# Chapter 11: Mutant Hunt
The eastern sector of the ruins was alive with eerie movement. Shadows stretched across the cracked asphalt and skeletal remains of buildings, shifting as if the city itself were watching. Kael and Lyra moved silently, their steps deliberate, every sense tuned to the presence of the mutant pack ahead. The Codex pulsed violently inside Kael, hungry for the coming confrontation.
From a partially collapsed overpass, Kael spotted them—four mutants, larger than any he had faced before. Their bodies were grotesquely twisted, a horrifying fusion of human and beast, each limb unnaturally elongated, muscles bulging beneath scarred skin. Eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the faint light of the ruined city. These creatures moved with a predator's precision, and Kael felt a thrill surge through him.
"They're strong," Lyra whispered, crouching beside him. "But nothing we can't handle… together."
Kael's grin widened. "Together, huh?" He tightened his grip on his steel pipe, the Codex thrumming as if acknowledging her presence as fuel. "Then let's see what we're capable of."
The first mutant lunged, claws raking the concrete as it closed in. Kael moved instinctively, sidestepping and swinging the pipe with brutal precision. The metal connected with the creature's side, sending it sprawling, and the Codex surged, absorbing the raw energy of impact. Lyra followed swiftly, striking the next mutant with a fluid motion of her staff, cracking ribs and sending it staggering back.
Chaos erupted as the remaining mutants attacked simultaneously. Kael and Lyra moved in perfect sync, their attacks complementing each other. The Codex responded to Kael's every strike, enhancing his speed, strength, and reflexes. With each blow, he absorbed the energy of the mutants' aggression, integrating it into his own power.
One mutant attempted to flank them, moving silently behind a pile of debris. Kael sensed it before it struck, the Codex alerting him to the subtle shift in the air. With a quick pivot, he slammed the pipe into its head, the impact resonating through his arms as the energy fed directly into him. The creature crumpled, lifeless, a crimson aura briefly flickering as the Codex devoured its vitality.
Lyra fought with equal ferocity, her movements fluid and deadly. She was no ordinary ally—her strikes were precise, her instincts sharp, and her presence seemed to harmonize with Kael's own. Together, they moved through the chaos like predators, feeding on the energy of the fight, each strike empowering Kael further.
By the time the last mutant fell, the street was littered with debris and the remnants of the defeated creatures. Kael stood amidst the carnage, chest heaving, the Codex pulsing violently as it integrated the energy from the battle. His strength had surged, his senses sharpened, and his control over the Codex deepened.
*Skill Progress: Devour Debris — Level 8*
Lyra approached him, wiping blood from her staff. "Not bad," she said, smirking. "You're growing fast. The Codex… it's not just a weapon. It's a part of you now."
Kael nodded, crimson eyes still glowing with residual energy. "And it's hungry. I can feel it… demanding more. More challenges, more destruction."
The ruins whispered around them, hinting at unseen dangers and hidden prey. Kael's grin widened, the thrill of power coursing through him. The mutant hunt had been the first real test of their combined strength, but he knew it was only the beginning. Far more dangerous predators lurked in the shadows, waiting to test him further.
Lyra glanced at him, a spark of respect in her eyes. "The night is far from over, Kael. The city has a way of throwing bigger challenges than you expect. Are you ready for them?"
Kael's smile darkened, crimson eyes blazing with intensity. "Ready? I've been waiting for this my whole life. Let them come. The ruins, the weak, the strong… everyone will taste the power of the God of Ruin."
Together, Kael and Lyra stepped forward into the darkness, ready to hunt, conquer, and feed the insatiable hunger of the Codex.
The first true test of their alliance had ended—but the war for dominanc
e in the ruins was only beginning.