The forest felt normal.
No pressure.
No heaviness.
Just silence.
Han Chandu stepped forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
Not deep.
Not shallow.
Just within range.
Because today—
Was not about pushing limits.
It was about balance.
His steps were light.
Measured.
No wasted movement.
Then—
A faint sound.
Quick.
Light.
Han Chandu stopped.
His eyes shifted.
And he saw it.
A Red Tail Fox (Ordinary Creature).
Its body small.
Fast.
It noticed him.
Paused.
Then turned—
Trying to escape.
Han Chandu moved.
One step.
The Blood Fang Blade Beast Soul formed.
A single strike.
Clean.
The fox dropped.
Dead.
Then—
"Red Tail Fox (Ordinary Creature) killed."
A pause.
"No Beast Soul gained."
No reaction.
Too weak.
He didn't stop.
Moved forward.
A heavier presence appeared.
Slow.
Dense.
Then—
An Ironhide Boar (Primitive Creature) stepped out.
Thick skin.
Heavy body.
It snorted.
Aggressive.
Then charged.
Fast.
Direct.
Han Chandu stepped aside.
Minimal movement.
The charge missed.
He stepped in.
Blade moved.
A cut to the leg.
Not deep—
But enough.
The boar turned.
Slower.
Predictable.
Han Chandu moved again.
Second strike.
Same point.
Deeper.
The leg weakened.
Third strike—
The boar collapsed.
He stepped forward.
Finished it.
Then—
"Ironhide Boar (Primitive Creature) killed."
A pause.
"No Beast Soul gained."
He continued.
Not rushing.
Not stopping.
Balanced.
Then—
A new presence appeared.
Heavier.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Then—
A Black Spine Wolf (Mutant Creature) stepped out.
Its body lean.
Muscles tight.
Black spikes along its back.
Eyes locked on him.
It didn't hesitate.
It attacked.
Fast.
Much faster than primitive.
Han Chandu stepped back.
Clean.
The claws missed—
Barely.
Closer than before.
He adjusted.
Immediately.
No panic.
The wolf attacked again.
Sharp.
Direct.
Han Chandu moved sideways.
Minimal gap.
Then—
He stepped in.
Close range.
The blade moved.
A deep cut.
The leg.
The wolf staggered—
But didn't fall.
It turned instantly.
Fast.
Its reaction—
Sharper.
Han Chandu stepped back.
Reset distance.
Observed.
Pattern.
Speed.
Weakness.
Then—
The wolf lunged again.
Aggressive.
Predictable.
Han Chandu moved.
This time—
Forward.
Blade struck.
Same leg.
Deeper.
The joint cracked.
The wolf stumbled.
Balance breaking.
That moment—
Was enough.
Han Chandu didn't hesitate.
Second strike.
Clean.
Precise.
The wolf collapsed.
Still moving—
But slower.
Weak.
He stepped forward.
Finished it.
Then—
"Black Spine Wolf (Mutant Creature) killed."
A pause.
"Beast Soul gained."
Silence returned.
Han Chandu stood still.
Three kills.
Controlled.
But different.
Because this time—
There was pressure.
Mutant level.
Higher risk.
Higher result.
He crouched.
Prepared the meat.
Started a small fire.
Then—
He ate.
(No notification appeared.)
He continued.
Still—
(No notification appeared.)
He stopped.
Because he already knew.
Ordinary.
Primitive.
Both—
Max.
No system response.
No confirmation.
Only silence.
Then—
He switched.
To the Black Spine Wolf (Mutant Creature).
He ate slowly.
Measured.
Not rushing.
Because he understood something clearly—
This was not about eating everything.
This was about absorption.
The body—
Had limits.
Not total capacity—
But per session absorption.
Even if he ate more—
The result would not change.
The system would stop responding.
The excess—
Would be wasted.
Or better used elsewhere.
Trade.
Future use.
Control.
So he stopped.
Not because the meat was finished.
But because the gain—
Was complete.
Then—
Mutant Gene +1
Mutant Gene +1
Mutant Gene +1
Mutant Gene +0
He put the rest aside.
Carefully.
Because this—
Was valuable.
Mutant level.
Not to be wasted.
He stood.
Calm.
Controlled.
Because today—
Was not just stability.
It was understanding.
Limits.
Efficiency.
Choice.
He moved back.
At a distance—
He stopped.
The armor formed.
Black.
Silent.
Shadow.
He looked toward the shelter.
This time—
He would trade.
Not all.
Only what remained.
Because power—
Was not gained by greed.
But by control.
And that—
Was something most hunters—
Didn't understand yet.