The violet shimmer of the Gate sealed behind him, cutting off all sound from the outside world. Renji stood in silence, the twisted forest stretching endlessly ahead. The air was dense, heavy with an unnatural pressure. Shadows slithered through the trees as if alive.
His fingers brushed the cold metal of the Gate Pass Card the school had given him.
"No turning back now…"
He inhaled sharply, steadying the wild pounding of his chest.
A chime echoed in his head.
[System Update]
Host: Renji Kurozawa
Rank: D (Bronze)
Talent: Adaptive Evolution
Beast Resonance: 55%
Attributes:
Strength: 72
Agility: 68
Endurance: 74
Vitality: 70
Perception: 65
Luck: 61
[Active Skills]
Feral Claw (D Rank) – Beast-type claw strike infused with void energy.
Dash (D Rank) – Burst movement, speed + agility for short bursts.
Predator's Gaze (D Rank, Growth Skill)
Cooldown: 6 hours
Duration: 25 minutes
Condition: Must last 45 sec against target.
Serpent Shedding (D Rank) – Temporarily shed injuries/ailments at stamina cost.
Viper Aura Armor (D Rank) – Energy scales increase defense.
Alpha Aura (D Rank) – Intimidates/weaken beasts beneath user's level.
Echo Sense (D Rank) – Detects vibrations/sound in environment.
Void Sense (D Rank) – Perceives movements, shapes, and life signatures in wide radius.
[Passive Skills]
Fearless Tenacity (D Rank) – Resistance to fear, boosts morale.
Bullmantis Endurance (C Rank) – Fusion Skill: Stamina recovery + fatigue resistance; resonance scatter disperses force of incoming attacks.
Renji clenched his fists.
"Glad I used that fusion card when I hit D-rank…"
Just seeing the glowing C-rank skill at the bottom of the list made his chest swell with something unfamiliar. Pride.
The ground shuddered.
A low growl echoed from the thickets. Then a massive shadow burst from the underbrush, red eyes glowing like embers.
The Bear Voidspawn—towering, rippling muscle under blackened fur, claws gleaming with an unnatural sheen. Its roar shook the forest floor.
Renji's instincts screamed run. His body tensed, heart hammering. But he forced himself lower into his stance.
"I've faced worse."
He snapped Void Sense on. The world slowed. Every ripple of movement in the air, every tremor of the bear's charge, lit up like sparks in his perception.
The beast lunged.
Renji moved.
Dash ignited, his body flickering sideways as the monster's claws shredded a tree trunk where he'd stood. Bark exploded into shards.
He twisted, Feral Claw igniting in his hand. Beast essence energy licked across his fingertips. He slashed—the strike carved across the bear's shoulder, burning through fur and flesh. The Voidspawn howled, staggered, then spun with surprising speed, paw swiping like a hammer.
Renji braced.
Bullmantis Endurance pulsed through his veins. The paw slammed into him, but instead of breaking bones, energy dispersed—the resonance scatter flickering faintly around his body. Pain shot through him, but he stayed upright, a menacing grin tugging at his lips.
"C-rank endurance… hell yes."
Snarling, he lunged again. Feral Claw ripped across its throat. Blood sprayed. The beast collapsed in a thunderous crash, kicking up dust.
Renji panted, sweat dripping down his brow.
One down.
The forest went quiet. Too quiet.
And then—
The earth trembled harder.
From deeper in the woods, a roar thundered louder, deeper, primal.
Renji's breath caught.
The Boss Bear emerged. Towering nearly twice the size of the first, its fur bristled with jagged bone-like spines, eyes glowing molten gold. Each breath steamed like fire. Its claws dragged trenches in the soil as it advanced.
"…you've got to be kidding me."
His eyes flicked to his status window.
"Am I really that unlucky?"
The Boss roared. The shockwave split the air, cracking trees under the pressure.
Renji's instincts screamed louder than ever. His knees shook. But Fearless Tenacity pulsed—blunting the fear, sharpening his focus.
This was it.
He activated Predator's Gaze. His vision warped, pupils dilating until the world burned red.
A message blinked.
---
[Predator's Gaze Activated]
Target Locked: D-Rank Voidspawn
Skill: Heart of the Beast
Copying in progress…
Survive for 00:45 seconds.
---
Renji gritted his teeth. He had to hold on.
The Boss charged, earth quaking with each step.
Renji roared back, Viper Aura Armor wrapping his body in scales of void-light. Claws collided with scales, shattering pieces but stopping the strike. Renji countered with Feral Claw, but the Boss barely flinched, swiping him aside. He rolled, bones screaming but not breaking thanks to Bullmantis Endurance.
Thirty seconds.
Blood dripped from his lip. He spat,tightening his fists. His body screamed in pain, but his heart thundered, louder, faster. He slid his knuckle weapon onto his hand.
Twenty seconds.
He burst forward with Dash, slipping under the Boss's claws, slashing at its hind leg. It staggered but swung backhand, smacking him into a tree. The trunk exploded into splinters.
Ten seconds.
His chest felt like it would burst. He dragged himself upright, every muscle shaking.
The Bear loomed, claws raised for the finishing strike. Renji dodged by instinct, rolling aside.
Zero.
---
[Skill Acquired: Heart of the Beast (D Rank)]
Effect: Temporarily accelerates blood flow and heart rate.
Boosts Strength, Stamina, and Endurance dramatically for a short duration.
---
Renji groaned.
"I really didn't need all this beating just for a new skill…"
Then the power hit him. His heart ignited. Veins burned molten red. Strength flooded his body, muscles coiling like steel cables. His eyes glowed faint crimson.
The Boss struck.
Renji caught its claw—with one hand.
The Boss's eyes widened in primal confusion.
Renji roared, driving his fist—no, his claw—straight into its chest. Beast essence energy burst like a cannon. The Bear howled, staggering back.
He didn't let up. He moved like lightning, each blow cracking bone, tearing flesh. His heart thundered like a war drum, each beat pushing him further, faster, harder.
At last, with one final Feral Claw, he ripped through its throat.
The Boss crashed to the ground, shaking the forest.
Silence.
Renji stood over the corpse, chest heaving, blood dripping from his arms—but alive. Stronger. Changed.
He exhaled, staring at his trembling hands.
"Heart of the Beast, huh…?"
A small, tired smile tugged at his lips.
"Guess I really am a monster now."
Then, as he walked toward the collapsing Gate, he muttered under his breath—
"I wonder how strong Denji is…"