Chapter 20: The Plunderer
This skill was most likely inspired by video games, where the hero, after defeating an enemy, gains all the experience and achievements the foe had earned, in the form of skill books or orbs containing years upon years of stored experience.
And these skills were now before him.
He didn't hesitate and clicked on the confirmation option–
Whoosh!
A swirling vortex of rainbow colors formed, spinning in one direction before dispersing into a multitude of light points that flew forth to be absorbed into Aiden's body.
Then, a screen appeared, adorned with starry, vivid rainbow hues, announcing the creation of the first original skill unique to Aiden himself.
Aiden's eyes were wide open, brimming with limitless anticipation and excitement.
They saw the future and the potential impact this skill could have.
Upon looking at the screen:
[Ding! You have obtained the skill: "Achievement Plunderer"!]
He gently tapped on it.
Another screen appeared in front of the previous one, bearing the skill's description:
[Achievement Plunderer] [Passive]: The Plunderer or Looter is an advanced-level skill, activated passively upon killing any enemy. It influences reality, distorting it to convert everything the other party has gone through into useful, consumable resources for the user and others. This skill includes: Training, Combat Experience, Memories, Skills.
The corners of Aiden's lips curved into a magnificent smile, suggesting that all his effort had not been in vain, but had instead materialized before him in the form of this perfect skill.
Some might wonder: How could a skill like this be created at such a low cost?
The answer lies in his fantastical skill and the explanation provided by[Secrets Revealer].
[Skill: Universal Composition]: A fantastical skill that cannot be possessed by more than one being in existence. This skill holds a supreme status within the universal system, where all great forces in existence seek to obtain a skill of the same level or even category. This skill possesses a power that contradicts existence itself, capable of bending existential laws to achieve anything or any goal for an appropriate cost. The cost is significantly lowered when obtaining this skill at lower power levels within the universal system itself.
[Fate Points]: A term referring to points gathered from the number of destinies that can be changed by a person or entity. These points are calculated based on the individual's power level and their personal world. The user is currently at the lowest tier of the universe, so for every destiny he alters, he will gain one Fate Point.
The definitions clarified that Aiden's low level would allow him to use Fate Points more easily and effectively, as anything he attempted to create with them would require the minimum number of points. However, this discount was specific only to the lowest tiers of the universe, designed to allow him to ascend as quickly as possible and join the upper echelons.
Thus, skills that might require 1000 points at a very advanced level would cost Aiden only a single point.
It was an indescribable advantage.
He sighed deeply, then looked at the group behind him and said loudly:
"I see you are all tired."
Then, his lips curved into a gentle smile as he said:
"How about some rest?"
"..."
No one could answer for a moment, until a small child cheered:
"Yes, Leader! Rest, rest...!"
Others joined in after him:
"Rest, rest!"
"Rest,rest!"
"Rest,rest..."
Aiden smiled gently at them and said:
"Alright,let's rest for a while!"
... And so, Aiden's group decided to stop and rest, after searching for and rescuing a respectable number of people while on their way to a residential area containing many habitable buildings. This area was expected to be under the control of a number of people residing there.
They might not welcome Aiden and his followers. However, Aiden didn't care; if they stood in his way, he wouldn't hesitate to turn them into his personal points.
---
In a distant place within the City of Radiance.
"Grrrrraaagh!"
Screams rose and blood scattered on the ground like waterfalls.
Chomp... chomp
Crunch... crunch
The sounds of chewing flesh and breaking bones spread everywhere.
"Dong Wan... No!" A desperate scream erupted from one of them. He was one of the individuals who had left Aiden's group a long time ago.
"What the hell are these things... Ah!" another shouted loudly and despairingly, as something massive pounced on him with unstoppable force, knocking him to the ground like a slaughtered animal.
"Argh!" The man looked at the beast on top of him, noticing its huge claws and gigantic jaw moving towards him.
"No no no..." he screamed in refusal, then–
Chomp
"AAAAH!"
Rip
Whoosh
His face was torn apart in a horrifying manner, leaving only the inner skull bones and some brain matter intact.
"Nooooo!" someone else screamed loudly, then changed direction and started running as fast as he could.
The beast saw him escaping, jumped off its prey, and began chasing him... though it could hardly be called a chase. It was like a turtle racing a rabbit—no comparison possible.
Whoosh
The beast shot forward like a bullet, its claws beginning to emit a brown light.
[Earth Claw]
Fwoom
It appeared directly behind the fleeing man, then–
Boooom
It swung its massive claws down onto the man's head, turning him into minced meat.
The looks on the remaining people's faces bled shock and terror. Not long ago, they were safe and comfortable with Aiden. Since parting ways with him, they had encountered many strange and terrifying events, but this was the most horrifying.
A pack of gigantic creatures had attacked them. Their fur was thick and coarse, with pale, earthy colors and supernatural camouflage they only noticed when it was too late. The fur was distinctive, with black, wire-like tufts resembling thorns running along their spines.
They possessed massive, overwhelming jaws capable of swallowing a whole person in one bite. Looking into their sharp eyes, one could sense an limitless intent to kill.
These giant monsters resembled dogs or wolves...
They were "Earth Wolves," the terrifying creatures Aiden had decided to avoid from the beginning and not confront.
They hunted all creatures within the City of Radiance and had annihilated a vast number of lives.
Not long ago, they had caught the scent of a large number of humanoid creatures and decided to leave the small number they had and chase this larger group.
This was why they had left those people whom Aiden had seen and judged their end to be inevitable. Without realizing it, he had saved their lives by making himself and his group the target instead.
When they reached the place where some had decided to split from Aiden's group and follow a different path, the pack was slightly surprised, then decided to split into several groups and launched a large-scale hunting operation.
This brings us to the current events.
As darkness enveloped the corners of the City of Radiance, the wolves were not just ordinary animals... they were an organized force, sweeping through human groups one after another, slaughtering them in the most horrific ways the human mind could imagine.
The terrifying scenes were not limited to one place; they spread across different districts of the city, where the sounds of screams and fangs tearing flesh became a familiar refrain in the dead of night. Blood painted grim pictures on building walls, and mutilated bodies told tales of unending horror.
Amidst all this hell, Aiden's group remained the only one that had not yet faced that nightmare... but how long would this silence last? Were they truly safe, or were the wolves lying in wait for them in the darkness as well?