Alex stared blankly ahead, not quite comprehending what the wolf had just said. Eat me?

“Eat me?” he asked out loud.

“I can’t leave a demon running around, now can I?” The wolf smile, showing off its large fangs. “The gods only know what type of chaos that would cause.”

“But, I wouldn’t do that,” he stammered out, trying desperately to think of anything to say to keep him alive and not coming up with anything good.

“Hmmm, I haven’t met a demon that doesn’t like causing mayhem and destruction.” The wolf eyed him. “II honestly don’t think you are any different. So eating you is really the only option I have

Alex stood there, wide-eyed, brain running at a million miles an hour.

“But I don’t want to do that,” Alex exclaimed. “And I don’t even think I can.”

“You demons are always the same. You crawl out of The Rift and go on to cause wanton destruction. You’re a menace to the whole world.” The wolf spat back. “I really should just stop you here and now.”

“I’m literally a high school student! I got dropped here out of the blue. I didn’t ask for this, or want this.” His emotions started to boil, and all of the stress, anxiety, and hopelessness of the past few days came bubbling up

“A giant rip opened up under my bed and swallowed me. Then I get dropped into a fudging forest in my pajamas! A forest that has actual monsters that have tried to kill me I might add. I didn’t ask for this, I didn’t want this. I don’t want to go and destroy civilization as you know it. I just don’t want to die.”

The wolf took a step back, surprised at the outburst. Alex stood there, breathing heavily, not realizing he had begun to shout at the end.

“Done yet, fledgling?” the wolf asked. When Alex didn’t say anything, it continued. “None of that changes the fact that you are a demon, does it not?”

It stared at Alex, and when he just stood there mutely, it nodded to itself

“That’s what I thought. Everyone knows that demons need to be put down.” The wolf started circling Alex as he stood there, not daring to move a muscle as the vine-covered predator eyed him. “ I really should kill you here and now,” but there was some hesitation in its voice.

“But what about the fact my status screen says I’m a human too?” Alex asked.

The wolf stopped and cocked its head.

“Your status screen? You have one?” It swung around and squinted at him.

“Show me.”

Huh? Why is that interesting? And how the heck do I do that?

“Uh, what? I can do that?” Alex asked, confused.

The wolf just sighed a little.

“Yes, you can. Just think about showing me it.”

Don’t really think I have a choice here. With a thought, he summoned his status screen.

Status

Name

Alexander White

Race

Demon (Human)

Class

-

Level

3 (44%)

Titles:

Marked by The Serpent

Health

8/12

Mana

2/18

Stamina

7/8

Attributes

Vitality

12

Toughness

9

Endurance

8

Wisdom

18

Vigor

7

Presence

7

Agility

11

Intelligence

19

Strength

13

Willpower

9

Attribute points

0

Now, how to share it with someone? He concentrated on the concept of letting the wolf see what he was; like he was clicking a ‘make sharable button. With a mental push, he felt something click in his mind.

The wolf made a surprised hum and then sat on its haunches, staring into the air in front of its eyes. It stayed like for a moment, eyes flirting back and forth, reading. I wonder if it's seeing the same thing I do? Alex wondered idly as he stood awkwardly where he was, not wanting to distract the murderous wolf in front of him. It is in English? Wait, how did I know what it was saying? Was it speaking English? How does it know English? That’s odd. One more crazy thing I don’t know.

“Now that is interesting,” the wolf finally said. “You do not see that every day. A demon with a status screen. Very peculiar.” It hummed to itself more as it used a foreleg to scratch at its ear.

Please mean that it's not going to kill me. Please.

“Something is definitely odd here” It turned to him. “How did you manage to get a status screen, little fledgling? I am quite curious.”

“I don’t know,” Alex stammered out. “It just kind of appeared.”

“Interesting. And you have no knowledge of who The Serpent could be?” The wolf asked.

Right, that title thing I have. Marked by The Serpent. He cast his mind about, trying to see if he could remember anything that could help.

