Jack spat a thick line of blood onto the black sand, each breath sending lightning bolts of agony through his shattered ribs.
His vision swam at the edges, darkness creeping in like tide water. The taste of copper filled his mouth, and he could feel his strength bleeding out with every heartbeat.
'Too fast... I need...'
The world tilted dangerously. He was dying. In less than a minute, this demon had reduced him from a confident hunter to broken prey gasping in the sand.
'Think, damn it. Think or you die Jack.'
The System's chime cut through the ringing in his ears.
[DING!]
[New Skills Available for Purchase]
[Warning: Host vitals critically low]
[Immediate action recommended]
Jack's heart hammered against his cracked ribs as he fought to focus through the haze of pain. The notification felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man.
'Now? Perfect fucking timing.'
His hands shook as he mentally navigated the interface, black spots dancing across his vision.
