Sung Jin-Woo stood still, the remnants of the defeated creature dissolving into the thick, dark mist that lingered in the air. His claws trembled slightly, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The voice in his mind—deep, rumbling, and alien—echoed with an eerie finality.
"This world, this new life, is your arena."
Jin-Woo let out a low growl, his lips curling back in frustration. Arena? The last time he had been thrown into an arena, he'd been a mere human. He had fought monsters, battled for survival, but now, here he was, standing in a world where monsters were not merely the enemies—he was one of them.
A strange, primal urge rose within him, gnawing at his gut. It was hunger—an overwhelming, insatiable hunger. His body, now built for combat, felt stronger than it ever had in his human life, but it came with a cost. The hunger wasn't just for food. It was a hunger for power, for dominance. A hunger to consume and grow.
But no matter how monstrous he had become, one thing remained the same—his mind.
"I'm not just going to sit here and let myself become some mindless beast," he muttered to himself, his voice a gravelly growl that felt foreign in his throat. He could still remember who he was. He could still remember the ambition, the desire to climb higher, to overcome every obstacle that stood in his way.
The landscape around him was alien, twisted. The ground was made of dark, jagged stones that seemed to pulse with an eerie light, as though they were alive. Trees that towered like giant sentinels reached toward a sky choked with swirling clouds. In the distance, the howls of other monsters echoed, a constant reminder that this world was nothing like the one he had left behind.
Jin-Woo clenched his claws, the jagged, black nails scraping against each other. Survival was one thing... but I won't just survive. I'll dominate.
The hunger in his gut pushed him forward, his monstrous instincts kicking in. His senses were sharp—too sharp. He could smell the faintest trace of blood on the wind. His eyes caught the movement of something in the shadows—a hulking creature with glowing eyes, its massive form barely visible beneath the thick underbrush.
It was another monster, bigger than the last, its body a mass of muscle and sinew. It looked like something out of a nightmare—a creature with the body of a bear but the head of a wolf, its teeth gleaming like knives in the dim light.
Jin-Woo felt his body tense, his claws flexing in anticipation. His new instincts screamed for him to attack, to take down this new threat. But as he took a step forward, something stopped him. It was a small, fleeting moment of clarity—a remnant of his old self.
He wasn't just a monster. He was Sung Jin-Woo, the greatest hunter, the one who had conquered dungeons and faced the unimaginable. He had faced monsters like this before. He would not let his new body control him.
He took a deep breath—if his new senses could be trusted, he had to be careful. The creature might seem like an easy target, but the very aura it gave off told him it was far from ordinary. Its eyes glowed with a sinister intelligence. It wasn't a mindless beast—it was a predator, just like him.
"You want a fight?" Jin-Woo growled, the words deep and rumbling in his throat. His monstrous form wasn't just for show. "Then come at me."
Without another thought, he charged, his claws raking the ground with each heavy step. The creature responded in kind, its own massive limbs propelling it forward with terrifying speed. The air crackled with the tension of their impending collision.
In a blur of motion, Jin-Woo lashed out with his claws, narrowly missing the beast's hulking frame. The wolf-headed monster retaliated with a vicious swipe, its claws slashing through the air. Jin-Woo ducked, his reflexes now far beyond human capability, his new body moving almost without thought.
But he wasn't just reacting—he was calculating. Every move, every strike, was precise. This wasn't just about strength. This was about dominance. He would not let this creature claim superiority.
He swung his claws again, this time connecting with the beast's shoulder. The impact sent a shockwave through his arm, the beast letting out a screech of pain as it staggered back. But the creature wasn't finished. It roared, its massive jaws snapping shut, aiming to tear Jin-Woo apart.
Jin-Woo's heart pounded in his chest, his blood rushing with the thrill of battle. He grinned, feeling his monstrous instincts take over, but he kept his mind clear. This fight was his to win.
With a final, brutal strike, Jin-Woo aimed for the creature's throat. His claws sank deep into the soft, vulnerable flesh, and with one swift motion, he tore the beast apart. The creature collapsed in a heap, its glowing eyes dimming as it died, its body dissolving into a cloud of dark mist, much like the last.
Breathing heavily, Jin-Woo stood over the remains, his chest rising and falling with each breath. His mind was clear now—he wasn't just a monster. He was a hunter, and this was his domain.
"You are not the only one born from the abyss," he murmured to the empty space around him. "I was born to rise above. And this is only the beginning."
The voice in his mind stirred once again, but this time, there was a hint of approval.
"Your journey as a monster has just begun, Sung Jin-Woo. But remember this—every victory demands a price. Power is not given. It must be earned."
Jin-Woo smirked, his claws flexing as he prepared for the next challenge. Power is earned, he thought. Then I'll take it all.
And with that, the true path of his monstrous journey had just begun.
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