The creature lay still.
Its body no longer moving, its presence fading into the silence of the forest as if it had never existed, leaving behind only the faint trace of the fight that had taken more from them than it had given—at least until now.
Han Chandu and Han Sen stood where they were.
Breathing heavier.
Bodies tense.
Waiting.
Because they had already learned—
The fight was never the end.
The result was.
A faint panel appeared.
But only to one of them.
[ Notification ]
→ Basic Creature Killed
→ Basic Beast Soul Obtained (Knife Type)
Han Chandu's gaze didn't change.
Didn't shift.
But he saw it clearly.
Han Sen didn't.
"…did anything drop?" Han Sen asked, his voice low but steady, his eyes still on the corpse.
A brief pause.
Han Chandu answered calmly.
"…something."
Not a lie.
Not the full truth.
Just enough.
His gaze moved toward the faint glow forming near the creature's body, visible only to him, subtle and quiet as it gathered into a single point before drifting toward him as if drawn by something unseen.
He didn't move much.
Didn't react openly.
But as it reached him—
It disappeared.
Not into his hand.
But into him.
For a brief moment—
Darkness.
Silence.
Then—
A space.
Endless.
Calm.
Like a still ocean under a night sky.
Within it—
Something appeared.
A faint light.
Small.
Sharp.
Taking form slowly—
A knife.
Floating.
Quiet.
Stable.
His Soul Sea.
Han Chandu's eyes returned to normal instantly, the entire moment passing in less than a second outwardly, leaving no visible change, no reaction, nothing that could be noticed.
Han Sen watched him for a moment.
"…what is it?"
Han Chandu shook his head slightly.
"…we eat first."
Simple.
Direct.
Han Sen didn't question further.
Because survival came before everything else.
They moved toward the creature, preparing it roughly, their actions still unrefined but more efficient than before, guided not by skill but by necessity, the smell unpleasant, the process crude, but hunger didn't allow hesitation.
They sat.
And ate.
Slowly.
Silently.
Each bite forced down with purpose.
Not for taste.
Not for comfort.
But for strength.
Time passed.
The forest remained silent.
Then—
A faint panel appeared again.
This time—
For both of them.
[ Notification ]
→ Basic Creature Meat Consumed
→ Ordinary Gene +1
Han Sen froze slightly.
"…so this is it."
Han Chandu looked at the panel.
Calm.
But certain.
Because now—
Everything was clear.
Killing—
Gave chance.
Eating—
Gave growth.
He stood up slowly, his body still carrying fatigue, but something subtle had changed, something small, something that couldn't be seen but could be felt.
Han Sen stood as well, rotating his shoulder slightly, testing his body.
"…I feel it," he said.
Not stronger.
Not faster.
But—
Different.
A beginning.
A faint panel appeared again.
[ Status Update ]
Ordinary Genes → 1 / 10
Han Sen let out a slow breath, his tension easing just slightly.
"…finally something."
Han Chandu didn't respond immediately.
Because his attention shifted inward again.
For just a brief moment.
That silent space.
That still ocean.
And within it—
That knife.
Waiting.
Not in his hand.
But inside him.
A weapon.
A hidden one.
His.
Alone.
His eyes opened fully again.
Calm.
Steady.
"…we move," he said quietly.
Han Sen nodded.
No hesitation.
Because nothing had changed.
Not really.
The forest was still dangerous.
The world still unforgiving.
One gene.
One hidden weapon.
Was not enough.
Not yet.
They turned.
Walking forward once again, their steps careful, their senses sharp, their bodies still tired—
But now carrying something more.
Something real.
Something earned.
And as they moved deeper into the unknown—
The first step of their true growth—
Had finally begun.