And in the moonlit forest, amidst the corpses of beasts and the metallic tang of blood, their laughter echoed together—one from the throat of a boy, the other from the depths of his mind.
But the forest was never truly silent.
Rustle.
The wind shifted, carrying with it the stench of iron, rot, and primal hunger. The System's voice—sharper, clearer than the consciousness—cut into his ear.
[Alert. Strong magical beast detected nearby. Classification: Low C-Grade… but abnormal evolution noted. Current rank: Borderline B-Grade.]
Yuki's heart skipped. His grin widened. "Perfect. Just when I was getting bored."
From between the shadows of twisted trees emerged a beast that dwarfed everything he had fought before. It was a boar—but not the kind farmers raised. Its body was as large as a carriage, muscles rippling beneath coarse bristles black as obsidian. Its tusks glowed faintly red, like molten iron freshly pulled from a forge. Its eyes, bloodshot and wild, fixed on Yuki with raw hostility.
Dire Fang Boar.
Normally, such beasts lingered at the high D-Grade or, at best, low C-Grade. But this one radiated killing intent beyond its kind, its body scarred with signs of countless battles. An aberration. A natural-born monster that had clawed its way up—one step short of true elites.
The ground trembled as it pawed the earth, snorting steam.
Yuki exhaled slowly. "Shadow taught me technique. You—" he tapped his temple, "—give me knowledge. Now let's see if I can merge both."
The boar roared, a deafening blast that rattled the trees. Then it charged.
Its speed belied its massive frame, tearing through underbrush like twigs. Yuki activated his movement technique instantly.
"Vanishing Step."
His body blurred, melting into the darkness. The boar's tusks sliced air, narrowly missing him as he reappeared at its flank. He thrust out his palm.
"Vanishing Palm."
The invisible strike connected with its ribs—yet instead of collapsing, the beast only skidded sideways, its hide tougher than iron. Pain shot through Yuki's arm as numbness spread.
"Tch. So hard? Guess I can't half-ass this."
The System's voice hummed.
[Target's weak point located: underside of the neck, where bone plating thins. Recommend coordinated feints to expose.]
"Got it."
The boar spun, fury blazing in its eyes. It slashed a tusk downward, carving a trench into the earth. Yuki leapt, twisting midair. His heel came down like a blade aimed at the beast's snout. Impact—loud, but shallow. The beast reeled only a step.
"System, enhance muscle reflex!" Yuki barked.
[Acknowledged. Temporary synchronization increased.]
Suddenly, his body moved sharper, swifter—as though his every nerve had been sharpened to a blade. He darted beneath the beast as it stumbled, palm thrusting upward.
"Vanishing Palm—Piercing Strike!"
This time, the invisible force tore into its throat. Blood sprayed, hot and metallic, staining his face. The beast howled, thrashing wildly, tusks slamming into a tree and shattering it to splinters.
But Yuki's smile never faltered.
"Stronger than I thought. Good. Don't die too quickly."
The beast roared again, muscles swelling unnaturally as its veins glowed red. Rage state—its power doubled. Its tusks swung like guillotines, forcing Yuki to retreat.
He weaved between slashes, each dodge a hairsbreadth escape. The forest floor became a battlefield of shattered roots and torn earth.
Then—a second growl.
From the darkness, yellow eyes ignited. One pair. Then five. Then ten.
A pack of Shadow Wolves emerged, sleek bodies low to the ground, fangs bared. Their timing was no accident. They had been stalking, waiting for prey to weaken itself.
"Seriously?" Yuki muttered, half laughing. "As if one overgrown pig wasn't enough."
[Caution. Pack synergy detected. Individually, D-Grade. Together, effective C-Grade threat.]
The Dire Fang Boar, however, was no ally. It swung its tusks, goring the first wolf that leapt too close, sending its body flying lifelessly into the trees. Blood frenzy consumed the air.
"System, looks like I'll have to fight both sides."
[Correction. Use one against the other.]
Yuki's eyes gleamed. "…I like that idea."
He sprinted forward, narrowly dodging a wolf's pounce, and rolled beneath the boar's tusks. In that instant, three wolves lunged—straight into the beast's flank. Their fangs dug deep, and the boar screamed, slamming itself side to side in rage.
Yuki exploited the chaos, leaping onto its back. His hands glowed faintly as he gathered energy into a final strike.
"Vanishing Palm: Consecutive Burst!"
He struck again and again, invisible palms hammering into the same wound beneath its neck. Each blow dug deeper, splintering flesh and bone. The boar shrieked, bucking wildly, crushing two wolves beneath its bulk.
Finally—with one last thunderous strike—the beast collapsed, crashing into the earth. The ground shook with its death.
The wolves froze, growling at Yuki, their instincts warning them this boy was no ordinary prey.
He wiped blood from his cheek, his expression calm, almost amused. "Come then. Who's next?"
But the pack, realizing their advantage had vanished, slunk back into the shadows, their eyes fading into the forest's abyss.
The System's voice returned, steady but faintly impressed.
[Dire Fang Boar slain. Classification confirmed: Abnormal C+ mutated to borderline B-Grade. Soul energy absorbed. Battle experience integrated.]
Yuki sat on the beast's corpse, chest heaving. His hand trembled—not from fear, but exhilaration.
"Heh… This world really doesn't disappoint. Strong enemies. Stronger paths. And me—" he clenched his fist, blood dripping between his fingers, "—I'll keep climbing. Until no beast, no clan, no so-called immortal can stand above me."
The consciousness stirred, its smirk audible in his mind.
"Good. Rage. Resolve. Hunger. That's what I wanted to see."
And in the moonlit forest, the boy and the unseen voice laughed together once more, their sound carrying across the lake, shaking the night itself.