The sun dipped low behind the jagged cliffs as Kiel emerged from the tunnel, his limbs aching and clothes singed with ash. The encounter with the Ancient Predator hadn't left any physical wound, but something inside him had shifted — like the System was no longer just a tool, but a battleground.
He looked up toward the highlands where the Guild outpost was stationed — smoke rising lazily from chimneys, unaware of the chaos bubbling below.
He wouldn't head there. Not yet.
> [Notification: Passive Trait Activated – Predator's Mark]
➤ You emit a subtle aura that draws hostility from apex-level beasts.
➤ Increased affinity with beast-type skills.
➤ Warning: Hunters will begin to take notice.
"Great," Kiel muttered, glancing toward the dark forest that sprawled to the east. "As if I didn't already have enough people trying to kill me."
His thoughts were interrupted by a shout — a scream, sharp and desperate. It came from the nearby riverbank. Kiel broke into a sprint, leaping over tree roots and ducking under low-hanging vines.
He arrived just in time to see a young woman — cloaked in guild robes — being dragged by a massive, crocodilian beast with crystalline scales. Her leg was crushed in its jaws, and her dagger flailed uselessly against its hide.
No hesitation.
Kiel drew his fang-blade and charged.
> [Predator Skill – Burst Lunge] Activated.
➤ Speed tripled for 3 seconds.
➤ Next attack: +120% critical damage.
He was a blur. In a flash, he vaulted onto the beast's back, driving his blade deep into the junction between neck and spine. The monster roared, thrashing violently, but Kiel held firm, twisting the blade until he felt the crack of bone.
The beast collapsed, twitching — and then stilled.
Blood soaked the ground. The woman coughed weakly.
"You… you're not with the patrol," she muttered.
"No," Kiel replied, yanking his blade free. "But I'm not letting you die out here."
> [Beast Core Acquired: Crystal Gator – Tier C]
Core Affinity: 6%
➤ Trait Option Available: Abyssal Jaw (Not compatible)
➤ Core reserved for future synthesis.
He kneeled beside the woman, assessing her injuries. Compound fracture, heavy blood loss. She wasn't going to last long.
> [Crafting Available – Primitive Coagulation Salve]
➤ Requires: Red moss, crystal scale, fresh beast bile.
➤ Status: Components available.
➤ Crafting now…
A vial materialized in his hand moments later. He applied it to her wound, the sizzling hiss followed by a sudden stop in bleeding.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked, pain clouding her eyes.
"Kiel."
"Guild?"
"No."
She studied him. Then her gaze dropped to the slowly dissolving corpse of the Crystal Gator.
"Then you're either really lucky… or really dangerous."
He offered her a hand.
"Maybe both."
As Kiel helped her up, he noticed movement on the cliff above — glints of armor. Guild scouts. A sharp whistle sounded.
> [Danger Alert: Hostile Surveillance Detected]
"Friend of yours?" Kiel asked, eyeing the figures as they began descending.
She grimaced. "Not sure. But they don't take kindly to rogue hunters. Especially ones who kill beasts that high up the food chain."
Kiel's grip tightened on his weapon.
He had just saved her life — but he could already feel the noose tightening.
> [System Warning: You are now a Person of Interest to the Central Guild Authority.]
➤ Proceed with caution.
➤ Apex paths are paved in blood. Yours, or theirs.