LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 9: The consequences of power
Chapter 9: The Consequences of Power
Reiji awoke early the next morning, the sunlight filtering through the small cracks in his room. He rubbed his eyes, the events of the previous day still fresh in his mind. The dire wolf he had empowered had become more than just a monster—it had turned into a force that was already stirring ripples across the game world.
A soft buzzing sound emanated from his interface, pulling him out of his thoughts. The notification was clear: "New Quest Available: Defend the Village."
A quest? Reiji frowned. That was quick. He glanced toward Aeris, who had taken her usual position beside him. Though her small, humanoid dragon form was no larger than his palm, her presence still felt commanding.
"What's this about?" he muttered to himself, tapping the notification.
The quest details appeared on the screen.
Quest: Defend the Village
Objective: Protect the nearby village from the newly empowered dire wolf that has begun to rampage.
Rewards: 500 Fateweaver Points (if the village is saved), +1 Title: "Protector of the Weak" (if the player saves the village in under 5 minutes).
Reiji's brows furrowed. "The wolf… It's already attracting attention."
Aeris fluttered beside him, her translucent wings shimmering slightly in the morning light. "It seems your actions yesterday did not go unnoticed. The other players have already caught wind of the creature you've empowered, and now factions are moving in. The dire wolf, now in its evolved form, is too strong to be ignored."
"Great," Reiji muttered under his breath, trying to suppress the feeling of unease rising in his chest. He hadn't expected the situation to escalate this quickly. It seemed like a simple experiment at first, but now he was staring down the barrel of an all-out conflict.
"Should I go?" he asked Aeris, unsure of what exactly was expected of him. There was no way to predict how the world would react to the dire wolf's new power. Would other players come for him? Or was this just another test set by the system?
Aeris' response was calm, almost detached. "The world has begun to shift, Reiji. You have taken the first step. Now, you must decide whether you will rise to meet the challenge—or whether you will allow the consequences of your actions to spread unchecked. The people will call you either their savior or their enemy."
Reiji took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the screen. This was his choice now.
"Let's do this," he said finally, his resolve hardening. With one decisive tap, he accepted the quest. The notification vanished, and the map to the village appeared on his interface.
Without wasting another second, he dashed out of his room, feeling a strange thrill course through him. There was no turning back now. He had crossed a line, and now he had to live with the consequences.
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The village was not far. Reiji arrived at the outskirts just as the first sounds of chaos reached his ears. Screams echoed from the center of town, and the faint smell of smoke hung in the air. He could already see a group of players gathering on the edge of the town, preparing for a fight.
But it wasn't just players. The newly evolved dire wolf was there as well, towering over the villagers, its black fur rippling like shadows in the sunlight. Its glowing eyes scanned the area, hunger and rage emanating from it in waves.
Reiji stepped forward, but Aeris' voice stopped him. "Careful, Reiji. You've empowered it, but that doesn't mean you control it entirely. The wolf is no longer just a mindless creature. It has its own desires now. If you aren't careful, it could turn on you."
He nodded, his heart pounding as he observed the situation. The village was in chaos, with villagers fleeing in every direction. Several other players were already trying to attack the wolf, but their attacks seemed useless against its sheer power.
Reiji took a deep breath. He had made the decision to empower this creature, but now it was his responsibility to either save or destroy the very thing he had created.
He focused, reaching into the pool of Fateweaver Points inside him. The connection between him and the dire wolf was still there—he could feel its pulse, its anger, its power. He extended his will and began to direct it, trying to get the beast to focus on him instead of the villagers.
The wolf's head snapped in his direction, and for a moment, Reiji thought it might charge. But instead, it hesitated, as if waiting for his next move. His heart raced. This was his moment to act.
Reiji took a deep breath and spoke, trying to assert control over the wolf. "Stop. I empowered you. You will not harm them."
The creature growled low in its throat, its massive form still intimidating. For a tense moment, it seemed as if the situation could escalate at any moment.
Then, something strange happened.
A shimmering light surrounded the wolf, its body vibrating with the power Reiji had granted it. It was responding to his command, but not in the way he had expected. The wolf's rage seemed to simmer down, though its aggressive posture didn't completely disappear. Instead, it seemed to acknowledge his authority, though there was no real loyalty in its eyes.
Reiji had expected the wolf to simply obey, but it had its own will. It wasn't fully under his control. He had empowered it, yes—but now it was a creature with its own motives, its own desires. And if Reiji didn't find a way to control it soon, things could get worse.
He glanced back at the players, some of whom were now eyeing him suspiciously. They had seen what he did to the wolf, and they could sense the power he wielded. It wouldn't be long before others took notice.
Reiji realized then that this was only the beginning.
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To be continued...