“I mean, when I was falling through the crack that opened up, something big talked to me, and it might have looked like a snake?”

“Before you came here? That’s odd.” The wolf looked deep in thought for a moment. Probably deciding the best way to kill me. Not that it would be that hard.

“I’ve decided not to kill you, for now,” the wolf announced after a considerably awkward silence. “You are probably not a threat. And you are quite different from other demons.”

It stood up and stretched, the vines covering it rippling down its back.

“Don’t make me regret it, or you will die a slow, painful death, understood fledgling?” Its eyes glowed gold for a second, and Alex could feel the weight of the words. An understanding that this being could in fact do exactly what it promised.

“Completly understood.” But what if I make a mess by accident? Or it just looks like I did? This is just great.

“Very well, fledgling. I’ve wasted enough time with you already. My training has been interrupted for far too long already. I must be on my way.” And with that it bounded away, leaving Alex alone in the clearing, the corpse of the monster that had been chasing it laying dead a few feet away.

Well, that just happened, Alex thought to himself and he walked over to a tree and sat down. He sighed in relief as he took his weight off his aching feet. That’s much better.

Now, what the heck just happened? Talking wolves are a thing here apparently? And apparently, everyone hates demons. Not that I’m that surprised. Demons sound pretty scary. I wouldn’t like them either. And I am one, apparently.

He thought back on the conversation. Wish I could have asked some questions about everything. I feel like I know less than I did before. Like what the heck was that? They couldn’t even explain what they were talking about? Would have really appreciated it.

Alex started massaging his right leg, where the Thare Crusher has slammed into him. As he prodded, he could already feel a bruise starting to form. That is going to suck. He gingerly felt along his ribs. As will that. I’m just going to be one giant bruise for the foreseeable future I guess.

Sighing, he turned his attention to the small glowing light in the corner of his vision. I think this is the ‘you’ve got mail’ thing, like last time. I leveled up the [Run] Skill a few times, but it held off the notifications until after I was done running for my life.

Mentally selecting it, a few blue boxes popped up in his vision. All of them said basically the same thing, that a Skill had leveled up, but the only difference was which one.

Proficiency gained

[Run] lvl 5 => lvl 6

6 XP Gained

Proficiency gained

[Run] lvl 6 => lvl 7

7 XP Gained

Proficiency gained

[Improvisation] lvl 3 => lvl 4

20 XP Gained

Proficiency gained

[Mana Manipulation] lvl 1 => lvl 2

20 XP Gained

Looks like [Run] leveled all the way up to 7, not too bad. Though that makes sense, I was running as fast as I could, or I wouldn’t have survived. I really have no idea why [Improvisation] leveled up. The [Mana Manipulation] I get. I think that was the fastest I had ever moved mana ever.

He stared at the boxes in front of him for a second, not really reading them, just staring at them before he shook his head and dismissed them. Well, at least that whole mess wasn’t all bad. I got a few skills out of it.

Trying to take his mind off things, he tried to figure out the formula for the XP given for each Skill level. Hmmm, if I remember correctly, [Run] was an inferior skill, and it looks like I only got the Skill level worth of XP. While [Improvisation] is a common skill which should give 5 XP per level? So that means that [Mana Manipulation] gives a whole 10 per level. I wonder how much XP I would get if I could increase one of my rare Skills? 20 per Skill level? That wouldn’t be too bad. Not bad at all.

He sat back, thinking about how he could try and raise those Skill to level up faster. Though it does look like there’s another way to level up. Just need to go and defeat monsters. He smirked to himself. But let’s be honest, I am not going to be doing that any time soon.

Alex got up, and went to look at the monster that had terrorized him up close. He circled around it, fulling taking in how massive it was. It was easily larger than a pickup truck, and probably just as heavy. He could see the massive bony plates that grew out of its head, at least an inch thick. He hesitantly reached out and touched one of them, only to immediately snatch his hand back, just it case it was still alive.

