Choosing Evolution Path:Hunt l

Kain's heart pounded as he sprinted into the dark alleyways of the slums, his breath ragged, his body still tingling with the strange sensation of his newly absorbed bloodline. The sounds of distant shouting filled the air, and torchlight flickered behind him. The enforcers were coming.

[WARNING! Multiple hostile presences detected!]

[Escape within 300 seconds or risk capture.]

Kain's fists clenched. He had no idea how this system worked yet, but one thing was certain—if he didn't figure it out fast, he was dead.

The Chase Begins

Kain tore through the slums, dodging between rusted shacks and crumbling stone walls. His mind raced. He had no weapons, no allies, and barely understood the Bloodborn Evolution System.

Yet, he had stolen a bloodline.

And from what the system had told him, that was a crime punishable by execution.

"Over there! I saw him go left!"

A voice echoed from behind. The enforcers were closing in. They weren't just ordinary guards—these were Bloodhounds, elite trackers skilled at hunting criminals with stolen bloodlines.

[Host has entered a danger zone!]

[Activating Passive Ability: Adaptive Reflexes.]

Kain suddenly felt his senses sharpen. His vision became clearer, his hearing more sensitive. The sound of boots pounding against the dirt road was distinct—four pursuers, approaching fast. His breathing slowed as an unnatural calmness settled over him.

Is this the bloodline's effect?

He didn't have time to analyze it.

Instead of running blindly, he threw himself to the side, sliding beneath a broken wooden fence. He heard a grunt as one of the enforcers misstepped, giving him a precious second to move.

[Mission Update: Survive the Hunt (Progress: 5%)]

Five percent? Damn it, how long do I have to run?

Another sharp turn, another alleyway. But as Kain moved, his foot caught on a loose stone—

He stumbled.

A shadow loomed over him.

"Got you!"

A powerful hand grabbed the back of his shirt, yanking him up. Kain barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

[HP -10]

Pain shot through his body, but something else surged with it.

A new feeling.

Power.

[Bloodline Instinct Activated: Counterstrike.]

Kain's body moved on its own. His hand snapped up, gripping the enforcer's wrist. Before the man could react, Kain twisted, using his attacker's own strength against him.

With a sickening crack, the enforcer's arm bent in an unnatural direction.

"AAAGH!" The man howled in pain, dropping his weapon.

Kain didn't waste the opportunity. He grabbed the fallen dagger and—

SLASH!

The blade tore across the enforcer's throat.

Blood sprayed onto Kain's face, warm and thick. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from something deeper.

Something primal.

[You have slain a Low-Rank Bloodhound.]

[Absorbing Bloodline Energy…]

[+5 Strength, +3 Agility]

A rush of pure power flooded his veins. His muscles tightened, his limbs felt lighter. It was intoxicating.

Then, another alert flashed before his eyes.

[New Ability Unlocked: Predator's Instinct (Rank 1)]

[Description: Allows the user to detect weak points in enemies.]

Kain barely had time to process this before another enforcer shouted, "He killed Mika! Take him down!"

Three more Bloodhounds charged at him.

Kain turned and ran.

Evolution Through Battle

His breathing was steady, his body lighter than before. He felt different. Stronger.

The system wasn't just a tool—it was changing him.

His eyes flickered to the system interface.

[Host: Kain Voss]

[Bloodline: Adaptive Predator (Low Rank)]

[Level: 1 → 2]

[HP: 45/60]

[Strength: 10 → 15]

[Agility: 8 → 11]

[Endurance: 9 → 12]

[New Ability: Predator's Instinct]

It was working.

But if he wanted to survive, he needed more.

Kain ducked into an abandoned building, pressing his back against the cold stone wall. His mind raced. He was still outnumbered, and he wouldn't last in a direct fight.

But the system had given him a skill—Predator's Instinct.

Time to test it.

The moment the first enforcer entered, Kain's vision shifted. A faint glowing aura covered the man's body, and small red spots pulsed along his joints and neck.

Weak points.

The enforcer rushed him, swinging a short sword. Kain dodged, barely missing the edge of the blade. He struck out, aiming for one of the glowing spots—

His elbow slammed into the man's throat.

The enforcer gurgled, clutching his windpipe. Kain didn't hesitate. He drove the dagger straight into the man's heart.

[You have slain a Bloodhound.]

[Absorbing Bloodline Energy…]

[+6 Strength, +4 Endurance]

The remaining two guards hesitated.

They're afraid.

Kain bared his teeth in a grin. "What's wrong? Thought I was an easy target?"

The enforcers glanced at each other—then turned and ran.

But Kain wasn't letting them go.

Predators didn't let prey escape.

Mission Complete – The Bloodborn Awakens

Kain stood over the lifeless bodies of the Bloodhounds, his breath heavy, his hands drenched in blood. He had won.

And it felt good.

The system chimed.

[Mission Complete: Survive the Hunt.]

[Rewards: Evolution Point +1, Skill Upgrade Token x1]

[Congratulations! You are now eligible for Evolution.]

A new panel appeared before him.

[Bloodline Evolution Path Unlocked]

[Choose Your Evolution Path:]

Blood Predator – Increases physical strength and predatory instincts.

