It's Time to Hunt Humans!
The night deepened, and the darkness blanketing Aden Forest grew even thicker. The sounds of insects blended with the distant howls of wolves, creating an eerie atmosphere, as if the forest itself breathed in the rhythm of its predators.
Aden Forest truly deserved its reputation as one of the most dangerous forests in England. Deep within, the remains of monsters and wild beasts lay scattered, their bodies torn apart with fresh wounds—some the result of battles between monsters, while others bore the unmistakable mark of a single individual.
And there he stood.
Eryon, his clothes tattered, ripped by claws and shredded from battle, dried blood clinging to his skin and fabric. Yet his eyes gleamed with an unwavering sharpness, filled with the hunger of a hunter.
Before him, a colossal bear—twice the size of an ordinary one—let out a low growl, its crimson eyes gleaming beneath the moonlight that barely pierced through the dense canopy. Its breath was heavy, each exhale carrying a warning.
Thump!
Eryon lunged, his fist slamming into the bear's massive body. The beast staggered backward, its enormous claws digging into the ground in a desperate attempt to steady itself—but it wasn't enough. With a deep, guttural growl, its body crashed onto the earth.
Without hesitation, Eryon raised his hand, and gravity surged downward, pinning the bear to the ground, rendering it motionless. His gaze was cold, unreadable. This was the perfect moment.
Without hesitation, he leaped high, manipulating gravity to propel himself faster, and then descended with full force.
Stab!
Durandal pierced through the bear's throat, blood gushing forth, and with one final, strangled growl, the massive creature fell still.
A hologram flickered to life before him.
[You have gained +1 Strength]
Eryon smirked. This was just one more kill in an ever-growing tally, and with every fallen foe, his body felt stronger.
Wasting no time, he sprinted deeper into the forest.
[You have gained +1 Agility]
[You have gained +1 Strength]
[You have gained +1 Magic Points]
The system continued whispering notifications as Eryon cut through monsters one after another. The echoes of their final growls faded into the cold night, but nothing could halt his rampage.
---
Slash!
The final strike sent a massive white wolf with crimson eyes tumbling to the ground, its head cleanly severed from its body.
Eryon stood among the blood and corpses, his breath slightly heavier, but his expression brimming with satisfaction. This one had been a challenge, stronger than expected. Yet, in the end, it met the same fate as the others.
[You have acquired the skill: Paw's Step]
[Description: Move swiftly, and silently]
His eyes gleamed with excitement. Finally, something beyond simple stat boosts. His grin widened, satisfaction coursing through his veins.
"Status window," he murmured.
A hologram unfolded before him.
[Name: Eryon Ashbourn]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Class: -]
[Cultivation base: -]
[Affiliation: None]
[Strength: 24]
[Agility: 21]
[Dexterity: 12]
[Intelligence: 14]
[Magic Points: 11]
[Wisdom: 14]
[Charisma: 13]
[Talent: Mid-Level Cultivation]
[Equipment: Durandal Sword, Fragment of Gungnir Spear (lost)]
[Power: Gravity Manipulation]
[Skills: Paw's Step]
[Mount: Energy Horse]
Eryon nodded in approval. In just one night within Aden Forest, his attributes had skyrocketed. More than that, his combat experience had sharpened exponentially.
Every battle, every moment teetering between life and death, forged him into something stronger.
His gaze lifted toward the sky. Yet even the sky was barely visible through the thick foliage of the forest. He exhaled slowly and muttered, "Maybe it's time to head back."
He turned, glancing at the system's holographic map. He had ventured deeper than expected—his car was nearly 20 kilometers away.
But as he began to walk, something felt off.
The forest was quieter than before. The air reeked of blood, but not all of it was his doing. Along the path, the corpses of other monsters lay scattered—yet these weren't his kills.
Eryon frowned, crouching beside the corpse of a bat the size of a grown man. The wounds were clean—too clean. Its throat had been slashed with precision, its wings bore deep, calculated cuts. More notably, traces of mana lingered in the air.
"This was killed by an awakener..." he murmured, his voice quiet yet laced with intrigue.
Even as a beginner, he could clearly distinguish between a monster's attack and a human's handiwork.
His eyes swept over the other bodies around him. The wounds varied. Some were sliced with surgical precision, others burned by magic, and a few had punctures resembling energy bullets.
"Or maybe... multiple awakeners," he muttered, considering the sheer number of corpses, far too many for just one person.
Silence.
Then, slowly, a smile crept onto his face.
A different kind of smile.
A devilish smile.
"Perhaps... it's time to hunt humans," he whispered, his voice dripping with twisted excitement.
He straightened, and instead of following the map's route back to his car, he pivoted and began trailing the path of corpses.