The roar came again.
Closer.
The stone beneath Rudo's feet trembled slightly.
Behind him, dozens of people froze.
That hesitation killed the first person.
A man turned his head for one second—
Too slow.
Something long and pale lunged from the side tunnel.
A blur.
A crunch.
Blood splashed across the wall.
The scream ended before it truly began.
Panic erupted.
People shoved each other.
Some ran forward.
Some ran back.
Some fell.
Rudo did not move.
He watched.
The creature stepped into the green firelight.
Long limbs.
Skin stretched thin over bone.
No visible eyes.
It did not roar again.
It didn't need to.
Fear was already spreading.
A boy stumbled near the front of the crowd.
Small.
Maybe twelve.
Wrong age to survive alone.
He looked at Rudo.
Not at the monster.
At him.
Begging without words.
Help me.
In his previous life—
Rudo would have moved instantly.
Would have protected the weak.
Would have believed saving people meant building allies.
That belief killed him.
Twenty years ago—
Same Labyrinth.
Same green fire.
He was ten years old.
The youngest in his family.
His father stood tall beside him.
2-Star.
Calm. Powerful. Dependable.
His mother's hand rested on his shoulder.
Also 2-Star.
Strong enough to command respect.
His older brother.
Two older sisters.
All 1-Star.
They adored him.
Protected him.
Shared water with him during the six-day hunger.
Carried him when he grew tired.
They called him "Little Star."
Because they believed he would surpass them.
And he did.
At sixteen—
He reached 1-Star.
At eighteen—
2-Star.
Faster than any of them.
They celebrated.
His mother smiled.
His brother laughed.
His sisters hugged him.
He believed that warmth was real.
He believed blood meant loyalty.
He was wrong.
Killing monsters increases strength.
Everyone knows that.
But killing humans—
Gives more.
Far more.
That truth reveals itself only after reaching Star Rank.
Only after enough blood is spilled.
His father discovered it first.
Then the others.
They were close to 3-Star.
One final push.
One final sacrifice.
They chose him.
Not in anger.
Not in madness.
In calculation.
He still remembers the blade entering his back.
His brother whispering, "I'm sorry."
His sister holding his arms.
His mother looking away.
His father watching silently.
For evolution.
For advancement.
For survival.
Family was temporary.
Stars were forever.
He died staring at the stone ceiling—
Understanding too late.
The present snapped back.
The monster's claws were inches from the boy's throat.
Rudo did not move.
The creature struck.
Blood sprayed.
The boy collapsed.
Silence.
The monster lowered its head to feed.
Rudo counted.
One.
Two.
Three.
He stepped forward.
Precise.
Efficient.
The metal pipe from earlier crushed into the creature's skull.
Green blood hissed.
The body dissolved.
His status window flickered.
Strength: 13
Agility: 13
Evolution Progress: 9%
Nine percent.
Higher than before.
Because he waited.
Because he let someone else weaken it.
Because he did not hesitate.
The first thing to die in the Labyrinth is not the body.
It is mercy.
Rudo looked at the child's corpse.
Warm.
Fresh.
In his previous life—
This sight would have shaken him.
Now—
It only made him think.
How much evolution hides behind morality?
How much strength waits behind hesitation?
Not yet.
He is still weak.
Still Starless.
But this time—
He will not be the sacrifice.
He will not trust smiles.
He will not protect the weak for gratitude.
If the Labyrinth rewards monsters—
Then he will become one.
More ruthless than his brother.
More calculating than his father.
More heartless than his mother.
A deeper tremor shook the tunnel.
The roar came again.
Much closer.
Something stronger is coming to Floor 1.
Good.
Let it come.
Rudo stepped forward into the dark.
This time—
He hunts first.