They all turned toward him.
Every monster on the floor.
Four goblin-types.
Two wolf-like beasts.
And the one crawling across the ceiling like a broken spider.
None of them looked at the crowd.
Only him.
Rudo didn't panic.
He calculated.
Seven days.
That was the condition.
Not "clear the floor."
Not "kill them all."
Survive.
Which meant—
This was a trial.
The nearest goblin screeched and lunged.
Rudo didn't retreat.
He stepped into its attack.
The claw missed his throat by inches as he ducked under its arm, grabbed the broken spear from the corpse behind him, and shoved it upward.
The wooden shaft pierced through the goblin's mouth and into its skull.
Warm blood poured down his hands.
No hesitation.
No shaking.
Kill Confirmed
+12 Experience
Predator's Instinct Progress: 3%
He pulled the spear free before the body hit the ground.
The others were already moving.
Fast.
Too fast for a normal ten-year-old.
But Rudo wasn't normal anymore.
Emotional Suppression.
It wasn't making him stronger.
It was removing fear.
And fear slowed reaction.
A wolf-beast leapt from the side.
Rudo rolled forward instead of back.
Its claws tore fabric instead of flesh.
He felt the wind of its strike brush his neck.
Close.
He stabbed blindly behind him.
Missed.
The beast turned.
Another goblin charged.
The ceiling creature dropped—
He moved sideways at the last second.
The spider-thing smashed into the wolf instead.
They tangled for a second.
Good.
Let them fight.
The humans in the corridor were screaming again.
But he didn't look at them.
They weren't part of this equation.
The system flickered.
Warning
Multiple Hostiles Locked Onto You
Of course they were.
He chose the path.
This was the cost.
Another goblin rushed him head-on.
Rudo didn't raise his weapon.
He threw it.
The broken spear spun midair and stabbed into the goblin's chest.
Not deep.
But enough to slow it.
Rudo sprinted.
Not away.
Forward.
He grabbed the spear while it was still lodged in the goblin's ribs and twisted violently.
Bone cracked.
The goblin collapsed.
Kill Confirmed
+11 Experience
Predator's Instinct Progress: 9%
Something inside his vision sharpened.
Not physically.
Instinctively.
He could feel attack timing a fraction earlier than before.
The wolf lunged again.
This time he saw it coming.
A half-second sooner.
He stepped aside.
Grabbed its ear.
And smashed its skull against the stone wall.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
It went limp.
Kill Confirmed
+18 Experience
Predator's Instinct Progress: 16%
Breathing steady.
Heart steady.
No guilt.
No shaking.
In his previous life—
He would have hesitated.
He would have tried to protect others.
That hesitation killed him.
Killed by the very family who smiled at him.
His brother.
His sisters.
His parents.
All Level 2 Star.
All "loving."
They said it was necessary.
They said it was for advancement.
They said—
"It's better if you sacrifice."
His grip tightened unconsciously.
The crawling spider screeched and darted forward at impossible speed.
Too fast.
Even with improved instinct—
He couldn't dodge fully.
Claws sliced across his shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Pain flared.
His body stumbled.
The spider pinned him.
Its jaw opened—
Rows of needle teeth inches from his face.
This would have terrified him once.
Now—
He only saw angles.
Weak points.
The spider's body weight was forward.
Balance unstable.
Rudo slammed his forehead into its jaw.
Hard.
Teeth snapped shut on air.
He shoved his hand directly into its mouth before it could react.
The teeth pierced his skin.
He didn't care.
He grabbed whatever he could inside and yanked.
The creature shrieked.
He tore downward with all his strength.
Something ripped.
Hot liquid poured over his arm.
The spider spasmed violently.
Then stilled.
Kill Confirmed
+27 Experience
Predator's Instinct Progress: 31%
Minor Level Advancement
A new window appeared.
Level Up
Current Rank: None
Physical Enhancement: Slight Increase
The remaining goblins hesitated.
They were no longer hunting confidently.
They were cautious.
Good.
Fear was spreading.
Not in him.
In them.
He stood slowly.
Blood dripping from shoulder and hand.
His gaze was calm.
Empty.
The goblins backed away a step.
Then another.
The corridor had gone silent again.
The surviving humans were staring at him.
Not with gratitude.
With fear.
He ignored them.
One goblin tried to escape.
Rudo sprinted after it.
He caught it by the leg and dragged it down.
It begged in broken sounds.
Did goblins beg?
Did it matter?
He crushed its throat under his heel.
Kill Confirmed
Predator's Instinct Progress: 40%
The final goblin ran without looking back.
Rudo didn't chase.
Not yet.
He needed information.
He glanced at his status.
Humanity Integrity: 89%
It dropped.
Just from fighting.
From choosing this path.
Interesting.
So this wasn't free power.
It was erosion.
Seven days to prove himself.
Or what?
Death?
Transformation?
Replacement?
A faint vibration traveled through the stone floor.
Different from before.
He looked up.
The ceiling above the corridor cracked.
Dust fell.
The system flickered violently.
Floor Adjustment Initiated
Trial Difficulty Increasing
The humans gasped.
"Why is it getting worse?!"
"It's because of him!"
Rudo didn't deny it.
They weren't wrong.
The ceiling shattered.
Something enormous forced its way down from above.
Not a goblin.
Not a beast.
This one wore armor made from bones.
Its eyes burned red.
And on its chest—
A single faint star symbol.
One-Star.
A true ranked entity.
On Floor 1.
Impossible.
The creature landed heavily.
Stone cracked beneath its weight.
Its red eyes locked onto Rudo instantly.
Not the crowd.
Not the injured.
Him.
A distorted notification appeared.
Special Hunter Deployed
Objective: Eliminate Starless Candidate
The bone-armored monster raised a massive blade made of fused femurs.
Rudo's shoulder was bleeding.
His hand was torn open.
He had no weapon.
The humans behind him were frozen.
The monster took one step forward.
The ground trembled.
Rudo smiled faintly.
END CHAPTER.