Cain stood in a small clearing, the iron sword in his hand vibrating with the force of the wind. The howling was closer now—not one wolf, but seven.
[Warning: Pack Hunt active.]
[Enemy: Shadow Stalkers (Rank 1) x7]
[Tactical Suggestion: Retreat to high ground.]
"Retreat?" Cain whispered, a cold glint in his slitted eyes. "The System is still thinking like a mortal."
He didn't climb a tree. Instead, he kicked the corpse of the first wolf toward the center of the clearing. The scent of fresh blood acted like a beacon. Dark shapes blurred through the undergrowth, their white eyes glowing like malevolent stars.
The lead wolf, slightly larger than the rest, stepped into the light. It didn't growl; it hissed, its body coiling like a spring.
"You have a trace of Shadow Essence in your marrow," Cain noted, his voice eerie and calm. "It's not much, but it's enough for a snack."
The pack attacked simultaneously from three sides.
Cain didn't swing wildly. He closed his eyes, relying on the [Shadow Veil] passive he had just stolen. He felt the shift in the air, the slight displacement of the shadows. He dropped to a low crouch as two wolves sailed over his head.
SH-SH-TICK.
With a singular, fluid motion, he drove his blade upward. The rusted steel pierced the soft underbelly of the third wolf. Without pausing, he used the falling weight of the beast to swing himself around, his boot connecting with the jaw of a fourth attacker.
[Stamina: 40/60]
[Mana: 4/10]
He was running low. This body was still a fragile vessel.
"Time to eat," Cain muttered. He grabbed the dying wolf by its throat.
"Gluttony's Touch!"
Violet light erupted. This time, he didn't wait for a slow extraction. He forced the skill to overload. The wolf's body withered instantly, turning into a dry husk as its life force and mana were sucked directly into Cain's palm.
[Mass Consumption Initiated!]
[Energy Refined... Mana Restored!]
[Mana: 15/15 (Overcharged)]
With the sudden burst of mana, Cain didn't wait for the remaining wolves to react. He lunged forward, his movement aided by a burst of raw energy. The sword, though blunt and rusted, became a streak of grey death.
In ten seconds, the clearing went silent. Six more husks lay on the ground.
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Current Level: 4]
[New Skill Fragment Acquired: 'Shadow Dash' (Rank E)]
[Combine 3 fragments to unlock the full skill.]
Cain wiped the sweat from his brow. His muscles ached, but the Void-Eater bloodline was already knitting his minor cuts back together.
"At this rate," Cain looked toward the deeper, darker part of the forest, "I'll be ready for the Second Elder in a month. But first... I need a better weapon."
His rusted sword had snapped in half during the final strike. He looked at the alpha wolf's carcass. Its fangs were six inches long and harder than iron.
"System," Cain commanded. "Can I use 'Gluttony' to refine materials?"
[Processing... Feature 'Forge of the Devourer' is locked until Level 10.]
[Alternative: Consume the fangs to temporarily sharpen your physical 'Claw' attributes.]
Cain's smile was predatory. "Good enough."