The first monster reached him in seconds.
A massive boar-like creature burst through the trees, its tusks jagged and blackened like broken blades. Its red eyes locked onto Kael, filled with mindless hunger.
It charged.
The ground shook with every step.
Kael didn't move.
Not yet.
Behind the boar, more shadows rushed forward—wolves, twisted creatures, crawling beasts with too many limbs.
The system wasn't playing around.
It had sent a swarm.
"…Twenty-four hours," Kael muttered.
Energy flickered around his fingers, unstable but alive.
"Then I'll survive twenty-four hours."
The boar lunged.
At the last second, Kael stepped aside.
The beast slammed into a tree, snapping it in half with a deafening crack.
Before it could turn—
Kael struck.
His palm slammed into its side, releasing a burst of unstable energy.
The force exploded outward.
The boar screamed as its body was thrown sideways, crashing into the ground.
But it didn't die.
It stood again.
Stronger than the wolf.
Much stronger.
Kael clicked his tongue.
"Of course."
More monsters closed in.
No time.
No rest.
No strategy.
Just survival.
[Warning: Multiple Hostile Targets Detected]
[Survival Probability: 18%]
Kael smirked.
"Still better than zero."
The boar charged again.
This time, Kael ran forward.
Not away.
Toward it.
At the last moment, he slid under its tusks and slammed both hands into its chest.
"Break."
Energy surged.
Unstable.
Wild.
Exploding through the beast's body.
Cracks spread across its skin like shattered glass.
The monster roared in pain—
Then collapsed.
Dead.
[Energy Devourer Activated]
Dark energy flowed into Kael's body.
Pain shot through his veins again.
But strength followed.
His breathing steadied slightly.
His wound tightened.
Not healed completely—
But better.
"…Good."
He turned.
More monsters were already attacking.
A wolf leaped toward his throat.
Kael grabbed it mid-air and twisted.
Bone snapped.
He threw the corpse aside.
Another creature lunged from the shadows.
Claws tore across his shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Kael countered instantly, driving energy into its skull.
It dropped.
[System Integrity: 79%]
The message flickered briefly.
Kael noticed it.
His eyes sharpened.
"So every time I use this…"
The system weakens.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Another roar echoed.
Louder this time.
The ground trembled.
The smaller monsters suddenly stopped.
Then slowly backed away.
Fear.
Real fear.
Something bigger was coming.
Kael turned toward the darkness.
A massive shape emerged from the trees.
Tall.
Towering.
Almost three meters high.
Its body was covered in thick black armor-like skin, and its glowing eyes burned like molten fire.
A horned beast.
No—
A mutated predator.
The ground cracked beneath its steps.
[Warning: Elite Predator Detected]
[Threat Level: Extreme]
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Elite, huh?"
The beast roared.
The sound shook the entire forest.
Then it charged.
Fast.
Faster than anything before.
Kael barely dodged as its claw tore through the ground, leaving a deep crater.
Too strong.
Too fast.
Too durable.
He stepped back, breathing carefully.
I can't fight this head-on.
The beast attacked again.
Kael dodged, but this time its tail struck his side, sending him flying into a tree.
The impact knocked the air out of his lungs.
He crashed to the ground hard.
Pain exploded through his body.
Blood filled his mouth.
"…Damn."
The beast walked toward him slowly.
Confident.
Certain.
Like it already knew he would die.
The system flickered again.
[Emergency Suggestion]
[Authorize System Combat Support]
Kael laughed weakly.
"Still trying."
He wiped the blood from his lips.
"No."
The beast lunged.
Kael forced himself up at the last second and jumped aside.
The ground shattered where he stood.
He landed roughly, breathing hard.
Think.
Think.
Think.
Then he saw it.
The cracked system interface.
The unstable energy.
The trait.
Energy Devourer.
Rule Breaker.
An idea formed.
A dangerous one.
Kael smiled.
"…Let's try something new."
The beast charged again.
This time—
Kael didn't dodge.
He ran toward it.
The system flickered violently.
[Warning: High-Risk Action Detected]
"Too late."
The beast swung its claw.
Kael grabbed it.
Pain exploded through his arm.
Bones cracked.
But he held on.
And activated everything at once.
Energy Manipulation.
Energy Devourer.
Rule Breaker.
All of it.
Dark energy surged violently.
Not just from the beast—
But from the system itself.
[CRITICAL ERROR]
[System Energy Leakage Detected]
The beast roared in agony.
Kael screamed as energy tore through his body.
It felt like burning alive.
Like his soul was being ripped apart.
But he didn't let go.
"I told you…"
Energy exploded outward.
The forest shook.
The sky flickered.
The beast collapsed.
Dead.
Completely drained.
Kael dropped to his knees, gasping for air.
The system flickered violently.
[System Integrity: 70%… 66%…]
Kael laughed weakly.
"I told you…"
He looked at the broken interface.
"I'm your worst nightmare."
The forest fell silent again.
The smaller monsters had vanished.
Only corpses remained.
And Kael—
Still alive.
Barely.
But alive.
The system flickered one last time before going quiet.
[Survival Timer: 23 Hours Remaining]
Kael lay back on the ground, staring at the crimson sky.
"…Long night ahead."
But his smile didn't fade.
Because now he understood something important.
The system wasn't invincible.
It could bleed.
And if it could bleed—
It could die.
The night continued.
And Kael prepared for war.