Kael moved deeper into the ruins, the weight of the system interface hovering beside him like a ghost. The silence felt unnatural. He'd only collected three orbs so far, and each one had been guarded by increasingly twisted creatures.
He crept into a corridor once lined with advanced tech, now overtaken by creeping vines and decay. A flicker of movement caught his eye—something fast, something silent.
"Warning: Elite-class Hostile detected."
Before Kael could react, a beast struck from above—its body lean and muscular, its eyes glowing red. He rolled, dodging the claws by inches, landing hard on the floor.
The system responded instantly.
"Skill Unlocked: Focused Strike Lv.1"
Instinct took over. Kael rose and launched a punch, infused with blinding light. The beast shrieked as the blow landed directly on its skull, shattering bone.
It dissolved into black mist, but not before slashing his shoulder. Blood poured down his arm.
"HP reduced by 30%. Regeneration recommended."
Kael grit his teeth. "I'll survive. I always do."