Steam still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the guest room, my black coat flowing behind me. The white shirt clung tightly to my physique, outlining every sculpted muscle—a body that seemed almost divine.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror by the hallway.
"Perfect," I muttered. "A perfect drip. A breathtaking look."
This body, this power—it was no longer Samuel Gebb's.
It was mine.
As I stepped into the living room, I was met with unwelcome company.
Joshua and his parasitic sister, Joanna, sat comfortably, as if they owned the place. Abigail sat on her black shabby chair, watching me, her expression unreadable.
I didn't care.
I didn't even acknowledge them. I just walked toward the exit.
Then, her voice cut through the air.
"Where are you going?"
There it was—the tone of authority, the belief that she still had control over me.
I stopped, turning my head slightly, my emerald-green eyes meeting hers with an icy stare.
"Ms. Bardot," I said smoothly, my voice devoid of warmth. "I'm working on some cases, and I need to go. Hope you understand my concerns."
I could feel it—the shift in the air.
She tensed at my words. I had called her formally again, and I knew she felt it. The distance between us was growing.
And I didn't care.
She opened her mouth to speak, but I wasn't interested.
"But you were—"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Bardot," I cut her off, my voice sharp as a blade. "I don't think I can cook for guests."
Her face twisted, and before she could respond, Joanna's shrill voice filled the room.
"How dare you say that?!" she screeched, her eyes blazing with arrogance. "You are Abigail's lapdog, and you should behave. Now be a good dog and cook for us!"
I stopped walking.
Slowly, I turned my head, cold fury rising in my chest.
My gaze flickered to the wooden table beside me.
Without hesitation, I clenched my fist—and with a single punch, I shattered the table into splinters.
The impact sent a shockwave through the air, making Joanna, Joshua, and even Abigail flinch.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, I spoke, my voice dripping with mockery and venom.
"I'm sorry," I said, brushing dust from my knuckles. "But even if Ms. Bardot made me her lapdog, I fail to see where you got the authority to act like you own this house?"
Joanna's face turned pale, her lips quivering in shock.
Joshua clenched his fists, his body stiff, but he didn't dare speak.
Abigail's eyes widened, but before she could say anything, she whispered in disbelief, "Samuel… your hand—"
Blood dripped from my knuckles.
But I didn't even feel it.
I met her gaze, my expression cold and indifferent.
"I'm sorry for breaking your table, Ms. Bardot," I said smoothly. "I will try to compensate for the damage caused."
Then, without another word, I turned around and walked out—leaving them frozen in shock.
The door closed behind me, but I didn't look back.
The world outside was waiting. And I had no time for people who no longer mattered.
The Hunt Begins – A Nightcreature Worthy of Battle
I stood at the edge of a skyscraper, the cold wind whipping against my coat, making it billow like the cloak of a fallen god.
The city below was quiet, unaware of the monster lurking in the shadows—the Alpha Nightcreature, my next target.
I exhaled slowly, my breath visible in the night air, then spoke.
"System, locate the Alpha Nightcreature."
A familiar blue screen flickered into existence before me.
---
[Tracking Target…]
Scanning for Alpha Nightcreature presence…
Analyzing power levels…
Identifying movement patterns…
[Location Found]
- Target: Alpha Nightcreature
- Current Position: Abandoned Rail Yard, East District
- Estimated Threat Level: S-Class+
- Recent Activity: Devouring lower-ranked creatures. Evolution process nearing completion.
---
I smirked, rolling my shoulders.
"So, it's feeding… getting stronger. Good. That means it won't be a boring fight."
The System chimed again.
[Warning: The Alpha Nightcreature is near its next evolution. Failure to eliminate it now may result in a catastrophic threat to the city.]
I let out a low chuckle. "That just makes things more fun."
I tilted my head, cracking my neck, then stepped off the edge of the skyscraper.
The world blurred.
I activated Shadow Walk, my body dissolving into the darkness, moving at speeds the human eye couldn't follow.
Within seconds, I was gone—racing toward my next battle, toward the beast that would test my power.
The hunt had begun.