??? AM – A Predator's Realization
Kyung-min clutched his bleeding side. His breath came in ragged gasps. His body ached.
His hands shook.
The monster outside the burrow hadn't left.
It wasn't like the others.
It wasn't going to lose interest just because it couldn't reach him.
🔹 [Fatigue: 89 → 92.] (Overexertion)
He exhaled slowly, pressing his back against the cold stone.
"I was stupid."
"I thought just because I killed a few rabbits, I could fight a Monster???"
"I should be dead."
He wasn't.
But not because of skill.
Because he ran.
And that wasn't going to be enough forever.
His fingers twitched.
He needed a new plan.
A real plan.
One that didn't rely on luck or last-second escapes.
🔹 [STATUS WINDOW – HAN KYUNG-MIN]
[General Info]
🔹 Level: 8 (1100/1200 EXP to Level 9)
🔹 Class: Grave Reaver (D-Rank, Growth)
🔹 Title: Harbinger of the Unresting (Undead grow stronger with each resurrection.)
🔹 Profession: None
[Attributes]
🔹 HP: 143/426
🔹 MP: 245/490
🔹 Fatigue: 92/100 (Critical)
🔹 Gold: 0G
🔹 Strength: 20
🔹 Agility: 20
🔹 Stamina: 20
🔹 Intelligence: 30
🔹 Perception: 20
🔹Free Stat Points: 8
[Skills]
🔹 Death's Echo (Unique) – [Records & Steals Last Moments of the Dead]
🔹 Corpse Reclamation (D-Rank) – [Raise a Weakened Undead]
🔹 Shadow Step (D-Rank) – [Briefly Blend into Shadows]
[Stored Death Records: 2]
[Record 1: Han Kyung-min (His Own Death)][Record 2: The Lich (Undying Resilience - Weakened)]
🔹 [Awakening Progress: 27%]
??? AM – The Problem With His Summons
"Corpse Reclamation isn't enough."
He had relied on it.
Used it to stall.
But that was all it did.
It didn't kill.
It didn't win battles.
And in a place like this—that wasn't enough.
His undead needed to be stronger.
He needed something better than rabbits.
But that meant one thing.
"I need to kill something stronger."
His grip tightened around the bone knife.
🔹 [Fatigue: 92 → 94.] (Mental Strain)
He ignored the exhaustion.
His mind was sharper than ever.
The monster outside was still there.
Waiting.
If he could kill it…
If he could turn it into a summon…
"Then I might actually have a chance."
??? AM – The Stalker's Instincts
He didn't move.
Not yet.
His fingers curled against the cold stone as he listened.
The Devourer Stalker outside the burrow had gone silent.
Too silent.
It was waiting.
"It knows I'm still here."
It was a predator.
But so was he.
He reached into his status window.
🔹 [Free Stat Points Available: 8]
Not much.
But maybe—just enough.
He allocated them.
🔹 Perception: 20 → 28
His vision sharpened.
His hearing adjusted.
And then—
He heard it.
A faint shift in the dirt outside.
It wasn't right next to the burrow anymore.
It had moved.
"It's trying to flank me."
He had a chance.
But it would only last a few seconds.
??? AM – The First True Kill
His knife was useless.
His body was too weak.
His summons weren't enough.
So he needed to fight dirty.
He reached into the fire beside him.
His fingers wrapped around burning wood.
The heat seared his skin.
🔹 [HP: 143 → 138.] (Burn)
But he didn't let go.
He crawled out of the burrow.
The Devourer Stalker noticed instantly.
Its head snapped toward him.
Its body tensed.
But Kyung-min was faster.
He threw the burning wood straight at its face.
The monster screeched.
Its body twisted, trying to dodge—
But that was a mistake.
Because it turned its back to him.
And in that moment—
He lunged.
🔹 [Corpse Reclamation Activated.]
Not on a corpse.
But on the monster itself.
His mana surged.
His hand latched onto its body.
And the Devourer Stalker convulsed.
🔹 [MP: 245 → 120.]
Its legs locked up.
Its movements slowed.
Its own body betrayed it.
Because Kyung-min was forcing undeath into something still alive.
And it was working.
It twitched.
It fought.
It screamed.
And then—
He drove the bone knife into its throat.
A deep, wet crunch.
The screaming stopped.
And the Devourer Stalker fell.
??? AM – The First Evolution
Silence.
Then—
🔹 [You Have Killed Devourer Stalker – Level 22.]
🔹 [EXP Gained: 2800 XP.] 270
🔹 [Level Up! You Are Now Level 9.]
🔹 [All Stats +2. HP & MP Restored by 30%.]
🔹 [Level Up! You Are Now Level 10.]
🔹 [All Stats +2.]
🔹 (1200/1800 EXP to Level 11)
🔹 [Grave Reaver Awakening: 40% Completion.]
Kyung-min collapsed onto the dirt.
His body was trembling.
His hands were shaking.
But he was alive.
And more than that—
He had won.
🔹 [Corpse Reclamation Available.]
His eyes darkened.
"Time to see what you can really do."