Fangs and Fury : Dual System of the Godslayer

Terry adjusted the strap of his bag as he stood beside Soden near the gates of the elf village. The morning light filtered through the ancient trees, casting golden hues on the ground. Casatero had handed him a sealed message before they left—a letter he described as "vital for the alliances to come." 

"Deliver this to the village of Ulther. They are allies, but their trust must be reaffirmed," Casatero had said, his golden eyes boring into Terry's. 

Terry nodded, clutching the message tightly. Despite the elf lord's calm demeanor, Terry couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at stake than Casatero let on. 

"Ready, kid?" Soden asked, stretching as he looked out toward the dense forest ahead. His twin daggers glinted faintly in the sunlight. 

"As ready as I'll ever be," Terry replied. 

Together, they stepped into the wilderness, leaving the tranquil elf village behind. 

--- 

The journey through the woods was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of nature absent. Terry's hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, his senses on high alert. Beside him, Soden walked with practiced ease, though his sharp eyes constantly scanned their surroundings. 

"Stay sharp," Soden said. "The farther we get from the village, the less protection their wards offer." 

Terry nodded, his thoughts briefly flickering back to the Elf Lord System he had uncovered. Though it remained locked until Level 10, the mere existence of such a system hinted at powers far beyond his understanding. 

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew colder, and an oppressive energy settled around them. The trees seemed to twist unnaturally, their branches reaching out like clawed hands. 

Then, the system chimed. 

*Warning: Dark Vodel detected. A demon creature known to devour souls. Engage with extreme caution.* 

Terry froze, his blood running cold. Ahead, the shadows seemed to coalesce, forming a monstrous figure. The creature was massive, its body a grotesque amalgamation of sinew and shadow. Glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, and a guttural growl echoed through the woods. 

"That's not something you see every day," Soden muttered, drawing his daggers. Flames flickered to life around his hands. 

Terry gripped his sword tightly. His system provided more details. 

*Dark Vodel: A cursed demon that thrives on consuming the souls of the living. Weakness: Purification energy.* 

"Purification energy?" Terry whispered. His gaze fell on the Werevine tucked into his bag. Could it work against a creature like this? 

"Think fast, kid!" Soden shouted as the Dark Vodel lunged toward them. 

--- 

The battle was immediate and ferocious. The Dark Vodel moved with terrifying speed for its size, its clawed hands swiping at Terry and Soden with deadly precision. Soden darted around the creature, his daggers flashing as he launched fire-infused strikes. The flames scorched its shadowy form but didn't seem to deter it for long. 

Terry's strikes were equally ineffective. His sword passed through the creature's smoky exterior, barely leaving a mark. The Dark Vodel let out a bone-chilling roar, its red eyes locking onto Terry. 

Terry 

"You've got to try something else!" Soden yelled, narrowly avoiding a massive claw. 

Terry reached for the Werevine, its golden shimmer a stark contrast to the creature's darkness. He activated his system, channeling the Werevine's energy into his body. A searing warmth spread through him, purging the lingering curse on his dual abilities. 

*Werevine consumed. Curse cleansed. Stats increasing by 20 points each in Strength, Agility, Speed, and Luck.* 

Terry staggered under the sudden surge of power. His body felt lighter, stronger, and more attuned to the battle around him. 

--- 

With newfound strength, Terry re-entered the fight. His sword glowed faintly, the purification energy from the Werevine infusing the blade. He dodged a claw swipe with ease, his enhanced agility allowing him to move with precision. 

This time, when his sword struck the Dark Vodel, it elicited a guttural scream. The purified energy burned through the creature's form, leaving behind smoking wounds. 

"You're doing it!" Soden shouted, his flames flaring brighter as he doubled his attacks. 

The Dark Vodel retaliated, its claws slashing at Terry with relentless fury. But Terry's speed allowed him to evade most of the strikes, and his strength let him parry the ones he couldn't avoid. 

With each successful attack, the creature weakened. Terry's system chimed again. 

*Points accrued: 100. Allocate wisely.* 

Terry quickly opened his interface, assigning the points to Strength and Speed, further bolstering his physical abilities. 

--- 

The battle reached its climax as Terry delivered a decisive blow. His sword, glowing with purification energy, plunged into the Dark Vodel's core. The demon let out a deafening roar, its shadowy form dissolving into nothingness. 

The system notification appeared before him. 

*Dark Vodel defeated. Level up! Current level: 6. All physical stats increased by 50.* 

Terry collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His body buzzed with the aftermath of the battle, his enhanced stats making him feel almost invincible. 

"Not bad, kid," Soden said, walking over and offering a hand to help him up. "You're starting to catch up." 

Terry laughed weakly. "Thanks. Though I think I've got a long way to go before I'm on your level." 

Soden smirked. "Level 17, in case you're wondering. But hey, you've got potential." 

Terry's eyes widened. "Seventeen? You're stronger than Curl?" 

"By a mile," Soden said with a grin. "Don't worry, though. You'll get there. Eventually." 

--- 

As they continued their journey, Terry couldn't help but marvel at how far he had come. His current stats were leagues beyond what they had been when he first arrived in this world, and the promise of the Elf Lord System loomed in his mind like a distant treasure. 

Still, the battle with the Dark Vodel left him with lingering questions. The demon's presence so close to the elf village wasn't a coincidence. Something—or someone—was orchestrating these events, and Terry knew he would need to be ready for whatever came next. 

For now, though, he focused on the road ahead, the sealed message from Casatero safely tucked away. The journey was far from over, and the real challenges were only beginning.