The air in this new realm was thick and heavy, almost liquid with malice. Aron's boots sank slightly into the dark, ashen soil as he stepped forward, the smell of sulfur and charred earth biting at his nose. Each breath burned faintly in his lungs, as though even the oxygen here fought against his presence. The swirling vortex of the Gate of Sagastan behind him had closed entirely, vanishing into thin air like a dream, leaving him utterly alone in this hostile world.
He paused, his violet eyes narrowing as he scanned his surroundings.
The landscape stretched in all directions — blackened forests twisted into unnatural shapes, rivers of molten rock cutting jagged paths across the earth, and towering cliffs like the jagged teeth of some colossal predator. The sky overhead churned with dark clouds streaked by crimson lightning, never striking the ground but constantly snarling like a living beast. This was no mere floor of the tower; this realm felt alive, aware, and hungry.
A soft click escaped his throat as he tensed his jaw.
"...This place reeks of predators," he muttered.
The silence was almost mocking in response.
Aron took another step forward — and the ground seemed to shift ever so slightly beneath him. Not physically, but in a way his instincts screamed at him to notice. His entire body went still. His senses flared outward like a web, brushing against something… many somethings. They weren't visible yet, but he could feel them, waiting, surrounding him.
Then, from the shadows between the warped, blackened trees ahead, a low, guttural growl echoed.
Aron turned his head sharply toward the sound. His fingers flexed at his sides, itching for blades he didn't yet hold.
More growls joined the first. Then more. Then dozens.
The air trembled with them.
A rustling swept through the dead forest, followed by the sound of claws scraping against stone and the heavy, eager panting of creatures tasting the scent of prey.
Aron exhaled slowly through his nose.
"So, the welcoming party finally shows itself…"
Shapes emerged from the mist — first vague silhouettes, then clearer forms as they prowled into view. They stood upright on two powerful, digitigrade legs, their hulking forms covered in coarse, dark fur matted with dirt and dried blood. Their arms were long and sinewy, ending in claws sharp enough to slice through bone. Each monstrous face was distinctly lupine, with glowing yellow eyes and long, slavering tongues that lolled hungrily from their mouths.
The moment their gazes fell on Aron, their tongues flicked out further, dripping saliva that sizzled when it hit the scorched earth. They trembled with barely restrained excitement — hunters who had just discovered the perfect prey.
Aron's lips twitched upward into a cold, humorless smile.
"Wolves," he said quietly. "Of course."
He could see them clearly now — not just one or two, but dozens, maybe even hundreds. The forest was teeming with them. His mind calculated their positions automatically, measuring distances, paths of approach, possible escape routes. The sheer number was staggering, enough to overwhelm even the most seasoned warrior.
But he was no mere warrior.
"System," he called calmly, even as the monsters began to inch forward. "Show me their stats."
The system's familiar chime rang in his ears, followed by a cascade of translucent windows flashing into existence around him, each hovering above the head of a different creature.
[ Monsters Detected around Host ]
[ Species Name: Akrolens ]
[ LVL: 30 → 35 ]
Stats:
STR: 254
AGL: 231
STM: 297
VIT: 670
INT: 176
LCK: 150 ]
Aron's eyes flicked across the numbers, absorbing them in an instant.
"High vitality," he muttered. "Stamina too. These things will take a while to kill if I use ordinary weapons."
The Akrolens began to spread out, their movement deliberate and almost intelligent. They weren't rushing recklessly — they were surrounding him, cutting off every possible escape route. Their claws clicked against the ground like a chorus of knives being unsheathed.
Aron's pulse quickened, not with fear, but with anticipation.
"Well," he said with a smirk, "good thing I came prepared."
He raised his voice, clear and commanding.
"System, purchase the Titanium Scolkars with ninety SP. Now."
The system responded instantly.
[ Titanium Scolkars purchased from system store. ]
[ Item delivered to inventory. ]
[ Remaining SP: 162 ---> 72 {-90 } ]
Two flashes of white light appeared in front of him, solidifying into a pair of sleek, vicious-looking daggers. Their blades gleamed with a dark silver sheen, etched with faint runes that seemed to drink in the surrounding light. They were perfectly balanced, their hilts wrapped in black leather for maximum grip.
A new message appeared as he grabbed them from the air.
[ Titanium Scolkars {Lvl.16} ]
[ Twin daggers forged from Titanium, one of the hardest metals.
These weapons have no specific active effect but possess a passive skill:
Passive – Double Damage Enhancement:
Every time you kill an enemy, your total damage doubles.{only when using the daggers}
E.g., 1st kill → 2× damage, 2nd kill → 4× damage, 3rd kill → 8× damage... and so on. ]
Aron's eyes gleamed dangerously as he spun the daggers experimentally, feeling their weight.
