After the departure of Modret's parents, a certain weight that had once been lifted long ago resurfaced, pressing heavily on his chest. Modret recognized the feeling immediately.
It was nervousness, creeping back into his heart. Without his parents' presence, there was nothing to deter those who harbored malicious intent. Assassination attempts could now descend on him freely.
They no longer feared the retribution of his family. Eliminating him would be swift and silent. Over the years, Modret had asked himself the same questions countless times.
'Was he prepared enough? Was he truly ready to handle all the responsibilities?' Modret still did not know the answers. But he knew one thing. Sooner or later, he would have to face them.
He sighed softly and drifted into sleep. Tomorrow would bring another hunt.
The night passed peacefully. With Anna's scarf wrapped snugly around his neck, Modret felt an unexpected warmth. It wrapped around him like a quiet embrace.
That night, he dreamed. It was an unusual dream—pleasant, vivid—and it made him smile even while asleep.
In the room next to his, Axel also slept soundly.
The following morning, Modret was awakened by Axel's voice coming from nearby.
"Young master. It's time to prepare for the hunt!"
Hearing those words, Modret groggily opened his eyes and turned to look at the youth who was already dressed in dark training gear.
He rubbed his eyes, sat up slowly, and groaned. "Why do you always wake me so early?" With heavy steps, he stood and headed toward the bathroom. He knew his bath had already been drawn.
Axel shook his head slightly, an amused smile threatening to escape his lips. 'This is the usual time we head to the forest to hunt wild beasts. But unlike before, when I would often find him wide awake, it seems the master's departure caused him to oversleep.'
Soon after, two figures dressed in black training outfits, each holding a bow and arrow, stepped quietly into the forest.
It had become a habit for Modret and Axel. Over the years, they had refined their routine. More than a year ago, after Xara hunted down countless small creatures in the forest, the animals had become scarce.
This scarcity sent waves of panic through the village. Many villagers had no other source of income or food. Their livelihoods suffered. For months, the situation remained grim until the surviving animals slowly reproduced, giving birth to a new generation that could be hunted again.
Understanding the fragile balance of the forest, Modret adjusted his strategy. He ordered Xara to reduce his hunting frequency. And when he turned ten, the age at which he was finally allowed to venture into the forest, he began hunting animals with his bow.
Axel, acting as his life guard, was responsible for both protecting and guiding him through the process.
Not long after they entered the forest, Modret came to an abrupt halt. His ears twitched. With the help of his sound-enhancing abilities, he detected a soft, crunching sound in the distance.
He raised a hand slightly to signal Axel to stop, then whispered, "There is a wolf at twelve o'clock, due north…"
Axel was not surprised. He had spent enough time with Modret to know about his rare perception skills.
'It seems the young master has once again detected the target before me…'
While Axel considered this, Modret pulled back the string of his longbow. The bow groaned as it stretched, creaking under the tension. His vision shifted subtly. He could now clearly see over thirty meters ahead.
His body adjusted as well, shifting into the perfect stance. This was the result of his B-grade ability—Body Adaptability. It allowed Modret to naturally and rapidly adjust his movements to suit any weapon he wielded.
Holding the arrow steady, he waited for a moment, then released.
WHOOSH!
The arrow flew forward, vanishing into the distant underbrush. Within three seconds, a faint glow flashed before Modret's eyes.
[Gained 50 Shadow Fragments]
He glanced at the notification and smiled faintly. 'Just like when I kill ordinary humans, slaying animals subtly enhanced by mana also grants 50 Shadow Fragments.'
'I wonder how many Shadow Fragments I would gain from killing a true awakened beast,' he thought. Once an animal walked the path of awakening, they became what people called awakened beasts.
Noticing Modret's relaxed expression, Axel immediately understood. 'He never misses. Taking down a target from such a distance… even I would likely need a few tries. I should try that method too…'
Axel's thoughts faded as Modret began walking again.
Soon, another sound reached Modret's ears.
"A deer?" he murmured aloud, drawing Axel's attention.
Axel followed his gaze but frowned slightly. 'Again, I cannot see anything. The young master truly is… unique.'
He leaned against a thick tree and watched silently as Modret raised his bow once more, then released.
WHOOSH
The arrow disappeared again. A few seconds later, another system message appeared.
[Gained 50 Shadow Fragments]
Modret's expression remained calm as he began moving in a new direction.
Time passed. As dusk crept in and the moon began to rise into the darkening sky, Modret turned to Axel and gave a small nod.
In response, Axel swiftly scaled a few trees and located the deer that Modret had just shot. This was another one, different from the one earlier.
He threw it over his shoulder and made his way back.
As he approached, a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Young master, tonight's meal looks promising. You'll be the one preparing the grilled meat, right?"
Thanks to the memories from his previous life, Modret had learned a few recipes. Grilled meat was one of them. Or as it was more commonly known—a steak. A thick, juicy steak.
Modret chuckled softly and shook his head. Just then, his expression changed.
One of his passive abilities—Danger Sense—had suddenly activated.
His heart began pounding. Without a second thought, he lunged at Axel and tackled him to the ground.
BANG!
The moment they crashed to the forest floor, a deafening explosion rang out. The tree that had stood behind Axel shattered into splinters.
Both of them slowly rose, stunned and breathless.
Modret narrowed his eyes, focusing on a figure approaching through the smoke and dust. The figure's pace was calm and controlled. Within seconds, he stood before them.
Modret's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.
It felt like something from his worst nightmares.
The figure in front of him wore a pale blue mask. The eyes behind that mask radiated a cold, terrifying calm that sent chills through Modret's entire body.