When nothing happened, he prodded at the face plates. Those are very tough. He rapped his knuckle against it and heard a dull thunk in response. Feels pretty solid. That must have been tiring to carry around all the time. He glanced at the spiraling horn also protruding from its skill. Not to mention those horns look like they weigh a ton.

Circling the monster, Alex could see the deep gouges that the wolf had ripped into its thick hide. He pointedly ignored the bloody mess that had been left behind on its neck, opting to look at the unmarred sections.

Kind of looks like elephant skin, I think. Never really seen one up close, but that’s what I think elephant skin would look like.

Suddenly he heard a loud flutter of feathers above. Looking up he saw a large bid land in one of the trees. Its deep, glossy black wings folded up as it stared at Alex and the dead monster. A flap of its wings brought it down to stand on top of the corps.

Alex backed up quickly as the bird cawed loudly in his direction, wings splayed out, so he could see the deep red that bloomed on the underside. It cawed again, and Alex could sense a bit of a challenge in it.

“Nope, you can have it all to yourself,” he called out as he walked slowly backward, not daring to break eye contact or turn his back on the bird. Something told him that might not be a good idea.

He reached the tree line of the clearing and walked quickly away. As quickly as his bloodied feet would let him. He took a quick look around, seeing if he could see anything he recognized. All around him was an unfamiliar forest, though he doubted he could have recognized the forest that had surrounded his bed.

Maybe I can make my way back to the stream and then find my way back to my bed? That should work. .

He circled around the clearing, not wanting to provoke the bird that was now pecking at the fallen monster. Fortunately, there was a clear trail of broken trees and trampled vegetation that the thare crusher had left that he could follow.

Alex carefully picked his way around the remains of trees that were now scattered and splintered, each step making him realize how close he had been to a very squished end. The sheer power of the monster was making itself known as Alex saw trees easily three feet across splinted and fallen.

As he was walking, he heard a rustling of bushes up ahead. Not wanting another encounter with a monster, Alex quickly limped behind a tree. Just as he ducked behind a tree, crouching down, he saw two figures emerge from the forest.

Alex’s eyes were immediately drawn to the larger of the two figures. Even from a distance, he could see the muscles bulging on their arms and they carried a massive two-handed sword resting on their bare shoulder. The only clothing that they were wearing was a pair of pants. Not that he really needed anything as his whole body was covered in thick fur. Their face was framed by a large mane of hair.

In construct, the other figure was quite a bit shorter. Alex couldn’t make out much as their body was covered in a deep red cloak, the hood pulled up to hide their face in shadows.

The furred one turned to the other.

“Hey, what ya’ think happened here?” Their deep gravely voice caring through the air to where Alex was hiding.

“Most likely a thera crusher,” the hooded one responded in a thin, reedy voice. “Rank 2 is my guess. They do like making a mess of things.

“Not a demon then?” the lion-like figure asked

“Unlikely,” came the reply “At least from what I can see”

“That sucks, was hopping to find one this time.”

“Well, with the current power cycle, the odds are in your favor to find one out here sooner rather than later.”

“Yeah, I want that bonus that boos mentioned.”

“It would indeed be welcome” The robed figure looked around one last time before turning to their companion. “It does not appear that a rift has manifested here. The disturbance was unfortunately of no consequence to us.”

“Fuck,” was all the larger figure said before he started heading back into the trees.

“As always, your elegance is staggering.”

“Why thanks”

As they started to fade from view, Alex started to slowly creep after them. They know something about the rifts. Maybe they could send me home? Not being in this forest would be nice.

Trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, Alex snuck after them. He tried to leave as much distance as he dared between himself and the two figures, but close enough to still follow them.

The two figures kept up a bit of small talk, but nothing too interesting. Mostly idle chatter about the forest or gossip about people at some camp that they were going back to.

Suddenly, he couldn't see or hear the two that he was following. Concerned, he hurried his pace, fearing he had fallen too far behind and wouldn’t be able to track them. That fear was soon put to rest as a massive sword hummed through the air, coming to a stop inches from his throat. A furred hand held the sword, while a fanged mouth snarled at him.

“What the fuck are you doing?”