Chapter 2: Awakening of the Hunter

The enforcer howled in agony staggering back as black ichor oozed from the wound I had inflicted. My hands trembled, not from fear, but from the raw surge of power coursing through my veins. The shattered blade in my grip gleamed with an eerie light, pulsating as if alive.

"System Activated…"

The voice echoed inside my mind, cold and mechanical, yet with an unexplainable force. I had no idea what it meant, but I didn't have the time to ponder it. The enforcer's purple eyes flared with rage as it roared, shaking the ground beneath.

I clenched the broken blade tighter. My muscles, weak and battered just moments ago, now thrummed with newfound strength. The pain that had wracked my body transformed into fuel, driving me forward.

"Kill it…"

The voice whispered again. It wasn't a suggestion—it was a command.

The enforcer lunged, its massive fist descending toward me like a meteor. Instinct kicked in. My feet moved on their own, a blur as I rolled to the side. Dust and debris exploded where I once stood, the force of the impact nearly sending me flying. But I landed steady, blade poised.

"Dodge successful. +0.02 Credits Earned."

I barely registered the words as I moved. The enforcer turned, its speed unnatural for its size. It swung again. This time, I didn't dodge. I stepped in—closer, too close for it to react in time—and drove the blade into its arm.

A flash of violet energy erupted from the impact. The enforcer screeched, clutching its wounded limb as black mist poured from it.

"Direct Hit! 0.05 Credits Earned."

I gasped, my mind racing. Was this… a game? No. The blood on my hands, the pain in my body—this was real. But the System… it was giving me power.

And power meant survival.I wouldn't waste it.

The enforcer wasn't done yet. With a furious roar, it slammed its foot into the ground. The force sent cracks splintering outward, throwing me off balance. Before I could react, a clawed hand lashed out, faster than before.

Pain erupted through my side as I was flung through the air like a ragdoll. My back collided with a crumbling wall, knocking the breath from my lungs. My vision blurred.

"Severe Damage Taken. -15 HP."

I coughed, struggling to rise. The enforcer loomed over me, raising its hand for the finishing blow.

No.

I wasn't going to die here. Not like this.

Something deep within me stirred. The System, the power—it was more than just an advantage. It was a chance. A chance to fight. A chance to take back everything the Abyss had stolen.

I tightened my grip on the broken sword. Energy flared to life around me, a pulse of something ancient, something raw. The enforcer hesitated, sensing the change.

Good. Let it be afraid.

I launched forward. The world around me slowed as the System's power surged. My broken blade became an extension of my body, glowing with an unearthly radiance. The enforcer swung, but this time, I was faster.

I ducked beneath its arm, twisting my body mid-motion. My blade sang as it carved through the enforcer's side. A second, third, fourth strike followed—each precise, each fueled by the growing fire within me.

The enforcer roared in pain, stumbling backward, its massive body shaking from the onslaught. I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.

One final strike. I leaped, driving the blade straight into its chest.

A moment of silence.Then....

"Fatal Strike! Abyss Enforcer Defeated. +3.0 Credits Earned."

The enforcer convulsed, its body disintegrating into black mist. I landed with a shaky breath as the remains of the monster faded into nothingness.

I had won.

I had killed an Abyssal creature.

My heart pounded. I looked at my trembling hands, feeling the energy coursing through me. The pain in my body was still there, but beneath it, I felt… stronger.

"Level Up! Attributes Enhanced."

I blinked. Then, as if responding to my confusion, a transparent screen appeared before my eyes.

[System Interface] Name: ValeLevel: 1 → 2Credits: 3.08Strength: +2Agility: +2Vitality: +1New Skill Unlocked: Abyss Hunter's Instinct

A chuckle escaped my lips. I didn't know whether to be terrified or exhilarated.

Then, reality hit me like a hammer.

The village. My parents.

I spun around, searching the battlefield. The fires had begun to die down, leaving behind smoldering ruins. The air was thick with the scent of blood and burnt wood. The corpses of villagers and Abyss creatures littered the ground.

I staggered forward, my legs weak, my mind racing.

And then I saw them.

Two figures. Lying side by side in the dirt.My breath hitched.

"No… No, no, no—"

I fell to my knees beside them. Their bodies were battered, their once-powerful forms now still. My father's sword, the sacred blade that had been our family's legacy, lay shattered beside them.

They were gone.

A sob tore from my throat. The world blurred as hot tears streamed down my face. I had fought. I had killed. I had won.

But I hadn't saved them.

A cold wind whispered through the ruins, carrying the stench of death. And yet, in the silence, a single memory surfaced.

"Survive."

My mother's voice. The last thing she had told me.

Survive.

I clenched my fists. The grief in my chest was suffocating, but beneath it, something else burned. Rage. Determination. A hunger for vengeance.

I wasn't weak anymore.

I had power.

And I would use it.

I wiped my tears, forcing myself to stand. The System's interface flickered before me, waiting.

I glanced at my parents one last time, swallowing the pain.

Then, I turned away. This wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning.