After sunset Rothveil subsided in its lower stories. The avenues knew no sleep - not here, but the tempo was changed. Fewer screams. More whispers. More watching.
Lucen was as shadow in the shadows that had not dared to speak.
His coat still had dried blood. There was still unspent points in his Soul Ledger. None of the dangers of the past hour had been worth their employment. Ruggish goons, inebriated soul-addicts, genetically-altered rats.
Not worth the investment.
He ran into a desolated rail station, older artery of Rothveil. It used to be transporting ore and miners. Now it only took ghosts, and gangs.
His mind ticked through objectives:
• Test the Ashbreaker's burn scaling
• Analyze Ledger's passive tracking range
• Confirm sync feedback delay at current ratio
The platform ahead shuddered.
Footsteps.
Too heavy for a man.
Too steady for a beast.
[Enemy Detected: "Stitched Bounty Hound"]
HP: 340 / 340
Threat Rating: Moderate to High
Type: Construct Hybrid (Soul Tracker)
Status: Locked On
Lucen's gaze sharpened.
He recognized the make. A stitched soul-hound, used by Syndicates to track those who killed marked lieutenants.
Like Grask.
[Warning: Target recognizes your Soulprint Signature]
[Kill Record Matched: Ashbreaker Knuckles]
The hound sprung out of the shadow of the platform. Chains rattled on its spine and one of its legs was plated with bone and covered with bloodstamped glyphs.
Lucen ducked leftwards.
Skill Activated: Crimson Threadfire
Effect: Flame Threads, Dual Shot
Damage Dealt: 42 (Target HP: 298 / 340)
Status: Singed, Minor Nerve Interference
The hound didn't flinch.
Its jaw unhinged, revealing embedded brass teeth engraved with runes.
Lucen narrowed his eyes.
Skill Activated: Stone Skin
Effect: Hardened Layer (10s)
Incoming Damage Mitigated: 67 reduced to 33
The impact hit like a sledgehammer. Lucen skidded backward, boots scraping dust from old track steel.
HP: 99 / 132
Close. Not critical yet.
But the difference was clear. This wasn't a rat. This was a hunter.
The Soul Ledger flickered a prompt.
......
[Soul Point Recommendation Triggered]
[Enemy exceeds current power threshold by 28%]
[Unspent Points: 4]
......
Lucen held still.
Not yet.
The hound charged again. Lucen sidestepped, dropped low, and slammed a fist upward.
Skill Activated: Ashbreaker Knuckles – Rising Flame Fist
Damage Dealt: 64 (Target HP: 234 / 340)
Status: Burn (5s), Jaw Cracked, Momentum Broken
The hound reeled, but recovered fast.
Lucen's breath sharpened.
He scanned his stats.
HP: 99 / 132
Soul Points: 4 (Unspent)
He could end this now.
Dump 2 into STR, 1 into AGI, maybe boost DEX.
But that would mean giving the system what it wanted... instinctive reaction.
And he was not a reactionary.
He was a planner.
Lucen darted right and circled behind the beast as its jaw missed him by inches.
Skill Activated: Crimson Threadfire – Neck Bind
Damage Dealt: 48 (Target HP: 186 / 340)
Status: Constriction, Movement reduced 40%, Burn Amplified
The chains on the hound's neck snapped taut. Metal hissed under the flames.
The beast staggered.
Lucen struck with Ashbreaker again.
Skill Activated: Ashbreaker Knuckles – Core Burst
Damage Dealt: 102 (Target HP: 84 / 340)
Status: Internal Detonation, System Feedback Loop Triggered
The beast bucked, screeched, and finally collapsed.
Its system core glowed briefly.
Lucen raised his hand, palm open.
Skill Theft: Initiated
Target: Bounty Tracking Module – Partial Success
Acquired: "Tracker's Pulse" (Passive Soulprint – Tier I)
He inhaled once, chest heavy from the force of the fight, then stood straight.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Soul Points Earned: +2]
......
Lucen Vale – Soul Ledger v2.0
HP: 83 / 132
STR: 12
AGI: 15
DEX: 14
INT: 19
WILL: 21
SYNC: 10
COR: [LOCKED]
Unspent Soul Points: 6
......
He stared at the drifting prompt.
He had not used a point.
And he still had won.
The system would get to learn it one day-it did not require power. He required pressure.
Lucen got down off the platform, and disappeared down into the wavering gloom of the underground at Rothveil.
......
End of Chapter 7
......