The night cracked in flashes of purple light as I staggered out of the abandoned building, the metallic stench of demonic blood soaking into my clothes. Under the dim rain from the streetlamp, bright letters hovered before my eyes:
System: Physical condition critical — Immediate recovery recommended.
The rush of adrenaline faded, leaving a leaden weight in my bones. I felt the burn of the wound in my side, but the accelerated regeneration had already begun its work, sealing the cut with a rough scar. Each step home was a pulse of exhaustion, yet my body adapted: muscles tensed, my vision sharpened to catch the slightest movement in the gloom. I was not just stronger; I had become a predator.
When I reached my room, silence enveloped me. I sat at the edge of the bed, contemplating the purple glow of my new ability: Shadow Hunter. Then the system spoke again:
System: Stat points available: 2. Assign now?
I remembered how speed and endurance had saved my life. Without hesitation, I granted one point to Agility and another to Vitality. A soft hum confirmed the change.
---
The next day, the school hallway felt like a façade. Laughter and jokes escorted unsuspecting students, unable to see the abyss yawning behind every shadow. Rias Gremory passed by me, her demonic aura as subtle as an expensive perfume. Issei, oblivious to everything, argued with his perverted friends.
My new perception, fueled by Shadow Hunter, detected hidden presences: a faint murmur behind a door, residual magic in the air. During lunch, a distinct aura approached: a silver-haired boy with a sharp gaze—Kiba Yuuto, Rias's Knight.
> "You're Harry, right?" he asked, forcing a smile. "Rias-sama wants to see you after class."
A notice blinked in my mind:
System: High-level entity detected. Proceed with caution.
I nodded, hiding my nervousness behind a neutral smile.
---
Later, in the Occult Club room, the atmosphere was almost tangible: shelves overflowing with grimoires, candles flickering on the wooden floor. Rias observed me from her improvised throne; Akeno, with a dangerous smile, contained sparking electricity in her fingertips; Koneko, curious, sniffed the air.
> "Harry," Rias said in a soft yet firm voice, "we've noticed strange occurrences in the city. And you… possess an unusual aura."
Her words echoed in my mind, followed by another suggestion:
System: Dialogue options available.
I chose partial honesty.
> "I've had some… encounters," I admitted. "I'm not like the others."
Rias tilted her head, evaluating every nuance of my answer.
> "Do you know anything about rogue demons?"
The face of the night's monster assaulted my memory.
> "At least one less in the city," I replied coldly.
A charged silence fell. Akeno released a restrained laugh; Rias smiled with satisfaction.
> "I'd like you to join the club. Your abilities are… valuable."
A new message displayed:
System: Special mission: "Among Demons"
Objective: Gain the trust of Rias Gremory and her circle.
Reward: Access to privileged information, potential acquisition of demonic magic.
I accepted it mentally. The game board had expanded.
---
That very night, an alert pulled me from a feverish dream:
System: Hostile detected — Proximity: 8 m.
With a leap, I grabbed my knife and slipped out the window. The asphalt gleamed under the streetlamp's light, and my night vision revealed a hunched demon, eyes like embers. I activated Sprint and vanished into the shadows; the blade pierced its throat before it could react. Blood sizzled on the pavement.
System: Experience gained — Progress to next level: 23%.
The night's dampness smelled of change; every shadow seemed to breathe. But there was no time for fatigue. I washed the blood in the sink and examined my scars in the mirror: trophies of my fragility. When sleep finally threatened to overtake me, I mentally reviewed the fight. A third-person replay, courtesy of the system, showed my hesitation; I vowed not to repeat the mistake.
---
The next morning, I moved through the school with stealthy, spotless steps. No one noticed the unusual glow in my eyes or felt the calculated pulse of my footsteps. Issei was still joking around; Rias scrutinized me from her seat; Kiba gave me a wink and Koneko frowned, as if sensing my secret.
The routine dragged every minute until the alert sounded:
System: Daily mission — Minor Hunt
Objective: Eliminate 2 hostile entities before midnight.
Reward: +2 stat points, chance of rare item.
My heart raced with urgency. That night, I armed myself with kitchen knives, a battered baseball bat, and a flashlight. I moved across rooftops like a living shadow; Shadow Hunter locked onto the first target: a blue-skinned demon stalking a couple. A precise slash and a crushing blow brought it down.
System: Hostile entity eliminated. 1/2.
The second target tried to play hunter. In an alley, I feigned weakness, and when it attacked, I answered with a punch to the chest and precise stabs. It fell lifeless.
System: Hostile entity eliminated. 2/2. Daily mission complete.
Reward: +2 stat points. Rare item obtained: "Demonic Claw" (upgrade material).
Euphoria rippled through the air, but a chill ran down my spine. On a distant rooftop, a more imposing figure watched me: folded black wings, eyes red as embers.
> "Well, well…" a velvet-and-steel voice resonated. "So you're the neighborhood's new hunter."
I recognized Raynare at once. The alert thundered in my mind:
System: High-level entity detected. Threat level: High.
Suggestion: Evade or call for backup.
But I no longer backed down. I gripped my knife firmly.
> "What do you want?" I snarled.
Her laugh was an icy song.
> "Just observing… for now. But be careful, little hunter. In this world, predators become prey too."
With a flutter, she vanished into the night, leaving behind a promise of danger. The system marked her last position on an internal map. I paused, staring into the darkness, knowing this encounter was only the prelude.
I returned home in silence. Before surrendering to exhaustion, I allocated my new points: one to Strength, another to Agility. The system rewarded my progress:
System: New skill unlocked – "Combat Instinct" (Passive, LV1). Increases danger perception and
combat reaction speed.
I smiled, feeling the pulse of the night in my veins. The board had been reconfigured, and I was its hunter.