"Perfect."
The nearest Akrolens growled and crouched, ready to spring. The others followed suit, their glowing eyes narrowing in predatory focus.
Aron's grin widened into something feral.
"Let's begin."
The first Akrolen lunged, its jaws snapping toward Aron's throat. Aron pivoted smoothly, ducking beneath the strike, and in a single motion, drove one dagger up into its ribcage while slicing horizontally across its throat with the other. Blood sprayed in a hot, metallic arc as the creature collapsed, twitching violently.
[ 1 Kill – Damage Multiplier: 2× ]
Aron didn't even look at the notification. He spun immediately, using the falling corpse as cover as two more monsters attacked from opposite sides. He kicked the corpse upward, blocking one's vision, then ducked low and swept both blades outward in a precise X-formation.
Two heads rolled free, thudding wetly against the ground.
[ 2nd Kill – Damage Multiplier: 4× ]
[ 3rd Kill – Damage Multiplier: 8× ]
The third multiplier surged through his body like liquid fire, his muscles humming with newfound strength.
"Ahhh… now we're talking."
He leapt backward just as three more Akrolens charged. With a fluid motion, he flung one dagger end-over-end into the throat of the first, then caught the returning blade in mid-air as he backflipped over the others. Landing behind them, he carved upward in a brutal, sweeping slash that split their spines.
[ 4th Kill – Damage Multiplier: 16× ]
[ 5th Kill – Damage Multiplier: 32× ]
[ 6th Kill – Damage Multiplier: 64× ]
Aron's breathing deepened, his heart pounding not from exertion but from exhilaration. The passive skill was already turning him into a whirlwind of destruction.
"Stronger," he whispered, eyes glowing faintly violet. "Faster."
The monsters seemed to sense the shift. Their advance became more cautious, some even growling uncertainly as they circled. But hunger and instinct soon overrode fear, and they surged forward in a frenzied wave.
Aron met them head-on.
He moved like a phantom, his body a blur. Each slash of the Titanium Scolkars left afterimages in the air, streaks of silver too fast for the eye to follow. Limbs were severed, throats opened, torsos split apart with effortless precision. The smell of blood grew so thick it seemed to paint the very air crimson.
[ 10th Kill – Damage Multiplier: 1,024× ]
[ 11th Kill – Damage Multiplier: 2,048× ]
[ 12th Kill – Damage Multiplier: 4,096× ]
The numbers climbed higher and higher. Every strike became exponentially more devastating, until even a casual flick of his wrist could bisect an Akrolen.
Aron's laughter began softly, almost a chuckle, as he ducked beneath a swipe and stabbed upward through a creature's jaw.
"Ahaha… ahahahaha…!"
Another lunged from behind — without even looking, Aron spun, his blade carving through its skull as though it were paper.
"Is this all you've got?!"
The ground became littered with corpses, steaming heaps of fur and gore. The once-hungry pack was thinning rapidly, but the survivors fought on, driven by madness.
Aron's expression twisted into something wild, his violet eyes burning.
"Come on! More! More!"
As the final multiplier surged to 32,768, his body felt almost weightless. Power thrummed through him, begging to be unleashed.
A pack of fifty Akrolens roared as one and charged together, a last, desperate attempt to overwhelm him.
Aron inhaled deeply, centering himself. Time seemed to slow.
Then he moved.
What followed was not a battle — it was slaughter.
He became pure motion, flashing from one point to another with impossible speed. Every strike was fatal. A throat slit here, a skull pierced there, claws severed, hearts pierced. The Titanium Scolkars sang through the air, their silver blades blurring into streaks of light.
Slice. Slice. Slice.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
In less than five seconds, the pack was gone.
Fifty corpses hit the ground almost simultaneously, their blood pooling into a single massive lake of crimson around him.
Aron stood in the center of it all, chest heaving. His clothes were soaked, his hair plastered to his forehead with sweat and gore. Slowly, he lowered his daggers, their blades dripping steadily.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, softly at first, he laughed.
"Huff… huff… huh… haha…"
His laughter grew louder, unrestrained, echoing through the dead forest.
"HAHAHAHA! Hahahahahaha! Yes! YES! Let's keep it up… hahahahaha!"
The sound was wild and triumphant, filled with madness and hunger. It was the laugh of a predator who had found his perfect hunting ground.
As his voice echoed, more growls rose from deeper in the forest — hundreds, maybe thousands. The realm was stirring in response to his bloodshed.
Aron tilted his head back, violet eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Come then," he whispered, his grin sharp and cruel. "Let's see who devours who."
He took a single step forward, sinking deeper into the realm's darkness.
The hunt had only just begun.
_ _ _
To be continued....
Author: The level up notifications will be added in the upcoming chapters
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