The night was still trembling from the echo of Kai's battle. The forest floor was littered with the carcasses of wolves, their once-proud bodies now nothing more than cold husks. The Alpha's body, twice the size of its kin, lay broken under the faint light of the moon. Its blood seeped into the dirt, painting the ground black and red.
Kai, panting heavily, leaned on his dagger. The once-rusty blade now gleamed faintly with an otherworldly sheen, almost as if it had absorbed the essence of the beasts it had slain.
The System's mechanical voice rang in his ears:
[Congratulations, Host. You have slain the Alpha Direwolf.][Hidden Condition Met: First Boss Kill.][Reward: Evolution Slot Unlocked.]
A cascade of blue-golden text flooded his vision.
[The Infinite Leveling System has reached its First Evolution threshold.][Do you wish to initiate Evolution? Warning: Evolution will forcibly reconstruct your body. Pain is inevitable.]
Kai froze. His chest rose and fell sharply. Evolution? Reconstruct his body? That sounded dangerous… but what choice did he have? The Alpha had nearly killed him. If something stronger appeared tomorrow, he wouldn't survive.
His hand clenched tight around the dagger. "Do it. I don't care how much it hurts. Evolve me."
The world shattered.
Agony tore through Kai's flesh and bone. His muscles spasmed violently, tendons stretching and twisting like burning cords. It felt like molten iron was being poured into his veins, setting every nerve aflame.
He bit down on his lip until blood flowed, refusing to scream.
[Initiating Host Evolution...][Reconstructing Muscular Framework...][Fortifying Bone Density...][Awakening Dormant Potential...][Activating Genetic Resonance with System...]
Every word was a hammer striking his soul.
Minutes passed. Or hours. Time dissolved into waves of torment. Finally, with one last surge of searing pain, the transformation ended.
Kai collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat. Steam rose from his skin as if he had been forged in a furnace.
The voice returned, calm and final:
[Evolution Complete.][Host has entered Stage 1: Foundation Reinforcement.][Stat Growth Multiplier x3 activated.][Skill Tree Unlocked.][Hidden Trait Acquired: Predator's Instinct.]
Kai opened his eyes. The night sky seemed clearer, sharper. He could see the faint shimmer of stars he'd never noticed before. His breathing was steady, strong, powerful.
He flexed his fingers, and the earth beneath his hand cracked slightly.
"…I feel… incredible."
His vision shifted instinctively to the System interface.
[Host: Kai]
Level: 7
Stage: Foundation Reinforcement (Stage 1)
Strength: 45 → 135
Agility: 40 → 120
Endurance: 30 → 90
Perception: 35 → 105
Traits:
Predator's Instinct: Enhances killing intent and battlefield awareness. Host can sense the hostility of nearby creatures.
New Feature:
Skill Tree Activated. Branches available: Weapon Mastery, Survival Arts, Energy Manipulation.
Kai's eyes widened. His stats had tripled! His body felt like it was bursting with untapped power. Even without a weapon, he could probably crush a wolf's skull with his bare hands now.
The System's new screen caught his attention—the Skill Tree.
He focused on Weapon Mastery. Branching icons lit up: Dagger Proficiency, Sword Basics, Improvised Weapons.
"Dagger Proficiency… that's mine," he muttered.
[Skill Unlocked: Dagger Proficiency Lv.1.][Passive: Accuracy and lethality with daggers increased by 20%.]
His rusty dagger gleamed brighter, reacting to his choice.
The forest was silent, unnervingly so. Wolves had always howled deep into the night, but now the pack was gone. He had wiped them out. For the first time since arriving in this world, Kai realized—this forest was his.
But the silence didn't last.
From the distance, a low tremor shook the ground.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Kai's head snapped toward the sound. His Predator's Instinct triggered—his heart raced, and every nerve screamed danger.
Then came the roar. A deep, guttural roar that dwarfed the Alpha Wolf's growl. Trees bent as a massive silhouette emerged in the distance.
It wasn't another wolf. It was something worse.
A Direbear.
The beast towered three times Kai's height, its fur matted with scars. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto him, and its maw opened to release another thunderous roar.
The System pinged:
[Direbear detected. Level 18.][Warning: Enemy is 11 levels above Host.][Survival Chance: 2%.]
Kai's lips curled into a grin despite the fear twisting in his gut.
"A boss… right after my evolution? Perfect."
He raised the dagger, eyes burning. "Come on then. Let's see how far this new foundation can take me."
The Direbear charged. Each step made the ground quake, roots snapping under its monstrous weight. Kai sprinted forward, his enhanced agility carrying him faster than ever.
The bear's claw descended like a falling boulder. Kai ducked low, rolling across the dirt as the impact shattered the ground behind him.
Adrenaline surged. His Predator's Instinct sharpened every movement—the bear's rage, its rhythm, its intent. He could see openings.
He slashed upward with the dagger. Sparks flew as metal met hardened fur, leaving only a shallow cut.
"Damn, its hide's too tough…" Kai muttered, but his grin widened.
The bear swung again, but this time Kai leapt onto its arm, using the momentum to vault onto its back. His dagger stabbed down into its shoulder.
The beast howled in pain, thrashing wildly. Kai clung on, each muscle screaming, refusing to let go.
"Die!"
He plunged the dagger again and again, blood spraying as the Direbear's roars echoed across the forest.
The System chimed:
[Critical Hit!][EXP Gained: 240.]
The bear twisted and slammed against a tree, crushing Kai's ribs with brutal force. He coughed blood but refused to release his grip. His eyes burned with unyielding fire.
"You think… you're scarier than death? I've already died once!"
With a final roar of his own, Kai drove the dagger deep into the bear's neck. The beast convulsed, stumbling before crashing into the earth with a thunderous crash.
Silence.
Kai staggered to his feet, bloodied but victorious.
The System exploded with notifications.
[Direbear slain.][EXP Gained: 1,200.][Level Up! Level 7 → Level 9.][Hidden Condition Met: Defeat an Enemy 10 Levels Higher.][Reward: Unique Skill Unlocked.]
Blue light enveloped Kai's body.
[Unique Skill Acquired: Blood Absorption.]
Allows Host to absorb a portion of strength from slain enemies' blood.
Kai stared at his blood-soaked hands, then at the massive corpse at his feet. Slowly, a smirk spread across his face.
"This… this is just the beginning."
The System's final message rang like a prophecy:
[The Foundation has been set. Infinite Growth begins now.]