The clearing was a graveyard of husks. Cain stood in the center, his breathing steady despite the cooling blood on his skin. He didn't feel disgust; he felt a hollow, aching hunger that only the Void-Eater bloodline could produce.
[Current Level: 4]
[Stat Points Available: 10]
"System," Cain muttered. "Allocate 6 points to Agility and 4 to Strength. I need speed to survive the deeper woods."
[Allocation Successful.]
[Strength: 12 —> 16]
[Agility: 14 —> 20]
A jolt of heat snapped through his nerves. His muscles tightened, becoming leaner and more defined. The world seemed to slow down slightly—his reaction time was now twice that of a normal human teenager.
He knelt beside the Alpha Shadow Stalker. Its fangs were the size of daggers, translucent and black like obsidian.
"I can't use the 'Forge' yet," Cain said, gripping one of the fangs. "But I can use the Devourer's Intent."
He didn't just pull the tooth out. He placed his palm over the wolf's snout and activated Gluttony's Touch, but instead of pulling the energy into his body, he forced it into the fangs.
[Warning: Unorthodox use of Skill detected.]
[Infusing 'Shadow Essence' into bone...]
[Success! You have created a temporary weapon: 'Stalker's Fang'.]
[Durability: 50/50. Effect: 10% chance to inflict Bleed.]
The fang broke free from the skull, glowing with a faint purple light. It was sharper than any steel the Thorne Clan's smiths could produce for a commoner.
"Cain! Cain, are you alive?!"
A voice echoed through the trees. Cain froze, his new Agility allowing him to pivot toward the sound instantly. Emerging from the mist was Elena. She was panting, her silver hair tangled with thorns, clutching a small silk bag to her chest.
"I told you not to follow me," Cain said, his voice dropping an octave.
Elena stopped, her eyes widening as she saw the dead wolves. "I... I brought you Spirit Pills. I stole them from the infirmary. If the Elders find out, I'll be punished, but I couldn't let you starve in—"
She stopped, looking at the black fang in his hand and the strange, predatory light in his eyes. "Cain... what happened to you in that courtyard? You feel... cold."
Cain looked at the bag of pills. In his last life, those pills were the only reason he survived. But now? They were useless trash compared to the essence of a Rank 2 beast.
"Keep the pills, Elena," Cain said, turning back toward the dark heart of the forest. "Use them for yourself. I don't need medicine anymore. I need prey."
"Wait!" she cried out. "The Second Elder sent his personal guards after you. They aren't coming to watch you—they're coming to make sure you never leave these woods. They're Level 10, Cain!"
Cain paused. A Level 10 guard was a 'Refined Mortal.' To a Level 4, they were giants.
[New Urgent Quest: Survival of the Fittest]
Objective: Eliminate the 3 pursuing guards.
Reward: Unlock 'Inventory' Space and +200 EXP.
Failure: Death.
Cain's grip tightened on the bone dagger. "Level 10? Good. That's just more experience for me to eat."
"Elena," he said without looking back. "Hide in the hollow tree a hundred paces behind you. Don't come out until the screaming stops."