As the last breath left the giant snake, the red eye on Erebos flashed blindingly bright. The blade didn't just sit there; it began to vibrate, emitting a low, hungry hum that resonated in Lysander's bones.
[PASSIVE SKILL ACTIVATED: SOUL DRINKER]
Suddenly, a stream of crimson-black energy erupted from the Python's corpse. It wasn't blood; it was the raw Life Force of the E-Rank Boss. The energy spiraled up the blade, moving like living smoke, and slammed into Lysander's hand.
"Gah...!"
Lysander gasped, his head thrown back.
[THE RECOVERY PROCESS]
It didn't feel like healing magic, which was usually warm and gentle. This felt violent.
The Purge the purple venom that was burning his skin and clouding his lungs was instantly neutralized. He coughed up a clot of black blood, clearing his airway. The burning sensation in his veins turned ice-cold, then vanished.
The Stitching the deep bruises on his ribs from the snake's tail whip didn't just fade; he could feel his muscle fibers snapping back together, knitting themselves tight with audible cracks.
The Refuel his Mana, which had been drained by using Shadow Flash and Blood Wave, didn't trickle back. It flooded his core like a bursting dam.
It was an addictive, euphoric rush. One moment he was battered, poisoned, and exhausted. The next, he felt stronger than he had been before the fight started.
[Health: 100% Restored]
[Mana: 100% Restored]
[Status: Peak Condition]
Lysander looked at his hands. The tremors of fatigue were gone. His skin was flawless again, glowing faintly with the absorbed power.
He clenched his fist, feeling the stolen life force settling into his own soul.
"It doesn't just heal me," Lysander whispered, a look of dark realization crossing his face. "It feeds me."
He looked down at the dried-up husk of the snake. The sword had drained it so completely that the massive carcass now looked like withered old leather.
"Convenient," he smirked. "I don't need potions. I just need to kill."
As the giant snake's body withered away, a golden light enveloped Lysander, brighter than before.
Ding!
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Target Eliminated: Mud-King Python] (E-Rank)
[Experience Gained: Massive]
[LEVEL UP!] (10 -> 12)
[CURRENCY UPDATE]
[Previous Balance: 31 SP]
[Points Acquired: +500 SP]
[Current Balance: 531 SP]
Lysander stared at the glowing number, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. He did the math quickly in his head.
"Wait," he said, tapping the screen.
"System, explain this."
He pointed at the dead snake.
"According to the guide, an E-Rank monster is worth 50 SP. Even if this is a Boss, 500 seems excessive. I should have 81 points, not 531"
Ding!
The System window expanded slightly to show the breakdown, correcting his misunderstanding.
[REWARD BREAKDOWN]
[Base Kill Reward (E-Rank): +50 SP]
[Achievement: First Boss Kill: +150 SP ](One-time Bonus)
[Achievement: Solo Victory: +300 SP]
[Context: Bosses are designed to be fought by a "Party" of 5-10 people. You killed it alone. Therefore, you receive the equivalent of the entire party's share]
[Total Earned: 500 SP]
Lysander read the logic and slowly nodded, a smirk returning to his face.
"I see," he murmured, closing the window. "So if I don't share the glory, I don't have to share the gold."
He looked at his new balance of 531 SP.
"Greed is good."
The adrenaline of the battle finally faded, replaced by a sharp, gnawing emptiness in his stomach. Lysander looked down at the massive carcass of the Python.
"Well," he muttered, rubbing his stomach. "It's ugly, but meat is meat. A fire, some spices... it could work."
He reached down to cut a slice of the snake's flesh.
CRACK.
As soon as he touched it, the "flesh" crumbled into grey dust under his fingers. It wasn't meat anymore; it was like dry, brittle ash.
"What?" Lysander frowned, wiping the dust from his hand. "System, what is this? Why is the body decomposing so fast? I need to eat."
Ding!
[INQUIRY ANSWERED: FOOD SOURCE]
[Warning: Consumption Impossible]
[Master Your weapon, Erebos, does not merely cut flesh. It consumes the 'Vitality' and 'Essence' that holds biological matter togethe]
[When you kill a target, the sword drinks the life to heal you. What remains is a soulless, nutrient-free husk. Eating this would be like eating dust. It provides zero energy]
Lysander stared at the ash, annoyed. "Great. So my sword keeps me alive but starves me at the same time.
He sighed and opened the System Shop.
"Fine. I have points. Give me something to eat. I want a heavy meal. Roasted meat. Stew. Something real."
The Shop interface scrolled, but there were no steaks, no burgers, no cooked meals. Instead, there were only glowing, strange-looking plants.
[Velkora Fruit]- 10 SP
[Moon-Nectar Pear]- 15 SP
[Sun-Root Tuber]- 12 SP
Lysander scrolled down, frustration growing. "Fruit? Only fruit? System, I am a predator. I need meat. Why does the Shop of a Demon God only sell a vegetarian diet?"
