The druid let out an ear-piercing scream as its leaves left its head and floated above it. They revealed a red core attached to the head, the only weak spot this monster couldn’t regenerate. 

Nikolai knew that druids were the masters of regeneration. Fighting them in a battle of attrition was the path of the unwise and reckless. As the core came to light, Nikolai knew that his moment arrived.

To fight a druid, one would need to provoke it into launching its strongest attack, Autumn Leaves. This name came from the orange color of the leaves and the fact that Autumn was the season of death.

The leaves flew toward him at an unprecedented speed and sharpness. Nikolai aimed his gun and shot them, deflecting their course but not destroying them. He wished he could, but they were the armor and the final attack for a reason.

Nikolai shot the leaves away as he fired several shots at the core of its head. The bullets found their way, and the druid fell to the ground, dead.

After its death, the red core disintegrated, but there was nothing else. Nikolai sighed and ruffled his hair in annoyance. He didn’t use his fate points because he wanted to save them, but it was dreamy to win the 20% loot drop probability.

‘Let’s go to the next monster.’

Nikolai ran through the forest, looking for his next prey. He found another druid, which he sneak-attacked and killed again, but no loot dropped this time as well.

‘This is why it’s so hard to raise your stats.’

Nikolai looked at the druid’s body and sighed. Frustration was building up in his heart, but he reminded himself of the iron rule of survival.

The patient adventurer lives the longest.

He didn’t want to be too hasty and end up dead. That’s why he hunted again without using fate points, but it was the same: no crystal. He did it again, for the fourth time, and no crystals. As he was starting to get tired, he noticed something off.

His nose picked up a smell, and he sniffed before turning in the direction of the scent. He saw the smoke of a campfire splitting the sky into two.

‘Who’s the idiot camping in the middle of nowhere?’ Nikolai frowned but realized it soon after. ‘I’m the idiot. This camp must belong to the surviving pirates who sank with their ship.’

Nikolai deduced and ran in the direction of the smoke. He avoided the monsters because he didn’t think his luck would improve without using Fate Points. If that was the case, then he needs to get some fate points.

Nikolai ran through the forest and hid behind the crystal trees to avoid monsters until he got close enough to see the camp. As he suspected, the three pirates were sitting next to a campfire.

There was one other person next to them. As Nikolai focused, he noticed that his body was bruised up and bandaged. When he flipped the ship in the air, he heard the scream of one person.

‘He didn’t die, even from that height.’ Nikolai realized. ‘The heavens truly favor its Defiers.’

A Defier was those who refused to be content with what heavens gave them. It was a term referring to anyone who sought power, skills, and godhood.

‘This is the reason I didn’t get any fate points even though this guy fell. Their ship must be close by with all of their money and loot.’ Nikolai grinned. ‘It’s time to finish up what I started.’

Instead of trying to be lucky without Fate Points, it was better to steal fate instead. He didn’t think he’d have the opportunity, but heavens were merciful to him but cruel to these pirates.

Nikolai retreated without making a sound. He kept a distance as he waited for the sky to wear its darkest dress. Then, as the night descended, he slipped into the darkness and went toward the camp.

There were only two sleeping, one of them was the injured one. As for the other two pirates, they stood guard on each side. Nikolai climbed the highest tree in their vicinity

He took out his Darkmoon Longbow and an arrow. As he held his bow, he felt the darkness gather around his body. With a frown, Nikolai returned the bow inside his body.

The darkness dissipated.

‘I guess it’s called Darkmoon for a reason.’ Nikolai looked at the sky and its half-moon. He wondered how much would bow hide him when the moon was gone.

Nikolai nocked his arrow to his bow and released the attack. The projectile zoomed and struck the sleeping pirate’s neck. As he bled to death, the two guards noticed immediately.

“Enemy attack!”

They shouted and turned to look in the direction in which the arrow came. Nikolai was already jumping from one tree to the other, using the darkness to run away.

He took out his gun and enchanted bullets as he held into his bow with his other hand. The darkness surrounded him and made him obscure as he aimed his gun at one of the pirates.

[You have stolen fate. As a result, you obtained 5 Fate Points.]

The pirate died after bleeding into his throat, and Nikolai fired his gun. He felt no regret for killing these people because they had it coming once they picked this profession.

The enchanted bullets absorbed his mana and amplified it. A white trail followed after it as it zoomed toward one of the guards. He tried to block it, but the destructive mana destroyed his armguard and militated his arm.

“AAH!” The pirate screamed, but Nikolai fired again. His friend ran in his direction to help him, but Nikolai didn’t fire at the injured pirate.

It came unexpectedly, and the bullet struck the side of his neck. Blood spurted like a fountain as the pirate fell next to his injured friend.

[You have stolen fate. As a result, you obtained 5 Fate Points.]

The last pirate, other than the bandaged one, held into his arm as he looked at Nikolai come out of the darkness.

“Please,” The pirate begged the young man with cold eyes for mercy. “We didn’t do anything to you. Please let me go!” He sobbed. “I’m a merchant. I have a wife and two kids. Please don’t do this.”

“I know you’re lying.” Nikolai walked over with his dagger. “And I know you have a throwing knife strapped to your wrist.” Nikolai took out his gun with a smile. “What were you planning to do, I wonder?”

The pirate’s face rapidly crumbled as he waved his uninjured arm to slide a knife into his hand. He ran toward Nikolai in a less ditch attempt, but Nikolai simply fired at his head, killing him. Blood spurted from the pirate’s skull and dyed Nikolai’s cheek.

[You have stolen fate. As a result, you obtained 5 Fate Points.]

The campfire fell silent, only disturbed by Nikolai’s heavy breathing. Then, he turned to the last pirate who was bandaged and walked over slowly.

The noise awakened the pirate, and he looked at Nikolai with pleading eyes. Nikolai walked over as he wiped the blood away with his sleeve.

“Don’t beg me. Beg the heavens, resent the world, and haunt me if you like as a ghost.” Nikolai slit the throat of the pirate, stealing his life and fate.

[You have stolen fate. As a result, you obtained 5 Fate Points.]