The forest thickened as Travis moved deeper, the glowing roots tangling around his feet like living hands trying to pull him back, yet every step carried him forward, and the air vibrated with a tension that made his teeth chatter and his skin prickle, as if the dimension itself was breathing, alive, waiting, testing, daring him to falter.
The remnants of the last hunt dissolved into the underbrush, fragments of ichor and crystal fading like embers, leaving only the memory of the creature's roar echoing in his mind, and that memory sharpened his instincts, making him lean into the rhythm of the forest, every motion of his body anticipating the unseen predators lurking beyond the glowing mist, because in this place hesitation was death, and survival demanded everything.
A rustle, soft at first, drew his eyes toward a clearing, where shadows pooled like spilled ink, and his system pulsed against his vision.
[Entity Detected: Tier One Predator.]
[Threat Level: E-Rank.]
Small, but fast. Quick. A pack perhaps, testing, circling. His hands flexed on the steel rod still strapped to his forearm, knuckles white, senses sharpening as the system fed him patterns, timing, movement, and he realized that every creature here moved with a logic that was cruel yet beautiful, a dance of death he had only begun to understand.
The first strike came without warning—a blur of claws snapping from the mist, and Travis' body flowed with the system's rhythm, sidestepping, countering, moving as though he and the forest were one. Each dodge led into the next, each roll and pivot flowing naturally into a strike, his rod smashing into the lead creature, sending it skidding across the leaf-strewn ground, but others circled closer, growls low and hungry.
He felt the warmth of the essence waiting to be claimed, the whispers of power flowing into him, and for the first time he allowed a smile to break across his bloodied face, because he understood the rhythm of the hunt now, the law of predator and prey, the system's unspoken rule: kill, absorb, evolve, and never stop.
The predators lunged in unison, faster than he anticipated, but Travis flowed with them, weaving through their attacks, landing blows in sequence, each hit connecting as the system guided his body, his mind catching up with instinct, until he could almost predict the next strike before it came, and every predator that fell added to his strength, his speed, his vitality, building a fire inside him that refused to be quenched.
By the time the last shadow dissolved into glowing fragments, Travis stood in the mist-draped clearing, chest heaving, muscles trembling, a layer of sweat and blood coating his skin, yet he felt alive in a way that no ordinary life had ever offered. The system's numbers updated rapidly, the glow of power feeding through him, and he knew, without a doubt, that this dimension would forge him into something more than human.
[Hunt Complete.]
[Essence Acquired: +3 Strength, +2 Vitality, +2 Agility.]
[Skill Progression: Predator's Instinct Lv.3 → Lv.4.]
Travis wiped the ichor from his face and scanned the dense fog ahead, noting that the forest stretched endlessly, the shadows shifting with a life of their own, whispering secrets, threats, challenges, and he walked forward, letting each step flow from the last, each breath follow naturally, each heartbeat synchronize with the rhythm of the dimension itself, because there was no turning back, no pause, no safety, only the hunt, only the evolution, and only the endless test that awaited him deeper in the mist.
And somewhere beyond the mist, the Oblivion Nexus waited, patient, silent, planning, but Travis did not care yet, because here, now, he was the apex, the hunter, the predator that would shape the fate of everyone in his world, one step at a time, one kill at a time, as he moved deeper into the unknown.
The mist curled around Travis' ankles like smoke, thickening with every step, and the trees seemed to lean closer, their glowing leaves whispering in a language he could not understand, yet the system's pulse guided him, each heartbeat aligning with the rhythm of the forest, telling him where to step, when to breathe, and when to strike.
Every sound was amplified—the snap of a twig underfoot, the rustle of unseen wings, the low growl rolling across the fog, and he realized the dimension itself was alive, aware, testing him, pressing him to move faster, think sharper, and adapt more ruthlessly than ever before, because here survival was earned in blood, not luck, and every predator, every shadow, every pulse of energy demanded a response.
A sudden movement caught his eye, a flash of crimson across the white mist, and Travis tensed, instincts flaring, body flowing as the system whispered patterns, weaknesses, openings, and before he could even think, the creature lunged, elongated limbs snapping forward with predatory precision, fangs bared, claws gleaming like knives, and Travis sidestepped with fluid motion, letting his momentum carry him past the strike as his rod slashed upward, tearing into the beast's flank, sending sparks of energy scattering across the glowing foliage.
It howled, a chilling sound that reverberated through the mist, but the system guided him relentlessly, pushing him to weave, pivot, strike, and dodge in an endless loop of motion, each attack flowing into the next, each counter leading seamlessly into another, and Travis felt his senses sharpen, his reflexes refine, and his body become something more than human as adrenaline, pain, and exhilaration fused into a single, burning focus.
The creature lunged again, faster this time, and Travis caught its movement before it even started, sidestepping, planting his foot firmly, swinging the rod with precise force into a gap in the armor-like hide, feeling the satisfying give as his strike landed true, ichor splattering across his arms and face, and the scent of blood fueled him, igniting his focus, sharpening his mind to the system's rhythm, making each decision instantaneous, instinctive, flawless.
Other shapes moved in the mist, circling, testing him, yet Travis didn't hesitate, flowing from one strike to the next, letting every kill feed him, every fragment of essence settle into his bones, hardening them, strengthening his limbs, and with each heartbeat, he felt the predator inside him grow, sharpening like a blade forged in fire, ready to cut through the dimension itself if necessary.
