Astralis City – The Ruins of the Black Eclipse Incident
The city was in chaos.
Emergency sirens blared through the night, their wailing cries mixing with the frantic voices of Hunters and medical teams. The attack had been sudden and violent, leaving behind shattered streets, collapsed buildings, and bodies—both human and Abyssal—scattered across the ruined district.
But Kai barely noticed any of it.
He stood amidst the destruction, his body thrumming with newfound power. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his veins pulsing with an unfamiliar energy. His hands—the very same hands that had once been powerless—still trembled from what he had done.
He had devoured a monster.
And it had made him stronger.
The sensation was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The raw strength that coursed through his muscles, the heightened awareness in his mind—it was exhilarating. Addictive, even.
But deep inside, a hunger remained.
Even after absorbing the Abyssal Entity, he still craved more.
"Hey! You there—are you injured?"
A voice snapped him back to reality.
Kai turned sharply, his senses heightened, and found himself face-to-face with a Hunter.
The man was tall and armored, a long spear strapped to his back. The insignia of the Astralis Hunter Association was stitched into his chestplate, marking him as an official government-recognized warrior.
Kai hesitated, realizing the implications.
Did they see what I did?
If they knew he had absorbed an Abyssal Entity, how would they react?
It wasn't normal. No one else could do that.
The Hunter frowned, looking Kai up and down. "You're not a registered combatant. What the hell are you doing in a danger zone?"
Kai forced himself to remain calm. "I… I was caught in the attack."
The Hunter narrowed his eyes, scanning him for wounds. When he found none, his suspicion grew. "You're not injured?"
Kai shook his head. "No."
The Hunter studied him for another long moment before exhaling. "Tch. Lucky bastard."
He turned away, barking orders at the rescue teams. "Get the civilians out of here! Secure the perimeter! We need a full sweep for remaining Abyssals!"
Kai took that as his cue to leave.
He turned and disappeared into the wreckage, moving quickly before anyone could question him further.
---
The Hunger Within
Kai walked through the quieter streets, his thoughts racing.
The fight had lasted mere minutes, yet it had changed everything.
For eighteen years, he had been nothing. A weakling. A powerless reject in a world that worshiped strength.
But now…
Now, he had something.
A power unlike any other.
And yet—he didn't understand it.
How did he do that?
Why was he able to devour the Abyssal Entity?
And most importantly—what did it mean for him?
He clenched his fists. There was only one way to find out.
He needed to test his ability.
Not on an Abyssal. On something else.
A Natural Monster.
---
The Hunt for Power
Natural Monsters weren't as dangerous as Abyssal Entities, but they were still a threat to humanity. They roamed forests, mountains, and ruins, preying on the weak and attacking isolated villages.
And Astralis City?
It was surrounded by the Titanwood Expanse, a vast wilderness where many such creatures lurked.
Kai made his way toward the city's outskirts, his mind set on his goal.
If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to hunt.
---
The Titanwood Expanse – His First Kill
The forest was eerily quiet at night.
The towering trees stretched high, their thick canopies blotting out most of the moonlight. The air was cool, damp, and filled with the scent of moss and earth.
Kai moved carefully, his body already feeling different from before. His senses had improved—his hearing sharper, his reflexes faster. The strength he had gained from the Abyssal Entity was real.
And soon, he spotted his target.
A Duskrender Wolf.
The creature prowled near a stream, its fur black as night, its glowing red eyes scanning for prey. It wasn't an Abyssal, but it was still a Natural Monster—one that had ended the lives of many inexperienced Hunters.
Kai took a slow breath. This was it.
The test of his newfound power.
He lunged.
The wolf snarled, reacting instantly. It spun toward him, claws flashing—but Kai was faster.
His instincts took over. His body moved on its own.
In a blur of motion, he ducked beneath its strike, driving his fist into its ribs with inhuman force. The impact sent the beast crashing into a tree, splinters flying as it howled in pain.
Kai's eyes widened.
I did that?
The wolf recovered quickly, shaking off the blow. It snarled, charging again—but this time, Kai didn't hesitate.
He met its charge head-on. His hands moved without thought, gripping the beast's throat.
And then—he activated his ability.
Gluttony.
The moment his fingers sank into the wolf's flesh, he felt it—the difference.
Unlike the Abyssal Entity, which had been instantly absorbed, the Duskrender Wolf resisted.
It thrashed, its body convulsing as Kai felt its essence struggling against him.
And then—the hunger took over.
He bit into it.
His teeth tore into flesh, the taste of raw meat and blood flooding his senses.
And then—he felt it.
The wolf's power became his.
A burning heat surged through his body as its strength was digested—not instantly, like the Abyssal Entity, but slowly. His muscles tightened, his agility sharpened, and his senses expanded even further.
When he finally pulled away, the wolf's lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
Kai staggered back, panting heavily.
So this is the difference.
Abyssal Entities could be absorbed effortlessly. They were not from this world.
But Natural Monsters? They had to be eaten.
Digested.
Consumed in their entirety.
Kai wiped the blood from his mouth, his heart still pounding.
It was brutal.
It was inhuman.
But it had made him stronger.
And in this world—strength was everything.
Kai clenched his fists.
He had found his path.
Now, he just had to keep moving forward.
No matter how deep the hunger grew.
---
To Be Continued…