The Hunt Continues

Sirius ventured deeper into the tunnel, each step swallowed by the oppressive silence that surrounded him. The temperature dropped, and the air felt thick with anticipation, as though the darkness itself was alive, waiting to consume him. Yet, a thrill ran through his veins—the taste of battle still fresh on his mind, driving him forward. He had barely scratched the surface of his new abilities, and he craved more.

A faint rustling reached his ears. He froze, holding his breath as he focused on the sound, letting his heightened senses sharpen. Something moved just beyond the reach of his flashlight's beam. Cautiously, he stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest as his light revealed a creature hunched over the corpse of a fallen giant black ant, tearing at its flesh.

Sirius narrowed his gaze and activated Orion's Eye. Information flooded his vision.

Sneaky Chameleon

Strength: 4

Agility: 5

Endurance: 3

Vitality: 2

Talent: Stealth (D)

The creature's talent drew Sirius's interest immediately. Stealth—even at a low rank—was an invaluable ability, especially for hunting in dangerous territories. Sirius's pulse quickened. He needed that talent.

He activated Strength of Ten, feeling his muscles surge with power. The chameleon, sensing danger, shimmered as its body began to blend into the shadows. But Sirius was faster. With a swift burst of speed, he closed the gap, his obsidian dagger flashing in the dim light. The blade found its mark, slicing cleanly through the chameleon's neck before it could fully disappear.

The creature's body slumped to the ground, its form returning to visibility as its life ebbed away. A familiar rush of energy surged through Sirius as Predation activated, absorbing the chameleon's talent. Moments later, a new line appeared on his panel:

Acquired Talent: Stealth (D)

A grin tugged at his lips. He focused, willing his body to vanish. There was a slight drain on his mana, and his form shimmered out of sight. Sirius moved a few steps, silent and unseen, testing the new ability. Satisfied, he deactivated it, his confidence growing.

The hunt continued, and with each encounter, Sirius's prowess sharpened. He dispatched more sneaky chameleons and giant black ants, gathering their beast cores and storing their bodies in his Void Storage, which had expanded in capacity. Each core he consumed bolstered his stats and talents.

Hours passed before he reached the far end of the tunnel. The air was fresher here, tinged with the scent of moisture. Ahead, faint light filtered into the tunnel, revealing a larger chamber beyond. Sirius approached cautiously, senses on high alert.

The scene that awaited him made his heart race.

Three beasts were locked in a brutal battle. A sleek, menacing Obsidian-Clawed Black Cat slashed at a Steel Spider, its claws gleaming as it danced around the spider's razor-sharp legs. Meanwhile, a massive Scarlet Toad leaped from corner to corner, launching fiery projectiles that exploded upon impact, leaving scorched marks on the cave walls.

Sirius crouched in the shadows, watching as the beasts fought viciously. The cat's claws sank into the toad's thick hide, drawing a spray of blood, but the toad retaliated with a powerful fireball. The cat shrieked in pain as flames engulfed its body, sending it hurtling into the Steel Spider's web. The sticky steel threads ensnared the cat, its struggles growing weak as venom from the toad's attack spread through its body.

The Steel Spider, sensing its chance, lunged for the toad, its legs aiming to skewer the weakened creature. But with a desperate leap, the toad unleashed a final massive fireball. The explosion rocked the chamber, and when the smoke cleared, all three creatures lay motionless, their bodies heaving with the last breaths of life.

Sirius saw his opportunity. Activating Stealth, he crept silently toward the dying beasts, moving like a shadow. With precise strikes, he finished them off, his dagger ending their suffering swiftly. As each life faded, his Predation talent activated, and he absorbed their abilities.

Acquired Talents:

Obsidian Claw (C): Allows the user to manifest sharp, obsidian claws from between the knuckles.

Steel Silk (C): Grants the ability to produce steel-like silk threads, useful for trapping or mobility.

Explosive Flames (B): Enables the user to conjure and hurl explosive flames that detonate on impact.

The rush was intoxicating. Obsidian Claw and Steel Silk reminded Sirius of childhood heroes from comic books, their powers now his own. The Explosive Flames added a powerful ranged attack to his arsenal, giving him devastating new ways to fight.

As he stored the remains of the beasts in his Void Storage, something else caught his eye. A faint glow emanated from the Steel Spider's corpse. Sirius's eyes widened—it was a soulspirit. Reaching out, he grasped the glowing orb, feeling it merge with his body.

Suddenly, a transformation occurred. A suit of steel armor materialized over Sirius's body, flexible but impenetrable. Four sharp spider legs extended from his back, giving him enhanced mobility and the ability to scale walls. He marveled at his new form, mentally naming it Iron Spider. It was both a weapon and a shield, blending offense and defense in perfect harmony.

Satisfied, Sirius continued his journey, now more powerful than ever. He emerged from the tunnel just as the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon. The warm light washed over him, a stark contrast to the cold darkness he had left behind. Ahead, a serene lake stretched out before him, reflecting the morning sky. At its shore, a lone creature was drinking—its body lean and muscular, crackling with electric energy.

Sirius's breath caught in his throat. He recognized the beast instantly: a Thunder-Striped Velociraptor. Its scales shimmered with a faint electric charge, and it moved with the grace and power of a predator built for speed. Sirius activated Orion's Eye, eager to size up his next target.

Thunder-Striped Velociraptor

Strength: 14

Agility: 18

Endurance: 10

Talent: Lightning Dash (A)

Weakness: Legs

The raptor's speed was unmatched, but Sirius had its weakness now. Activating Stealth, he vanished from sight, creeping closer to the oblivious creature. When he was within range, he shot strands of Steel Silk toward the raptor's legs, tangling them in a web of unbreakable steel.

The beast roared in fury, crackling with electricity as it struggled to free itself. But Sirius was relentless. He sprang from the shadows, claws of obsidian extended from his knuckles. In a flurry of strikes, he slashed at the raptor's legs, crippling its speed. The creature roared again, sending a bolt of lightning in a desperate attack, but Sirius's Iron Spider armor absorbed the brunt of the shock.

He countered with a series of Explosive Flames, hurling them at the beast's weakened body. Each flame detonated on impact, reducing the raptor to a smoldering heap. As the last spark of life faded, Sirius felt the rush of Predation once more, the raptor's abilities becoming his.

Acquired Talent: Lightning Dash (A): Grants the ability to move at incredible speed, leaving a trail of lightning in the user's wake.

A smile spread across Sirius's face. Lightning Dash would give him unparalleled speed in combat, allowing him to outmaneuver even the deadliest of foes. As the raptor's soulspirit merged with him, Sirius felt a new power stirring—his bond with the beast would manifest in future battles, its ferocity at his command.

With his newfound abilities, Sirius stood at the edge of the lake, gazing across the water. He wasn't just hunting for survival anymore. He hunted two more beasts an Electric Dragon Eel and a Gaint King Crab that were in the lake, acquiring talents Lightning Strike(C) and Stonecrushing Grip(D) respectively.

Lightning Strike allowed him to shoot lightning arcs to attack from range as well as coat his fists and kicks with lightning during close combat.

Stonecrushing Grip Provided Sirius with solid grip that is capable of crushing stones to powder.

Each battle brought him closer to his ultimate goal—mastering the power he had awakened. And in this treacherous world, that power would make him unstoppable.

Turning back toward the city, Sirius felt the thrill of the hunt still coursing through his veins. The path ahead was clear—he would rise, one kill at a time.