Chapter 8 — First Blood
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
I crouched low, eyes scanning the underbrush as the morning mist clung to my clothes. The city's outer woods were supposed to be safe — only home to weak profound beasts that even untrained hunters could handle.
But I knew better.
Danger was everywhere, if you paid attention.
And after weeks of practice with my new energy flow, I was ready to find it.
The Stalk
I'd followed the tracks for almost an hour — paw prints, deep and sharp, circling the edges of the forest.
The system pulsed a calm, quiet notice:
[Target Identified: Low-level profound beast — Iron-Fanged Wolf. Estimated strength: Elementary Profound Realm, Rank 2.]
A test.
A perfect test.
I drew a slow breath, centering my energy the way I'd practiced.
No flashy moves. No wild swings. Just control.
The Fight
The wolf lunged from the underbrush with a snarl, faster than I'd expected.
For a split second, panic surged — but ten years of simulated combat overrode it.
Move.
I sidestepped, letting the beast's weight carry it past me, and drove the sharpened wooden spear into its side.
The point sank in, but shallow. Too shallow.
The wolf whirled, rage in its eyes, and lunged again.
I dropped low, letting instinct take over, my breathing sharp and steady.
Flow. Breathe. Move.
Energy surged into my limbs, my body lighter, sharper, faster.
When it leapt again, I was ready.
I twisted, drove the spear upward this time — and felt the tip tear through flesh, biting deep.
The wolf crashed to the ground, thrashing, before going still.
Aftermath
For a long moment, I just stood there, chest heaving, hands trembling around the bloodied spear.
Then the system chimed:
[Combat Analysis: Successful kill.]
[Experience Gained: Basic Combat Proficiency — Profound Integration +2%]
[Energy Synchronization: 12%]
A shaky laugh escaped me.
Not from amusement — from pure, sharp relief.
I'd done it.
Not in a simulation.
Not in some controlled drill.
This was real.
The Lesson
Dragging the wolf back to the edge of the woods was harder than the fight. My body still wasn't fully adapted, and every muscle screamed by the time I reached the outer trail.
But the weight was good.
A reminder that victory wasn't just about skill or power.
It was about preparation. Endurance. Control.
Back in the City
When I returned, the guards at the gate raised their brows.
"You?" one of them said, disbelief thick in his voice. "Killed that thing?"
I shrugged, keeping my expression humble.
"Got lucky," I said. "Caught it in a trap first."
They laughed, shaking their heads, and waved me through.
I didn't correct them.
Let them think I was lucky.
The less they knew, the safer I was.
Quiet Progress
That night, as the city settled into silence, the system's report pulsed softly:
[Profound Energy Stability: Improving.]
[Recommendation: Continue controlled hunts to increase synchronization. Estimated time to Rank 2: 6-8 weeks.]
I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, exhaustion pulling at me but unable to erase the sharp thrill in my chest.
I wasn't strong yet.
Not by a long shot.
But I was on the path.
And for the first time, I truly believed I could survive what was coming.