Twenty-three wolves charged down the ruined street.
Kael didn't retreat.
He ran directly toward them.
The first wolf leapt.
Kael ducked.
WHOOSH!
Its claws passed over his head.
Kael turned and struck with Razor Edge.
THUD!
The wolf crashed aside.
Another attacked from the left.
Kael blocked.
A third came from behind.
Enhanced Hearing caught it.
Kael twisted.
His weapon intercepted the attack.
CLANG!
He kicked the wolf away.
Then three more surrounded him.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
[Threat Detection: 78%]
The wolves weren't attacking independently.
They were forming a pattern.
Two distracted.
One attacked.
Two surrounded.
Then they rotated.
"Pack Coordination."
Kael jumped onto the hood of an abandoned vehicle.
The wolves surrounded it.
The Alpha stayed behind them.
Watching.
Kael smiled.
"So you're controlling them."
The Alpha growled.
The pack attacked.
Kael jumped.
One wolf passed underneath.
He landed on another's back and struck.
The creature fell.
Two more immediately attacked.
Kael used Web Control.
One strand caught a nearby street sign.
Another caught a wolf's leg.
Kael pulled himself sideways.
The wolves collided.
Kael landed.
He attacked the nearest one.
Then another.
Then another.
[Mutated Beast defeated.]
[Experience gained.]
But the pack didn't slow down.
More wolves rushed him.
Kael activated Blackhide.
A wolf struck his side.
THUD!
Another attacked.
Kael blocked.
The Alpha suddenly howled.
A strange vibration passed through the street.
[Ability detected.]
[Lunar Howl]
Effect: Temporarily increases pack coordination and combat efficiency.
The wolves became faster.
Kael's expression became serious.
"That's annoying."
The pack attacked again.
Kael moved.
One.
Two.
Three.
He dodged the first three attacks.
The fourth clipped his shoulder.
The fifth forced him backward.
Then six wolves attacked simultaneously.
Kael activated Iron Shell.
BOOM!
He was knocked off his feet.
Before he could stand, another wolf charged.
Kael rolled.
Its claws struck the ground beside him.
Kael grabbed its leg.
Blood Scent activated.
He could feel its movement.
He pulled.
The wolf fell.
Kael rose.
Then struck.
THUD!
[Mutated Beast defeated.]
Kael's breathing became heavier.
There were still many.
The Alpha hadn't even entered the fight.
Kael looked at it.
"You're waiting for me to get tired."
The Alpha's eyes narrowed.
Kael smiled.
"Then I'll come to you."
He stopped fighting the pack.
Instead, he ran straight toward the Alpha.
The wolves immediately chased.
Kael accelerated.
Ten meters.
Five.
Three.
The Alpha opened its mouth.
Kael's Threat Detection screamed.
[Extreme danger!]
The Alpha vanished.
Moonstep.
Kael turned.
The Alpha appeared beside him.
Its claws came toward his chest.
Kael raised Iron Shell.
BOOM!
He was thrown across the street.
He rolled several times before stopping.
[Impact detected.]
[Adaptive Evolution activated.]
Adaptation: 1.58% → 1.64%
Kael stood.
The Alpha was already approaching.
It was faster than him.
Stronger than him.
Its Perception was almost three times higher.
Kael couldn't win a direct fight.
So he wouldn't have one.
He looked at the surrounding buildings.
A ruined parking structure.
Three floors.
Several damaged support pillars.
A narrow entrance.
Kael smiled.
He ran.
The Alpha followed.
The pack followed the Alpha.
Perfect.
Kael entered the parking structure.
The wolves rushed inside.
Kael climbed.
One floor.
Two.
Three.
The Alpha followed effortlessly.
Kael reached the top.
There was nowhere left to go.
The Alpha stepped forward.
Kael looked behind him.
Then smiled.
"Exactly where I wanted you."
He activated Web Control.
Several strands shot toward the damaged support pillars.
Then he pulled.
The structure shook.
The Alpha paused.
Kael pulled again.
CRACK.
A section of the ceiling collapsed between the Alpha and the pack.
Dust filled the area.
The wolves became separated.
Kael jumped down one level.
The Alpha followed.
Kael kept moving.
Down.
Down.
Down.
Until the Alpha was alone.
Kael stopped.
Now it was just the two of them.
The Alpha growled.
Kael raised his weapon.
"Much better."
The Alpha attacked.
Kael blocked.
CLANG!
The Alpha struck again.
Kael dodged.
The claws hit the wall.
Kael countered.
THUD!
The Alpha staggered.
Kael attacked again.
The Alpha blocked.
Its claws caught his weapon.
For a second, they were locked together.
Kael looked directly into its eyes.
Then smiled.
"Got you."
Web Control activated.
The web wrapped around the Alpha's rear leg.
