Breaking the body

The forest was at peace, the sounds of rustling leaves and distant chirps blending into the calm. But that peace was shattered by frantic, ragged breathing—a pale man, drenched in sweat, sprinting through the trees, pursued by a beast.

"Damn it! Weren't the hunters supposed to clear these things? Then why the hell am I being chased by one inside the wall?" Solvyr muttered through gritted teeth, his body moving on pure instinct.

Hidden in the shadows, Gilbert followed silently, observing his student with sharp eyes. He was ready to intervene if things went south. Then, in a low voice, he advised, "Those things can't hear, but they have keen sight. Use it to your advantage."

Solvyr caught his master's words mid-stride. In an instant, he threw his knife upward and leaped, forcing the beast to look up—just as the blade found its mark, sinking into its throat. The creature collapsed, lifeless.

Panting, Solvyr slumped against a nearby tree to catch his breath when a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[You have successfully Hunted a Beast.]

[+1 Soul]

'Huh?' Solvyr furrowed his brows and checked his system.

Name: Solvyr

Soul: 1

Art: None

Ability:

Soul Griever {S+++} – Devour a soul to unlock

He had gained a soul. 'I wonder what it does...'

Before he could dwell on it, Gilbert suddenly appeared above him, his voice calm yet firm. "You're a natural-born hunter."

Solvyr glanced up. "I've been fighting and looking for ways to survive all my life."

Gilbert teleported onto the beast's corpse, crouching down to inspect it. He studied the body, then turned his gaze to Solvyr, analyzing him. "Hmm... I can tell."

With their kill secured, they began their journey back to Gilbert's house. As they walked, Solvyr broke the silence. "Master Gil, do you also get notifications when you kill a beast?"

Gilbert pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his fingers. "Yeah? Did you get one from killing that thing?"

"The Evolution Beast?" Solvyr repeated the unfamiliar term in his head, his confusion evident.

Gilbert raised an eyebrow. "Wait… don't tell me you've never learned about beast types?"

'Do I look like someone who could afford school?' Solvyr thought bitterly.

"Ohhh, right. You're from the slums," Gilbert chuckled. "Guess no fancy education for you." He took a drag of his cigarette before explaining, "There are two types of beasts, as far as we know. First, there are Dimensional Beasts—those are the creatures that come from other dimensions. Then, there are Evolution Beasts, or 'Evo Beasts' for short. They're animals from Earth that evolved into monsters due to mana overflowing from the dimensional gates."

For the first time in his life, Solvyr was learning something from another person—rather than observing and figuring things out on his own. "I see… Thanks, Master Gil."

By the time they arrived home, Solvyr's mind was buzzing with new information.

During dinner, he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. Gilbert noticed his restless expression and sighed. "What is it?"

Solvyr hesitated before asking, "What happens when you level up?" His tone was serious.

Gilbert smirked. "Figures you'd be curious. Especially since you can't level up."

Before Solvyr could retort, Gilbert continued, "We gain experience. When we level up, we get stronger. Simple as that. But how we grow depends on what the system has planned for us. Some players excel in speed, others in strength, mana, or even system-based abilities."

Solvyr nodded, digesting the information. "Can't you choose your stats?"

Gilbert considered it for a moment. "That's an interesting thought, but…" He stared into the fire, his expression unreadable. "The system chooses for you. It's like it's writing your future for you." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Solvyr leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I think I leveled up too."

Gilbert scoffed. "Yeah, right. My student with an S+++ ability can suddenly—"

"The system notified me," Solvyr cut in.

Gilbert's expression shifted. "It did? That's normal for any awakened."

"No, it gave me something," Solvyr insisted.

"What exactly?"

"A soul. Maybe instead of experience, I gain souls," Solvyr theorized.

Gilbert exhaled a long stream of smoke, studying his student. "If what you're saying is true, then…"

"Then what?"

"Then your ability is directly tied to your leveling system."

'I see…' Solvyr thought.

After a moment of silence, he looked at his master. "Do you really believe I have an S+++ ability?"

Gilbert nodded. "Yeah. It's written in your system. But the rest of your stats are completely blank. The only thing there is your ability."

'No wonder Master took me in as his student,' Solvyr realized.

"Well, get some rest," Gilbert finally said, leaning back against his chair. "We'll figure out how your system works soon enough."