When a human faces extreme danger, two instincts take over: freeze and die like a coward, or fight for survival.
Only 2% of humans can force their minds to choose the latter, to reject fear and override natural hesitation. And when they do—when survival becomes an undeniable command—their minds detect the threat level and the hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands.
Adrenaline floods the bloodstream.
The heart races, pumping blood at an unnatural speed. Blood pressure spikes. Lungs expand, drawing in oxygen with desperate urgency.
Pupils dilate, vision sharpens. Pain suppression kicks in, dulling wounds that would cripple an ordinary man. Muscles contract harder, faster, turning a fragile human into a superhuman for a fleeting moment.
Leon wasn't part of that 2%. His body refused to move. His mind screamed to fight, but his instincts had locked his limbs in place.
'I can't convince my mind to fight or flee... Adaptive Body stabilized my body, but I need to force an adrenaline release in order to get out of this situation.' Leon thought with a serious expression.
The demonic wolf snarled, its blood-stained maw twisting into something almost human in its malice. The Royal guards had formed a circle around it, swords raised at him from everyside.
"WE HAVE TO KILL HIM." One of the guard shouted loudly.
[Please pick a name for the skill...]
Leon exhaled sharply, his mind racing.
[Skill 'Adrenaline Rush' has been created.]
[Rank has been set to 'F' by default.]
[State the skill's function.]
'When activated, this skill will forcefully stimulate the adrenal glands to release an equal amount of adrenaline after assessing the danger in front of the user—' before he could've completed the description, A loud voice interrupted him.
The demonic wolf's howl split the air, shaking the earth beneath them.
Screams erupted from the wagons behind it.
Children scrambled to flee—but before they could take a step, hundreds of grey wolves emerged from the bushes. Their yellow eyes glowed as the beasts surrounded the convoy, their bodies tense with predatory hunger.
[Dire situation detected. Protocol 707 has been executed.]
[Description has been edited by the system and accepted.]
[Chant has been set: 'Adrenaline Rush.']
[Skill 'Adrenaline Rush' has been learned successfully.]
Leon dismissed all the notifications, his mind too occupied by the overwhelming reality in front of him. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾·𝗇𝖾𝗍
His eyes darted around the scene—nothing but snarling wolves and trembling survivors trapped in wooden wagons. If he didn't act now, he will be dead.
"We need to get out of the wagon," Nina's calm, analytical voice cut through the chaos. "If we stay here, we'll be torn apart. We need open ground."
Her eyes scanned the battlefield as she shut her book, adjusting her glasses with a precise motion.
"There are still six Royal Guards left. If they can hold off the leader wolf, we focus on the smaller wolves. That gives us a chance to break through."
Leon blinked. 'How is she so calm?'
Dana stood up, cracking her knuckles. "Well? What are we waiting for?" She turned to Lilith, eyes sharp with anticipation.
Lilith sighed but smiled. "Fine."
Reaching under her seat, she pulled out a large bag and opened it.
Swords. Daggers. Even a bow.
Dana immediately snatched up two short swords, twirling them in her hands as if they were weightless.
[Description: Daughter of Belvered Denver. Trained in basic swordsmanship by her father. Aims to become a Royal Knight.]
Leon's eyes flicked to Lilith.
[Name: Lilith Denver]
[Description: Passionate about weapons and skilled in basic crafting. Aspires to be the greatest blacksmith in history.]
[Description: One of the brightest minds in her village. Considered gifted by the gods due to her intelligence.]
Leon clenched his fists. 'They're all trained. They know how to survive. I haven't even fucked one MILF, I am not ready to die yet and they are my ticket to get out of this situation.'
Dana turned, holding up a long two edged sword. "Oi. You know how to use this?"
Leon snapped back to reality. "H-Huh?"
Dana tossed the weapon to him. "You're scared. That's normal. But you have two choices—run or die."
She jerked her chin toward the leader Wolf, which had just ripped a Royal Guard's throat out in a spray of crimson. The body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
"Because if you freeze, you're next."
The black wolf lifted its head, blood dripping from its fangs, its eyes locked onto another Royal guard.
"Noooooooo-" Another guard was crushed in its jaws, his scream dying instantly.
Leon's breathing became uneven. His grip tightened on the sword.
"Oi, hold that tight." Dana leaped off the wagon, followed by her sisters.
'Adaptive body is controlling my body just fine, but everytime I look at that wolf... My body just freezes again.'
'Fuck this, it's better to run with them than die alone.'
But the moment he landed—
A pack of ten gray wolves blocked their path.
Their hungry, glowing eyes locked onto them.
Dana swore, raising her blades. "There's too many."
Nina's voice was deadly calm. "Aim for the face. Their fur is reinforced—it's like metal."
Dana exhaled. "Fine. I'll clear a path. You guys make a run for it and call for help."
She raised her swords looking at the wolfs with a serious expression.
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[[Skill: Adrenaline Rush (Passive)]
[Description: Upon activation, this skill forcibly stimulates the adrenal glands, releasing an appropriate amount of adrenaline based on the assessed danger level. The effect lasts for 56 seconds, enhancing physical capabilities significantly.
Warning: Once the duration ends, the user will experience backlash proportional to the amount of adrenaline released. Excessive usage may lead to severe internal injuries or even DEATH.]
[Cooldown: 30 seconds]