Ding!
[Master The System Shop generates items by condensing pure Mana from the atmosphere]
[Fruits and Vegetables are simple structures—they are vessels of energy. The System can easily synthesize them from Mana]
[Meat, however, is complex dead tissue. It requires the destruction of a living soul to exist. The System creates life; it does not simulate death. Furthermore, at your evolutionary stage, your body processes 'Mana-Food' more efficiently than heavy, dead flesh]
Lysander rolled his eyes, looking at the glowing image of the Velkora Fruit.
"So, I am a god-like being who destroys monsters, but I have to eat like a monk," he grumbled. "Fine."
He tapped the button.
[Purchased: 1x Velkora Fruit]
[-10 SP]
A strange, star-shaped blue fruit materialized in his hand. It was cold and hummed with faint energy.
He looked up at the sky. The orange hues of sunset were being swallowed by purple twilight. The jungle was getting darker, and the nocturnal sounds were starting to rise—sounds much scarier than the wolves.
"It's getting late," Lysander whispered, clutching the blue fruit. "Eating out here in the open is suicide."
He turned back toward the direction of his cave.
"I'll eat in the dark. At least there, I can watch the entrance."
Lysander sat against the cold stone wall of the cave, holding the small, glowing blue Velkora Fruit in his hand. He took a bite. It tasted like cold water mixed with mint—refreshing, but hardly filling.
"One is not enough," he muttered, feeling his stomach growl. "I just fought a Boss. I need calories"
He opened the Shop interface again.
[Purchase: Velkora Fruit x 2]
[-20 SP]
Two more fruits materialized. He checked his balance.
[Current Balance: 501 SP]
As he ate the second fruit, he inspected its glowing skin.
"System," he asked thoughtfully. "You said these are made of condensed Mana. Does that mean they have uses other than food? If I take this to a city, is it worth anything?"
Ding!
[Affirmative. The Velkora Fruit is not sold in common markets. It is a raw material used by Alchemists to craft High-Grade Mana Potions and Elixirs]
[In the Human Kingdoms, where mages are desperate for mana recovery, a single fruit can sell for 10 Gold Coins. That is enough to feed a common family for a year]
Lysander raised an eyebrow. "Only in Human Kingdoms?"
[Biology dictates value. Human bodies have weak mana channels; they need the Velkora to stabilize magic. Therefore, it is expensive there]
[Demi-Humans (Beast-kin), however, possess strong bodies but volatile spirits. They do not need Mana fruit. They pay high prices for Sun-Root Tubers to enhance their physical rage]
[If you wish to become rich, you must sell the right item to the right race.]
Lysander finished the last fruit, wiping his mouth. "So, I am literally eating money. Good to know for the future."
He leaned back, his eyes feeling heavy. The exhaustion of the day was finally catching up to him. But as he closed his eyes, he snapped them open again, gripping his sword.
"Wait," he whispered, looking at the dark entrance of the cave. "If I fall asleep... I am defenseless. Any random monster could walk in and slit my throat while I dream. I can't sleep like this."
"System! What happens if I sleep? Do I just die?"
Ding..
[Passive Skill Active: Demon God's Aura]
[This skill does not sleep. It constantly projects a subconscious field of pure Killing Intent around you]
[To the monsters of this jungle (Rank F & E), this cave does not smell like prey. It smells like death]
[Their survival instincts scream at them to run away. Just as a deer would never voluntarily walk into a lion's den, no weak monster will dare to cross the entrance of this cave.]
Lysander listened to the explanation about the Demon God's Aura and nodded slowly, though his hand didn't leave his sword hilt.
"Okay," he muttered, looking at the dark mouth of the cave. "So the Aura acts like a supernatural scarecrow. That's good extra safety against the weak ones. It keeps the trash away."
He paused, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"But that only stops the cowards. What if something stronger comes? Or a monster that is too stupid to feel fear? If I am deep asleep, I'm dead before I can react. I can't bet my life just on a 'scary vibe'."
Ding!
[Rest assured, Master. The Aura is merely the outer wall. I have also activated the internal alarm]
[System Sentry Mode is now ON]
[I will actively monitor a 20-meter radius around your physical body. I do not just 'see' movement; I detect Killing Intent]
[If a hostile entity crosses this invisible line with the intention to harm you, I will not ring a bell]
[I will directly stimulate your central nervous system with a low-voltage shock. You will wake up instantly—Combat Ready—before the enemy can strike]
Lysander raised an eyebrow, impressed.
A forced wake-up call via electric shock?" He smirked, finally letting go of his sword.
"Brutal. But effective."
"Fine. I'll trust you."
"Rest, Master. You are being watched over."
Lysander listened to the explanation and slowly relaxed his grip on the sword.
"An automatic alarm system and a scarecrow aura," he muttered, closing his eyes. "Convenient."
"Wake me if anything tries to die," he whispered.
Within seconds, he was asleep.