Angie’s interface was still open in front of him.

  “They’re all solid skills, each one leaning toward a different fighting style.”

  [Wild Punch] would come into play if she ever had to throw her spear, giving her a way to defend herself while unarmed.

  [Weak Intimidating Shout] was clearly a debuff, something meant to pressure enemies rather than deal direct damage.

  [Brutal Headbutt] was another offensive option, but Luke struggled to see much practical value in it. If Angie had her spear, there was no reason to lead with a headbutt. And if she did not, Wild Punch was still the better choice. The only situation where it made sense was if she were physically grabbed.

  He forced himself to think logically. Angie could fly whenever she wanted. Being restrained was possible, sure, but the odds were low.

  [Battle Instinct] stood out. A passive combat analysis skill that would enhance her overall awareness and decision-making in every fight.

  [Hardened Skin] was a straightforward self-buff, making her a bit tougher for a few seconds.

  “Everything depends on how you want to fight,” Luke said.

  “But if it were you, what would you choose?” she asked.

  “I would probably go with Battle Instinct. Any extra help reading a fight and staying alive is worth it. And it applies to every battle, not just specific situations.”

  Angie nodded and tapped the interface.

  [Angie has acquired the Class Skill: Battle Instinct]

  ***

  They took a brief break from walking. Charlie climbed a tall tree, seeking higher ground to better focus on the sounds around them.

  Luke leaned against the trunk and pulled out a few documents from Sirius.

  “I already skimmed through those,” Artemis said.

  Luke stayed silent, eyes moving across the pages.

  “A government team waiting for you there. You’ve got quite the reputation,” Artemis added.

  “Eleanor said the SIA had to deploy field agents to several locations in the New World, so she used that excuse to send Sirius. They need to level up anyway. Since her team came straight out of the tutorial, they can act as bodyguards or escorts. Mostly to protect people with no class levels.”

  It was her way of helping him. Those people carried a kind of World Government authorization, something like special forces clearance. That allowed them to enter certain realms and formally request information. Privileges Luke did not have.

  “And you’re going to meet that agent there,” Artemis said.

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not counting on it.”

  It meant running into someone from the tutorial again, someone now working under Eleanor.

  “Out of everyone Eleanor could have sent, it had to be that one?” Artemis asked.

  “If I had to deal with an idiot either way, I figured I’d rather deal with an idiot I already know,” Luke replied. “Besides, there’s something about that idiot that’ll be useful to me.”

  Not someone he liked, but among the available options, the best choice.

  ***

  Angie was in the middle of a fight against a pack of wolves. She spun her spear in a wide arc, the blade catching three of them in one sweeping motion. As one wolf’s neck snapped from the impact, she tightened her grip and thrust forward.

  [Angie has slain a Black-Fanged Wolf - Level 12]

  The remaining wolves lunged at her. Angie beat her wings, lifting herself just enough to evade, then hurled her spear.

  [Angie has slain a Black-Fanged Wolf- Level 12]

  The third wolf leapt, and she came down hard, pinning it with her leg. Grabbing it by the tail, she took off again. Angie spun midair and flung the creature straight into a tree.

  She landed, retrieved her spear, and finished it without hesitation.

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  [Angie has slain a Black-Fanged Wolf - Level 12]

  **[Angie has reached Level 3! Stone Angel (Rank F)] (+2 bonus point to all attributes, +5 free point)**

  [Angie has unlocked a new Race Skill]

  “Are you sure I should be the one fighting all the weaker monsters?” she asked. “Wouldn’t it be better if you focused on getting more Witch skills?”

  “I already have.”

  He stepped closer.

  “Look, Lord Luke. This race skill is tied to my angel side.”

  Charlie remained alert, scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger, while Luke studied Angie’s system screen. It was real.

  Ancient rarity.

  [Conceal Wings (Ancient)]: The angel learns to hide her wings by folding them into her own soul. By doing so, she can move without the burden of wings on her back, keeping them sealed away until the moment she chooses to reveal them again. The wings do not cease to exist. They simply fall silent, like a dormant part of oneself.

  Something like this at race level three? That was enormous.

  Angie stretched her wings outward, then drew them in. A soft glow flared behind her, and her wings dissolved into shimmering particles of light before vanishing completely.

  “Incredible,” Luke said, watching closely.

  The wings were gone. Completely. Even her system-generated outfit adjusted itself, sealing the opening where the wings had been.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “Much lighter,” she replied, stretching her body and rolling her shoulders.

