Essence Reborn

Chapter 8

Those were the last words from the System as it went off through the thin air. Kenji had tried to ask a few more questions, but it was nowhere to be found.

He groaned, staring forward, seeing the first sneering wolf among the four hit the ground and immediately take off running towards his direction.

Thud, Thud!, Thud!!

The speed with which the creature moved, closing the distance in a blur, made his heart leap. He didn't even have time to process a better plan.

E-class monsters... four of them... regenerating... and two D-class Rock Orcs behind them.

He was F-rank. A navigator. An observer. His entire life had been spent hiding behind the lowly C-rank Commander who was now nothing more than a bloody smear on the wall. But now, Kenji had no choice.

He clutched the S-curved Light Staff firmly. It felt surprisingly light and perfectly balanced—a stark contrast to the heavy,

cumbersome axes his dead comrades had carried. He still had half the violet potion left, a draught that had boosted his stats by 5% each, he reminded himself.

Get hold of yourself. You can do this.

He raised the staff, gripping it like a baseball bat. The small, half-moon edges caught the faint light as he planted his feet, attempting a stance he'd only ever seen the party's warrior, Griz, adopt.

The closest Rock Wolf, its stony maw open in a silent snarl, leaped. In a trembling panic, Kenji swung before he even realized he'd moved.

CRACK!

The staff slammed into the wolf's jagged jaw, knocking it off balance mid-air and sending it spinning to the ground. The impact sent a painful vibration up Kenji's arm, nearly toppling him. He knew he'd put every ounce of strength into that brutal swing, but the force was even more powerful than he'd imagined.

The other wolves snapped their heads toward their fallen comrade, then turned in unison, their growls deepening. They began to advance—one step, two, then a third, the sound of stone hitting stone growing louder as they synchronized their charge.

Three of them, moving as one, lunged directly at him.

Shit! No, no, no!

Kenji tried to recall every movement he'd witnessed in the field—every slice, every dodge, but the memories were a hazy blur. He couldn't believe a person like him was capable of such movement

The lead Rock Wolf leaped high, muzzle wide to reveal stone-sharpened teeth. In a cold, precise movement, Kenji managed to pivot on his heel, narrowly dodging the strike. The wolf crashed into the spot he had just occupied, kicking up a cloud of dust and rock fragments.

What was that? I actually dodged it... Kenji gritted his teeth, his mind reeling from the terror. It felt as if his life were flashing before his eyes.

But there was no time to celebrate. The three wolves adjusted their vectors and lunged simultaneously, flanking him. Behind them, the Rock Orcs—massive figures of marbled stone... began to lumber forward. Their heavy rock hammers and swords dragged across the floor with a terrifying, rhythmic scrape.

Kenji panicked. He couldn't defend three directions at once. He defaulted to instinct, raising the S-curved staff to shield himself.

THWACK!

One wolf's head slammed into the staff. A jolt of power surged up Kenji's arm, and the wolf staggered back with a pained whine, a small crack appearing on its rock armor. The staff was harder than Kenji had realized.

However, the other two wolves found their mark. One slammed into his side; the other snapped its jaws shut on his shoulder.

A familiar notification chimed in his head.

«Chrum»

Rock Wolf 2 Scratch. (Regen is active)

Rock Wolf 2 Bite. (Regen is active)

Kenji let out a pained cry and collapsed, dropping his staff. His side felt like it had been struck by a pickaxe. He glanced at his health bar flashing in his peripheral vision:

«Health: 85/105.»

'They almost killed me in two hits!' Kenji realized the 5% stat boost was negligible against true E-rank monsters. His only hope now was the "Scorch Bottle" he'd consumed earlier, which promised him regenerative abilities.

He scrambled backward, kicking the staff closer to his reach. The wolves circled him, sensing his weakness. To his horror, the cracks on the wolf he had hit were already sealing shut.

The wolf he had struck earlier lunged again, its heavy jaw aimed for his thigh. Kenji shifted his weight, narrowly spinning sideways. A sharp, searing pain coursed up his arm where the wolf's teeth grazed him, drawing blood.

As he dodged, the wolves fanned out, boxing him in. The pressure at his back intensified as the two Rock Orcs closed the distance with slow, deliberate steps. They weren't rushing; they were simply cutting off any hope of retreat.

Kenji's heart slammed against his ribs. "This is impossible..." As despair began to take hold, Suddenly, the system chimed again—a digital sound amidst the chaos.

«Countdown Remaining: 39 Mins, 03 Secs»

The fear was a cold, paralyzing wave, but the adrenaline from the magic potion was a sharp, hot counter-current. Five points of Agility and Strength, he reminded himself, his fingers tightening around the smooth steel of his staff.