CHAPTER 1 — The Taste of Power
Dark smoke drifted between the shattered trees, and the stench of blood clung to the air like a suffocating fog.
A low growl rumbled from the shadows.
From within the darkness, a massive figure slowly emerged. First came a pair of blood-red eyes—eyes sharp enough to give anyone a heart attack at a single glance. Droplets of saliva mixed with blood slid down its jaw. As its full form stepped into the light, the creature revealed itself: a dog, black as midnight, but mutated far beyond anything normal. It stood twice the height of an adult man.
Its crimson eyes locked onto the lone figure standing before it. Hunger burned in its gaze, like a lion staring at its prey. A thin line of drool hung from the corner of its lips.
In front of the beast stood a sixteen-year-old boy—calm, steady, and silent. His body was drenched in his own blood, yet no fear could be seen in his eyes. He looked less like a scared child and more like a warrior who had already accepted death.
He's not easy to kill… he's far more dangerous than I expected, the boy muttered to himself. I've already lost too much blood. If I don't kill him fast… I'm definitely dead today.
The mutated dog now stood barely five meters away from him.
Ten seconds… that's all it will take for him to reach me.
As Aaric calculated his chances, the beast suddenly roared and lunged forward, no longer able to restrain its predatory urge.
Aaric didn't move. Instead, he began counting under his breath.
"Ten… nine… three… two…"
At the very last second, he twisted his right foot, narrowly dodging the incoming attack.
The beast skidded, missing him entirely.
Frustrated, it immediately charged again.
And again.
And again.
But no matter how many times it tried, it couldn't even touch him.
A faint, satisfied smile appeared on Aaric's face.
"No matter how strong you are," he whispered, "you're not touching me."
On the eighth charge, the beast's massive body slammed into a thick tree, momentarily stunning itself.
Aaric's smile widened.
"Finally."
He dashed forward. A half-broken dagger appeared in his hand. Before the mutated dog could react, Aaric drove the blade straight into its left eye.
"ARGHHHH!"
The monster howled in agony.
Aaric pulled the dagger out and stabbed the other eye. Then again. And again. Over fifty times—each strike harder than the last. Each stab feeding the burning thrill inside him.
Finally, the beast collapsed.
A glowing notification echoed in his mind:
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY KILLED A BASIC BEAST.
PLEASE CONSUME ITS ESSENCE TO GAIN GENE POINTS.
Aaric frowned slightly.
"No soul item…?"
But then his disappointment vanished, replaced by excitement.
"So what? It's still my first kill. That alone is worth celebrating."
He crouched down and picked up the only thing left from the beast's dissolving body—a small glowing orb. Without hesitation, he placed it against his tongue and licked it.
Notifications popped up instantly:
+1 Basic Gene Point
+1 Basic Gene Point
+1 Basic Gene Point
The messages repeated until he had gained a total of nine gene points.
Aaric shivered as power spread through his body.
"So this is how it feels… the taste of power."
All of this began a hundred years ago, when humans accidentally created a virus that infected everything—humans, plants, and animals alike. Most animals died, but the ones that survived mutated into monstrous forms.
Soon, humans discovered another shocking truth:
When a mutated creature dies, its body dissolves and leaves behind an essence. Consuming this essence makes humans stronger.
That single discovery rewrote the entire world.
A new law was born:
Only the powerful rule.
The weak obey.
Back in the present.
Aaric exhaled deeply. "If this world only respects strength… then I'll become stronger than anyone can imagine."
A fire burned in his eyes—a fire that grew even hotter after tasting power for the first time.
After a few quiet minutes, he stood up and muttered, "I should return to the camp."
Camps were the only places humans were safe. For some unknown reason, mutated beasts never attacked the camp boundaries. No one knew why.
And so, Aaric began walking towards the only place he could call home.
END OF CHAPTER 1
Author Note — Improved Version
Hello, dear readers!
I am SoulRifter, and welcome to this new journey—filled with adventure, power, and characters who will make you laugh, cry, and feel everything in between.
Your support means everything.
Thank you!