He had won.
But he wasn’t safe. Not yet.
[Trial Challenge #2: Infernal Hunt]
- Objective: Survive until dawn.
- Progress: 1/?? Enemies Eliminated.
- Time Remaining: 7:42:23
His vision blurred for a moment. His body was beyond exhausted. His muscles ached, his lungs burned, and his hands still trembled from gripping his weapons too tightly.
He had used his brains to win, but that wouldn’t keep working. Eventually, something faster, smarter, or just too damn strong was going to come for him.
Axel gritted his teeth. No time to rest.
He pulled up his status screen again, checking his new gains.
Name: Axel Ravensworth
Level: 4 (+1)
Class: Unassigned
Stats:
- Strength: 8 (+1)
- Agility: 9 (+2) (Phantom Cloak bonus applied)
- Intelligence: 10 (+1)
- Endurance: 9 (+1)
- Luck: 1
New Skill Gained!
- [Predator’s Instinct (Rank E)] – Enhances sensory perception when tracking enemies. Detects nearby threats within a 50-meter radius.
Axel’s eyebrows shot up. A tracking skill?
His heartbeat quickened. That was huge. He could sense enemies before they found him, giving him time to set traps, avoid ambushes, or prepare an attack.
"Alright," he muttered, gripping his knife tighter. "Time to test this out."
He focused, activating [Predator’s Instinct.]
Immediately, a pulse spread through his surroundings.
The city lit up in his mind like a predator’s hunting ground. He could feel movement—the faint tremors of something stalking nearby.
Three… no, four signals.
They weren’t random monsters. They were hunting him.
Axel barely had time to react before the first shadow lunged.
CLANG!
He twisted just in time, raising his Steel Pipe to deflect a clawed strike aimed at his throat. Sparks flew as razor-sharp talons scraped against metal.
Axel’s eyes narrowed. New enemy.
The creature crouched in front of him, hissing. It was humanoid, but wrong—its limbs were too long, its skin stretched taut over wiry muscles. Jagged, bony protrusions lined its arms and shoulders, giving it the appearance of a living weapon.
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[Analyzing Target...]
Axel’s stomach twisted.
A pack hunter.
That meant—
THUD.
A second Night Reaver dropped from a nearby rooftop, landing behind him.
A third and fourth emerged from the alleyway, their glowing red eyes fixed on their prey.
They were coordinating.
And he was trapped.
Axel swallowed hard. "Well, shit."
The first Reaver lunged again, swiping its clawed hand at his gut. Axel dodged, rolling to the side and slashing out with his Hunting Knife.
The blade sliced across its ribs, but it barely flinched.
"Not deep enough," Axel muttered.
Before he could react, the second Reaver pounced.
Axel twisted, but not fast enough.
The creature’s claws raked across his back, sending searing pain through his body. He staggered forward, gritting his teeth.
System Warning: HP Critical!
Axel’s breath came in sharp gasps. If he took another hit like that, he was done.
Think.
He had two weapons. He had speed.
But he was outnumbered.
Then an idea hit him.
Axel gritted his teeth and ran—straight toward the alley wall.
The Night Reavers chased immediately, their clawed feet scraping against concrete.
But Axel wasn’t running away. He was setting them up.
As he reached the wall, he jumped, kicking off the surface with both feet.
The sudden momentum sent him flipping backward—right over the first Reaver’s head.
As he soared past, he brought the Steel Pipe down—HARD.
CRACK!
The pipe crushed the back of the Reaver’s skull.
The creature shrieked, its body collapsing instantly.
[Enemy Eliminated: Night Reaver]
- XP Gained: 250
Axel landed in a crouch, spinning to face the others.
One down. Three to go.
The remaining Reavers hissed, their aggression spiking. They didn’t wait this time.
They rushed him all at once.
Axel didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a discarded beer bottle, smashed it against a car, and hurled the jagged glass into the face of the second Reaver.
The creature shrieked, momentarily blinded.
Axel used the opening.
He lunged forward, knife in hand, and stabbed straight into its spine.
The Reaver convulsed, a gurgled snarl escaping its throat, before it collapsed.
[Enemy Eliminated: Night Reaver]
- XP Gained: 250
Two left.
Axel spun just in time to see the third Reaver leaping at him.
He had no time to dodge.
Instead, he dropped to one knee, raising the Steel Pipe.
The creature impaled itself on the jagged end.
Its own momentum drove the pipe through its throat.
[Enemy Eliminated: Night Reaver]
- XP Gained: 250
Final one.
The last Reaver hesitated.
It had seen the others die. It knew it was alone now.
Axel smirked, blood dripping from his lips. "Not so tough without your pack, huh?"
The Reaver hissed… then turned and bolted.
[Enemy Retreated]
- XP Partial Reward: 100
Axel let out a long breath. His body screamed in pain, but he was still standing.
And dawn was getting closer.