The fireball roared toward Rhia, its heat distorting the air.I didn't think. I moved.[Predator's Instinct (F) Activated]Time seemed to slow. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I lunged forward, shoving Rhia aside just as the flames exploded against my arm.Pain. White-hot pain.I gritted my teeth, biting back a scream as the fire burned through my skin. My left arm felt like it was being peeled away, the stench of scorched flesh filling my nose.But I didn't stop.The kobold mage widened its reptilian eyes in shock. It hadn't expected me to take the hit and keep moving.Too late.I was already in front of it.Devourer's Mark ignited in my veins.I grabbed the mage's throat, squeezing tight."Your power… is mine."
[Devourer's Mark Activated]
[Absorbing essence…]+2 Magic, +1 ResistanceYou have gained: "Lesser Fire Affinity (F)"A surge of heat rushed through my body. The burning pain in my arm faded, replaced by something else.Something new.I could feel the fire. Not just the pain—but the power.I didn't understand it fully yet, but I knew one thing:The next time a kobold threw fire at me… it wouldn't burn.A Turning Tide
The moment the mage collapsed, the other two kobolds hesitated.That was a mistake.Rhia struck first. Her spear shot forward, piercing through the chest of the nearest kobold. It let out a gurgling shriek before slumping over, dead.The last kobold turned to run.I didn't let it.I lunged forward, catching it by the back of the neck. With a swift, brutal twist—Snap.It went limp.Silence fell around us.For a moment, all I could hear was my own ragged breathing.Then Rhia grabbed my burned arm."Leon, you're hurt—"I shook my head. "I'm fine."She frowned but didn't argue. She must have noticed—the wound was already healing.The Devourer's Mark was working. I was changing.I looked around the battlefield. The goblins were winning. The kobolds had been pushed back, their numbers dwindling. The Chief and the hobgoblins led the charge, cutting through the remaining defenders.The raid was almost over.But as I looked toward the kobold den, a chill ran down my spine.Something wasn't right.The battle was too easy.The kobolds were weaker than I expected. They had a mage, but no real warriors.Which meant…They were hiding something.The Howl of the Alpha
A deep, guttural howl echoed from within the kobold den.The entire battlefield froze.Even the Chief—who had been cleaving through enemies like a war god— paused, his eyes narrowing toward the darkness of the cave.Then, it stepped out.A kobold, but not like the others.It was huge—easily the size of a hobgoblin. Dark crimson scales covered its body, and jagged bone spikes jutted from its arms and back. Its eyes glowed with a fierce, intelligent light.And in its hand, it held a massive, bloodstained cleaver.The air itself seemed to grow heavier.Rhia took a step back, whispering, "Leon… what is that?"I swallowed hard.I didn't need the System to tell me.That was the Alpha.And it was stronger than anything I had ever faced.