The jungle had gone silent.
I had just finished my fight with the Razorclaw Raptors, but something was wrong. The usual rustling leaves, distant growls, and chirping insects had vanished.
Predators.
I wasn't the only hunter here.
Then, the smell hit me. Musky. Rotten. Metallic.
Blood. It wasn't from my fight with the raptors but from something else.
I tensed as five pairs of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the canopy. A pack of black-furred, panther-like creatures surrounded me, moving without a sound.
A system notification appeared:
[New Predator Identified – Nightfang Stalker]
Level: E-Rank
Hunt Points Per Kill: 20
One dropped from the trees, landing in a crouch with no sound—only a faint shift in the dirt. The others spread out, encircling me.
Their tails flicked. Muscles tensed.
They weren't going to test me like the Raptors.
They were going straight for the kill.
They were legitimate Pack Hunters
The leader lunged first, its body vanishing mid-strike.
I barely had time to react.
I ducked, rolling to the side, but the second one came from behind. Claws slashed into my shoulder.
[30 damage to Seun]
I gritted my teeth, twisting mid-air just as the third leaped at me. My foot shot out.
[50 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
The beast staggered but didn't go down.
The fourth and fifth rushed in at the same time. One from the front. One from above.
I had no time to dodge both.
I raised my arm, blocking the frontal attack, but the airborne Nightfang's claws raked across my ribs.
[28 damage to Seun]
I countered instantly—my fist lashed out at the one I had blocked.
[50 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
The moment my hit connected, I felt the air shift. The leader had circled behind me.
I spun, barely managing to block, but the force sent me skidding back.
[32 damage to Seun]
I exhaled, adjusting my stance. These things were stronger than the Raptors.
But they weren't invincible.
I just needed to break their coordination. "I have confirmed everything I need to know, time to kill you bastards"
During the fight, I had my attention taken away by me confirming their skills and how they will react to my attacks.
I also confirmed that even though I had not activate my [Body enhancement], my attack power had increased to match my level up. They had more HP but low attack power. To win, I just need to hit them more without getting hit back.
The five regrouped, spreading out to corner me. Their movements were precise—too synchronized.
I activated [Body Enhancement Lv.2], sending cosmic energy through my muscles. My speed doubled.
I dashed straight at the leader.
It reacted instantly, vanishing into the shadows. But I had expected that.
Before it could rematerialize behind me, I twisted mid-step, punching the air where it should reappear.
My fist collided with its ribs the instant it materialized.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
"I get 10 more damage point boost from [Body enhancement]. Not bad"
It snarled in pain, but before I could follow up, the others moved in.
The second and third came from the sides, jaws wide.
I grabbed the leader's tail and swung it like a club, slamming it into the one on my right.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
The impact sent them both tumbling.
The fourth and fifth saw their chance. They lunged at once, aiming low to sweep my legs.
I teleported just before they reached me, reappearing midair.
The moment I landed, I lunged forward—my elbow crashing into the fourth Nightfang's skull.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It stumbled, dazed. I followed up immediately with a brutal knee to its jaw.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
The beast collapsed, twitching before going still.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 20]
One down.
The remaining four didn't hesitate.
The leader roared, eyes glowing brighter. The others responded instantly, shifting tactics.
The air around them distorted.
[New Skill Identified – Shadow Meld]
[Effect: When in darkness, Nightfang Stalkers become intangible for 3 seconds.]
I barely had time to react before they vanished.
I felt the attack coming from behind.
I teleported backward, escaping just as the claws of one of them tore through empty space where I had been.
The leader lunged again, but this time I met it head-on. My fist drove into its ribs before it could disappear again.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It staggered—weaker now—but still standing.
I couldn't give it a chance to recover.
I grabbed its head and drove my knee into its snout.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It slumped to the ground, motionless.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 20]
Two down.
The remaining three circled me warily.
They knew they were losing.
One hesitated, stepping back slightly.
Fear.
I smiled.
That was all I needed to finish the fight
I lunged first this time, teleporting behind the hesitant Nightfang before it could react.
My fist crashed into its side, sending it sprawling.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It tried to get up. I didn't let it.
I drove my boot into its ribs.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It wheezed, struggling to stand.
I finished it with a brutal hammer fist to the skull.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It collapsed.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 20]
Three down.
The last two charged in desperation. It was a surprise that none of them thought about running away.
I met the first one midair, my fist slamming into its throat.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It choked, stumbling back.
I grabbed it by the neck and threw it into a tree.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It slumped, unmoving.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 20]
The final Nightfang snarled, but I could already see it—it knew it was alone.
I capitalized on that moment.
Teleporting behind it, I grabbed its tail and slammed it into the ground.
[60 Damage to Nightfang Stalker]
It twitched once—then stopped moving.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 20]
[Total Hunt Points Awarded: 200]
[Level Up Achieved] x4
A surge of warmth rushed through me—stronger than before. The Nightfangs were worth more than the Raptors.
