The beast's final lunge was filled with death throes and a primal urge to take the enemy down with it. The Iron-Hide Wolf pushed off the broken concrete with such force that deep craters formed under its paws. Sebastian saw the gaping maw studded with metallic fangs approaching, but his Mana was exhausted, and his legs felt like lead. He could not use [Shadow Step] again, and even his Strength of sixteen units would not allow him to repel this head-on impact.
At that moment, time seemed to slow down. Sebastian did not know if this was a side effect of overexertion or if his Luck was once again rewriting the script of reality. As the wolf was already in the air, a sharp gust of wind swept across the wasteland, picking up a piece of heavy tarp from an old van. The fabric, weighted by frozen rain, flew up and momentarily covered the monster's head right during the jump.
The beast, having lost visual contact with the target, instinctively tried to throw off the obstacle. Its trajectory shifted by a few degrees, and instead of sinking its fangs into Sebastian's throat, the wolf flew past him, only brushing the boy's shoulder with its massive side. Sebastian, feeling Luck granting him one last chance, did not waste a single fraction of a second. He spun on his heel, using the momentum of the beast's movement against itself.
The "Black Star" flashed in the darkness as Sebastian put the remains of his stamina into this swing. The [Critical Surge] skill flared in his mind again with a bright signal, and the knife, boosted by double damage, entered exactly into the base of the wolf's skull. It was the place where the spine connected to the head—the only spot not protected by metallic fur plates. The blade pierced the flesh through and through, and Sebastian felt the resistance vanish.
The wolf rolled for several more meters along the concrete due to momentum, kicking up a cloud of dust, and finally went still. The massive body shuddered one last time before beginning to slowly disintegrate into dim mana sparks.
[Target neutralized: Corrupted Iron-Hide Wolf (Lvl 16)]
[Experience gained: 5200 XP]
Experience filled Sebastian's system, instantly bringing the bar to its peak.
[Level Up!]
[Your level is now: 10]
[Physical structure optimized. You have received 3 Stat Points.]
Sebastian sank to his knees, breathing heavily. His gaze was fixed on the spot where the Rank E monster had just lain. There, among the ash, something special remained — a large, faceted core pulsing with intense blue light, and a steel claw that had not disintegrated with the body.
"Incredible. You actually did it, kid."
A deep, calm voice made Sebastian instantly tense up, although he had no strength left for a new fight. A man stepped out of the shadow of the residential block. He wore a clean, disciplined military cloak, under which high-quality heavy armor was glimpsed. His short haircut and straight posture gave him away as a seasoned soldier, and a slight smile on his lips somewhat softened the harsh appearance of the scars on his face.
Sebastian felt the air around the stranger pressing on him — it was the aura of a veteran whose power was somewhere beyond level forty.
"Who are you?" Sebastian rasped, trying to stand up.
"Kaspar," the man walked closer and extended a hand to the boy to help him up. His movements were precise and professional. "I've been watching your fight from the very beginning. I must admit, you have a rare gift — you know how to make circumstances work for you. The way that tarp flew... it was beautiful."
Sebastian accepted the help, feeling the incredible strength in Kaspar's hand. The veteran did not look like an enemy; rather like a mentor who happened to be in this God-forsaken sector.
"This wolf shouldn't have been here," Kaspar continued, taking a small flask from his pocket and handing it to Sebastian. "The Distortion is expanding, and the lower districts will soon become hell. Aegis won't be able to hold back such a number of creatures forever."
Sebastian took a sip — it was a restorative elixir that instantly began to relieve the pain in his ribs.
"You're talented, boy. You have Strength, but more importantly, you have that same inexplicable luck that often saves lives where muscles fail. Heloplex is a big city, and the Rotten Sector is just its gutter. You don't belong here."
Kaspar placed a heavy palm on Sebastian's shoulder. "I'm planning to return to the Upper Districts in some time. There's a completely different life there, different resources, and real opportunities for growth. But I don't take dead weight with me. Reach Rank E. As soon as you cross level sixteen and your body undergoes transformation, come to the northern gate of the 'Golden Gates'. Ask for Kaspar."
The veteran smiled, and a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes. "Until then, don't die. It would be a shame to lose such a lucky kid. You need to invest more in what makes you unique. Luck is a fickle mistress, but if you tame her, you can open any door."
Sebastian nodded silently, clutching the wolf core in his pocket. Kaspar turned and with a calm, confident stride headed toward where the glowing spires of the Upper City could be seen behind high walls. He didn't vanish like a ghost; he simply walked away, leaving Sebastian alone with the realization that his life had just changed its vector.
The boy looked at the windows of his apartment. His mother was safe. He had survived a fight with a Rank E monster. Now he had not just experience, but a real goal—to break through to where the sun shines not through smog, but directly into the eyes.
[Sebastian Amaden]
Level: 10
Experience: 97 / 11200
Rank: F
Strength: 16
Mana: 10
Luck: 39
Stat Points: 0
[Skills]: Mana Resonance [Rank F] (Active), Stone Skin [Rank E] (Passive), Shadow Step [Rank F+] (Active), Critical Surge [Rank F+] (Passive).