Kitae's pulse raced as the man in black advanced toward him.
His eyes gleamed with cold, calculated intent. This was no casual brawler, no street thug looking for a quick fight. The Apex Hunter exuded an aura of complete control—a predator who had hunted many like Kitae before.
The air between them was thick with tension, and Kitae's bloodline thrummed in response. His body itched, muscles tightening in a way that he couldn't fully comprehend. Every instinct within him screamed to fight—to survive.
> Stay calm, he told himself. Don't let the bloodline take over.
But even as the thought passed through his mind, he could feel the tugging at the edges of his consciousness, that primal need to let go, to unleash.
The Apex Hunter took the first step, his heavy boots thudding against the floor. His movements were measured, deliberate, like a lion stalking its prey. And he wasn't moving toward Kitae to toy with him.
He was moving to end this fight quickly.
---
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Hostile Encounter Initiated
Entity: Apex Hunter
Threat Level: A-Rank
Engagement Protocol: Survival Priority
Lion Bloodline Activation: 5% Progress
Time Limit: 60 seconds.
---
Kitae shifted his weight, legs braced for the inevitable. His body was still recovering from the last fight, but the pull of his bloodline—the hunger—was undeniable. It whispered promises of power. But power came at a cost.
"You're fast," the Apex Hunter said, his voice low and calm. "But speed alone won't save you."
With a roar, the Apex Hunter lunged forward, his fist swinging with the weight of a freight train.
Kitae had barely enough time to react.
He sidestepped, feeling the air shift as the punch grazed his shoulder. But even that small miss had sent a shockwave through his body, nearly knocking him off balance. The man's strength was unreal, his movements like a blur.
But Kitae wasn't just going to survive. He was going to prove that he could fight back.
With a low growl, Kitae pressed forward, targeting the Apex Hunter's exposed flank.
He threw a punch—but it was a mistake. The Apex Hunter was too quick. He twisted and countered, grabbing Kitae's wrist and twisting it violently.
Pain shot through his arm, but Kitae gritted his teeth. He couldn't let it end here—not yet. With a burst of strength, he yanked his arm free, driving a knee into the man's gut.
The Apex Hunter staggered back for a fraction of a second, but it was enough. Kitae pressed forward, unleashing a series of quick strikes aimed at the Hunter's chest and head.
For a moment, the fight seemed like it could go either way.
But then, the Apex Hunter smiled.
---
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Threshold: 50%
Lion Bloodline: Activation Complete.
Skill Unlocked: Feral Instinct (Tier 1)
> Passive Boost: Enhanced Reflexes, Strength, and Speed
Active Boost: Unleashes a Frenzied State, 60-second duration.
---
Kitae felt it—the surge.
The bloodline ignited fully within him.
His senses sharpened. He could hear the pounding of his heart. The subtle shift in the air when the Apex Hunter made a move. The smell of the rain and blood around them.
Everything became clearer.
The Apex Hunter made his move, but this time, Kitae was ready. He didn't dodge—it was too slow. He anticipated.
Kitae moved like a blur, faster than he ever had before. His fist connected with the Apex Hunter's side with a sickening crack, sending the larger man stumbling. He had never fought like this before—his mind didn't need to catch up with his body anymore. The beast within him had taken over.
With a howl, he threw himself at the Apex Hunter, his every strike a blur of calculated destruction. The Hunter grunted with every hit, but he was still standing. Still fighting.
"You're strong," the Hunter said, his breath labored. "But you lack control."
He reached for Kitae's throat.
---
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Lion Bloodline: 70% Activation.
Skill Unlocked: Predator's Focus (Tier 0)
> Precision attack, bypasses physical limits for one strike.
Cooldown: 24 hours.
---
Kitae saw it. The weakness in the Hunter's defense. The moment his hand reached too far out. It was perfect.
His muscles screamed as he gathered every ounce of strength into one final attack.
Kitae's hand shot out like lightning, his fist carving through the air with a precision he had never felt before. The impact was brutal—his knuckles drove into the Hunter's solar plexus with enough force to make the man's eyes widen in shock.
And then, with a sickening crunch, the Apex Hunter crumpled to the ground.
Kitae stood over him, panting, blood dripping from his lips.
---
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Hostile Entity Defeated.
Apex Hunter Status: Critical
Threshold: 78.4%
Skill Progression: Feral Instinct (Level 2)
---
Kitae's body trembled as the adrenaline surge began to wear off. His muscles were shot. His bones ached. But for a fleeting moment, something inside him felt right. The hunger, the bloodline—it was all becoming clear now.
He had won. Against an A-Rank opponent.
But at what cost?
---
Cynthia's voice echoed through the dimly lit arena as she emerged from the shadows, her steps measured and calm.
"Well, well," she said, her lips curling into a smile. "I see you've found your roar."
Kitae didn't reply. His chest heaved, his mind still caught in the rush of the fight. But he knew that this was just the beginning. The bloodline was awake—and now, the true test of his strength would begin.
Cynthia approached him slowly, her eyes narrowed in thought.
"You've passed the first test. But there are many more to come, Kitae. And next time..." She paused, her gaze cold. "You won't be fighting someone who holds back."
Kitae clenched his fists, determination hardening in his gaze.
"Next time," he said, his voice low, "I'll be ready."
---