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders.
The jungle was silent once more.
But something was watching me. I could feel the stare even without sight of the perpetrator.
The jungle trembled as I heard a roar.
A second roar echoed through the canopy, deeper and more primal than the first. Leaves shook loose from the branches, and the ground beneath my feet quivered. Then, before I could even process it—
BOOM.
A tree to my left exploded into splinters as something massive barreled through, landing with a ground-shaking thud.
The Nightfangs had returned. But these weren't the same as before.
A system notification flashed before my eyes.
[New Predators Identified – Biome Bosses]
[Twin Abyss Nightfangs]
Rank: E
Hunt Points Per Kill: 100
Two creatures stood before me, each easily twice the size of the others. Their black fur shimmered with an unnatural sheen, shadows clinging to them like armor.
Their glowing yellow eyes burned with intelligence—far beyond the pack I had just fought. Their muscles coiled beneath sleek pelts, each step radiating pure predatory menace.
Then, the second Nightfang emerged from the trees, slower and more deliberate, but just as deadly.
The first let out a deep growl, its claws digging into the dirt. Its presence alone made my skin prickle.
Then came another notification.
[New Skill Identified – Shadow Dominion]
[Effect: Nightfang Biome Bosses can extend their shadow meld to nearby allies for 5 seconds.]
I tensed. That meant they could make each other intangible. Worse, they wouldn't fight like wild beasts. They would fight like kings of the jungle.
I had leveled up, but I wasn't cocky. These things were stronger than the entire pack I had just fought—combined.
Then, they attacked.
The first Abyss Nightfang lunged—faster than any of the others.
I barely had time to react before I was forced to dodge. I teleported mid-step, reappearing behind it, aiming for its ribs—
But it anticipated me.
Before my punch connected, it vanished into the shadows.
I spun, knowing it would appear behind me, but—
CRACK.
A second Nightfang slammed into my side like a battering ram.
[68 Damage to Seun]
I gritted my teeth, twisting mid-air. My feet skidded against the ground as I landed, my ribs aching from the impact.
Before I could recover, the first one was already on me again.
I blocked, barely. My forearm took the brunt of the hit, but I was still knocked backward.
[68 Damage to Seun]
They were stronger.
Faster.
And worst of all—they were hunting me together.
The second Nightfang's form shimmered as it used Shadow Meld, disappearing into nothingness. I had no idea where it would reappear.
I had to go on the offensive.
I activated [Body Enhancement Lv.2], cosmic energy flooding my limbs. My speed doubled again.
I dashed straight at the first one.
It roared, claws raised to intercept me, but I feinted left—then teleported right.
Before it could react, my fist slammed into its ribs.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It barely staggered.
I followed up immediately, slamming my knee into its jaw.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It snarled, recovering too quickly. I had no time to press my advantage.
The second one had reappeared behind me.
I twisted, but it was already too late.
Its claws raked across my back.
[68 Damage to Seun]
I ground my teeth against the pain, spinning with an elbow strike—but it had already melded into the shadows again.
They were toying with me.
I needed to break their coordination.
The first one lunged again. This time, I didn't dodge. I met it head-on.
I grabbed its throat mid-leap.
Its eyes widened. It hadn't expected that.
Before it could vanish, I drove my fist into its gut.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
Then, using all my strength, I swung it like a club—slamming it into the second Nightfang as it materialized.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
The two tumbled across the jungle floor.
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders.
Now it was my turn.
I teleported above them as they scrambled to rise. My boot crashed into the first Nightfang's skull.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It staggered.
The second tried to pounce on me—I caught it mid-air by the throat and slammed it into the ground.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
One Down
The first Nightfang wasn't moving as fast anymore. It was slowing down.
I capitalized on that.
I grabbed it by the scruff and drove my knee into its ribs.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
Then again.
[68 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It let out a final, choked growl—then collapsed.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 100]
[Level Up Achieved] x2
A surge of warmth rushed through my body—stronger than before.
I felt the difference instantly.
My fists clenched. My strength had increased again.
"Now to deal with the final one"
I turned to the last Nightfang, while still reinforcing my body with [Body Enhancement Lv.2].
It hesitated, glancing at its fallen kin.
Then, it roared—a deafening, final challenge.
It lunged.
I met it midair.
My fist crashed into its ribs.
[72 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It clawed at me. I took the hit—but countered immediately.
[72 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
I grabbed it by the tail and slammed it into the ground.
[72 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It twitched, trying to rise.
I didn't let it.
A final hammer fist to its skull.
[72 Damage to Abyss Nightfang]
It stilled.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 100]
[Total Hunt Points Awarded: 400]
[Level Up Achieved] x2
The jungle fell silent.
Not just empty—reverent.
The leaves didn't rustle. No creatures moved. Even the distant predators, the unseen watchers, had gone still.
It was as if the jungle itself had acknowledged my strength.
I rolled my shoulders, exhaling.
"I can finally check my status in peace"