Chapter 40: The Hunt Begins
Kazuki stood atop the hill, the wind tousling his hair as he gazed out at the dense forest stretching far into the horizon. The morning sun cast long shadows, and the air was crisp with the scent of pine and fresh dew. Behind him, Elara and Tara approached, their expressions serious.
"Are you sure you want to do this so soon?" Elara asked, her brow furrowed. "You just regained control over Alpha Command. Pushing yourself too hard might—"
"I don't have time to wait," Kazuki said, his eyes fixed on the forest below. "The power I absorbed from Lady Arwen is still unstable. I need to test it — and I need to get stronger."
Tara crossed her arms, her lips forming a thin line. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Kazuki smirked, a fierce light burning in his eyes. "By hunting."
Elara and Tara exchanged glances. "Hunting what?" Tara asked cautiously.
"The beasts of the Shadow Vale," Kazuki said, his gaze unyielding. "I need to know exactly what Alpha Command is capable of."
Elara's face paled. "The Shadow Vale? Are you insane?! Those monsters are on a completely different level than the Dire Wolves!"
Kazuki's smirk widened. "Exactly."
Moments later, they descended the hill, making their way toward the forest. The trees loomed tall and foreboding, their branches twisting together to form a canopy that blotted out the sun. A chill ran down Elara's spine as they entered the dark woods.
[New system notification: Location detected — Shadow Vale. Beast levels range from Class C to Class A. Proceed with caution.]
Kazuki's heart pounded in his chest. The thrill of the hunt coursed through him, the anticipation of battle setting his blood on fire.
"Stay close," Kazuki said, his eyes scanning the dense foliage. "We're not alone."
As if on cue, a low, menacing growl echoed from the shadows. The bushes rustled, and a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness. A massive bear-like creature stepped forward, its fur matted and blackened as if charred by fire. Its jaws dripped with thick, viscous saliva, and its claws gleamed like polished steel.
[Beast Identified: Shadow Grizzly — Class B.]
Kazuki's grin widened. "Perfect."
The Shadow Grizzly roared, charging forward with earth-shaking force. Kazuki leaped back, narrowly avoiding a swipe of its massive paw. The ground shattered beneath the impact, dirt and stones flying everywhere.
"Stay back!" Kazuki shouted to the girls as he activated Alpha Command.
[Alpha Command activated. Skill: Primal Awakening.]
A surge of crimson energy enveloped Kazuki, and his body seemed to grow, his muscles tightening as power coursed through him. His eyes glowed a feral red, and a pair of spectral wolf ears appeared atop his head.
The Shadow Grizzly roared again, lunging at Kazuki. But this time, Kazuki met it head-on, his fist colliding with the beast's jaw. A shockwave erupted, sending both of them skidding back.
"Kazuki!" Elara shouted, her eyes wide with worry.
Kazuki wiped the blood from his lip, his grin savage. "Not bad. But now it's my turn."
He lunged forward, his body moving with unnatural speed. The Shadow Grizzly swung its paw, but Kazuki ducked beneath it, sliding between the beast's legs and slashing at its Achilles tendon with a blade of crimson energy.
The beast roared in agony, collapsing to one knee. Kazuki didn't let up. He leaped onto its back, grabbing a fistful of its fur and channeling all his power into a concentrated burst of Alpha Command.
[Alpha Command — Beast Assimilation initiated.]
The air shimmered as Kazuki's hand sank into the beast's back. The Shadow Grizzly howled, its body convulsing as crimson energy flowed from it into Kazuki. The power was intoxicating — raw, untamed, and filled with the primal fury of the beast.
Kazuki's muscles bulged, his senses sharpening as the Shadow Grizzly's abilities fused with his own.
[Assimilation complete. New skill acquired: Beast Strength. Temporarily increase physical power by 200% for 60 seconds.]
The Shadow Grizzly's body collapsed, its eyes dull and lifeless. Kazuki stood over it, panting heavily, his entire body radiating with new power.
Elara and Tara rushed forward, their faces etched with concern.
"Kazuki! Are you okay?" Elara asked, grabbing his arm.
Kazuki grinned, his eyes still gleaming with the remnants of the crimson energy. "I'm better than okay," he said, clenching his fist. "I feel stronger than ever."
Tara frowned, glancing at the dead beast. "But you absorbed its power... Is that safe?"
Kazuki's expression darkened. "I don't know. But if I want to survive in this world, I need to take every advantage I can get."
Elara bit her lip, her eyes shadowed with worry. "Just... don't lose yourself in it, okay?"
Kazuki's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on her cheek. "I won't. I promise."
But as they walked away from the dead Shadow Grizzly, Kazuki couldn't shake the feeling that something inside him had changed — something dark, primal, and hungry. And as the shadows of the forest closed in around them, Kazuki knew that the hunt had only just begun.