The village was quiet as I walked back to the inn, the soft glow of the pendant resting against my chest a comforting reminder of the power I now wielded. The villagers had gone to their homes, the night settling in around the small settlement, bringing with it a sense of calm and peace. But my mind was anything but calm. The pendant, the ring, the leveling up—it all pointed to something far bigger than just a game. This was a world where my actions had real consequences, and where my power could grow beyond anything I had ever imagined. I was determined to make the most of it.

Back in my room at the inn, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window at the darkened village. The system interface hovered in my vision, displaying my updated stats and the newly acquired items. The Silver Ring of the Guardian and the Pendant of the Azure Flame were both equipped, their magical properties enhancing my abilities in subtle but important ways. My defense was higher, and the regeneration effect would help in prolonged battles. The pendant's fire resistance and skill enhancement would be crucial in future encounters.

I opened the map, my eyes scanning the area for the next challenge. The village had been a safe starting point, but if I was going to grow stronger, I needed to seek out more difficult quests, more dangerous foes. My gaze landed on a location marked deep within the forest—a cave known as the Direwolf Den. It was a mid-level area in the game, typically designed for players around Level 10. I was only Level 2, but with the system at my disposal, I was confident I could handle it.

"This is it," I muttered to myself, standing up and adjusting the strap of my sword. "Time to push my limits."

The night was cool and crisp as I left the inn, the village now eerily silent under the starlit sky. The path to the Direwolf Den was a narrow trail that wound through the forest, the trees closing in around me as I ventured deeper into the woods. The air grew colder, and the sounds of nocturnal creatures filled the silence—a hoot of an owl, the rustle of leaves in the wind, the distant howl of a wolf.

I moved quickly but cautiously, my senses heightened, the system's interface constantly updating me on my surroundings. The map guided me deeper into the forest, and after about an hour of walking, I reached the entrance to the den. The cave loomed before me, its mouth a dark, yawning hole in the side of a rocky hill. The scent of damp earth and the faint, acrid smell of something feral wafted out, setting my nerves on edge.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and stepped inside.

The cave was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the pendant around my neck. The walls were rough and uneven, and the floor was littered with bones—evidence of the direwolves' past meals. I moved deeper into the cave, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword, every muscle in my body tense and ready for action.

The growl came from the shadows ahead, low and menacing. I stopped, my heart pounding in my chest, my eyes straining to see into the darkness. The growl was followed by the sound of claws scraping against stone, and then I saw them—three pairs of glowing eyes, staring at me from the darkness.

Direwolves.

They were massive, larger than any normal wolf, their fur matted and thick, their teeth bared in a snarl. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and I could feel the primal energy radiating off them, a raw, feral power that sent a shiver down my spine.

But instead of fear, I felt a surge of excitement. This was what I had been waiting for—a real challenge, a test of my new abilities. I tightened my grip on my sword, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

The first wolf lunged at me, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from my face. I sidestepped the attack, bringing my sword down in a powerful slash that sliced through the creature's side. The wolf howled in pain, but it wasn't enough to bring it down. It circled back, its eyes burning with fury, while the other two wolves closed in from the sides.

I was surrounded, but I didn't feel trapped. This was my opportunity to level up, to grow stronger, and I wasn't about to let it slip away.

I activated Berserker Rage, the new skill I had unlocked earlier. A surge of power flooded through me, my muscles bulging with increased strength, my movements becoming faster, more aggressive. The cost was a decrease in defense, but I wasn't concerned. I needed to end this quickly.

The wolves attacked in unison, their jaws snapping at me from all sides. I ducked under one, slashing at its legs, then spun around to block another with my shield. The third wolf lunged at my back, but I twisted out of the way, driving my sword into its flank with all my might. The blade sank deep, and the wolf let out a final, agonized yelp before collapsing to the ground.

Two down, one to go.

The last wolf hesitated, its eyes flicking between me and its fallen packmates. It growled, baring its teeth, and then lunged at me with a renewed ferocity. I met its attack head-on, our bodies colliding with a force that nearly knocked me off my feet. My sword clashed against its teeth, sparks flying as metal met bone.

For a moment, we were locked in a deadly struggle, the wolf's jaws inches from my face, its hot breath washing over me. But the Berserker Rage gave me the edge I needed. With a roar, I shoved the wolf back, raising my sword high and bringing it down in a final, powerful strike that cleaved through its skull.

The wolf's body went limp, collapsing in a heap at my feet. Blood dripped from my sword, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the adrenaline began to fade. I had done it. I had defeated the direwolves.

The system interface flashed in my vision, displaying my rewards.

Experience Gained: 500 EXP

Level Up!

Darius Caelum – Warrior – Level 3

HP: 120/120

MP: 60/60

Strength: 15

Agility: 12

Endurance: 14

Intelligence: 7

Luck: 6

**New Skill Unlocked: **

Battle Cry (Active) – Unleashes a powerful shout that stuns enemies within range and increases allies' attack power.

The thrill of leveling up surged through me, the increase in my stats a tangible reminder of my progress. My muscles felt stronger, my movements more fluid, and the new skill added another weapon to my arsenal. I was getting stronger, faster than I ever had before, and it felt incredible.

But just as I was about to bask in the victory, a sudden chill ran down my spine. The system interface flashed again, this time with a message that sent a wave of panic through me.

[You're leaving the world in 10 minutes.]

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the message. Leaving the world? What did that mean? And why only ten minutes? The words "leaving the world" echoed in my mind, and suddenly, I understood.

I wasn't just in The Path of Heroes. I was in the game, but I still had a body in the real world—a body that was Eldric Valen, the prince of Eldoria. The battle in the throne room, the barbarians, the siege—all of it was still happening. And I was about to be pulled back into that world.

My breath quickened as I realized the implications. I had ten minutes—ten minutes to gain as much experience as possible, to level up, to prepare myself for the battle that awaited me in Eldoria. I couldn't afford to waste a single second.

I sheathed my sword and turned on my heel, sprinting deeper into the cave. The Direwolf Den was supposed to be a mid-level area, which meant there had to be more wolves, maybe even a boss creature. If I could find it, defeat it, and level up again before my time ran out, I would have a better chance of surviving the siege in the real world.

The cave twisted and turned, the passages growing narrower and darker as I ventured further in. My heart pounded in my chest, the urgency of the situation pushing me to move faster. I had no idea what would happen when I was pulled back into the real world, but I knew one thing for certain—I needed to be stronger.

The sound of growling reached my ears, echoing off the stone walls. I slowed my pace, moving cautiously toward the source of the noise. The passage opened up into a larger chamber, and there, in the center of the room, was the biggest direwolf I had ever seen.

It was a monstrous creature, easily twice the size of the others, its fur black as night, its eyes glowing with a malevolent red light. This had to be the boss of the den, the alpha wolf that had been leading the pack. Its presence radiated power, a dark, oppressive energy that made the air around it feel thick and heavy.

But I didn't have time to be intimidated. I only had minutes left, and this was my best chance to level up.