Chapter 10: Monster Meat.

The embers of the campfire crackled softly, sending glowing sparks into the night air. The smoky scent of roasting meat blended with the crisp woodland breeze, filling the small clearing beneath the towering trees.

The group had descended from their makeshift platforms, drawn by hunger and the promise of food. They sat in a loose circle, perched on two fallen logs. Kael sat alongside Liam, Paul, and Norvyn, while Garve, Alysha, Orayne, and Michael occupied the log opposite.

The skewers of freshly grilled meat glistened in the firelight, juices dripping onto the charred wood below. Yet, despite their gnawing hunger, no one moved to take a bite. They held the skewers in their hands, staring at the meat as uncertainty flickered across their faces.

This wasn't ordinary meat. It came from a monster—a creature unlike anything found on Earth.

Would it even be safe to eat? Could it be poisonous? Would it do something… unnatural to them?

A tense silence settled over the group. Then—

Crunch.

All eyes snapped toward Kael.

He had bitten into the skewer without hesitation. His usually cold, stoic expression shifted—his brows relaxed, his jaw worked steadily, and his shoulders loosened as he chewed. A quiet exhale of satisfaction escaped him as he took another bite, devouring it with steady, unhurried precision.

The firelight danced in his black eyes as he muttered inwardly,

Still as good as I remember. The seasoning's perfect too.

For a moment, no one moved. Then, seeing Kael eat without issue, the others hesitantly took a test bite.

Their expressions changed instantly.

"What the hell…?"

"This is actually—really good?"

One bite turned into another. Then another. Then another.

What began as cautious nibbling quickly became ravenous feasting. Hunger won out over fear as they tore into the skewers, their bodies crying out for sustenance after hours of grueling work.

Kael ate at a steady pace, occasionally sipping from his makeshift water pouch. As he swallowed, he could feel his strength returning, the exhaustion ebbing away. A quick glance at his status tab confirmed it—his stamina was gradually regenerating.

The group, once tense and wary, now relaxed as they ate, laughter and quiet conversation bubbling up between them.

Kael, however, remained silent.

He listened, observing the subtle shifts in their voices—the worry hidden beneath their casual words. They spoke of their families, their loved ones, the people they had left behind.

Most of them had been separated from their families when they were thrown into the Tower. Age, status, wealth—none of it mattered. Every single human had been pulled into this brutal, unforgiving world.

And the harsh truth was… many of their families were likely already dead.

Older individuals, those with weaker bodies or health conditions, had little to no chance of surviving the tutorial. But the others didn't say this aloud. They clung to hope, desperate to believe that their loved ones were still out there, fighting to survive.

Kael didn't join in. He simply stared into the flames.

Then—

"By the way, Kael," Orayne's voice cut through the warm hum of conversation. "Do you have anyone you're worried about right now?"

The group quieted. Their gazes turned toward him.

For a moment, Kael remained still. The firelight flickered against his face, casting shifting shadows across his sharp features.

Then he spoke.

"Yeah… my mom and my sister."

His voice was even, calm.

"But I'm not too worried. They'll be fine."

A small smile played at his lips as he took another bite, chewing slowly.

He wasn't just saying that for the sake of optimism. In his past life, they had made it to the Fifth Floor before they disappeared. If things played out the same way, they would survive again.

All he had to do… was reach the fifth floor before them.

Orayne raised a brow. "You sound pretty certain." She studied his expression. "Didn't think you were the type to smile like that."

The others seemed to share her sentiment, their eyes lingering on him for a moment longer.

Kael only shrugged.

He was beginning to get a feel for Orayne's personality—blunt, direct, observant. She was sharp. Definitely a teacher or someone who worked with people before all of this.

Rather than respond, he returned to his meal.

That was, until—

He felt a small tug at his sleeve.

Kael glanced to his side. Alysha, who had been silent for most of the meal, stared at him curiously.

"Kael, how old are you?"

He blinked at the unexpected question.

"Recently turned twenty-one."

A ripple of surprise passed through the group. Their expressions shifted—subtle, but noticeable.

He was probably the youngest one here.

Alysha nodded as if filing the information away. "…I see."

She said nothing more, but the way she lingered made Kael narrow his eyes slightly. She's definitely an odd one.

Still, he wasn't much different.

With a quiet sigh, he went back to eating.

The meal lasted another twenty minutes. They ate as much as they could, knowing that leaving food to spoil was a waste. But Kael had taken precautions—he had built a simple smoking rack, hanging thin strips of meat above the smoldering fire to dry.

"This should keep it preserved for later," he explained. "Smoking the meat prevents bacterial growth and keeps it edible longer."

With their stomachs full, they climbed back to their platforms.

The night was eerily quiet.

Too quiet.

The trees overhead swallowed most of the moonlight, leaving the campfire as their only source of illumination. Beyond the warm glow, the darkness stretched endlessly, a silent abyss.

The cold, unsettling feeling Kael had grown stronger. Even with the smell of grilled meat, the nearby river, and the warmth of the flames, not a single monster had approached.

It's definitely not normal.

"Who's taking night watch?" Paul asked, glancing at Liam.

"We'll rotate. I'll take first shift, then wake you in four hours," Liam replied. "The rest of you, get some rest."

One by one, they nodded, exhaustion evident on their faces. But Kael? He didn't move.

Liam turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "That includes you, Kael. You worked hard today. Get some sleep."

Kael shook his head. "I'm fine."

It wasn't bravado. It wasn't pride. He genuinely didn't feel tired. In his past life, he had endured far worse—days and nights without sleep while climbing the tower's upper floors.

He was still weaker now than he had been then, but his endurance wasn't something that would fail him so easily.

Still, Liam just chuckled. "Alright then. Suit yourself."

Time passed. Minutes stretched into an hour. Kael remained seated, eyes fixed on the fire, lost in thought. 

Until he heard it.

—Snap.

A twig.

It was faint, distant, but Kael's instincts flared instantly. His head snapped in the direction of the sound.

Red.

A pair of glowing red eyes shimmered in the darkness. Watching. Approaching.

Kael's pulse quickened. The footsteps followed—slow, deliberate. The firelight barely reached far enough, but when the creature stepped into view, the breath in Kael's lungs froze.

A wolf.

But not just any wolf.

This one was massive—easily four times the size of a normal one. Its fur was an abyssal black, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Its muscles rippled beneath its sleek coat, and when it exhaled, the air itself seemed to chill.

[??? - Lvl 5]

A nervous grin slowly appeared on Kael's face. 

…Shit.