Part I: The Rot beneath the Pines
Kaito moved eastward through the forest, each step measured and each breath timed. The terrain shifted—less moss, more rock, and the trees grew taller, their branches clawing at the sky. The mist thinned slightly, revealing jagged ridges and narrow paths. It was a hunter's terrain—perfect for ambushes.
He catalogued the environment:
Visibility: moderate Elevation: rising Cover: sparse Escape routes: limited
His senses stayed sharp. Storm seed pulsed faintly in his chest, but he had no Demon Points to unlock its branches. The three skills—Arc Pulse, Flash Reversal, Tempest Frame—remained out of reach. He would need to fight smart.
Then he saw it.
A figure hunched near a tree, its limbs grotesquely long. Its nails—twenty inches at least—curved like rusted hooks. The flesh around them was rotting, blackened and split. The demon's eyes gleamed yellow, and its breath came in wet, ragged bursts.
Kaito crouched low, watching.
The demon sniffed the air, then turned sharply.
It had sensed him.
Kaito didn't move.
The demon lunged, nails dragging through bark, carving deep gouges into the tree.
Kaito dodged, barely.
The nails whistled past his face.
He retreated, keeping distance.
This wasn't a brute—it was a predator.
And Kaito had no points to spare.
He would have to rely on Storm seed's passive effects—speed, reflex, precision.
No branches.
No upgrades.
Just instinct.
And the storm.
Part II: Dancing with the Storm
Kaito circled the demon, keeping ten paces between them. The creature snarled, dragging its nails across the ground, carving furrows into the earth. Each swipe was wide, unpredictable, and laced with decay.
He couldn't afford a direct clash.
Storm seed pulsed faintly—not active, but present. Its passive effects were subtle but vital. His perception sharpened. He could read the demon's footwork, anticipate its lunges, and feel the tension before each strike.
The demon charged.
Kaito sidestepped, pivoted, and countered with Thunderclap and Flash—a single, rapid strike. The blade grazed the demon's shoulder, but didn't cut deep.
The demon roared, spinning, nails slashing in a wide arc.
Kaito ducked, rolled, and retreated.
Storm seed's reflex boost kicked in—his reaction time shortened, his footwork tightened. He wasn't faster than the demon, but he was cleaner.
He switched to Rice Spirit, circling, baiting attacks, forcing the demon to overextend.
The nails struck stone, splintering rock.
Kaito moved in again—Thunder Swarm—a flurry of strikes. Two landed. One drew blood.
The demon staggered.
But then it changed.
Its body convulsed. Its nails retracted, then shot forward—like arrows.
Kaito's eyes widened.
It had evolved.
A ranged attack.
He dove behind a tree, heart pounding.
Storm seed pulsed again.
He had to end this.
Now.
Part III: The Kill and the Realization
The demon snarled, nails retracting into its arms, then firing again—a volley of rusted spikes. One grazed Kaito's thigh. Another embedded in the tree beside him.
He gritted his teeth, blood soaking into his robe.
This demon had consumed three humans. It had adapted. Upgraded.
It wasn't just dangerous—it was worth more.
Kaito surged forward, using Distant Roar—a long-range dash followed by a delayed strike. The demon blinked, confused, as Kaito passed it.
Then the blade struck.
A clean slice across its back.
The demon screamed, spun, and fired nails wildly.
Kaito ducked, rolled, and launched Thunder Swarm again—five rapid strikes, each aimed at joints and tendons.
The demon collapsed.
Its body twitched, then stilled.
Silence.
Kaito stood over it, breath ragged.
Inside his chest, Storm seed pulsed.
Two points.
Not one.
He understood now.
Ordinary demons granted 1 DP.
But those with special abilities—mutations, upgrades—granted 2.
It was a risk-reward system.
The more dangerous the demon, the greater the gain.
He had 2 points now.
One more, and he could unlock a branch.
Arc Pulse. Flash Reversal. Tempest Frame.
Each waited.
Each promised power.
Kaito cleaned his blade, wrapped his wound, and looked east.
The hunt continued.
And the storm was growing.
2nd night completed.
100PS = 1 NEW CHAPTER
200 PS =2 NEW CHAPTERS