As they left the rocky plains behind, the forest swallowed them whole.
Towering trees rose like ancient sentinels, their shadows stretching long across the ground. The air thickened. Damp. Alive.
Demos led the way.
Silent.
Focused.
His eyes scanned everything—movement, wind, sound.
Behind him, Gorthok followed closely, his massive frame moving with unnatural quiet for something so large.
To the sides—
Kael.
Thane.
Ryker.
Maverick.
They spread out instinctively, forming a loose formation.
Hunters.
Not prey.
The deeper they went, the louder the forest became.
Birds chirped.
Leaves rustled.
And far in the distance—
A waterfall roared.
Demos raised a hand.
The group froze instantly.
Gorthok leaned forward slightly, voice low.
"What is it, Tribe Leader?"
Demos didn't answer immediately.
His eyes locked onto the darkness between the trees.
"…We're not alone."
A pause.
"There's something watching us."
The air tightened.
Kael, Thane, Ryker, and Maverick shifted positions, forming a semi-circle.
Weapons ready.
Eyes sharp.
Gorthok stood directly behind Demos.
Still.
Focused.
Then—
Gorthok spoke.
One word.
Blunt.
Heavy.
"…Perezoso."
The reaction was immediate.
Fear.
Real fear.
Demos turned slightly.
"What is it?"
Gorthok's voice dropped.
"It's a territorial beast."
A pause.
"It destroys anything that enters its domain."
"All tribes in this forest fear it."
Silence followed.
Then—
Demos smiled.
A slow… dangerous grin.
"Then that's our hunt."
The words hit like a death sentence.
Ryker snapped instantly.
"HELL NO!"
He stepped forward, panic in his voice.
"This is our first hunt! Anything else—anything—is better than this suicide!"
Demos didn't even look at him.
His gaze shifted—
To the system.
SYSTEM INTERFACE
Name: Demos S. Sparta
Age: 15
Level: 1
Health: 100/100
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Abilities: Sealed
Unique Abilities:
— Five-Colored Lightning: Sealed
— Ice Age: Sealed
Skill: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Lv.1)
NEW MISSION:
FIRST HUNT — Slay a Perezoso
Reward: 50 Healing Potions
Demos' grin widened.
Perfect.
He turned.
His voice exploded.
"NO!"
The forest shook.
"THIS—"
He stepped forward.
"IS THE MOMENT OUR TRIBE PROVES ITS STRENGTH!"
His eyes burned.
"SHOW NO FEAR!"
A beat.
"THIS IS THE PATH WE WALK!"
Something shifted.
Inside them.
Fear…
Faded.
Replaced.
By heat.
By hunger.
By war.
Even Ryker went silent.
Breathing harder.
Eyes changing.
Demos nodded once.
"First—we fall back."
"We find one."
"Alone."
They climbed.
A jagged cliff overlooking the forest.
Demos crouched at the edge.
Scanning.
Then—
He found it.
A lone Perezoso.
Massive.
Grotesque.
Standing near a strange settlement—
And casually defecating.
Demos pointed.
"…There."
The group leaned in.
Then—
He spoke again.
"Gorthok."
A pause.
"It's time for your punishment."
Gorthok stiffened.
"…Yes, Tribe Leader."
"Do you see it?"
"Yes."
A beat.
"…And the… pile?"
Gorthok hesitated.
"…Yes."
Demos grinned.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You're going to cover yourself in it."
Silence.
"…What?"
"You'll mask your scent."
"Get close."
"Lure it to the cliff."
Then—
Chaos.
Kael exploded with laughter.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Gorthok! Don't miss a spot!"
Ryker collapsed, gasping.
"HAHAHAHA—!"
Thane laughed.
Maverick wiped tears.
"Are you walking back like that too?!"
Gorthok looked at Demos.
Pure suffering in his eyes.
Demos didn't blink.
"Yes."
A pause.
"And don't worry about Akira."
Gorthok's soul left his body.
Demos turned.
"Ryker."
"Yes, Tribe Leader."
"Scout that settlement."
"Return immediately."
"Understood."
Gorthok sighed.
Then climbed down.
Slow.
Heavy.
Defeated.
Moments later—
He smeared the Perezoso dung across his entire body.
The stench hit him like a weapon.
He nearly vomited.
But endured.
Then climbed back up.
Reeking.
Disgusting.
Ready.
He roared.
"COME ON, YOU BEAST!"
The Perezoso turned.
Sniffed.
Then—
Charged.
The ground trembled.
Trees shook.
Gorthok ran.
Led it straight—
To the cliff.
The ambush began.
Demos moved first.
His axe flashed.
SLASH!
Metal bit into thick, armored fur.
Kael and Maverick struck from the sides—
Spears driving deep.
Thane followed.
Gorthok rejoined.
But—
It wasn't enough.
The Perezoso roared.
And struck back.
A claw tore across Thane's chest—
Blood exploded.
Maverick was hit next—
Sent crashing into the ground.
"AGH—!"
Kael reacted instantly.
"We're pulling back!"
Gorthok grabbed Maverick.
Kael dragged Thane.
"MOVE!"
Demos didn't look back.
"GO!"
"I'll hold it!"
Now—
Alone.
Demos faced it.
The beast roared.
Charged.
Demos stepped in.
Not back.
His axe rose—
Fell—
Again.
Again.
Again—
Each strike heavier than the last.
The Perezoso's claws tore into his shoulder.
Flesh split.
Blood poured.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Didn't retreat.
A Spartan.
To the end.
"ROAAAR!"
The beast lunged—
Demos stepped forward—
And swung—
Everything.
Into one strike.
CRACK.
The skull shattered.
Silence.
The Perezoso collapsed.
Dead.
Demos stood.
Barely.
Chest heaving.
Body broken.
Blood dripping from every limb.
His eyes rolled back—
White.
Then—
He fell.
But his body…
Didn't stay still.
It pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Wounds began to close.
Flesh reformed.
Bones aligned.
Like time was reversing.
Like something inside him…
Refused death.
Kael and Gorthok stared.
Frozen.
"…What… is that?" Gorthok whispered.
Kael shook his head slowly.
"…I don't know."
A pause.
"But he's not normal."
Demos' fingers twitched.
His chest rose.
A breath.
Then another.
Kael swallowed.
"…He's waking up."
"…What… was that?"
END