The jungle at dawn felt like a living drumbeat.
Mist curled around giant leaves, droplets falling like silver beads.
Lin crouched low, Elara beside him, their breaths slow and quiet.
> System Notification:
Tracking Quest Activated – Slay the Two Remaining Jungle Predators.
Reward: +800 XP, Unlockable Skill.
Crystal's voice hummed in his head. "Alright, weakling. Let's see if you learned anything. This time, you'll hunt instead of being hunted."
Lin gritted his teeth. "You could be more encouraging."
"I could," Crystal purred. "But where's the fun in that?"
---
Unlocking a New Skill
A new window popped open:
> Skill Available: Hunter's Instinct Lv.1
Grants heightened senses for tracking.
Lin pressed "accept." His pupils dilated. The jungle exploded with scents, sounds, trails. Footsteps glowed faintly on the ground like ghostly imprints.
"Whoa…" he whispered. "It's like Predator Vision."
Elara raised an eyebrow. "Predator what?"
"Never mind. Movie reference."
---
Setting the Trap
Using his enhanced senses, Lin found a small clearing with claw marks on a tree. He laid out a crude trap—vines, bait, a weighted branch.
Elara helped, impressed despite herself. "Not bad. For a novice."
Lin smirked. "Stick with me, and I'll show you some real magic."
Crystal scoffed. "He dies 100 times in one day and now thinks he's Rambo."
---
First Blood
They waited. The leaves trembled.
A massive shape emerged—a leaner, faster predator than the last, its scales glinting like wet obsidian.
Lin's heart pounded. He readied his club. "Showtime."
The predator lunged—straight into the trap. Vines snapped, a branch swung, striking its head. It staggered.
Lin activated Reboot Surge, his body glowing faintly. He leapt, swinging down hard—CRACK! The predator roared, staggering backward.
Elara loosed an arrow, striking its eye. It screeched and collapsed.
System chimed:
> Predator Slain – +400 XP, +100 Credits
Lin whooped. "Yes! We're actually doing it!"
Crystal's voice was smug. "Barely. Don't get cocky. The last predator won't fall for tricks."
---
A Shadow in the Trees
As they collected the fang, a soft breeze shifted. Lin's enhanced senses caught movement above them.
A figure moved through the canopy—silent, fast.
He whispered, "We're being watched."
Elara tensed. "Guardian?"
"Maybe," Lin muttered. "Or something worse."
High above, the blue-armored woman from before crouched on a branch, her staff glowing faintly.
"Interesting…" she murmured. "He adapts."
To be continued…