By the ti the sun reached its zenith, Jayden had been hunting for eight hours straight. His clothes were stained with blood—none of it his. His knuckles were raw, and his body thrumd with restless energy that had nowhere to go. He’d earned a little above 800 Exp so far. But he wanted to hunt so more.
[You’re not going to find what you’re looking for out here] Luna said quietly, clearly not talking about beasts. [Not like this]
"I’m not looking for anything," Jayden said flatly. "Just hunting."
[You’re running] she said. [There’s a difference]
Jayden didn’t respond. Instead, he activated his Dragon Eye, scanning the deeper forest for stronger prey.
He found sever minutes later.
A large Wolverine Stalker walked into the clearing where Jayden was, moving gracefully with pride. The beast stood nearly twelve feet tall on its hind legs, its fur a deep, charcoal gray that seed to absorb light. Its knuckleclaws were long and sharp, glistening in the afternoon sun.
––––––––
*Na: Greater Wolverine Stalker
*Rank: C
*HP: 500/500
––––––––
Now this was a real fight. Or at least, it should have been.
The wolverine stalker roared at the sight of Jayden, the sound shaking leaves from nearby trees, and it charged, moving with surprising speed for sothing its size.
Jayden didn’t move. He simply unleashed his own knuckleclaws.
Then he waited until the beast was three ters away, then stepped sideways with minimal effort. The beast’s montum carried it past him, and Jayden’s claws drove into its chest with surgical precision.
[Greater Wolverine Stalker: -50 Hp]
The beast roared in pain, spinning faster than sothing that size had any right to. Its massive paw ca around in a backhand that could have decapitated a normal human.
Jayden caught the paw mid-swing.
Bang!
The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, dirt exploding outward in a ring. Jayden’s feet slid back half a ter, but he held firm.
Then he twisted the beast’s arm.
Crack!
The stalker howled as its bone snapped, trying to pull away. But Jayden was already moving. He ducked under the beast’s guard and drove his shoulder into its chest, lifting the multi-ton creature off its feet and slamming it onto its back.
[-250 Hp]
The beast thrashed, trying to right itself. Jayden didn’t give it the chance. His fists beca a blur, striking its ribs, jaw, throat, and every other vital spot. Each hit was calculated to cause maximum damage without killing.
[-30 Hp]
[-50 Hp]
[-120 Hp]
The beast’s movents grew sluggish. Desperate. It tried one last ti to swipe at Jayden, but the attack was slow, telegraphed.
Jayden caught the paw, stepped in close, and drove his knee into its sternum with enough force to crater the ground beneath them.
[-90 Hp]
Greater Wolverine Stalker Hp: 10/500]
The massive beast lay broken and panting, barely conscious. Jayden stood over it, not even breathing hard. Then he raised his feet and brought it down on the beast’s head.
Crack!
The wolverine stalker’s skull shattered from the impact and it went still. Dead.
[C-Rank beast eliminated]
[ 50 Exp Gained]
[Exp: 3020/6700]
Jayden stared down at the defeated beast, feeling... nothing. No satisfaction. No pride. Just emptiness.
[So, did it work?] Luna teased. [Did killing this beast give you what you were looking for?]
Jayden scoffed. "Shut up, Luna. And quit acting like you’re a therapist."
He turned away from the beast and walked to a nearby clearing, where sunlight filtered through the canopy. He’d been hunting for hours. His body was fine, but his mind was exhausted.
He sat down by a tree and decided to finally listen to Luna and try sothing else.Mastering his new ability.
He raised his hand, palm up, and focused. The fire manipulation ability he’d absorbed from the Ancient Sabertooth Flare should be accessible now. He visualized fla, imagined heat gathering in his palm, willed the power to manifest.
Nothing.
He tried again, concentrating harder. Sweat beaded on his forehead from the ntal effort.
But still nothing. Not even a spark.
"Why isn’t this working?" Jayden growled, frustration bleeding into his voice. "I didn’t have any problems activating the strength or poison ability."
[Elental abilities take ti to master] Luna explained patiently. [They’re not like physical enhancents that integrate imdiately. Fire manipulation requires understanding the elent, building a connection with it. It could take weeks to activate. Months, even]
"I don’t have months," Jayden snapped. "The Global Tournant is less than eight weeks away, and I need to acquire as many powerful abilities as possible before then."
[Well, there is one way to speed up the process] Luna said carefully. [Integrating the beast’s genetic material directly would create a stronger connection to its abilities. The fire manipulation would beco instinctive rather than learned]
Jayden’s jaw clenched. "I don’t have the Sabertooth Flare’s genes, rember. I couldn’t absorb it because my level was too low."
[I know] Luna chuckled. [I’m just explaining the chanics]
Jayden sighed. "Well, your explanation isn’t very helpful."
Silence stretched between them for a mont. Then Jayden lowered his hand and stood up.
"I’m heading ho," he said, and started walking. "I’ve had enough for one day."
Luna giggled. [I’m glad you finally ca to your senses] she said in amusent. [I thought you were gonna be here till midnight]
"Quiet, Luna," Jayden snickered. "I’m trying to think."
[About what?]
"I think I might know a way to master abilities faster," he replied
[Oh? What’s your plan?] Luna asked in excitent.
Jayden smirked. "You’ll see."
........
Jayden walked back toward the city, retracing his morning route. The sun was setting now, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. He’d left his hoverbike at ho deliberately—the jog to and from the forest was good training, kept him fit.
But more than that, the physical exertion helped him think. Cleared his head.
He was about two kiloters from ho, cutting through the industrial district to save ti, when he heard voices.
"—careful with that crate, you idiot! Those are worth more than your entire family—"
"Shut up and keep loading. We need to be out of here in ten minutes."
Jayden slowed his pace, his enhanced hearing picking up the conversation clearly. He was passing a warehouse loading bay, mostly abandoned at this hour. Through the gaps in the corrugated tal siding, he could see movent—six n loading sealed containers onto a transport truck.
His first instinct was to keep walking. It was none of his concern.
But sothing made him pause and actually take a look.
The containers were unmarked, but the way the n moved—nervous, rushed, constantly checking over their shoulders—scread illegal activity. And so of the crates had symbols he recognized: markers indicating combat equipnt... weapons, armors, etcetera.
One of the n noticed Jayden standing there. He sneered. "What are you looking at, kid? Keep walking."
Jayden was about to do exactly that when—
DING!
[Random Quest Available]
[Stop the smugglers from smuggling the illegal combat equipnts.
*Reward: Instant Rank-up for any integrated beast gene
*Note: This Quest is optional. Do you Accept?
[YES / NO]
Jayden froze, his eyes locked on that reward.
Instant rank-up for any integrated gene.
That ant he could take one of his beast genes and imdiately boost it to the next rank without needing to have all the required beast crystals.
He didn’t think twice before making a decision. "Yes,"
[Quest Accepted]
The six n were still loading crates, oblivious to the fact that their operation had just been marked for termination.
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