Renji crouched by the Matron's corpse, breath slowing, eyes locked on the pulsing sac remnants. Acid still hissed in the cracks nearby, etching burn trails into stone. The scar on his arm throbbed, still burning faintly from the venom that had carved its way into his body.
He rose, dusting grime from his hands, and glanced at the system prompt still flickering in the corner of his vision:
[New Skill Acquired: Viper Aura Armor – Level 1]
Wow , It's a good thing I have predator gaze.
A strange sensation filled him—like venom circulating beneath his skin, not to harm, but to shield.
Viper Aura Armor: A reactive aura formed from the beastline essence of venomous predators. When activated, it coats the user's body in a translucent, snake-scale armor, enhancing defense and resisting toxins. Can be toggled at will.
Renji blinked. "Guess it didn't even use this one…" He scoffed. "Dummy. Then again, it wasn't exactly thinking—just moving on instinct."
He waved a hand, and the Viper Aura flickered briefly to life—scales of faint green shimmered over his arm like refracted light in water. It vanished just as quickly. It didn't last long… but the potential was there.
The fog remained thick, but something had changed. The constant hissing had lessened, the air felt lighter. The death of the Matron had subdued the ambient threat… but only slightly. This Gate wasn't over.
[Gate Progress: 3/12 beasts eliminated]
[Gate Boss: Defeated]
"Just the mid-boss, huh?" Renji muttered, brushing dried ichor from his arm.
He pushed deeper into the ruins.
The nest chamber led to a slanted tunnel—part stone, part root. Blue veins ran along the walls like ancient circuitry. It narrowed quickly, forcing him into a crouch. The damp earth pressed in around him. It felt more alive here.
The tunnel pulsed faintly beneath his palms, like a heartbeat. Something up ahead was humming.
Then—light.
He emerged into a chamber shaped like a ribcage. Dozens of curved bones arched overhead, fossilized and half-swallowed by stone. And in the center?
A totem.
Carved from serpent fangs and coiled roots, it pulsed with dark blue energy. Faint whispers leaked from it.
[Cursed Beastline Relic Detected]
Status: Safe to approach.
Warning: Artifact is semi-conscious.
Renji didn't like that last part.
But curiosity won.
He stepped closer, hand hovering over the relic. The whispers grew clearer—voices not in words, but in raw feeling. Hunger. Hunger. Hunger. Hunt. Venom. Shed. Rise.
Then:
[Talent Triggered: Adaptive Evolution]
Beast Relic attempting to bond…
Accept Temporary Boon?
He didn't hesitate this time.
Accepted.
A rush of sensation flooded him. His muscles tightened, his heartbeat slowed. His senses sharpened.
[Temporary Buff: Serpent Shedding – Lv 1]
For the next 20 minutes, evade-based movement is boosted. Shedding effect allows one-time escape from fatal blow.
His eyes widened. "Nice."
Three more monsters stirred deeper below—he could feel them now. The relic had connected him to the Gate more fully. His perception of the enemy was clearer.
And they were coming.
He drew his rusted blade again, now half-melted by the Matron's acid, but still usable. Just barely.
"Let's clean house," he muttered.
As if in reply, a roar echoed up the tunnel. Not a hiss. A roar.
Snake wasn't the only thing living here.
Renji's grin was sharp. "Round two."