Kael pulled.
The Alpha lost balance.
Kael drove his weapon forward.
CRACK!
The blow connected.
The Alpha fell.
Kael immediately attacked again.
The Alpha rolled away.
It was fast.
Too fast.
It used Moonstep.
Kael's Enhanced Hearing picked up the movement.
Behind him.
Kael turned.
The Alpha attacked.
Kael blocked.
The impact pushed him backward.
Kael's weapon nearly slipped from his hand.
The Alpha attacked again.
Kael ducked.
Then struck.
The fight became a blur.
Attack.
Dodge.
Counter.
Block.
Move.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Neither gave ground.
Then Kael noticed something.
The Alpha was breathing harder.
Moonstep had a cost.
Its ability wasn't free.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"You're tiring."
The Alpha growled.
Kael stepped forward.
He attacked more aggressively.
The Alpha retreated.
Kael followed.
Another strike.
The Alpha blocked.
Another.
It dodged.
Kael kept attacking.
He didn't give it time to recover.
[Combat Analysis: 57% → 64%]
[Threat Detection proficiency: 78% → 83%]
The Alpha suddenly howled.
Its body tensed.
Lunar Howl activated again.
Kael's instincts screamed.
The creature charged.
Kael waited.
At the final moment—
he moved.
The Alpha passed him.
Kael turned.
Web Control.
The strand wrapped around its leg.
Kael pulled.
The Alpha stumbled.
Kael rushed forward.
Razor Edge activated.
His weapon flashed.
He struck.
CRACK!
The Alpha fell.
[Elite Beast critically weakened.]
Kael raised his weapon.
The Alpha tried to stand.
Kael struck once more.
The Moonfang Wolf collapsed.
Silence.
Kael stood over it.
Then—
[Elite Beast defeated.]
[Experience gained.]
[Level Up!]
[Level 10]
[5 Attribute Points received.]
Kael smiled.
Then the system continued.
[Achievement completed.]
[Pack Hunter]
Requirement: Defeat a coordinated pack containing an Elite Beast without assistance.
Reward: 3 Attribute Points
Additional Reward: 1 Evolution Point
Kael's eyes widened.
"Evolution Point?"
He opened the new currency window.
[Evolution Points]
Current: 1
Uses:
Unlock evolutionary abilities
Increase mutation stability
Accelerate adaptation
Purchase evolutionary materials
Unlock restricted System functions
Kael smiled.
"Now that's useful."
He opened his status.
[KAEL]
Level: 10
Evolution Stage: Stage 0 — Ordinary
Strength: 21
Agility: 23
Vitality: 13
Endurance: 14
Perception: 22
Unassigned Attribute Points: 8
Skills
Enhanced Hearing — 73%
Threat Detection — 83%
Blackhide — 63%
Web Control — 64%
Blood Scent — 33%
Iron Shell — 29%
Razor Edge — 21%
Titles
Solo Hunter
Night Hunter's Prey
Elite Slayer
Evolution Hunter
Unique Trait
Adaptive Evolution
Adaptation: 1.64%
Mutation Slots: 1
Mutation: Minor Accelerated Reaction
Evolution Points
1
Kael assigned his eight points.
Strength +2
Agility +2
Vitality +1
Endurance +1
Perception +2
His attributes became:
Strength: 23
Agility: 25
Vitality: 14
Endurance: 15
Perception: 24
Kael closed the status.
Then something unexpected happened.
The dead Moonfang Wolf began glowing.
Kael stepped back.
[Elite Beast remains contain evolutionary energy.]
[Compatible evolutionary resource detected.]
[Moonfang Core available.]
A small blue-white core emerged from the creature.
Kael picked it up.
The instant he touched it—
[Moonfang Core absorbed.]
[Adaptive Evolution activated.]
Adaptation: 1.64% → 1.83%
Evolution Point gained: +1
Kael smiled.
"Two Evolution Points."
Then—
[Evolutionary Map updated.]
A massive yellow zone appeared.
Much closer than before.
Kael looked toward it.
The system displayed another message.
[Warning.]
[Lifeform detected within target zone.]
Estimated Level: 12–14
Classification: Elite Beast
Evolution Stage: Stage 2 — Mutated
Additional warning: Target appears to be actively hunting humans.]
Kael's smile disappeared.
Level 12–14.
Stage 2.
And it was hunting humans.
Kael looked at the direction of the yellow zone.
Then at the remaining wolves scattered through the parking structure.
He could leave.
He could continue hunting elsewhere.
But the yellow zone was exactly what he needed.
A dangerous opponent.
A chance to force his body to evolve.
Kael picked up his weapon.
"Level fourteen."
He smiled.
"Let's see what you're made of."
He walked toward the yellow zone.
Alone.