The stronghold's walls were quiet when Kairis returned, dragging himself through the gate like a shadow. Elyra and Aeren were asleep in their assigned room, their faces peaceful for the first time in weeks. For a moment, he let himself simply breathe, feeling the weight of exhaustion in every muscle.
The system pulsed faintly, no longer just in the back of his mind. It felt alive, whispering, coaxing him forward.
[Quest Completed: Hunt Awakened Beasts – 10/10]
[Reward: Dark Matter Affinity +1 | Ability Insight Unlocked]
The display appeared in his vision, stats and numbers flashing, not as a checklist anymore but as something tangible, something he could grasp.
"About time," he muttered, shoulders sagging as he walked down the dim hallway.
The system interface unfolded in his mind, showing him the latent potential of his Dark Matter affinity. It wasn't the system's usual gift of numbers—this was raw perception.
[New Feature Unlocked: Monster Analysis]
Low-level Dark Matter prevents full comprehension. Further growth required through absorption or combat.
He flexed his fingers, thinking about the Abomination.
Instinctively, his vision flickered. Shadowy outlines of the creatures he had fought—everything from the wolf-thing to the mantis to the bear—glimmered with faint red and yellow numbers hovering above them, fading slowly. He couldn't read them fully yet. Not clearly. But it was the beginning.
The realization settled in his chest like a stone: the stronger his affinity, the more he could see. The more he killed, the more the world's secrets would reveal themselves.
He crouched in the corner of his room, watching the display pulse. The faint numbers floating in his mind were alive, teasing him. He could already feel the difference—the world was no longer just shapes and sounds. It had weight, danger, potential.
Kairis let himself smile faintly, a grin sharp and cold. "Finally. The world's stats are mine to study. And everyone else… they're just playing catch-up."
A knock came at the door. Kaiyara's voice followed, careful, measured. "Kairis… are you alright? The stronghold heard the blast. We didn't know what hit you."
He stood, brushing off dust and blood. His eyes, brown-black but faintly glowing with purple edges, met hers. "I'm fine. Just tired."
She paused, studying him. Something in her tone shifted, subtle but noticeable. "You've… changed. I can feel it. Your Dark Matter… it's different now. Stronger."
He smirked faintly, shrugging. "That's the plan."
And in the back of his mind, the system pulsed once more:
[Insight: Monsters now display stats when within vision. Affinity growth continues with every kill.]
He knew what came next. Stronger monsters. Stronger beasts. Ones that would force him to evolve or die. But for now, he allowed himself a small, human moment—watching the numbers flicker in his mind, seeing a world he could finally begin to control.
And tomorrow, he would step out again. Alone. Hunting. Learning. Evolving.
Because he was no longer just surviving. He was growing.
And nothing in this ruined world would escape his sight for long.