"Finally…" Shen let out a breath of relief.
Above him, sunlight pierced the bleak darkness of the cavern. His heart surged with hope.
He crouched low, one hand on the floor, muscles braced.
"I can make this jump, right?" he asked with one brow arched.
[Affirmative.]
Shen smirked, closed his eyes, and leapt. The stone beneath him cracked like spiderwebs as he shot upward. For a moment, wind roared past his ears, and when he opened his eyes—
The sky.
He burst from the pit, sunlight washing over him. Shen laughed, pure joy spilling out.
"I'm out! I actually—ah sh*t!"
He hadn't thought about landing.
Branches whipped his body as he crashed through the treeline, each one breaking his fall until he slammed into the ground. Pain flared white-hot through his limbs.
"Awesome…" he groaned, face-first in the dirt.
The System chimed:
[Body power output exceeded. Recovery required: 00:10:00]
"G—damn it." Shen hissed and let himself collapse. "Fine… I'll wait."
---
The Temple
High on the mountain, Shu stood at his desk, the crimson daggers gleaming in the lamplight. His hand lingered on the hilt, mind wandering to Shen.
The door burst open. Jin rushed in, chest heaving, sweat streaming down his face.
"GRANDMASTER!"
Shu turned. The urgency in Jin's eyes froze him.
"The… the Kingdom of Luthor has been destroyed."
Silence fell heavy. Shu stood motionless, as if the world had stopped.
Luthor — the ancient kingdom that shielded their beliefs, that had pardoned Shu's past crimes. Gone. Which meant… nothing stood between his enemies and the temple.
His jaw tightened. "Commence evacuation. Use the scrolls. Every disciple must leave immediately. I'll hold them off as long as I can."
Jin hesitated. "…And Shen?"
Shu's gaze hardened. "I'll bring him back. I swore to his parents I would never abandon him." His voice cracked, then steadied. "I will not break that promise."
For a brief moment, Shu's stern mask faltered. He thought of all the times Shen had driven him to frustration, and the boy's infuriating smirk. He whispered under his breath:
"Don't die doing something stupid, Shen. I couldn't forgive myself."
---
The First Kill
[Recovery complete.]
Shen flexed his arms, rolling his shoulders. "Finally. Time to move again."
His stomach growled viciously. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Food first."
Scanning the forest, his eyes landed on a massive boar, tusks sharp as daggers, rooting near a tree.
The System pulsed in his head:
[Target for nourishment identified. Engaging attack mode.]
Suddenly, the world slowed. Every heartbeat thundered in his ears, every rustle of leaves stretched into eternity.
"This again…" Shen muttered, grin tugging nervously at his lips. "Alright then. Let's see what I can do."
He blurred forward. The boar turned, too late. Shen lunged, arms locking around its neck. With a desperate wrench—
CRACK.
The sound split the forest.
Shen froze. His hands trembled around the limp body. The boar twitched once, then stilled.
"…I… killed it." His voice cracked.
Warm blood seeped onto his arms, steaming in the cool air. The iron stench hit his nose, choking him. His stomach lurched, bile rising in his throat. This wasn't like the rats — this was bigger, heavier… closer to human.
His knees buckled, and he dropped the carcass. "Gods… I actually… I killed it…"
The System cut through, cold and merciless:
[Nourishment secured. Consume to optimize growth.]
Shen's jaw clenched. "You don't care, do you? Just eat, get stronger… that's all this is to you."
[Correct. Survival requires efficiency.]
He stared at the body, chest heaving. Memories of Shu's words burned in his head: Seek glory.
Shen stepped forward, forcing himself down to the carcass. "It's me or it. I'll do whatever it takes."
The first bite nearly made him gag — but then it hit.
Heat surged through his veins, energy flooding his limbs. His nausea melted into fire, raw and intoxicating. His lips curled into a shaky grin.
"…So this is what power feels like."
His vision sharpened. His body felt denser, stronger. He flexed his fingers, looking at the blood on them. The grin widened, steady now.
"If this is the price of glory… then I'll pay it."
---
The Growl
Shen dragged the boar aside and wiped his mouth, chest heaving. He forced a laugh.
"Funny… last time I saw one of these, Shu had to save my ass. Guess I've grown, huh?"
The forest answered with a low, rumbling growl.
His smile faded. Slowly, Shen turned.
The System pulsed, sharp and clinical:
[Warning: Attack imminent.]