The darkness before him was alive.It breathed, wheezed, spat venom and whispers.
And Yeon Woo walked into that darkness without turning back.
There was no longer just blood flowing through his veins.It roared, surged like a boundless storm tearing through everything in its path.
His flesh—recently devoured—itched invisibly, hungering for new victims.
But Yeon Woo restrained himself.For now.
He needed more.More power.More flesh.More bones beneath his feet.
And in that moment, as if the sky itself had heard his silent vow, his path was blocked.
Five figures emerged from the gloom.
No sound of footsteps.No flare of aura.Only a chilling stillness.Only a murderous indifference to the world.
On their black armor gleamed silver crests—intertwined fangs and arrows.
Yeon Woo knew that symbol.
The Hounds of the Great Hunter.
An elite execution squad.Those who exterminated the impure.Those who hunted those who dared disturb the balance.Those who killed beings like him.
Their eyes glowed cold yellow beneath their helmets.
—In the name of the Elder Council, — one of them declared, his voice tolling like a bell in an empty temple. — You are charged with violating the Code of Human Purity. You are a Devourer. You are an exile.
Yeon Woo stared at them silently.
He didn't step back. He didn't plead for mercy.
Because he knew—there would be none.
It was either him—or them.
—Prepare to die, — another said.
And the battle began.
They moved as one shadow.
The first strike was swift as a snake's bite—A spear of enchanted metal sliced through the air, aiming straight for Yeon Woo's chest.
He dodged sideways, feeling the blade graze his shoulder.
Pain flared—but Yeon Woo only bared his teeth.
Pain was a reminder that he was still alive.
He slammed into the nearest Hound, putting all his weight into the blow.
The armor rang dully, but the enemy did not flinch.Instead, he slammed a heavy gauntlet into Yeon Woo's face.
Stars exploded behind Yeon Woo's eyes. He staggered.
The second Hound was already there, his blade darting from the shadows toward Yeon Woo's throat.
Yeon Woo dropped low, knees grazing the filthy floor.Gripping his dagger in his left hand, he drove it into the joint between the armor plates.
Warm blood sprayed his fingers.
The Hound groaned—but did not fall.
They were trained. They were killing machines.
But Yeon Woo was a monster.
As the Hounds closed in, something inside him stirred, fluttered, called.
Devour. Devour. Devour.
He knew—if he activated Devour right now, his chances would soar.But he also knew—it left him vulnerable.A single moment of weakness could mean death.
He chose to fight.
He chose blood.
And he surged forward.
Blades clashed in the night—on bone, on flesh, on skin.
Yeon Woo's every move teetered on the edge of instinct and madness: dodge, lunge, strike, bite, tear.
He shattered.
He destroyed.
He broke bodies like a child breaking toys.
But the Hounds were too well-coordinated.They worked in pairs, covering each other, luring him into traps, carving his flesh with a thousand cuts.
Blood poured from his wounds.
Yeon Woo's breathing grew heavy, ragged.
He felt his strength slipping away.
And then he realized: he had to break them now—or die.
Without hesitation, he poured every ounce of despair, every flicker of rage, every breath of hatred into his blade—and charged the nearest foe.
The strike was so fierce the dagger plunged into the Hound's neck to the hilt.
The man gurgled, clutching his throat—but it was too late.
Yeon Woo tore the helmet off his head—revealing a young face, barely older than a boy, twisted in fear.
Without a moment's pause, Yeon Woo activated "Flesh Devour."
The world exploded in crimson light.
As the others attacked, he drank in the new strength.He felt his muscles harden into steel,His vision sharpen,His heartbeat forging him into something else.
Something greater.
When the light faded, he met the next blows without fear.
Shield.
Spear.
Sword.
He caught them in his hands.
Snapped them.
Tore off fingers.
Shattered bones.
He became a living storm of flesh.
Another Hound fell.And another.
And when only one remained, he trembled.
—M-monster... — the last Hound whispered, backing away. — You're not human... That's not human...!
Yeon Woo approached slowly, stepping through blood, shattered armor, entrails.
—Human? — he said with a grim smile. — Not anymore.
And with one movement, he snapped the Hound's neck.
Silence returned.
But it was no longer the same silence.
Not empty.Not mute.
This silence whispered his name.
It acknowledged his right.
To live.
To take.
To bleed.
System Notification: Elite Hounds of the Great Hunter defeated.
Acquired: "Battle Instinct (Beginner Level)."
Devouring complete. Evolution continues.
Warning: Hidden mutation threshold reached. Devourer Path has entered stage: "Rebirth I."
Yeon Woo's body shuddered as a new wave of transformation tore through him.
His heart pounded faster.
His skin darkened, thickened.
His eyes burned with a crimson glow.
He felt it—more pain awaited.More battles.
More blood.
But he wasn't afraid.
Now, he knew his place in this world.
Not among pitiful hunters.
Not among doomed men.
He stood above them.
He was a Devourer.
And his hunger had only just begun.