The monster moved first.
The Ironfang Hound lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive claws tearing through the rain-filled air.
Kael's instincts screamed.
He stepped back—
But the creature was faster.
Its claws crashed into the ground where he had been standing a second ago, splitting the asphalt apart.
Fragments of stone flew everywhere.
Kael rolled across the wet pavement and barely managed to stand again.
His heart pounded wildly.
"Level 5… seriously?"
Another red system window appeared.
[Enemy Analysis]
Ironfang Hound
Level: 5
Threat Level: High
Kael wiped the rain from his face.
"So you're telling me to fight something stronger than me…"
He looked at the monster again.
"…with nothing?"
The creature growled.
Its yellow eyes burned with hunger.
Then it charged again.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kael barely had time to react.
"Shadow Step!"
The world blurred.
For a split second, everything turned black.
Then—
Kael reappeared behind the monster.
He stumbled slightly, surprised.
"That actually worked!"
But the Ironfang Hound spun around immediately.
It was smarter than he expected.
The creature's tail whipped through the air like a steel hammer.
BAM!
Kael was thrown across the street.
His back slammed into a parked car.
Pain exploded through his body.
"Ghh…!"
A new window appeared.
[Warning]
HP: 78%
Kael groaned.
"Great… now I have health bars too."
The monster slowly approached him.
Each step echoed like thunder.
For the first time, fear crept into Kael's chest.
I can't beat this thing.
But the system spoke again.
[Combat Tip]
Exploit enemy weaknesses.
Kael frowned.
"Weakness…?"
He looked at the monster carefully.
Armored body.
Thick claws.
Massive muscles.
Then he noticed something.
The eyes.
They were the only part of its body that wasn't protected.
Kael slowly stood up.
Rain poured down his face.
The monster roared and rushed forward again.
This time— Kael didn't run.
He waited.
Five meters.
Four.
Three.
Two—
"Shadow Step!" The world shifted again.
Kael vanished from sight.
And reappeared directly above the monster.
His body fell through the air.
His fist clenched tightly.
"Take this!"
He drove his fingers straight toward the creature's glowing eye.
CRACK!
The Ironfang Hound screamed.
A horrifying, ear-splitting sound.
Black blood exploded outward as Kael's hand pierced its eye.
The monster thrashed violently.
Kael jumped away before its claws could rip him apart.
The creature staggered.
Blind on one side.
Its movements became unstable.
Kael's breathing grew heavy.
"Now…"
The monster roared again.
But this time— Kael moved first.
"Shadow Step!"
He appeared beside its head.
And with every bit of strength he had left— He drove his fist deep into the same wound.
THUD!
The Ironfang Hound collapsed.
The ground shook.
The monster twitched once.
Then went completely still.
Silence returned to the street.
Only the rain remained.
Kael stood there, breathing heavily.
"…Did I win?"
Then the system chimed.
[Target Eliminated]
Multiple red windows appeared at once.
[Quest Complete]
Begin the Collapse
Reward Granted
Kael blinked.
"Reward?"
Another message appeared.
[Level Up]
Level 1 → Level 3
Warm energy flooded through his body.
The pain in his muscles disappeared.
His strength returned.
Kael clenched his fists.
"…Whoa."
But the system wasn't finished.
Another message appeared.
[New Skill Acquired]
Skill: Devour (Level 1)
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Devour?"
The description appeared.
Devour:
Consume defeated enemies to absorb a portion of their strength.
Kael stared at the screen.
"…That sounds insanely broken."
But then—
The system displayed another message.
The words were darker than before.
[Hidden Objective Updated]
Kael felt a strange chill.
The message slowly appeared.
[The End of the World has begun.]
Kael looked at the dead monster lying in the rain.
His chest tightened slightly.
"…You're serious, aren't you?"
The crimson letters flickered ominously.
And somewhere far away— More monsters began to roar.
The night had only just begun.