Chapter 33: The Predator’s Path

The scent of blood still lingered in the cavern, thick and metallic. The corpses of the fallen goblins lay scattered, their lifeless eyes staring into the void.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the aftereffects of my ability fade away.

But the hunger remained.

It wasn't a physical hunger. It was something deeper. A craving for more power.

I clenched my fists.

Was this what Devourer's Grasp did to me?

Or… was this just who I was becoming?

The Aftermath

"We should move."

Rhia's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She stood a few steps away, casually flicking blood off her twin daggers. Calm. Unshaken.

Like killing was just another part of life.

Maybe for her, it was.

I took a slow breath and nodded. "Yeah. We shouldn't stay here long."

The last goblin—the archer who fled—was still out there. And if he reached his tribe, we could have more trouble coming.

I glanced at the Hobgoblin Captain's body one last time.

He had been strong. Experienced.

And I had still beaten him.

The system notification still hovered in my vision.

[New Title Acquired – First Predator]

[Effect: You gain an additional 5% Strength boost when fighting weakened enemies.]

First Predator.

I wasn't sure how to feel about that.

Titles weren't just random bonuses—they were marks of identity. Proof of who I was becoming.

A predator.

I shook my head and refocused. We had more pressing concerns.

Looting the Dead

"Help me check the bodies," Rhia said. "No sense in letting their stuff go to waste."

I nodded and started searching through the fallen goblins. Most of their weapons were crude, nothing better than rusted swords and splintered bows.

But the Captain's gear was different.

His sword was forged steel, not crude iron. Still rough in design, but well-made.

I grabbed the handle, lifting it easily. It was heavy, but with my increased stats, it felt manageable.

Rhia whistled. "That's an upgrade."

"Yeah." I swung it experimentally, feeling the weight. "It'll do."

She grinned. "Good. Now let's get moving."

A Growing Threat

As we left the cavern, my mind was still racing.

I had changed. I could feel it.

I wasn't just another goblin anymore.

I was evolving.

And if I was growing stronger… then my enemies were too.

Somewhere out there, the escaped goblin was running back to his tribe.

And I had no doubt—they would come for us soon.