The road to Verdane was little more than a dirt trail carved through thick woods and ancient stone paths, overgrown from disuse. The main caravans rarely took this route—it was too dangerous, too wild, too forgotten.
Which made it perfect for someone like Kai.
He traveled alone, his senses on high alert. Each step on the uneven trail echoed louder than the last in his mind. The System pulsed faintly behind his eyes, its interface constantly shifting.
[Area Status: Outer Wilds – Hostile Zone]Recommended Caution: Ambush Risk – Moderate]
He didn't need a warning to stay sharp.
Not an hour into the journey, he caught the scent—wet fur, iron, and rot. He knelt by a clawed track in the dirt, deep and wide. Not fresh. But not old, either.
[New Threat Detected – Wild Clawpack]Scanning…Type: Beast | Classification: Ki-mutated predator]Threat Level: Group Combat Recommended]Perception Check Passed – Weakness Identified: Throat / Rear Legs]
Kai tightened his grip on his Embersteel blade.
Then he heard the growl.
A low, guttural snarl rolled through the underbrush. One beast lunged from the trees—twice the size of a wolf, with twisted, bone-plated shoulders and glowing yellow eyes.
Kai didn't hesitate.
He sidestepped its leap and slashed low, catching the soft joint behind its knee. The beast howled.
[Critical Hit – Weak Point Exploited]Damage Dealt: 42]
He ducked as two more burst from the trees.
Too many for a direct fight.
He bolted, drawing them back toward a fallen log bridge he'd passed earlier. As he ran, he mentally opened his stat panel.
[Unspent Stat Points: 3]Allocate Now?Y/N
He whispered, "Yes."
[+2 Agility | +1 Ki Control]
His body surged. The world seemed to slow as his reflexes sharpened.
He vaulted the log and turned mid-air, launching a burst of flame downward.
[Skill: Ember Pulse (C) – Activated]
A wave of fire exploded below him. Two of the beasts yelped in pain as their fur lit up, rolling and thrashing.
Kai landed, blade drawn, and rushed the last one.
Slash—dodge—thrust—burn.
Within minutes, the woods were silent again, save for the crackle of dying flames and labored breaths.
[Battle Complete: Victory]**XP Gained: +150]Items Dropped: Beast Hide x2 | Clawcore Fragment x1Skill Progression: Ember Pulse → Lv.2
Kai wiped blood from his cheek.
He had survived his first real fight alone.
And the road ahead had only just begun.