  Luke waved a hand through the empty space where her wings had been moments ago. Nothing. They were not invisible. They were simply gone.

  “This is going to make tight spaces so much easier,” Angie said. “I could barely fit into a tent before.”

  “Yeah,” Luke agreed. “Even sitting down will be easier for you now.”

  Angie closed her eyes for a moment. A faint glow bloomed across her back, her wings reappeared, then vanished again just as smoothly. Complete control.

  ***

  Luke entered the cave alone. This was the place he had tracked. The lair of the dangerous creature that had been clawing territorial marks into the trees. A massive black wolf. He crept forward until he spotted the beast lying deeper inside. Bones were scattered everywhere. Bear bones. Boar bones. And among them, unmistakable remains of human equipment. Torn bags. Shredded fabric.

  A glutton.

  Luke tightened his grip on the bow and activated a skill.

  [Acid Blood Arrow activated]

  He loosed the arrow. The moment it struck, the wolf jolted awake in shock. Then the acid cloud erupted from the arrowhead. Luke smiled. It had been a while since he used that one.

  The wolf rose with a furious, pained growl and staggered toward the cave entrance. Luke had already moved outside, kukris clenched in both hands.

  [Demonic Predator Hands activated]

  Black blood seeped from the pores of his hands, coating them and forming the shape of dark, clawed gauntlets. More than the appearance, the real effect was the surge in damage. His kukris were now wrapped in corrosive power.

  The wolf barely made it out of the cave before a blade slammed into its face, straight through the eye. The beast roared in agony. Before it could bolt, Luke hurled the second kukri, pinning its paw to the ground.

  [Magnetic Return activated]

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Luke said, catching the kukris midair and hurling them back at the wolf.

  The beast lunged. Luke slipped past its attacks and drove a kukri straight into its neck. The creature was tough, far tougher than it looked.

  He deactivated the acid effect and switched skills.

  [Cursed Weapon activated]

  The blades took on a deep violet hue, pulsing with the power of [Curse]. Luke moved in a fluid rhythm, striking just below the creature’s neck before slipping away again. Blood sprayed as the wolf thrashed. Luke waited for the opening, then sent a kukri spinning straight into its face.

  [You have slain a Black-Fanged Alpha Wolf - Level 76]

  **Your class [Demonic Predator] has reached Level 61! (+10 Lethality, +7 Perception, +6 Agility, +6 Vitality, +6 Intelligence, +5 Endurance, +8 Free Points)**

  **Your second class [Witch] has reached Level 5! (+5 Intelligence, +3 Wisdom, +1 Agility, +1 Endurance, +1 Vitality, +1 Perception, +1 Willpower, +2 Free Points)**

  [You have unlocked a Witch Skill]

  The massive corpse collapsed onto the ground.

  The Demonic Predator class swapped its Strength bonus for Lethality at Rank E. Interesting.

  “Time to see if this one has a core too.”

  After checking the dire wolf’s chest cavity, Luke found what he was looking for.

  “That makes six cores.”

  Angie and Charlie were already nearby.

  “You’re telling me you delayed your entire route just because of Mr. Shitpants?” Artemis asked.

  “Next time I see him, I need to have a few cores ready to hand over. That’s our deal. After that, that snake goes his way, and I go mine.”

  The three of them stared at the dead wolf.

  “Should I start cutting up the meat, my lord?” Angie asked.

  “No. Let’s just leave it here. Though… if we hauled it back, it could probably be turned into some decent gear.”

  In the end, he left the corpse inside the cave. It was far too large to fit through the entrance of the necklace’s pocket dimension. Even if it could fit inside, the opening itself was too small.

  Luke tapped the notification for the new Witch skill unlocked at level five. Five options appeared.

  [Earth Ball (Common)]: Compacts earth particles into a heavy sphere. Upon impact, it breaks apart in a solid collision, scattering fragments that can slightly destabilize the target.

  [Water Ball (Common)]: Forms a sphere of pressurized water. When it hits, it bursts with concussive force, briefly throwing off the target’s balance.

  [Wind Ball (Common)]: Concentrates wind energy into a light, fast-moving sphere. On impact, it detonates into a short gust that pushes the target back and causes shallow cuts from compressed air.

  [Shadow Ball (Common)]: Condenses shadow energy into a small sphere of dark flame. Upon striking the target, it erupts into black sparks that burn corrosively, inflicting mild damage over a short time.

  [Light Ball (Common)]: Gathers radiant energy into a bright sphere. When it bursts, it releases a heated flash that injures and can temporarily blind the target, leaving their vision flickering for a few seconds.

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