The sun bled across the sky, casting a crimson glow over the ancient ravine.
Liu Xuan crouched in the shadow of a withered tree, his blood-soaked robe fluttering in the wind. The scent of beasts lingered in the air—thick, metallic, alive.
He licked his dry lips, gaze locked on the creature drinking at the riverbank below.
It was a Three-Eyed Razor Boar, nearly the size of a carriage. Muscle rippled under its stone-like hide, and the third eye on its forehead pulsed with dull yellow light.
Rank 3 Beast.
Stronger than the Ravine Beast.
Faster.
But Liu Xuan wasn't the same either.
---
He opened his system panel silently:
Status:
Level: 005
HP: 300/300
Strength: 21
Agility: 14
Constitution: 19
Spirit: 11
Will: 10
Skill Slots: 2/3
Skills: — (None Assigned)
Stat Points: 50
He had been saving his points. Now it was time to test his potential.
"Distribute stat points," he muttered under his breath.
+25 to Agility
+15 to Strength
+10 to Constitution
A warm rush flooded his limbs. His body became lighter, nerves sharper, bones denser.
Updated Stats:
Strength: 36
Agility: 39
Constitution: 29
HP: 430
Perfect.
Liu Xuan dropped from the cliff like a shadow. No sound, no warning.
The boar lifted its head, sniffing—but it was too late.
Liu Xuan landed behind it, foot slamming into the base of its skull.
CRACK!
The boar squealed, stumbling forward. Before it could recover, he dashed underneath its belly and drove a sharpened beast fang into its underbelly.
The beast thrashed wildly. Blood splattered across the rocks.
It was strong. Wild.
But Liu Xuan was faster.
He leapt, spun mid-air, and landed on its back. Without hesitation, he jammed the fang into the third eye, twisting.
The Razor Boar shrieked one final time before collapsing.
Dead.
---
Then the system chimed.
[You have absorbed: Three-Eyed Razor Boar]
→ Bloodline Fragment Acquired: 'Stonehide Flesh'
→ Skill Gained: [Razor Dash] (Lv1)
→ Stat Boost: +12 STR, +18 AGI, +10 CON
→ EXP + 2120
[LEVEL UP!]
Level: 005 → 006
Stat Points +10
Skill Slot +1
Liu Xuan exhaled slowly.
This one had put up a fight.
But now…
He opened the skill tab.
[Razor Dash] (Lv1) — Launch forward in a flash, temporarily increasing Agility by 40% for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 10s.
He activated it.
Boom!
His body vanished and reappeared ten meters ahead, cutting through the air like a blade.
Wind howled behind him.
"So this is power," he muttered, clenching his fists.
No longer trash.
No longer prey.
Now, he was the one who hunted.
---
By nightfall, five more beasts lay dead. His clothes were torn, soaked in dried blood, but his eyes were burning with madness.
Level: 009
Strength: 55
Agility: 68
Constitution: 45
Stat Points: 30
New Skill: [Beast Howl] (Causes weaker enemies to tremble, 5s fear effect)
He leaned against a rock and stared at the moon.
"I need more. Stronger prey. More evolution."
A faint voice called from deep in the forest.
Not a beast.
A human.
"…Help… please…!"
Liu Xuan's ears twitched. He turned sharply toward the voice.
A girl stumbled from the treeline, blood trailing from her leg. Her white robes were torn, stained red. She looked young—sixteen, maybe seventeen—barely holding a dagger in her trembling hand.
Behind her, a massive shadow stalked silently.
Ironspike Panther. Rank 4.
It growled low, eyes glowing yellow. Its steps were graceful—death coiled in a feline form.
The girl collapsed to the ground. The panther crept closer, ready to strike.
Liu Xuan moved.
Razor Dash.
In one blink, he was between the girl and the beast. His hand caught the panther's claw mid-strike.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
The panther snarled.
Liu Xuan grinned.
"Not bad."
The beast launched forward, jaws wide, claws like daggers. Liu Xuan ducked low and slammed his fist into its ribs. Bones cracked. It recoiled, screeching.
He chased—faster than the eye could follow—and delivered a flying knee to its jaw.
CRUNCH!
Blood sprayed in the air. The beast collapsed, dazed.
He stepped over it—and shoved a broken fang through its skull.
---
Silence.
Then—
[You have absorbed: Ironspike Panther]
→ Bloodline Fragment Acquired: 'Night Predator Instincts'
→ Skill Gained: [Phantom Step] (Lv1)
→ Stat Boost: +20 AGI, +8 STR, +12 CON
→ EXP + 3400
[LEVEL UP!]
Level: 009 → 010
Skill Slot +1
He didn't even blink at the level-up anymore.
It was becoming addictive.
He turned to the girl.
She was staring at him—eyes wide, lips trembling.
"Y-You… You saved me."
Liu Xuan crouched. "Who are you?"
"My name is… Yao Ling. Inner disciple of Silver Cloud Sect. I-I was part of a hunting team. The others… they're dead."
Silver Cloud Sect. One of the top five sects in the Eastern Region.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Why were you here?"
"Training mission. We were tracking spirit beasts for core materials. We didn't expect a Rank 4."
She gritted her teeth and tried to stand. Her ankle gave way, and she fell with a gasp.
Without a word, Liu Xuan caught her arm and hoisted her up.
"You'll slow me down."
"I'm sorry..."
"But I'm not done hunting tonight."
Her breath hitched. "W-What are you?"
He looked up, eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"Evolving."
---
They walked deeper into the ravine.
Liu Xuan hunted.
Yao Ling followed, her gaze never leaving him. At first, it was awe. Then fear. Then something else.
Every time he killed, his aura grew darker, heavier.
She saw it in his eyes—this wasn't just about survival.
It was conquest.
He absorbed a flying venom serpent.
Then a horned shadow ape.
Every time, the system chimed. His body transformed piece by piece—subtle changes that made him faster, stronger, harder to read.
By the time they reached the edge of the ravine, Liu Xuan was Level 012.
She couldn't even keep track of the bodies anymore.
---
At dawn, the trees parted, revealing a ruined temple.
Ancient. Forbidden.
Black mist curled around the crumbled stone. Strange symbols glowed faintly across the shattered pillars.
The moment Liu Xuan stepped near, the system buzzed.
[WARNING: Forbidden Zone Detected]
— Do you wish to initiate Evolution Trial: Foundation Awakening?
— Danger Level: High
— Reward: First Evolution Core
He paused.
Foundation Awakening.
His first true evolution.
A grin crept across his lips.
"Yes."
— Trial Initiated.
— Locking area…
— Trial Begins in 10 seconds.
Yao Ling grabbed his arm.
"Wait, what are you doing?! This place—!"
He pulled away. "Stay back."
"But you'll die—!"
"No," he said, stepping into the fog.
"I'm just getting started."