The street became quiet again.
Only the faint sound of distant sirens echoed through the city.
Renzo looked down at the monster lying on the pavement.
The Shadow Fang Wolf.
Even after death, its body still radiated faint energy.
Dark fur.
Sharp claws.
Dense muscle.
All valuable materials.
Kensei-Ryu spoke with interest.
"So this is your first harvest."
Renzo crouched beside the corpse.
"In my previous life… hunters sold monster parts to blacksmiths."
He placed a hand on the wolf's body.
"But this time…"
A faint golden glow appeared in his palm.
"...I am the blacksmith."
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"The forge recognizes living energy."
The golden light spread across the monster's corpse.
Renzo felt it instantly.
Information.
Whispers.
Just like when he touched scrap metal.
But stronger.
Much stronger.
"Monster bone… high durability."
"Shadow-infused fur… resistant to cutting."
"Fang core… contains energy."
Renzo's eyes sharpened.
Monster materials were far better than normal metal.
Which meant one thing.
Better equipment.
Kensei-Ryu chuckled.
"Try it."
Renzo didn't hesitate.
He focused.
The golden light intensified.
The wolf's body slowly began dissolving into glowing fragments.
Fur.
Bone.
Energy.
All pulled into the forge.
Heat filled the air.
Renzo concentrated carefully, shaping the materials.
Not a weapon this time.
Something smaller.
More precise.
Then—
CLINK.
A small item formed in his hand.
A dagger.
Short.
Dark.
The blade carried faint purple veins inside the metal.
A system window appeared.
Item Created
Name: Shadow Fang Dagger
Rank: E
Effect:
• Increased damage against monsters.
Renzo raised an eyebrow.
"E-rank already."
Kensei-Ryu laughed loudly.
"You upgraded immediately."
Renzo spun the dagger once in his hand.
Not bad.
For a first monster.
But just as he stood up—
A distant crash echoed from the next street.
Metal bent.
Glass shattered.
Renzo froze.
Kensei-Ryu spoke quietly.
"...Another one."
A deep roar echoed through the buildings.
Much louder than the wolf.
Renzo turned toward the sound.
Then he saw it.
A massive creature smashed through the side of a parked car.
It was twice the size of the wolf.
Thick muscles.
Long curved horns.
And glowing red eyes filled with rage.
The system window appeared again.
Monster Detected
Type: Iron Horn Boar
Rank: E
Kensei-Ryu whistled.
"Well… that escalated."
The boar snorted violently, tearing the car door completely off.
Its hooves cracked the asphalt as it stomped forward.
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"A stronger material."
Renzo slowly raised Chrono Fang.
The dagger remained in his other hand.
His heartbeat remained steady.
E-rank monsters were stronger.
But Renzo had killed creatures far worse in his previous life.
The boar spotted him.
Then it charged.
The ground trembled under its weight.
Kensei-Ryu laughed.
"Try not to die in your first hour back."
Renzo stepped forward.
Not away.
Forward.
At the last second—
He moved.
Sliding to the side with perfect timing.
The boar crashed past him.
Renzo's blade flashed.
CLANG.
Sparks flew as Chrono Fang struck the creature's armored hide.
Renzo jumped back.
His eyes sharpened.
"Harder than the wolf."
Kensei-Ryu grinned.
"Good."
The boar turned again, furious.
Renzo adjusted his stance.
This fight would take more than one strike.
And somewhere far away…
The first gate had just begun releasing monsters into the world.
The hunt had officially begun.