The moon hung high over the forest, casting pale light over the jagged rocks and gnarled trees. The goblin den was restless, but I had no time to waste.
Rhia and I crouched near a clearing deep in the woods, where the weaker goblins rarely dared to tread. This was where the real monsters lurked.
I gripped a crude dagger in my hand, its chipped edge reflecting the moonlight. "We have one night," I muttered. "One night to get stronger."
Rhia nodded, tightening her grip on a stolen bone spear. Her silver hair shimmered faintly, but her eyes held a steely determination.
Then, the System's voice rang in my head.
[New Quest: Survive the Raid]
Objective: Strengthen yourself before the kobold attack.
Bonus: Kill at least five monsters before dawn.
Rewards: ???
A system quest.
It had never given me one before. That meant one thing—this was a turning point.
A rustling sound caught my ear. I turned just in time to see a feral forest wolf creeping through the underbrush, its yellow eyes locked onto me.
Rhia inhaled sharply. "A wolf? That's too—"
I didn't let her finish.
I lunged forward.
The wolf snapped its jaws, but I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding its bite. My Devourer's Mark burned beneath my skin, the hunger for power flaring in my veins.
This time, I wouldn't just kill.
I would take everything.
A Predator Awakens
The wolf snarled and leapt at me again. Instead of dodging, I met it head-on, driving my dagger into its throat.
Critical Hit!
The wolf gurgled, its body twitching as blood spurted from the wound.
But I didn't stop there.
I grabbed its body, placing my hand over its dying form. The moment I did, the world shifted.
A dark energy surged through my arm, and the System's voice whispered in my mind.
[Devourer's Mark Activated]
[Absorbing essence…]
[You have gained: 3 Strength, 2 Agility]
[You have gained: Skill – "Predator's Instinct (F)"]
I staggered as raw power flooded my body. My senses sharpened—I could hear the heartbeat of the forest, smell the blood in the air, feel every tiny shift in the wind.
This was different.
This was evolution.
I exhaled slowly, my hands trembling from the aftershock.
"Leon?" Rhia's voice was uncertain. She had seen it. She had seen something change in me.
I turned to her, feeling the sharp new instincts pulsing through my mind. "I'm fine," I said, my voice lower, stronger.
She didn't look convinced. "That wasn't normal."
I didn't answer. Instead, I looked at the wolf's body. One wasn't enough.
I needed more.
I scanned the forest. "We keep going."
Rhia hesitated, then sighed. "Fine."
She didn't push further. Not yet.
We hunted through the night. More wolves, a giant horned rabbit, even a wild goblin that had been banished from the den.
With every kill, I used Devourer's Mark.
With every absorption, I felt myself changing.
By the time dawn broke, I stood at the edge of the forest, staring down at my bloodstained hands.
This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was power.
And I was ready for the raid.