The hunter

A young man swept through the trees, moving almost like a ninja—or perhaps something even more elusive. In just a few days, Solvyr had developed drastically, thanks to the Soul Griver ability and the soul-leveling system that accompanied it. His body moved with an unnatural fluidity, each step placed with silent precision, each breath measured. He was no longer the same struggling fighter he had been before.

"I figured out my system," he murmured to himself, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his blade.

The realization filled him with an odd sense of confidence. He knew he had changed, but how much? Could he land a hit on Master now?

'I wonder if I can land a hit on Master?' The thought lingered in his mind, but before he could entertain it further, another memory surfaced—his daily task.

"You have to kill an Evo Beast and bring me a part of it," Gilbert had told him earlier, his tone carrying no trace of leniency.

"I see. How many?" Solvyr had asked.

"At least five," Gilbert uttered without hesitation.

Solvyr had tried to keep his expression neutral, but internally, he was already calculating. 'Is he serious? It'll take me three to four hours just to find one,' he thought. Yet, despite the daunting task, he replied simply, "I understand."

Just as he turned to leave, Gilbert added, "Oh, and by the way..."

"What?" Solvyr asked.

"Bring them to me tomorrow."

Solvyr had left without a word, but now, as he moved swiftly through the dense forest, he couldn't help but question his master's demands. 'Is Master really serious about this?' he thought. Yet, there was no room for doubt. Complaining wouldn't change anything. He needed to complete the task, no matter how absurd it seemed.

Then, finally, he stumbled upon one.

A hulking, armor-plated boar stood before him, bone spikes protruding from its hide. Its red eyes gleamed with primal fury, nostrils flaring as it caught his scent.

Solvyr's stomach growled. "Well, at least it looks delicious," he muttered, tightening his grip on his master's odachi. He exhaled, steadying himself. 'Now, let's hunt.'

He lunged.

The Dreadfang Boar let out a thunderous roar, its massive hooves tearing into the earth as it charged at him like a battering ram. But Solvyr was already in motion. He sidestepped with inhuman agility, pivoting on the balls of his feet as he slashed downward.

Steel met flesh.

A deep gash opened across the beast's shoulder, but it wasn't enough to slow it down. It swung its massive tusks toward him, aiming to gore him, but Solvyr leaped above the attack, twisting mid-air to land gracefully behind the beast.

Something was strange about his fighting style. It was raw, unrefined, and yet, disturbingly effective. He fought dirty—like a Crimson Reaper if it were a human wielding a sword. His attacks were relentless, pure offense, almost as if he were a madman.

But he wasn't.

His movements remained calm, his face blank, and he masterfully utilized his environment. Every feint, every pivot, every shift in momentum was deliberate.

The young man who had once struggled against a single beast was now facing one head-on.

The boar attempted to lunge at him again, but Solvyr anticipated its movements. His muscles moved before he could even think—as if guided by an unseen force.

He ducked beneath the tusks, slicing deep into the beast's underbelly. The Dreadfang Boar let out a final, agonized squeal before collapsing in a heap.

The beast's death was inevitable. A creature like that could never win against someone who had a Crimson Reaper's brutal fighting style combined with the dirty tactics he had learned from the streets.

A familiar chime rang in his ears.

System Notification:

[You have successfully hunted a Dreadfang Boar.]

{+1 Soul}

(Soul detected.)

Solvyr wiped the blood from his blade, exhaling sharply. "A boar, huh?" He nudged the lifeless body with his foot. "Well, at least it's delicious."

Then, he looked at the glowing soul orb hovering above the corpse. He studied it for a moment, watching the swirling energy inside.

"It's the same," he sighed. "I thought souls would be different for each creature."

He covered his face with his palm before letting out a chuckle.

"No, wait... these are just beasts," he muttered. He let his hand fall to his side and reached for the orb.

"Well, time to devour a soul."

With a single motion, he grabbed the orb and swallowed it whole.

His vision blurred for a split second as his mind was flooded with memories—or rather, instincts. He saw flashes of the boar's life. Running, eating, surviving.

"Tch, this boar lived a boring life," he muttered in disappointment. It was nothing useful. No battle instincts, no grand knowledge. Just hunger and instinct.

Still, he smirked. "At least I'll be having a feast alone tonight."

Then, he paused, his smirk fading.

'No, wait, before that... I still have four more to hunt.'

With a deep breath, Solvyr wiped his blade clean, turned, and disappeared into the shadows of the forest once more.

The hunt had only just begun.