The woods had grown too quiet.
Iden stood over the last of the Flamehide loot, sorting through cores and ore with methodical care. Skeletons moved around the clearing with eerie calm—raiding, crafting, working in complete synergy. Rael stood nearby, focused on treating the Builder Skeleton's burns with her Sanctum Pulse, soft light illuminating her face in the fading sun.
Then—
[Alert: Proximity Detected – Humanoid Signature Identified]Classification: Human PlayerDistance: 88 meters… approaching rapidly.
Iden straightened slowly. His hand dropped to his dagger.
Another survivor was entering his territory.
From between the trees emerged a man—scruffy, jagged armor of stitched hide and scrap. A weather-worn machete rested casually over his shoulder. Wild eyes scanned the skeletons warily, and his lips twisted into a smirk.
[Player: Kurtis | LV 5 | Class: Beastcaller]
"Nice setup," Kurtis said, voice low, mocking. "Didn't think someone would build all this out here."
Iden didn't reply.
Kurtis's eyes landed on the Boneforge, then the resource piles, then Rael.His gaze lingered. Too long.
"Must be nice. Pretty girl. An army of bones. Might be worth taking."
That was the last thing he said before he made the mistake of lunging.
Iden didn't hesitate. His interface pulsed as he gave silent commands:
Bladeguard Warrior intercepted Kurtis directly, energy blade meeting crude machete.
Scout circled, waiting for an opening.
Woodcutter stepped in to intercept the twin mutated hounds lunging toward Rael.
Rael didn't flinch—she activated Sanctum Pulse on the Builder to restore its defense.
Iden moved with surgical precision, joining the fight mid-flank with Rootbound Fang drawn.
The Bladeguard disarmed Kurtis with a brutal rip of its sword—then pinned him down.
Iden stood over him.
"This is mine."
Then drove his dagger into the man's chest.
You have killed: Player Kurtis [Beastcaller]Status: Permanently Eliminated
Item Drops Acquired:– Cracked Beast Core– Beastcaller's Leather Harness– Encrypted Storage Token
World Announcement: 📢A hidden treasure has been claimed!
Player [Iden] has obtained:– Blueprint: Bone Bastion Tower– Epic Chest – Class-Based Reward
The chat across the world flared up.
[Torch_Wolf]: Who the hell is Iden? Already getting Epic rewards?[Spearman92]: That blueprint sounds defensive—he must've made a fortress already.[BlightCrone]: Was that from a hidden quest? I've been hunting beast dens all day![Nyra]: Iden… interesting. That's not a common name.
In a far-off misted forest, a girl with silver hair and a blade of black crystal paused mid-hunt.
Her name was Nyra [Shadowbound | LV 5], and she narrowed her eyes at the glowing announcement.
"Bone Bastion... skeletons?" she whispered. "You're not like the rest of them. I'll find you."
She smiled slightly.
And continued her silent walk into the trees.
Back in the camp, Iden stood over Kurtis's fading corpse-ash. His system pulsed again—something new.
Achievement System UnlockedTracking Milestones, Performance, and Unique Deeds
New Achievement: First Blood – Human vs. HumanReward:– Class Advancement Chest– Blueprint: Bone Bastion Tower
Hidden Tags Registered: "Apex Initiate" | "First Sovereign Kill" | "One Against Many"
Reward Gained: Summon Capacity Increased: 5 → 8– Skill Gained: Deathmark– Item Received: Skillbook: Necrograph Matrix– Unique Summon Ticket: [Elite Variant]
Iden stared at the notification, breath steady.
He wasn't proud. He wasn't shaken.
He was certain.
This world wouldn't belong to those with brute strength or luck.
It would belong to the one who could command death itself.
And he had just taken the first step.