Chapter 10: The Silent Hunt Begins

The moonlight bathed the rocky terrain in an eerie silver glow. A cold wind whispered through the wasteland, sending small dust clouds swirling around the jagged stones where Raiken rested.

His black and gold armor glowed faintly in the dark, his body unmoving, chest rising and falling in steady breaths. The exhaustion from his journey weighed heavily on him, yet his grip on reality never faltered. Even in sleep, his instincts remained sharp.

Then—

A chilling howl echoed through the night.

Then another.

And another.

The distant calls grew closer, weaving together into a sinister chorus that cut through the silent night like a blade.

Raiken's eyes slowly fluttered open, sharp golden irises gleaming under the moonlight.

A low growl rumbled from the darkness.

Emerging from the shadows, a pack of massive, black-furred wolves stepped forward, their glowing red eyes locked onto him like a predator spotting its next meal. Their thick muscles rippled beneath their dark pelts, and their fangs gleamed in the pale moonlight, dripping with hunger.

Their breath was visible in the freezing air. Cold. Calculated. Merciless.

Raiken sat up, stretching his arms. His expression was relaxed—almost bored.

Then, a smirk formed.

"Perfect chance to test it out."

The wolves snarled, their massive claws digging into the earth as they lowered their stance, preparing to pounce.

A single misstep would mean death.

But for Raiken—

It was just another warm-up.

The Hunt Begins

One of the wolves let out a feral roar before launching itself at him.

Raiken's smirk widened.

"Activate!"

A golden pulse of energy surged from his mechanical gauntlets—

FWOOSH!

In an instant, golden strings of pure energy erupted from his hands, weaving through the air like divine threads of judgment. They hummed with lethal precision, shimmering against the night.

The wolves lunged—

SHING!

A single flick of his wrist.

The golden strings blurred through the air—

Then—

Silence.

The wolves froze in midair.

Then—

SPLURT.

Dark blood sprayed into the sky, illuminated by the moonlight.

Each wolf fell to the ground in multiple pieces, their massive bodies severed with flawless precision.

Their lifeless remains collapsed into the dirt, the rocky terrain now painted in crimson.

The night fell silent once more.

The only sound left was the soft breeze carrying the scent of blood.

Raiken exhaled, his glowing golden irises fading back to normal.

His gauntlets retracted, the golden strings vanishing into the void.

He looked at the carnage, unfazed.

"Damn… this skill is brutal."

He let out a low chuckle.

This world was dangerous.

But so was he.

Morning: Entering the Town

By dawn, Raiken had finally reached the entrance of the town. A long dirt path led up to the large wooden gates, where two heavily armed guards stood watch. Behind them, stone buildings rose into the sky, smoke drifting from chimneys, and the distant chatter of townsfolk filled the air.

Raiken's black and gold armor gleamed under the early morning sun, his hair swaying gently in the wind.

As he stepped forward—

CLANK!

The guards crossed their spears, blocking his path.

"Halt."** One of them narrowed his eyes. "Where are you from?"**

Raiken remained still, unfazed.

Inside his mind—

🔵 SYSTEM MESSAGE:

"Say you're from a nearby town. Call it… whatever name you choose."

Raiken smirked.

"I'm from a nearby town. It's called… Obsidian Vale."

The guards exchanged glances.

Then—

One of them nodded. "Alright. You may enter."

The spears lifted.

Raiken stepped forward, a small grin forming on his lips.

This was just the beginning.