The forest remained silent.
The surviving wolves didn’t attack.
They simply lowered their heads.
The alpha’s body lay motionless at Noah’s feet, blood soaking into the black soil.
Noah’s chest rose and fell violently.
His hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From adrenaline.
He had killed before.
Or rather...
The original Noah never had.
But he had.
And the weight of taking a life settled heavily in his stomach.
He looked down at Shadowfang.
Not a single drop of blood clung to its blade.
The dagger had absorbed it.
Every last drop.
A crimson pulse traveled through the ancient runes.
Almost...
Satisfied.
"What the hell are you?"
Before the weapon could answer—or perhaps it never intended to—a familiar notification appeared.
[Level Up Rewards Available]
Stat Points Earned: 5
Skill Unlocked: Blood Sense
Noah blinked.
"So I finally get stats."
A translucent screen unfolded before him.
Noah Blackwood
Level: 1
Title: None
Bloodline: Ragnarok’s Successor (Dormant – 3%)
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Vitality: 8
Mana: 6
Perception: 11
Unassigned Stat Points: 5
Noah studied the numbers.
He had no idea what the average person’s stats were.
Still...
His survival so far hadn’t depended on brute strength.
It had depended on reacting before death reached him.
"Perception."
Without hesitation, he assigned all five points.
The notification chimed.
Perception: 11 → 16
A sharp pain shot through his eyes.
He stumbled, grabbing the nearest tree.
"What the—"
The world changed.
He could hear the rustle of leaves nearly a hundred meters away.
He could hear insects crawling beneath the soil.
The heartbeat from the center of the forest no longer sounded distant.
It was clearer.
Stronger.
Almost...calling to him.
Then Blood Sense activated.
Crimson threads appeared in the air.
They drifted lazily between the trees like strands of silk.
Some were thin.
Some thick.
All of them flowed toward one direction.
The center of Blackthorn Forest.
"What are these?"
[Blood Sense]
The blood of every living creature leaves traces.
Follow them.
Noah looked around.
The wolves were still there.
Each one had a crimson thread flowing from its body.
None of them attacked.
Instead, the oldest wolf stepped forward.
It was missing one eye.
Its muzzle was covered in old scars.
Slowly...
It nudged the alpha’s corpse.
Then looked at Noah.
The message was obvious.
Take it.
Noah frowned.
"The body?"
The old wolf lowered its head once.
Predator’s Instinct remained silent.
No danger.
Cautiously, Noah approached.
The moment his hand touched the alpha’s chest—
Shadowfang vibrated.
A crimson circle spread beneath the corpse.
The ground began swallowing the blood.
The alpha’s body dissolved into countless crimson particles.
Noah instinctively stepped back.
"What the fuck is happening?"
The particles rushed toward him.
Toward the broken crown mark.
Toward Shadowfang.
The weapon absorbed everything.
The System rang loudly.
[Unique Ability Discovered]
Devour
Description:
Shadowfang can absorb the essence of defeated enemies.
Essence may strengthen the host, the weapon, or awaken hidden abilities.
Noah’s breathing slowed.
His eyes widened.
This...
This wasn’t just a leveling system.
It rewarded hunting.
Growing stronger through defeated enemies.
He immediately understood why the wolves hadn’t stopped him.
The alpha hadn’t simply died.
It had been offered.
As if the forest itself had accepted the outcome.
The old wolf turned away.
One by one, the remaining wolves disappeared into the fog.
Within moments...
Noah stood alone again.
Only the heartbeat remained.
BOOM.
Closer now.
Much closer.
The ground trembled.
Leaves drifted from the black trees.
Then...
Blood Sense flared violently.
Not one thread.
Not ten.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
They suddenly began moving.
Fast.
Toward him.
Noah’s expression hardened.
"That’s not good."
The forest erupted with sound.
Branches snapped.
The earth shook.
Something massive was charging through the trees.
Not one creature.
An entire horde.
The crimson threads merged into a river of blood rushing straight toward Noah’s position.
A System notification flashed.
[Emergency Event Triggered]
The Forest Has Begun Its Hunt.
Survive.
Noah tightened his grip on Shadowfang.
His wounds still ached.
His mana was nearly exhausted.
And whatever was coming...
Made the dire wolves feel insignificant.
The first tree ahead of him exploded into splinters.
A gigantic claw burst through the trunk.
Then another.
Then another.
A monstrous silhouette slowly emerged from the crimson mist.
Two burning golden eyes locked onto Noah.
And this time...
Even Predator’s Instinct hesitated.