Chapter 3: Mongrel
The forest stretched endlessly in all directions, dark and silent save for the faint rustle of leaves and distant, inhuman growls. Reiyan moved cautiously, his body still sore from his fight with the wolf. His jagged rock felt heavier now, the weight of desperation and fear pressing on him.
Then came the sound—a soft crunch of leaves.
Reiyan froze, gripping his rock tightly. He scanned the shadows, every nerve on edge. The notification from earlier burned in his mind:
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Warning: Hostile Player Detected.
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The silence that followed was suffocating.
"Found you."
The voice was low, guttural, and dripping with malice. From the shadows emerged a man who looked more like a specter than a human. He was tall and lean, his muscles wiry beneath torn, bloodstained clothes. His face was gaunt, his pale skin stretched tight over sharp cheekbones. But it was his eyes that froze Reiyan in place—wild and alight with sadistic glee.
The man carried a jagged, rusted blade in one hand. The metal glinted faintly, smeared with fresh blood. He grinned, revealing teeth that looked more like fangs.
"Another rookie," the man said, his voice almost playful. "You poor thing. Don't worry—I'll make it quick."
Reiyan's throat went dry. "Who… are you?"
The man tilted his head, his grin widening. "Mongrel," he said. "That's what they call me. But to you? I'm the end of the road."
A notification flashed before Reiyan's eyes:
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Player Profile: Mongrel
Level: 4
Title: Player Killer
Divine Sponsor: Loki, God of Mischief and Chaos
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Reiyan's heart pounded. "Loki…?" he muttered under his breath.
Mongrel's grin turned feral. "Ah, you've heard of him. Loki chose me. He saw what no one else did—that I was born to thrive in chaos. And now, thanks to him, I get to do what I was made for: hunting and killing weaklings like you."
Reiyan's grip tightened on his rock, but his palms were slick with sweat.
Mongrel noticed and laughed. "Oh, I love it when they're scared. Makes the kill so much sweeter."
Without warning, Mongrel lunged. His movements were unnaturally fast, a blur of bloodstained steel and malice. Reiyan barely managed to dodge as the blade sliced through the air where his neck had been a moment before.
The force of Mongrel's attack sent him staggering back. He swung his rock wildly, but Mongrel sidestepped with ease, his grin never faltering.
"Pathetic," Mongrel sneered, swinging his blade again.
Reiyan ducked, the blade grazing his shoulder and drawing a shallow cut. Pain flared, but he bit down a cry. He scrambled back, his mind racing. Mongrel wasn't just stronger—he was faster, more experienced, and utterly ruthless.
"I'll make this simple," Mongrel said, stalking toward him. "Run, beg, or fight—it doesn't matter. The outcome's the same."
Reiyan's breath came in ragged gasps. He had no choice but to fight, even if it was hopeless.
The next attack came faster than he expected. Mongrel's blade slashed toward him, but this time, Reiyan managed to deflect it with his rock. Sparks flew, the impact jarring his arm, but he stood his ground.
Mongrel's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not bad," he muttered. "But not good enough."
He pressed the attack, his strikes relentless and precise. Reiyan dodged and blocked as best he could, but each movement drained his energy. His legs felt like lead, his arms shaking from exertion.
"Is that all you've got?" Mongrel taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
Reiyan's vision blurred. He was losing, and he knew it. But then, something deep inside him stirred—a spark of defiance, a primal instinct to survive.
Heat surged through his body, spreading to his limbs and sharpening his senses. A notification flashed before his eyes:
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Skill Activated: Instinct - Rank F
Divine Blessing Unlocked: Unyielding Spark - Level 1
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The world around him seemed to slow. Mongrel's movements, once too fast to track, became clear, almost predictable. Reiyan felt his body move on its own, ducking and weaving with newfound precision.
Mongrel's blade came down in a deadly arc, but Reiyan sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a swing of his rock. The jagged edge slammed into Mongrel's ribs, drawing a grunt of pain.
For the first time, Mongrel's grin faltered.
"You little—"
Reiyan didn't let him finish. He pressed the attack, his strikes more calculated, each one aimed to wound. Mongrel staggered back, blood dripping from fresh cuts.
But the older player wasn't finished. "You think you're clever?" he snarled. "Loki didn't pick me because I was weak."
The air around Mongrel shimmered, warping like heatwaves. Reiyan's vision blurred, his balance faltering as chaos engulfed him.
"Let's see how you handle this," Mongrel growled, his voice echoing unnaturally.
Before he could strike, a spear sliced through the haze, slamming into Mongrel's chest. Blood sprayed as he stumbled back, clutching the wound.
From the shadows, Akari stepped forward, her spear gleaming in the faint light.
"Mongrel," she said coldly. "Still preying on rookies?"
Mongrel spat blood, his wild eyes narrowing. "Akari. Always ruining my fun."
"Leave," she commanded, her tone icy. "Or the next spear goes through your skull."
For a moment, Mongrel hesitated, his feral grin returning. "This isn't over, rookie," he said, pointing at Reiyan. "Next time, you won't have anyone to save you."
He vanished into the shadows, his laughter echoing through the trees.
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Reiyan collapsed to his knees, his body trembling. Akari stood over him, her expression unreadable.
"You're reckless," she said bluntly.
"I survived," Reiyan muttered, his voice hoarse.
"Barely." She tossed him a water pouch, which he drank greedily. "Mongrel isn't just dangerous—he's insane. You're lucky I showed up when I did."
A notification appeared in Reiyan's vision:
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Level Up!
New Skill: [Heightened Instinct - Rank E]
Blessing Strengthened: Unyielding Spark - Level 2
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Reiyan stared at the messages, a flicker of hope stirring in his chest. "I'll get stronger," he said, more to himself than to Akari.
"You'd better," she replied, turning away. "Because in this game, the weak don't get second chances."
As she disappeared into the forest, Reiyan clenched his fists. Mongrel wasn't the end. He was just the beginning.
The God Game would push him to his limits—and beyond.
Chapter 3 End