The fog-covered forest trembled with growls.
Pairs of crimson eyes slowly appeared between the trees.
One.
Five.
Ten.
More kept emerging.
The Shadow Wolf pack had surrounded Kai.
Low snarls filled the air as the monsters stepped closer, their black fur blending perfectly with the darkness.
Kai tightened his grip on the dagger.
His Predator Instinct activated again.
The world sharpened.
Red glowing marks appeared on the wolves' bodies.
Weak points.
Throats.
Hearts.
Joints.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"So many targets…"
The first wolf lunged.
First Clash
Kai moved instantly.
His body reacted faster than before.
He stepped sideways and slashed the wolf's neck as it passed.
Blood sprayed across the fog.
But the wolf didn't die.
It spun around, claws slashing toward his chest.
Kai barely blocked with his dagger.
The impact pushed him backward.
Before he could recover—
Another wolf attacked from the side.
Kai ducked.
Claws cut through the air above his head.
He stabbed upward.
The blade pierced the wolf's chest.
Right through the glowing weak point.
The monster collapsed immediately.
Enemy Defeated
Shadow Wolf Eliminated
Devour Available
Kai placed his hand on the corpse.
"Devour."
Dark tendrils erupted from his shadow again.
The wolf's body dissolved instantly.
Devour Successful
Agility +2
Strength +1
Kai felt the power flow through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened.
But there was no time to rest.
The pack attacked.
***
Surrounded
Three wolves lunged simultaneously.
Kai rolled across the ground, narrowly avoiding their claws.
He jumped to his feet and slashed one across the eye.
The wolf screamed.
Another wolf tackled him from behind.
They crashed into the dirt.
The monster snapped its jaws toward Kai's throat.
Kai shoved his dagger upward.
The blade pierced the wolf's jaw and into its brain.
It collapsed instantly.
Kai pushed the corpse aside and stood again.
More wolves approached.
But something had changed.
Kai wasn't panicking anymore.
Instead…
He was adapting.
Every battle made him faster.
Stronger.
Smarter.
And every kill gave him more power.
Kai grinned slightly.
"This isn't hunting."
"It's farming."
***
The Mass Devour
Kai rushed forward this time.
Instead of waiting for the wolves to attack.
His dagger flashed through the darkness.
One wolf fell.
Then another.
Predator Instinct guided every movement.
Every strike found a weak point.
Every dodge came at the perfect moment.
Soon the ground was covered with wolf corpses.
Kai placed his hand on the nearest body.
"Devour."
The darkness exploded outward.
This time, the system reacted differently.
Multiple Corpses Detected
Chain Devour Activated
All the wolf bodies began dissolving at once.
Black particles rose into the air like a storm of shadows.
They rushed toward Kai and disappeared into his body.
Power flooded through him.
The system messages appeared rapidly.
Devour Successful
Strength +5
Agility +7
Vitality +4
Level Up!
Level 4 → Level 6
Kai breathed heavily as the darkness faded.
His body felt completely different now.
Faster.
Sharper.
Stronger.
He opened the system panel.
Host: Kai Draven
Level: 6
Strength: 23
Agility: 25
Vitality: 22
Intelligence: 12
Skills:
• Abyss Devour
• Predator Instinct
Kai stared at the numbers.
Just hours ago…
He had been the weakest hunter.
Now he was stronger than most E-Rank hunters.
Maybe even approaching D-Rank.
But suddenly—
His Predator Instinct flared violently.
Danger.
Much stronger danger.
Kai slowly turned toward the deeper forest.
The fog began to move.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the trees.
Something enormous was approaching.
Then the trees parted.
And the creature appeared.
A wolf three times larger than the others.
Its fur was darker than night.
Its red eyes burned like fire.
Black smoke poured from its body.
The system immediately reacted.
Elite Monster Detected
Name: Shadow Alpha
Difficulty: High D-Rank
Kai's heart pounded.
The Alpha Wolf growled.
The sound shook the entire forest.
And behind it…
More wolves emerged.
A second pack.
Kai slowly raised his dagger.
Then he smiled.
"Good."
"I was hoping for a real fight."
END OF CHAPTER 5