The scent of iron lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. The bodies of the Fang Rats lay sprawled across the rocky ground, their blood pooling into the cracks of the cave floor.
I could still feel the warmth of my last kill on my tongue. The System's power buzzed faintly inside me as my body adjusted to the new stats and skill.
I glanced at Rhia. She was crouched beside one of the dead rats, her violet eyes scanning its corpse like she was deep in thought.
"You alright?" I asked.
She nodded, but there was a flicker of something in her expression. Uncertainty.
"This… this feels different," she murmured. "I've fought before, but this time… it felt natural."
I knew what she meant.
Back when I was human, I had never taken a life. I had never felt the thrill of battle, the raw instinct to kill or be killed. But now? It was as if my body craved it—like my very existence thrived on violence.
Was it because I was a goblin? Or was it something deeper?
I didn't know. And right now, I didn't care.
Checking the System
I opened my Status Window, eager to see the results of our hunt.
[Name: Leon]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 3 → 4]
[Strength: 5] [Agility: 5] [Vitality: 4] [Intelligence: 4]
[Skills: Devourer's Mark (???), Crude Combat (F), Sharp Bite (F)]
I felt stronger. Faster. My body was still small, still weak compared to the true monsters in this world—but I was growing.
My gaze shifted to Rhia. I focused on her, willing the System to reveal what I needed to know.
[Target: Rhia]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 3 → 4]
[Strength: 3 → 4] [Agility: 5 → 6] [Vitality: 3 → 4] [Intelligence: 7 → 8]
[Skills: Mind Shackles (E), Enhanced Perception (F)]
[Unique Trait: ???]
She had grown stronger. Just like me.
But she didn't realize it.
"Rhia," I said slowly, "do you… feel any different?"
She blinked at me, then tilted her head. "A little. My body feels lighter, and I don't feel as tired as before. Why?"
So it was just as I thought.
No one else could see this System but me.
Even though she had clearly grown stronger, she had no concept of stats or levels. She only felt the improvement through instinct.
That meant…
I had an overwhelming advantage.
A Hidden Power
I smirked to myself, keeping my discovery a secret. If no one else could see their own progress, but I could track their strengths and weaknesses…
I could manipulate things from the shadows.
I could outgrow them all.
I looked at Rhia, who was still studying the Fang Rats, unaware of what I had just confirmed.
For now, I wouldn't tell her.
Not yet.