Blood burned in my veins like molten iron.Every nerve felt raw and alive. My ears twitched at sounds I shouldn't have been able to hear—the distant crunch of bones, the flutter of bat wings overhead, the rhythmic pounding of three massive hearts closing in on me.
My muscles trembled, not from weakness, but from power.This wasn't normal. This wasn't human.
The system… it really changed me.
A mechanical chime echoed in my skull:
[Status Updated.]
Species: Human (Mutating)
Bloodline: Direwolf (Basic)
Strength: 12 (↑ from 7)
Agility: 14 (↑ from 6)
Perception: 15 (↑ from 5)
Skills: Predator's Instinct (Lv.1)
Evolution Points: 10
I stared at the glowing panel floating before my eyes. The numbers looked like something from an RPG—but this wasn't a game. I could feel it. The raw strength coiling in my muscles, the clarity sharpening my senses—it was real.
A low growl vibrated through the night, pulling me back to reality.
The three Direwolves circled me now, their eyes glowing like burning coals. Drool dripped from their jagged maws, sizzling as it hit the blood-soaked ground. They moved with the confidence of apex predators who knew their prey couldn't escape.
Except… I wasn't prey anymore.
Another chime:
[Mission Update: Survive the First Hunt]Objective: Eliminate all threats.Enemies Remaining: 3Reward: +20 Evolution Points, Skill Upgrade.
A slow grin spread across my face. Fine. You want me to fight? Then I'll fight.
One of the wolves lunged.My body reacted before I even thought.Predator's Instinct ignited like wildfire in my blood.
The world slowed. Every detail sharpened—the ripple of muscle beneath its fur, the glint of saliva on its fangs, the subtle shift of air as it pounced.
I moved.
A sidestep, light and precise, my foot sliding through mud without a sound. Its jaws snapped shut where my neck had been, and before it could recover—I struck.
My fist slammed into its skull with a sickening crack. Bone splintered under the force, sending shockwaves up my arm. The beast howled, staggering sideways.
[Critical Hit!]Damage: 87]
The second wolf lunged from behind. My instincts screamed. I dropped to a crouch, its claws whistling over my head, close enough to shear a lock of my hair.
I rolled, snatched up a jagged bone shard from the ground, and drove it into its eye as it turned.The creature shrieked, thrashing wildly as black ichor sprayed across my face.
God… this is insane. I'm really fighting them.
No—I'm killing them.
And it felt… good.
The third wolf charged with a roar, its jaws wide enough to crush my skull.I didn't dodge.I didn't flinch.
Instead, I caught its lower jaw with one hand, its upper with the other, and wrenched with everything I had.
Muscles tore. Joints popped. Bone cracked like dry wood.
The Direwolf screamed—then went silent as its head split with a wet, meaty rip.
Its corpse hit the ground with a thud.
I stood there, drenched in blood, chest heaving, my hands trembling… but not from fear. From exhilaration.
A cascade of notifications filled my vision:
[Enemy Defeated: Direwolf (Rank F)]+5 Evolution Points]Predator's Instinct proficiency increased!]
The other two wolves hesitated now, hackles raised, low growls rumbling in their throats. They smelled it too—fear.
Not mine. Theirs.
I grinned wider, my teeth bared like fangs. "What's wrong?" My voice was a low, feral snarl. "Not so tough now, are you?"
They lunged together, desperation in their eyes.
Good.
I was ready.
The first came from the left. I pivoted, slammed my knee into its jaw, and drove an elbow into its throat as it reeled. It gagged, choking on its own blood, before I ripped the bone shard from its skull and plunged it into its chest.
The second clamped onto my arm, teeth sinking deep. Pain flared white-hot, but instead of fear, rage surged through me.
I grabbed its neck with my free hand and squeezed. Hard.
Bones crunched.Veins bulged in my arm as I poured everything into the grip.The wolf writhed, claws tearing at my side—then went limp as its spine snapped like dry twigs.
I shoved the corpse aside, panting, soaked in blood from head to toe.
Silence fell.Broken only by the sound of my heartbeat.
Slowly, I straightened, staring at the carnage around me. Three bodies. Three predators who had ruled this forest… now dead at my feet.
And I'd done it with my bare hands.
[Mission Complete: Survive the First Hunt]Reward: +20 Evolution Points]Skill Upgrade Available: Predator's Instinct → Lv.2]New Feature Unlocked: Evolution Menu]
The panel shimmered, rearranging into something new.
[Evolution Menu]Current Points: 35
Upgrade Bloodline (Direwolf → Advanced Direwolf): 30 Points
Unlock Passive Ability: Enhanced Regeneration (20 Points)
Unlock Active Ability: Bloodlust Surge (25 Points)
My pulse quickened. I can… evolve further.
A slow, manic laugh bubbled up from my chest. This world wanted me dead. It wanted to grind me into the dirt.
But now?I had a system.And with it…
I would become a god.