Crimson Reaver – Grants enhanced reflexes and life-draining abilities.

Phantom Strider – Boosts agility and shadow-based movement techniques.

Kain's eyes burned with determination. He had started as nothing. A weak outcast.

But now…He was evolving.And this was just the beginning...The First Evolution.

Kain stared at the glowing system panel. Each choice pulsed with raw potential, promising power beyond anything he had ever imagined.

But he could only choose one.

Blood Predator would make him stronger and deadlier in direct combat. Crimson Reaver seemed to offer lifesteal, meaning he could recover during fights. And Phantom Strider emphasized speed and stealth.

His fingers twitched. He needed to make the right choice.

[WARNING: Evolution must be selected within 60 seconds, or a random path will be chosen.]

Kain clenched his jaw. He had to think fast.

His fights so far had been close calls. His enemies were faster, stronger, and more skilled than him. He needed to close that gap.

"I choose… Crimson Reaver."

[Evolution Confirmed: Crimson Reaver.]

[Commencing Bloodline Evolution… WARNING: This process will be painful.]

Painful?

Before Kain could process the message, his entire body ignited in agony.

It was as if molten fire was pumping through his veins. His muscles contracted, his bones cracked and reformed. His heart slammed against his ribs as if trying to burst free.

He collapsed to his knees, choking back a scream.

[Bloodline Evolution Progress: 10%...]

His vision blurred. His skin turned ashen, veins darkening as something ancient and primal stirred within him.

Images flashed through his mind—shadows moving at impossible speeds, warriors draining the life from their enemies with a single touch.

This was the power of the Crimson Reaver.

[Bloodline Evolution Progress: 50%...]

Kain's nails lengthened into sharp claws, his senses sharpened further. The pain was unbearable, yet somewhere beneath it, he felt… alive.

[Bloodline Evolution Progress: 90%...]

A final surge of power crashed through him, like a dam breaking. His body pulsed, his breath ragged. Then—

[Bloodline Evolution Complete.]

[Congratulations! You have evolved into Crimson Reaver (Stage 1).]

Kain gasped, his fingers trembling as he slowly rose to his feet. The pain was gone—replaced by an overwhelming surge of energy.

The system displayed his new stats.

Updated Status

[Host: Kain Voss]

[Bloodline: Crimson Reaver (Stage 1)]

[Level: 2 → 3]

[HP: 100/100]

[Strength: 15 → 20]

[Agility: 11 → 17]

[Endurance: 12 → 16]

[New Abilities Unlocked:]

Crimson Drain (Rank 1) – Absorb a portion of an enemy's HP with every attack.

Reaver's Reflex (Rank 1) – Reacts instinctively to lethal attacks, slightly increasing dodge rate.

Kain flexed his fingers. He could feel the power coursing through him—his movements felt lighter, faster, more precise.

Then, a notification popped up.

[DING! New Mission Available.]

Mission: The True Hunt Begins

[Mission: Prove Yourself as a Predator.]

Hunt and kill at least three more enemies within the next 12 hours.

Reward: Evolution Point +1, Random Skill Unlock.

Penalty: Bloodline Regression.

Kain frowned. "Regression?"

[Failure to hunt within the time limit will weaken your evolution, reducing stats and abilities.]

His jaw tightened. The system wasn't just granting him power—it was forcing him to use it.

A cold realization settled over him.

If he wanted to survive, he had to kill.

The Predator Hunts

Kain stepped out of the abandoned building, his new instincts guiding him.

The slums were still eerily silent. The Bloodhounds he had killed earlier were likely reported by now. More enforcers would come.

Good.

His fingers tightened around the dagger he had stolen from the first enforcer. It felt almost weightless now.

He climbed onto a rooftop, crouching low as he scanned the streets below. His Predator's Instinct kicked in, and faint red outlines marked several figures in the darkness.

Two guards. Armed. But their movements were sluggish—they weren't Bloodhounds. Just normal patrol soldiers.

Kain smirked.

Perfect targets.

He moved.

In a flash, he dropped down, landing silently behind them.

"Did you hear something?" one of the guards asked.

His partner frowned. "Probably just rats—"

Kain struck.

His dagger sliced cleanly across the first guard's throat. Blood sprayed, and before the second soldier could react, Kain lunged, driving his claws into the man's chest.

The soldier gasped, his life draining into Kain's body.

[Crimson Drain Activated.]

[+10 HP recovered.]

Kain's eyes widened. He had expected a small boost, but the energy flooding into him felt almost… addictive.

The system chimed.

[You have slain two enemies.]

[+4 Strength, +3 Agility]

He exhaled slowly, wiping the blood off his dagger.

One more kill.

Then he sensed it—another presence nearby.

Someone watching him.

Kain turned sharply, his eyes scanning the shadows. Then—

A figure stepped forward.

A young woman in dark armor, a red insignia carved onto her shoulder plate. She carried two curved blades, her stance relaxed, but her eyes locked onto him with intense focus.

She smirked. "Not bad, Lowborn."

Kain's instincts screamed at him.

She was dangerous.

Before he could react, she vanished.

A blade pressed against his throat.

"Let's see if you're really worth hunting."