The silence that followed the monster's demise was heavier than any sound. It was thick with the smell of ozone and green ichor. Kai's breath hitched, his knuckles white on the shaft of the whaling spear. The warm rush of his level-up was the only thing holding him steady.
Marcus finally broke the silence. He pushed himself up, brushing dust from his expensive trousers, his eyes never leaving Kai. The fear was gone, replaced by a calculating glint that made Kai's skin crawl.
"You..." Marcus started, his voice a hoarse whisper. "What was that? How did you do that?" He took a step forward, his gaze flicking to the small, glowing crystal on the floor. "And that thing. What is it?"
"I don't know," Kai answered honestly, his voice raspy.
"Don't lie to me!" Marcus snapped, his old arrogance returning. "You did... something. A trick. That thing dissolved, and it left that gem behind. That's a valuable. It belongs to the shop. Give it to me."
He held out his hand, his expression demanding. For two years, that tone had been enough to make Kai jump. Now, it just felt pathetic. Kai had just faced down a monster from a nightmare, felt its claw in his ribs, and driven a spear through its heart. Marcus Thorne and his petty authority meant nothing.
Ignoring him, Kai bent down and picked up the crystal. It was warm to the touch, and it pulsed with a faint, rhythmic light.
A new blue box appeared in his vision.
[Gutter Scuttler Core (F-Rank)]
[A small crystal containing a monster's condensed energy. Can be absorbed to gain a small amount of XP or used as a material for crafting.]
[Absorb Core? Y/N]
The choice was obvious. He needed to get stronger. Focusing on the 'Y', he thought, Yes.
The crystal in his palm dissolved into motes of light that flowed into his skin. A pleasant warmth spread through him, and another notification chimed.
[Scuttler Core absorbed.]
[XP Gained: 10]
[XP: 10/100 to Lvl. 3]
Marcus's jaw dropped. "What did you do? It's gone! You destroyed it, you worthless brat!" he shrieked, his face turning a blotchy red. He lunged forward, his hands grasping not for Kai, but for the pocket where he assumed the 'gem' now was.
This time, Kai was ready. He sidestepped easily and shoved his boss. It wasn't a hard push, but with his newly increased stats, it sent the portly man stumbling backward into a rack of antique canes, which clattered to the floor.
Marcus stared at him, stunned, a flicker of fear returning to his eyes. Kai wasn't the timid, downtrodden employee anymore.
"I quit," Kai said, the words feeling more liberating than he could have imagined.
He walked over and retrieved the rusted cavalry saber, his hand closing around the familiar hilt. The instincts of the swordsman hummed in approval. It wasn't a great weapon, but it was the source of his first skill, and it felt right. He slid it back into its sheath and tucked it into his belt.
"You can't just quit!" Marcus sputtered, getting to his feet. "The shop is ruined! You'll pay for this!"
Kai didn't even look back. He walked to the shattered front window, the sounds of chaos from outside growing louder. Sirens wailed in the distance, punctuated by more screams and terrifying, inhuman chittering.
The street was a warzone. Cars were overturned, some of them on fire. A strange, shimmering crack snaked across the asphalt nearby, leaking a purple haze. Further down the block, one of those Gutter Scuttlers was dragging a screaming woman into an alleyway. This wasn't just in the shop. This was everywhere.
His sister.
The thought hit him like a physical blow, cutting through the shock and the adrenaline. Elara. She was in her small apartment across town. Was she safe?
He fumbled for his phone with shaking hands. The screen was cracked, but it lit up. He had a signal. He quickly tapped her name, pressing the phone to his ear.
It rang once, twice.
"Kai?" Her voice came through, tinny and laced with panic. In the background, he could hear a sound like thunder, and something shattering.
"Elara! Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm in my apartment! I don't know what's happening, there are... things outside, Kai. The building is shaking, I'm so scared—"
A deafening roar cut through the line, followed by a piercing scream from Elara. The call ended in a burst of static.
"Elara!" he yelled into the dead phone. "ELARA!"
His blood ran cold. He had to get to her. Now.
He turned to run, but stopped dead. Blocking the end of the street, drawn by the commotion, were two more Gutter Scuttlers. They turned their multifaceted eyes toward him, their mandibles clicking in unison. They were between him and the only thing in the world that mattered.