The Alpha's growl rolled like thunder through the ruins.
Its crimson eyes locked on Renji, and in that instant, the world seemed to shrink—just him and the beast, two predators sizing each other up. The smaller dogs had scattered, vanishing into alleys like shadows afraid of the sun. This was their king. Their executioner.
Renji flexed his fingers inside the metal knuckles. His breath slowed. Every instinct screamed danger, but something deeper… something primal… stirred in his veins.
The Alpha moved first.
[System]
[Gate Alert: Elite Beast Detected – Mutated Alpha Hound]
Traits: Enhanced Strength | Bone Armor | Rage Amplification
The monster lunged like a black missile, its body breaking the sound of the air. Renji barely had time to trigger it—
[Skill Activated: Dash – Rank E]
He vanished in a blur, the hound smashing through a wall where he had stood, rubble exploding in every direction.
Renji reappeared behind it, driving his fist into its ribcage with everything he had.
Crack!
The sound echoed. Bone splintered… but the Alpha didn't flinch. It spun midair and slammed its tail into him like a steel whip.
Boom!
Renji crashed into a broken storefront, shattering glass and brick. His Aura Armor flared, barely holding the blow off his ribs.
"...Strong," he muttered, spitting blood onto the cracked floor. His blue eyes narrowed, glowing faintly as he stood.
The Alpha roared, its breath like a furnace, saliva dripping acid onto the ground. Then it lowered its body, muscles coiling like a spring.
Another dash. Faster than before.
Renji braced—
[Passive: Fearless Tenacity Activated]
Fear immunity applied. Damage threshold resistance increased.
The monster's jaws closed around him— or tried to.
Renji slipped free in a shimmer of violet light.
[Skill Activated: Serpent Shedding – Rank E]
[Cooldown Reduced: 7s]
His afterimage split apart as he reappeared above the Alpha, fist drawn back, Viper Aura swirling like a living storm.
Boom!
The ground quaked as his blow landed square on its skull. The beast staggered, roaring in rage. A jagged scar split across its bone armor.
Renji landed in a crouch, panting hard. His arms trembled. His blood burned like wildfire, instincts screaming to finish it.
The Alpha's eyes glowed brighter. Rage mode. Its body doubled in speed, movements erratic and brutal. It crashed into him again, sending him rolling through debris. Pain lanced through his spine.
He tasted iron.
And then—he smiled.
"I'm done playing."
Renji surged to his feet. His Aura pulsed violently, scales of light coating his arms like a second skin. His breath came slow. Measured.
[Adaptive Evolution Triggered: Combat Sync Level +30%]
[Temporary Strength Boost Applied: +3]
The Alpha leapt again, jaws gaping wide.
Renji dashed forward—straight into the attack.
Steel knuckles met bone.
Crack.
Snap.
Boom.
The Alpha's head whipped sideways with a sickening crunch as Renji's punch tore through its jaw. Before it could recover, he slammed another blow into its throat, forcing the beast back into a crumbling wall.
He didn't stop.
One punch.
Then another.
And another.
[Critical Hit!]
[Weak Spot Exploited!]
The Alpha's red glow flickered. Its body sagged, bones shattered, breath fading into nothing.
Then—silence.
The system chimed.
[Elite Beast Defeated: Mutated Alpha Hound]
XP Gained: Massive
Level Up: 8 → 9
Beast Resonance Increased: 12% → 15%
New Beastline Skill Unlocked: Alpha Predator's Will
Loot Obtained:
— Alpha Fang (Rare Material)
— Beast Core (F-Rank – Dark Variant)
— Bone Armor Fragment (Elite Quality)
Renji stood over the corpse, blood dripping down his chin. His fists hung heavy at his sides, knuckles cracked and bruised.
His eyes burned brighter now. Wilder. Stronger.
"Alpha Predator's Will…" he whispered, feeling the power coil around his soul like a chain of fire. Something was changing inside him. Something he wasn't sure he could ever undo.
Behind him, the rescued students peeked from behind the van, silent… terrified.
Not of the dogs.
Of him.
Renji exhaled and walked away without a word, the sound of his boots echoing like a warning.