword, surrounded by the corpses of dozens of wolf-like beasts.

"Yuki Asuna," he whispered. This was the girl he was supposed to look after. "Does she even need protection?"

Sam could sense that this girl was far stronger than Yami.

He wasn't even sure if he could win against her in a confrontation.

Utilizing his speed, he moved closer by leaping through the tree branches.

"Should I introduce myself?" he wondered. Shaking his head, he decided to observe her first instead.

Suddenly, three wolf-like beasts, each as large as a full-grown elephant, emerged from the shadows.

[Silver Moon Wolves]

GROWL!!!

Yuki's cold eyes flicked towards the beasts. With a fluid motion, she brandished her sword and leaped onto the nearest wolf.

The wolves moved with lightning speed.

The first wolf lunged, its jaws snapping viciously, intent on devouring the intruder in their territory.

Yuki's expression remained serene.

She gripped her sword, now glowing with a brilliant white energy.

Without hesitation, she arced her blade from left to right.

A crescent of white light emanated from her sword, trailing delicate ice crystals, and struck the wolf's eyes.

The energy instantly froze the wolf's head solid. 

With grace and precision, Yuki landed on its back and, with a powerful strike, shattered its frozen head into a hundred pieces.

She pivoted swiftly, dodging the next beast's crushing attack. 

Gliding under its belly, she sliced it horizontally from the center to its back.

Every place her sword touched froze instantly, causing the beast to shatter like fragile glass.

The third wolf, now terrified, turned to flee. But Yuki was relentless. 

She summoned a surge of energy, concentrating it into her sword.

Raising the blade high above her head, she brought it down with a decisive slash.

A fierce ray of icy white energy burst from her sword, striking the fleeing wolf.

Half its body froze instantly, sending it crashing to the ground. 

Yuki calmly approached the immobilized beast and ended its suffering with a final, precise strike.

"Yep, she definitely doesn't need anyone to watch over her," Sam thought as he was about to leave her to her own devices.

However, just as he turned to leave, a dangerous aura emanated from the depths of the forest. 

"Shit, this is not good," Sam muttered as he watched a pair of glowing red eyes emerge from the shadows.

Yuki's expression shifted to one of intense seriousness.

She immediately adopted a defensive stance, fully aware that she couldn't defeat this beast on her own.

"Looks like she needs someone to watch over her after all," Sam whispered before disappearing from the spot.

The beast prowled forward menacingly.

It was a colossal silver furred-wolf, standing at a towering fifteen feet in height, with a crescent symbol emblazoned on its forehead.

[Alpha Silver Moon Wolf]