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Damn it.
It had been more than two weeks of nothing but slaughter.
Raven sat on the ground, looking no older than fifteen, chewing on roasted beast meat as if it were a gourmet meal. Around him lay a grotesque scene — scattered carcasses of monsters, blood soaking the soil, entrails steaming in the cold air. Any ordinary person would vomit at the sight, but Raven's lips curved in quiet amusement.
```
Name: Raven Kailos
Level: Origin Core Realm – Stage 1
EXP: 500,000 / 300,000
System Points: 500,000
Skills: Flame Dragon (6/9) / Thunder Emperor (2/9)
Title: None
```
In the distance, a bird was watching him. Even from kilometers away, the system had detected it.
Interesting.
While he chewed on the last bite of meat, a faint notification echoed in his mind — the system had picked up something unusual.
**\[Alert: A shapeshifter is observing you.]**
A shapeshifter? That meant either a human or a monster with transformation abilities.
Raven's grin widened.
> *"Hah… I've never run into one of those before. Guess I'll have some fun with this one."*
Before he could make a move, a system prompt appeared again:
**\[Quest Generated: Kill the King of the Forest and His Pack]**
**Rewards:** 100,000 System Points + Mystery Gift
Raven snorted. *Typical system nonsense.*
It didn't really matter. He had already decided the day he stepped into this forest that every living thing here would die.
The problem was the so-called "King of the Forest" — a Hell Lion in the **Sky Realm, Stage 4**. Sky Realm meant it could fly. Flying beasts were troublesome… and annoyingly free.
> *"Flight, huh? I still prefer freefall. Back on Earth, I used to jump from heights just to feel that drop… Hah. Well, I can float a bit with lightning, but that's not the same."*
He stood, dusted himself off, and resumed the usual routine — hunting.
But today felt different.
The bird was still there.
After so long, it hadn't reverted to its true form. Maintaining a transformation consumed a lot of energy… which meant whoever it was, their cultivation wasn't low.
Raven activated the system's analysis.
```
Target: Boros
Realm: Origin Core Realm – Stage 1
Race: Celestial Beast
```
> *"A Celestial Beast? No wonder you smell different."*
A crackle of thunder split the air as Raven's figure blurred, appearing right in front of the bird.
Its beady little eyes went wide with shock. The sight was so absurd Raven burst into laughter — loud, wild, and completely unrestrained.
In that moment, the bird shimmered and morphed into a human teenager, broad-shouldered, carrying a massive sword across his back.
"...So you're the one who woke me up?" the boy said flatly.
> *"Woke you up?"* Raven tilted his head. *"Were you sleeping in a cave or something?"*
He slowly reached forward until his hand clamped over the boy's entire face, whispering coldly:
> "Peeking is bad, you know. Aren't you afraid I'll rip out your eyes?"
The boy paled, his body trembling — but his gaze was steady.
Interesting.
> *"He's scared, but not afraid. I like that."*
"I can help you in the coming battle," the boy said suddenly.
> "Battle?" Raven frowned. *"What battle—"*
Before he could finish, the system's voice rang again:
**\[Warning: Beast Tide detected in the Forest of Darkness.]**
A grin stretched across Raven's face.
> "Alright, how about a game? You and me. Whoever kills fewer monsters dies. Fair?"
The boy froze, clearly realizing he had no chance against Raven if he refused.
Still, instead of running, he drew his sword and dashed into the forest.
> *"Oh?"* Raven's eyes gleamed. *"Good. You just stole some of my EXP, kid. I'll take that personally."*
He followed.
The forest soon turned into a sea of beasts.
Before Boros could unleash his skill, the sky split apart with a deafening **KRAK-BOOM**. Lightning coiled like serpents, illuminating the dark canopy.
Raven stood in midair like a god of storms.
> "You damned animals… you're nothing but EXP!"
Hundreds of spears of lightning appeared around him, their crackling light turning the forest night into blinding day — and then descended as one.
**KRAAAK!**
Entire packs of beasts were annihilated instantly.
Raven landed, forming a massive battle axe of fire and lightning. It radiated such heat and pressure that the air shimmered around him.
> *"It's still incomplete… One day I'll forge my true weapon using all five elements. But for now, this will do."*
He and Boros killed side by side, a trail of corpses marking their progress.
To Raven's surprise, Boros actually enjoyed the slaughter — his aura radiated exhilaration, not fear.
Later, when Raven learned Boros was a wanted criminal across the entire Empire, he only laughed.
> *"Perfect. You might just be worth keeping alive."*
And then the earth trembled.
From the depths of the forest emerged the King of the Forest — a massive Hell Lion wreathed in black fire, flanked by dozens of wolves, tigers, and other beasts.
Boros looked uneasy. "I… can't sense its level. That thing is dangerous."
> "Of course it is," Raven replied lazily. "It's Sky Realm, Stage 4."
Boros' eyes widened, but Raven just grinned, his bloodlust rising.
> "Relax. Leave the pack to me. The lion is mine."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Raven laughed — low, dark, and filled with anticipation.
> *"This forest will burn tonight."*
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