The Master Builder System

Finn's mind was racing. 'What should I do now?'

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the top of the stone wall, eyes locked on the old man below.

Old Hann was slowing down.

His swings were still strong, but they no longer carried the speed they once did. His footing staggered more with every step. The wolf beast was wounded, but growing more vicious, sensing weakness in the man who dared to face it alone.

'He can't hold out for much longer.'

Finn swallowed hard and turned, eyes darting along the wall. The warriors were there. Twelve of the strongest from Riverwood.

But none moved.

They stood tense and frozen, weapons in hand—swords, spears, bows, hammers, and a few others he didn't recognize—but no one leapt down.

They could only shout but no one jumped to help the Chief.

Their eyes followed the fight. Their brows furrowed. Their muscles were taut.

But they didn't move and Finn realized why.

Most of them were young. A few were barely older than him. Some were twenty-something. They had trained, yes. Hunted, sometimes. Fought off the occasional wild creature.

But this? A real beast? A one-on-one battle? No formation, no flanks, no safety in numbers?

They had never been tested like this.

Once, Riverwood had been filled with seasoned warriors. People who had survived numerous beast raids. Men and women who didn't flinch at blood.

But over the past few years, they had dwindled. Some were killed, retired, or drawn away by the promise of coin and safer work.

Some had taken up arms as escorts for traveling merchants a few months ago. Others had gone seeking adventure or a better life beyond the village borders.

What was left… were the strong, but unseasoned.

'They're hesitating… because they're scared.'

Finn's chest tightened. He couldn't blame them. A mistake here wouldn't mean just a bruise or a scolding.

It meant death. A single mistimed step could mean being torn apart before the others could even reach you.

Below, Old Hann slammed the Blood Devourer once more into the beast's side, but it barely flinched. The strike wasn't like before. His strength was waning. His body, already cut and bruised, was nearing its limit.

"Damn it," Finn whispered. "I need to do something…"

He turned back to Xabi, whose jaw was tight, hands gripping his bow.

"You see it, don't you?" Finn asked.

Xabi didn't answer.

"He's not going to last. You know that."

Still no reply.

Then Xabi said, "I know."

Finn took a breath. "So what now? Do we just watch? Are you going to let him die?"

That made Xabi turn. His eyes flashed with anger, but not at Finn. At himself.

"You're right," he growled. "I should be there with the Chief."

Then he stepped forward.

So did Tessa.

And behind her, two more. Finn knew them. They were Rata and Taro.

One by one, the warriors of Riverwood began to move. Slowly at first, unsure. But then faster, clearer in their resolve.

They would not let their Chief die.

And Finn… found himself going to fight alongside them.

'Master Builder System… if there's anything I can do to help… now's the time to show me.'

That was when Finn remembered.

The Attribute Points.

He had come across it during the tutorial, but at the time, he had been too overwhelmed to pay attention. Too unsure. Too caught up in everything happening around him.

But now, standing on the stone wall, watching Old Hann struggle to stay on his feet, there was no room for hesitation.

'System,' he called out in his mind, 'allocate all fifteen Free Attribute Points to Strength.'

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[15 Free Attribute Points allocated to Strength.]

[Confirm?]

[Yes] / [No]

=====

Finn confirmed without hesitation.

=====

[Strength: 2 > 17]

=====

The change hit him like a wave.

Heat surged through his chest and limbs. His muscles tightened, pulsing with power. His vision sharpened. Even the air in his lungs felt heavier somehow. Like he had just stepped into a different version of himself.

He looked down at his hands and flexed his fingers. They no longer felt like the hands of a village boy.

They felt like they could crush stone.

'This is… insane,' he thought. 'I can feel that I've become stronger.'

And yet, his heart wouldn't stop pounding. He might be stronger now, far stronger than he had been in Riverwood, but strength wasn't everything.

He had never fought a beast before.

Sure, there had been fights in his childhood. A brawl here and there. A broken nose on a bully. He had killed a few wild rabbits and once chased off a fox.

But this was no rabbit.

This was a real monster. A Level 1 beast.

Even if he had the same level, he didn't know what that actually meant. Would it be enough?

He wasn't sure.

But he had to do something.

If Old Hann fell, it wouldn't just be the loss of a man. It would break the village's heart.

And if the others died trying to protect him?

Finn clenched his jaw. Even without the mission's penalty, he wouldn't let that happen.

Not now. Not with the power and system he had in hand. He wanted to enjoy whatever was in store for him with everyone present.

He remained on the wall, eyes fixed on the battlefield below. The others were already moving.

Xabi was the first to jump, his bow abandoned, sword drawn.

Tessa followed with her broad axe, landing beside him with a grunt.

Then more of Riverwood's warriors dropped into the dirt, one by one. They formed a half-circle around the beast, moving fast to shield Old Hann as he fell to one knee.

The old man didn't shout this time. He just let out a heavy breath, dragged his war club across the ground, and swung it again, buying the others a moment to take position.

"Chief!" Xabi's voice rang out. "Stay behind us!"

Rata and Taro were the first to attack. The clash of attacks filled the air. Dust kicked up. Shouts echoed through the clearing.

The tide of battle had shifted.

But Finn didn't move yet.

He watched. Waited. His hands clenched tightly at his sides.

This wasn't his moment, not yet.

He only needed one opening. One clean strike.

He believed that with his current strength, he just needed a single blow, powerful enough to finish it.

Down below, the beast lunged at Xabi, but Tessa was quicker, her axe intercepted with a wide swing, forcing the beast to stumble back.

It turned, growling, disoriented.

Its eyes burned with fury.

And then, for just a breath, its back was exposed.

'Now!' Finn didn't think much about that. He moved.

Old Thom, who was watching from the top of the walls, too, saw Finn. He wanted to move quickly to stop Finn but he was too late.

"Finn!" he shouted. "What the hell are you thinking?!"

Finn pushed off the wall, leaping down into the chaos, faster than he'd ever moved in his life.

Straight toward the beast.

His heart thundered.

His fist tightened.

Seventeen points of Strength surged through his body.

This was it, his first real fight.

And it was all or nothing.