The air grew colder as Kael entered the deepest reaches of the Dark Forest. A thin mist blanketed the ground, and the sounds of insects faded away entirely—a clear sign that a large predator was on patrol.
Kael swallowed.
"…This is different."
"Dire Wolves are the top of the food chain in this area," Nephras explained, floating beside him. "Fast. Intelligent. And they often hunt in packs."
Kael paused.
"Wait. You said one."
"You're right. But what you're looking for isn't a pack. There's one that's been driven out of its pack—the most ferocious one. Level 12. You can absorb a lot from that."
Kael took a deep breath. He checked his stats.
[Status]
Name: Kael Vernius
Level: 6
Strength: 11
Agility: 19
Vitality: 15
Skills:
• Shadow Dash (Lv.1)
• Blood Rush (Lv.1)
• Devour (Passive)
• Convert (Passive)
• Evolve (Passive)
Level 12 might sound like double the level—but Kael knew the difference in monster levels wasn't linear.
A Level 12 monster could kill a Level 20 human.
It should have been… impossible.
But he wasn't a "normal human" anymore.
He moved forward, weaving through the waist-high roots. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting long shadows that moved like wild beasts.
And finally—Kael saw it.
A Dire Wolf was tearing into a Boar carcass. Its body was pitch black, its fur coarse, its eyes glowing red. It was twice the size of a normal wolf, with long, blade-like teeth.
[Dire Wolf — Level 12]
Kael felt his primal instinct: fear.
"Damn…" it whispered.
"If you want to retreat, do it now." Nephras's voice was flat. Not mocking. Just testing.
Kael shook his head slowly.
"I didn't come all this way just to hunt rabbits."
Nephras smiled faintly. "Good."
Kael examined the terrain. Open ground—unfavorable. He moved to the side, seeking a position with dense vegetation.
As he took a step—crack!
A branch snapped.
The Dire Wolf stopped feeding. Its massive head turned slowly, its pupils constricting.
Grrrrrrrr…
Kael immediately activated his skill.
[Blood Rush activated]
Kael's body felt hot, his blood rushing. His muscles tensed, his vision widened.
Finally—the Dire Wolf attacked.
WOOSH!
The monster leaped at a speed that was hard to follow even with the naked eye. Kael ducked, narrowly missing his head.
He felt the hot wind from its claws pass over him.
Nephras shouted, "Use Shadow Dash—at the last moment!"
As the Dire Wolf swung its second claw, Kael activated his skill.
[Shadow Dash]
WOOSH!
Kael disappeared from his position, darting behind the monster. The Dire Wolf's attack failed.
Kael seized the moment. He picked up a sharp rock from the ground and—
Crack!
He struck the Dire Wolf's hind leg.
The monster growled loudly, but the wound was minor.
"Seriously…?" Kael cursed. "This rock didn't even penetrate its fur!"
"Dire Wolves have high Vitality. A weak attack won't matter," Nephras explained.
The monster turned and attacked again.
SRAAASH!
A giant claw nearly tore through Kael's stomach. He twisted, leaping back, but the attack still grazed his left arm.
Blood flowed.
"Argh—!"
"Kael! Focus!"
The Dire Wolf didn't stop. It charged again, faster than before. Kael rolled to the side and kicked a tree root to create distance.
The monster gave chase. Silently. Without hesitation.
Kael clutched his chest, his heart pounding erratically—a side effect of Blood Rush.
He only had one chance.
If you lose, there is no way out.
Kael spotted a small gap in the terrain—a fallen root that had formed a narrow hole. The Dire Wolf was too large to squeeze through quickly.
If he pulled the monster in there…
"Nephras."
"Hm?"
"I have a plan."
Nephras raised his misty eyebrows.
"Prove it."
Kael ran toward the fallen root. The Dire Wolf pursued at a frenzied pace.
THUMP—THUMP—THUMP!
The monster's every step shook the ground.
Kael jumped into the crevice of the fallen tree—deep enough for one person.
The Dire Wolf jumped…
And the monster's head got stuck in the fallen wood.
Not completely, but enough to slow it down.
Kael used all his strength.
He climbed onto the Dire Wolf's neck, holding the monster's fur with both hands—
And swung the sharp rock repeatedly.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The rock shattered.
Kael didn't stop.
With his bare hands, he pounded at the wound he'd made, trying to force his way into a vital point.
The Dire Wolf growled wildly, shaking its body.
Thraaash!!
Kael was nearly thrown, but he dug his fingers into the monster's fur.
"It feels... like hitting steel...!" Kael screamed.
"Don't stop!" Nephras hissed.
The Dire Wolf struggled, shaking the entire tree. Kael nearly fell as its massive mouth reached for him.
Kael screamed—a mix of pain and determination.
Then he grabbed a sharp piece of wood lying nearby...
And stabbed the Dire Wolf in the neck.
THUUK!
The monster howled loudly. Black blood spurted.
Kael twisted the wood with all his remaining strength.
And…
The Dire Wolf fell.
The massive body collapsed slowly, letting out its last breath.
Kael fell with the monster's corpse, his body trembling, his breath ragged, blood dripping from his arm.
"…I win."
Nephras appeared beside him—for the first time, his voice sounded proud.
"You did well, Kael. Now… eat."
Kael placed his hand on the monster's body.
[Devour]
Dark black energy flooded his body.
[You have devoured: Dire Wolf]
[Massive energy source detected]
[Stats converted → +4 Strength, +7 Agility, +5 Vitality]
[Unique Skill Fragment obtained: Dire Instinct]
[Level Up!]
[Level 6 → 8]
[Level Up!]
[Level 8 → 9]
Kael's body trembled. It felt like the entire world had slowed down. It was as if he could feel the air moving.
"This… is incredible."
Suddenly, another screen appeared.
[Unique Skill Fragment: Dire Instinct x1]
Requirement: 2 fragments
Progress: 1/2]
Kael took a deep breath.
Today, he hadn't just survived.
He'd killed a monster far stronger than him.
Nephras stared at him, her mist shaking like the wind.
"Kael."
"Yes?"
"Welcome… to the path of true evolution."
Kael stood, staring into the darkness of the forest.
His eyes no longer showed fear.
Only ambition.