The canyon shook as the monsters advanced.
Massive Canyon Ogres climbed over the rocky cliffs, their enormous bodies casting long shadows across the battlefield.
Each one was over three meters tall.
Their skin looked like rough stone, and they carried massive clubs carved from boulders.
A normal E-Rank hunter would die instantly against even one of them.
But there weren't just one.
There were dozens.
Marcus Hale's face darkened.
"This dungeon is worse than we thought…"
He raised his sword and shouted.
"DEFENSIVE FORMATION!"
Hunters quickly moved into position.
Shield users moved to the front.
Mages stepped back.
Archers climbed the rocks for higher ground.
Kai quietly stood behind them, carrying the supply bag.
Exactly like a support member should.
But inside…
He was watching everything carefully.
Because the system window appeared again.
Multiple C-Rank Enemies Detected
Devour Potential: Extremely High
Kai's heart beat faster.
Every one of those ogres could make him stronger.
Much stronger.
But he couldn't reveal his power yet.
Not in front of dozens of hunters.
So he waited.
The Battle Begins
The first ogre roared and charged forward.
The ground trembled with every step.
Marcus moved first.
His sword flashed through the air.
The blade cut deep into the ogre's shoulder.
The monster roared in pain but didn't fall.
Another hunter slammed a hammer into its leg.
A mage launched a fire spell.
Finally—
The ogre collapsed.
The hunters cheered briefly.
But their relief didn't last long.
Because more ogres kept coming.
And this time…
They attacked together.
Chaos
Two ogres smashed their clubs into the defensive line.
Shields shattered.
Hunters were thrown into the air.
One unlucky hunter was crushed instantly.
Blood splattered across the canyon rocks.
"Hold the line!" Marcus shouted.
But the battlefield was already turning chaotic.
Kai quietly slipped away from the main formation.
No one noticed him.
Everyone was too busy fighting.
He moved behind a large rock formation.
And there—
An injured ogre struggled to stand.
Perfect.
Kai approached slowly.
The monster raised its club weakly.
But Kai moved faster.
His Predator Instinct activated.
The glowing weak point appeared instantly.
The ogre's throat.
Kai jumped forward.
His dagger pierced the glowing mark.
The blade sank deep.
The ogre collapsed immediately.
Enemy Defeated
Canyon Ogre Eliminated
Kai placed his hand on the corpse.
"…Devour."
Dark tendrils burst from his shadow.
The ogre's massive body dissolved instantly into black fragments.
All of them rushed into Kai.
Power surged through him.
The system responded immediately.
Devour Successful
Strength +6
Vitality +5
Level Up!
Level 9 → Level 10
Kai smiled.
That was much better than devouring wolves.
But then—
Something unexpected happened.
Another message appeared.
New Ability Unlocked
Skill: Ogre Strength
Effect: Temporarily increase physical power.
Kai's eyes widened.
He had absorbed the ogre's ability.
"So devouring stronger monsters…"
"…gives better skills."
This system was even more powerful than he imagined.
But suddenly—
A loud scream echoed across the canyon.
Kai turned.
One of the hunters was about to be crushed by an ogre.
The monster raised its massive club.
The hunter was frozen in fear.
Kai sighed quietly.
"Guess I can't ignore that."
He rushed forward.
Faster than before.
The ogre swung its club downward.
Kai activated Ogre Strength.
Power exploded through his muscles.
He jumped.
And kicked the monster's arm aside.
The club slammed into the ground instead.
The ogre stared at him in confusion.
So did the hunters nearby.
"Did… that E-Rank just block an ogre?"
Kai ignored them.
Because he had already moved again.
His dagger flashed.
Straight into the ogre's throat.
The monster collapsed instantly.
Silence fell across the battlefield.
Several hunters stared at Kai in disbelief.
Even Ronan's eyes widened.
Because what they just saw…
Was impossible.
An E-Rank hunter had just killed a C-Rank monster alone.
Kai realized the problem immediately.
Too many people had seen that.
Then the system appeared again.
Devour Available
Kai slowly looked down at the ogre's corpse.
Then back at the shocked hunters.
And smiled slightly.
"Well…"
"That's awkward."
END OF CHAPTER 9