Chapter 3: The Graveborn's First Hunt
The forest grew darker as Kade pressed deeper, the trees stretching taller, thicker, their roots twisting across the ground like veins.
He could still hear the whispers from players behind him—shock, fear, awe—but their voices faded as he left them behind. He had no interest in basking in rumors. Not yet.
He wanted more.
The system window flickered to life as he crossed a crumbling stone archway.
[Entering Zone: Wolf Den.]
[Warning: Strong monsters detected. Recommended Level: 5.]
Kade checked his stats.
[Name: Kade Veyron]
[Class: Graveborn (Defective?)]
[Level: 3]
[HP: 160/160]
[Strength: 14]
[Agility: 12]
[Endurance: 13]
[Intelligence: 5]
[Title: Death's Chosen]
Level 3 on paper. But with his boosted stats and hidden title, he was closer to a level 6.
A grin tugged at his lips. "Recommended level 5, huh? Perfect."
The den reeked of damp fur and decay. Bones littered the ground, some still slick with flesh. The air was thick with growls, echoing from tunnels carved into the earth.
Then came the roar.
It shook the cavern walls, scattering dust from the ceiling.
From the shadows padded a beast twice the size of the wolves he had faced before. Its fur was black streaked with crimson, its fangs curved like daggers, and its eyes burned with unnatural intelligence.
[Elite Boss: Bloodfang Alpha]
[Level: 7]
[HP: 1200/1200]
Kade's fingers tightened on his sword. His heart hammered.
This was suicide.
Perfect.
The beast lunged. Its claws swept across the ground like scythes. Kade raised his sword to block—
The impact launched him across the cavern. His HP dropped by half in one blow.
He staggered up, lungs burning. "Strong. Good."
The Alpha roared again and pounced. Fangs closed around his throat.
[You have died.]
[Death Conversion activated.]
[+1 Strength, +1 Endurance.]
Respawn. Stronger.
The cycle began.
Claws. Fangs. Darkness.
Respawn. Stat growth.
Again.
And again.
Each death chipped away at the gap. His swings grew heavier, his dodges sharper. The pain never dulled, but neither did the thrill.
On his seventh attempt, his blade finally carved a shallow line across the Alpha's shoulder. Blood sprayed, steaming against the cold cavern air.
The beast howled in rage.
Spectators had gathered at the archway, dozens of players too afraid to enter. They watched with wide eyes as Kade charged the monster again and again, dying, resurrecting, returning stronger each time.
"Is he insane?"
"He's level three—how is he even scratching it?"
"No… he's learning. He's growing."
By his fifteenth death, Kade's stats rivaled the Alpha's raw power. His body moved like it belonged in this world, not the shabby apartment he had left behind. Every strike carried purpose. Every dodge was honed by failure.
He lived in the cycle of death.
And then—finally—his blade sank deep into the Alpha's chest.
The beast roared, thrashing, but Kade held firm. He twisted the blade with both hands, driving it deeper until it pierced the monster's heart.
With a final, shuddering cry, the Bloodfang Alpha collapsed. Its massive body dissolved into shards of crimson light.
[Elite Boss Defeated: Bloodfang Alpha.]
[Reward: 1500 EXP, 5 Silver, Wolf Fang Pendant (Rare).]
[Hidden Reward unlocked: ???]
Kade staggered, chest heaving. His health bar blinked dangerously low, but his grin was wide, feral.
The pendant floated into his palm—a jagged fang strung on black cord.
[Wolf Fang Pendant (Rare)]
[Effect: +5 Strength, +5 Agility. Passive skill unlocked: Predator's Instinct.]
[Predator's Instinct: Sense hostile creatures within 20 meters.]
Kade's eyes gleamed as he slipped it over his neck. His body thrummed with new power.
The crowd erupted outside the den.
"He actually killed it!"
"Impossible! That boss wipes full parties at this level!"
"Who the hell is that guy?"
Whispers spread like wildfire. The Graveborn—once mocked as defective—had just done the impossible.
But as the cheers carried, another notification appeared, different from the rest. Its font glitched, letters pulsing unnaturally.
[System Notice: You have been observed.]
[Watcher Tag applied.]
[Tracking initiated.]
Kade's grin faltered. His brows furrowed.
"What… the hell does that mean?"
The cavern dimmed as if something unseen was watching him. The air thickened, heavy and cold. For the first time since entering Elysium, a chill crawled down his spine.
Whatever this game was… it wasn't just a game.
And Kade had just caught its attention.