Chapter 10 - Kill

The direbeast's attacks were relentless. Its claws swiped with deadly intent, but Nex stayed one step ahead.

When he couldn't evade in time, he allowed his hardened muscles to absorb the brunt of the impact. Even so, he knew better than to take a direct hit. Each blow he avoided only increased his chances of survival.

Sweat dripped down his brow as he darted around the beast, striking at its legs and sides.

The venom-coated blade in his hand was doing its work. Nex began to notice the creature's movements slowing.

Its massive body wobbled, and its swings grew clumsy. The toxin was spreading, weakening the once unstoppable monster.

The direbeast roared in desperation, twisting its bulky body to retreat, but Nex was quick to block its path. He circled around it, ensuring it had no chance to escape.

After several failed attempts to flee, the beast faltered.

Its limbs trembled, and then, as if the venom had finally overtaken its monstrous vitality, it froze mid-step.

A guttural groan escaped its throat before it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Nex paused, his chest heaving as he watched the massive creature lying still.

Its breathing had stopped, its glowing eye now dark. Still, he didn't relax. He knew better than to assume it was over.

Taking a cautious step forward, Nex aimed his ether gun directly at the beast's head.

He steadied his hand, exhaled, and fired one last time. The shot was precise, punching through the direbeast's skull with a resounding crack.

The creature twitched once, then went completely still.

"Finally," Nex muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

His body reverted back to its normal state, the heightened power of Fenrir fading. He took a moment to breathe, his muscles aching from the intensity of the fight.

Turning to the beast's corpse, Nex watched as a faint white glow began to emanate from its massive frame.

He stepped closer, hovering his left hand above the light, and waited.

A soft chime followed, and the familiar digital interface of his Mod displayed the results.

[Killed Advance Rank Direbeast. Obtained 100 Ether energy and 1000 PT.]

Nex glanced at his energy reserves, 110 PT left. It was enough for now, but the fight had drained him more than he'd care to admit.

He tucked the blade back into its sheath. He was calm despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.

The stench of blood and decay lingered thickly in the air, mixing with the humid jungle scent. He wrinkled his nose.

"Wish I could take a bath," he muttered, rubbing his hands on his pants, though it did little to help.

The blood had seeped into his skin, and the pungent smell of the direbeast clung to him.

He sighed, knowing the truth. The smell, as unpleasant as it was, served a purpose, it masked his scent, making it harder for other predators to track him. Washing up wasn't an option in a place like this.

He scanned the area, his eyes sweeping over the clearing. The mangled remains of the unfortunate man lay where the direbeast had left them, twisted and broken beyond recognition.

He stepped closer to the corpse, his nose wrinkling at the acrid stench of blood and burnt flesh.

The man's suit, once a sturdy piece of gear designed for survival, was shredded beyond repair.

Fragments of scorched armor clung to his body, while the rest lay scattered in pieces, stained with blackened blood. It was unlikely the equipment could regenerate.

With a resigned sigh, Nex crouched next to the body, his gaze scanning for anything useful.

It was grim work, but out here, the dead often had something the living could use to survive.

His fingers brushed through the tattered remains of the suit until his eyes caught a glint of metal at the side.

There it was a wrist device similar to his own.

The casing was scratched and dented, but it appeared intact.

He reached down and unlatched it, the faint hum of its core still operational. Holding it in his hand, he activated his own device.

"Mod scan,"

A faint blue light emanated from his wrist and passed over the other device, scanning its surface in an intricate web of lines.

A moment later, his device emitted a soft chime, and a notification flashed across the display.

[Device scanned. Compatible systems detected.]

Nex's lips curled into a faint smirk.

"Transfer everything," he ordered.

Another chime followed as the transfer process began. Data flowed seamlessly between the devices, and then the final notification appeared on his screen.

[Transferred 2500 PT.]

Nex glanced at the amount, his brow lifting slightly.

"Not bad," he muttered.

He stood, looking down at the mangled corpse.

"You're dead anyway," he said under his breath. "I hope you don't ghost me for this."

With a flick of his wrist, he dismissed the interface, but his eyes continued to scour the area.

He was searching for something else, a space pocket, the compact dimensional storage everyone carried. It was the one thing that might have contained anything of real value.

But as he surveyed the clearing, his shoulders sagged. The direbeast had been thorough in its feast. Any trace of the pocket had been shredded alongside the man's suit. If it had contained anything, it's already destroyed.

"Figures," he muttered, straightening up. He cast one last glance at the corpse, then turned his focus back to the jungle ahead. "Time to move,"