The Hunt Begins
> [System Announcement]
[The First Selection has begun.]
A distant scream echoed through the ruined city.
Ryo stood in the tunnel, his breath heavy.
He checked his status.
> [Role: Hunter]
[Hunter Ability: Predator's Instinct (Lv.1) – You can sense the location of nearby Prey.]
A faint red glow pulsed in his vision.
It wasn't just text.
It was a feeling.
Somewhere nearby—
Prey was waiting.
---
A Dangerous Decision
Ryo gripped his crowbar.
He had two choices.
1. Go after Prey immediately – Secure his role as a Hunter and gain system rewards.
2. Find other Hunters – Form alliances before stronger enemies appear.
He clenched his jaw.
In the novel, the first few Hunters who acted aggressively gained the most power.
But there was also a hidden rule.
> The longer you hesitate, the weaker you become.
This world didn't reward caution.
It rewarded momentum.
Ryo exhaled.
No more hesitation.
He started moving toward the red glow.
---
The First Prey
The ruined city was eerily silent.
But Ryo could feel it.
A heartbeat.
A human presence.
Hiding nearby.
He crouched behind an overturned car and peered ahead.
A man—no, a boy—was crouched inside an abandoned café.
He looked about eighteen, trembling as he gripped a broken chair leg like a weapon.
Ryo narrowed his eyes.
> [Prey Identified: Unarmed Civilian]
The boy had no weapons.
No real defense.
A perfect first kill.
But Ryo hesitated.
In the novel, not all Hunters were merciless.
Some chose to protect Prey, using them as allies or bargaining chips.
But…
> "The system rewards those who act first."
A cold realization settled in his mind.
If he didn't kill the boy…
Someone else would.
And they might kill him too.
---
Hunter's Instinct
The boy shifted, looking around nervously.
Ryo could hear his heartbeat quicken.
If he let this go on, the boy would sense something was wrong and run.
Ryo adjusted his grip on the crowbar.
One clean hit to the head—
And it would be over.
He moved.
Fast.
A blur in the shadows—
The boy's eyes widened in terror—
Ryo swung.
CRACK.
The crowbar struck the side of the boy's skull.
Not a killing blow—but enough to drop him.
The boy collapsed, groaning.
Ryo's heart pounded.
He could end it now.
One more swing.
One more—
Then—
> [System Notification]
[Hunter's Choice Activated: Spare or Kill?]
Ryo's breath caught.
He had a choice?
This wasn't in the novel.
The system was evolving.
And it was waiting for his decision.
---
A Choice with Consequences
1. Kill him.
Gain system rewards.
Strengthen his Hunter status.
Fully embrace the role of a predator.
2. Spare him.
Gain an unknown reward.
Potentially create an ally.
Risk betrayal or weakness later.
Ryo stared at the unconscious boy.
His fingers tightened around the crowbar.
His mind raced.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
It was about who he was going to become.
The world had changed.
The rules had changed.
But one thing remained the same—
His choice would define his fate.
---
To Be Continued…
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