Chapter 3: The Alpha Hunt

The air grew colder as Lin Mu ventured deeper into the forest, the soft glow from the trees casting eerie shadows across his path. The sense of being watched had not left him since his battle with the Bonehound, and each step forward seemed to amplify that feeling. But it didn't matter. His mission was clear: hunt down the Alpha Bonehound and claim the reward—a high-tier evolution skill that could make all the difference in this deadly world.

Lin Mu glanced at the system screen hovering beside him, monitoring his progress.

Host: Lin Mu

Level: 2

Strength: 7, Agility: 5, Endurance: 7, Intelligence: 5

Evolution Points: 0

Skills: Minor Regeneration

Mission: Defeat the Alpha Bonehound.

He had no more Evolution Points to spend, but the enhancements he'd made were already working in his favor. His strength and endurance were much higher than before, and he could feel the benefits in the way his body moved—stronger, faster, more resilient. But he would need more than just physical prowess to survive the Alpha. This creature, whatever it was, would be far more dangerous than the Bonehound he had faced earlier.

The forest was unnaturally silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot. Lin Mu tightened his grip on the makeshift weapon—a sturdier branch he had picked up along the way. It wasn't much, but it had to suffice until he found something better. His eyes scanned the trees, looking for any sign of movement.

A low growl echoed in the distance.

Lin Mu stopped in his tracks, his heart rate quickening. The sound was different from the Bonehounds he had encountered earlier—deeper, more menacing. The Alpha was close.

He moved cautiously, stepping lightly to avoid making noise. The forest around him seemed to hold its breath, waiting. As he approached a small clearing, he crouched low behind a fallen log, peering through the undergrowth.

There, at the far end of the clearing, stood the Alpha Bonehound.

It was larger than the others, its exoskeleton thicker and more jagged, with dark, pulsing veins running across its body. Its eyes glowed a brighter red, and its stance was poised—aware, alert, and predatory. Surrounding it were three smaller Bonehounds, pacing restlessly, their attention focused on their Alpha.

Lin Mu's mind raced. Taking on one Bonehound had been difficult enough, but four? And the Alpha? He needed a plan, and he needed one fast. He couldn't fight them all head-on—not without something more.

His gaze fell on the surroundings. The trees in this part of the forest were denser, with thick branches that crisscrossed overhead. An idea began to form in his mind. If he could separate the Alpha from the smaller Bonehounds, he might stand a chance. But how?

Lin Mu shifted his position, careful not to make any sudden movements. He scanned the ground around him until he spotted a few stones, just within reach. Grabbing one, he took a deep breath and hurled it as far as he could to the right.

The stone hit the ground with a sharp crack.

Immediately, the three smaller Bonehounds jerked their heads toward the sound, growling low. One by one, they padded away from the Alpha, moving cautiously toward the noise. The Alpha remained where it was, its eyes narrowing, but it didn't move. Lin Mu's heart pounded in his chest. The first part of his plan had worked.

Now came the hard part.

With the smaller Bonehounds distracted, Lin Mu had to make his move. He crept out from behind the log, his body low to the ground, and circled around the clearing, keeping his distance from the Alpha. His plan was simple—get close enough to strike while the others were away. But as he moved, a thought crossed his mind: What if the Alpha was stronger than he expected? What if it had abilities beyond the normal Bonehounds?

He pushed the doubt away. There was no time for hesitation.

The Alpha sniffed the air, its glowing eyes scanning the clearing, but it didn't seem to notice Lin Mu's approach. He edged closer, his grip tightening on the branch. Just a few more steps, and he would be within striking distance.

Suddenly, the Alpha growled, its head snapping in Lin Mu's direction.

Lin Mu's heart dropped. There was no time to think—he had to act. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, swinging the branch with all his strength. The branch connected with the Alpha's side, and the creature let out a furious roar, staggering back from the blow. But it wasn't enough.

The Alpha recovered quickly, its eyes blazing with fury. It lashed out with its claws, and Lin Mu barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the creature's claws raked the ground where he had been standing.

"Damn it!" Lin Mu cursed under his breath. He was faster than before, but the Alpha was on a whole different level. Its movements were fluid, powerful, and precise. He needed to land another hit, but getting close enough was proving to be nearly impossible.

The Alpha charged, its massive form barreling toward him with terrifying speed. Lin Mu darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the force of the Alpha's charge sent him tumbling. He hit the ground hard, the air knocked from his lungs. Pain flared in his chest, but he forced himself to get up, his vision swimming.

The Alpha was already turning for another strike.

Lin Mu's mind raced. He couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed to find a weakness—something he could exploit. His eyes flicked to the Alpha's exoskeleton. It was thick, yes, but there were cracks in it, just like the Bonehound he had fought earlier. If he could focus his attacks on those weak points, he might stand a chance.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Mu forced himself to move. The Alpha lunged again, and this time, Lin Mu didn't dodge. Instead, he slid under the creature's attack, bringing the branch down hard on one of the cracks in its side. The Alpha howled in pain, stumbling as the blow landed.

But it wasn't done yet.

With a snarl, the Alpha whipped around, catching Lin Mu with a glancing blow to his side. He was sent flying, his body crashing into a nearby tree. Pain shot through him, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe.

Health: Critical. Minor Regeneration activated.

The system's notification flashed before his eyes, but Lin Mu barely registered it. His vision blurred, and every part of his body ached. But he wasn't finished yet. The Alpha was wounded now, and he had to press the advantage.

His regeneration was already working, knitting the torn flesh together, but it wasn't fast enough to fully restore him. He had to act before the Alpha could recover. Gritting his teeth, Lin Mu pushed himself to his feet, forcing his body to move despite the pain.

The Alpha was still staggering, blood oozing from the cracks in its exoskeleton. It growled, its eyes locking onto Lin Mu with renewed fury, but there was a hesitation in its movements now. It was hurt, and it knew it.

Lin Mu didn't give it a chance to recover. He charged forward, ignoring the screaming pain in his limbs, and struck again—this time, aiming for the same crack he had hit before. The branch splintered as it connected, but the force of the blow was enough.

The Alpha let out a final, anguished roar before collapsing to the ground.

You have defeated the Alpha Bonehound. Evolution Points +10. New skill unlocked: Bone Armor (Active).

Lin Mu stood over the Alpha's body, his chest heaving, his entire body trembling with exhaustion. He had done it. He had defeated the Alpha. But as the adrenaline began to wear off, the reality of what he had just accomplished sank in.

He collapsed to his knees, his body giving out beneath him. The system notifications flashed in front of his eyes, but he was too tired to process them. His entire body throbbed with pain, and his vision swam.

But even in his exhaustion, one thing was clear: he was getting stronger.

Evolution Points: 10

New Skill: Bone Armor (Active)

Skill Description: Encase yourself in a temporary armor of bone, increasing defense for a limited time. Cost: 2 EP per use.

Lin Mu blinked, staring at the notification. Bone Armor. That would definitely come in handy. He hadn't realized how vulnerable he had been in the fight with the Alpha until now. With this new skill, he'd be able to defend himself better in future battles.

But for now, he needed rest.

His body was still healing, the Minor Regeneration working overtime to repair the damage from the fight. Slowly, painfully, Lin Mu forced himself to stand. He couldn't stay here—there were still other dangers in this forest, and he wasn't in any condition to face them.

As he began to walk, the forest around him seemed to shift, the shadows growing darker, the air thicker. Lin Mu glanced around, his senses on high alert.

Something was coming.

And this time, it wasn't just a Bonehound.

Whatever was out there, Lin Mu knew one thing for certain: his fight was far from over.