By the time the final shadow dissolved, Travis was breathing heavily, sweat and blood mixing on his skin, muscles trembling with exertion, yet the warmth of power radiated through him, filling every nerve, and the system displayed the updates in his vision.
[Hunt Complete.]
[Essence Acquired: +4 Strength, +3 Agility, +2 Vitality.]
[Skill Progression: Predator's Instinct Lv.4 → Lv.5.]
He stepped forward, eyes scanning the misty expanse, every sense alert, heart pounding in sync with the forest itself, feeling the pulse of life, danger, and energy coursing through the dimension, and he knew, without hesitation, that each step forward would forge him further, that every kill would carve him into a weapon capable of standing against anything the Oblivion Nexus could throw at humanity.
The whispers of the forest grew louder, swirling around him like a living current, carrying secrets, threats, and opportunities, and Travis allowed himself to follow, letting every thought, movement, and decision flow naturally into the next, moving as one with the rhythm of the dimension, because he understood now—there was no pause, no hesitation, only evolution, and the path ahead stretched endlessly, waiting to test him beyond every limit.
He grinned, bloodied, exhausted, alive, and with one final glance into the shifting shadows ahead, Travis Asreth stepped deeper into the forest, letting the mist close behind him as he flowed into the unknown.
The mist clung to Travis' legs like icy fingers, each step sucking him deeper into the forest as though the dimension itself wanted to swallow him whole, and his lungs burned with every inhale while his heartbeat hammered like a drum in his ears, but the system pulsed softly in his vision, nudging him forward.
Great. Just what I needed, he thought, wiping a streak of blood and ichor from his temple. A forest that wants to kill me with ambiance.
A low growl slithered through the fog, vibrating through the roots under his feet. Travis froze, muscles taut, eyes scanning, every nerve screaming that something was waiting—watching, calculating. Not just a predator. A thinker. Something smarter than before. Damn it, why does it always get smarter?
The mist shifted and a shadow emerged—a sleek quadruped with molten-gold eyes, claws scraping the stones hidden beneath twisted roots. The system blinked in his vision.
[Entity Detected: Tier Two Predator.]
[Threat Level: D-Rank.]
D-Rank? Small fry? Hah, try telling that to whatever is about to shred me into paste.
The beast crouched, tail twitching, muscles coiled. Travis felt the tension in its limbs radiate like heat against his skin. He raised the jagged steel rod, knuckles white, and let his breath flow with the rhythm of the predator.
It leapt.
Here we go… okay, reflexes, react, roll—yes, yes, yes, he muttered under his breath as he rolled forward, letting momentum carry him under snapping jaws. The rod slashed upward, connecting with the creature's side. Sparks of energy danced across the mist. The predator shrieked, twisting to regain balance.
Think, Travis. Think. Where's the opening? Predict, anticipate. Don't just react like a fool.
He pivoted, letting the beast's weight guide him, twisting and driving the rod into its flank again, feeling the ichor spray hot against his arms. Warmth surged, power settling into his limbs, sharpening reflexes. God, this feels… incredible. But it's terrifying too. Can't stop. Won't stop.
Other shapes moved in the mist, circling, whispering of threats waiting beyond his sight. Travis' mind raced—calculate, adjust, attack, survive. Every strike flowed into the next. Every dodge became instinct. Every movement felt like water, moving around rocks, yet cutting its way forward.
The final strike came naturally, instinctively. He rammed the rod into the predator's neck, feeling resistance, twisting, and the creature convulsed violently, fragments of glowing essence scattering into the fog.
Breath heaving, muscles trembling, Travis staggered back, vision slightly blurred, and the system displayed its updates:
[Hunt Complete.]
[Essence Acquired: +5 Strength, +3 Agility, +3 Vitality.]
[Skill Progression: Predator's Instinct Lv.5 → Lv.6.]
That… that was close, he whispered, wiping sweat and blood from his face. Too close. But I can feel it… the system is feeding me, shaping me… I'm… I'm actually becoming stronger.
The mist swirled, shadows shifting like they were alive, whispering secrets, threats, challenges, and he let his eyes follow them, letting every thought, every heartbeat, every breath flow into the next. There's more ahead. There has to be. And if the Oblivion Nexus thinks they can sit back, they're in for a surprise.
Travis' grin was slow, bloodied, exhausted, yet fierce. Let them come. Let them see what a nobody can become. I'll hunt. I'll kill. I'll evolve.
And with that, he stepped deeper into the forest, letting the mist close behind him, letting the trial shape him, letting every moment flow naturally, because he had understood fully now—there was no turning back, only forward, only evolution, and only the hunt.
The mist thickened, wrapping around Travis like a living shroud, every step sinking slightly into the glowing roots that pulsed beneath his feet, and he could feel the rhythm of the forest vibrating through his bones, a warning, a heartbeat, a challenge he couldn't ignore.
This place… it's alive. Watching. Judging. Waiting for me to slip up, he thought, tightening his grip on the jagged steel rod. Great. Just my luck. A forest with ambition.
A low, guttural growl vibrated through the air, and Travis froze, instincts screaming. The mist shifted, revealing multiple shadows moving fluidly between the trees, shapes that flowed with the fog, glints of golden eyes catching faint light.
[Entities Detected: Tier Two Predators – Pack Formation.]
[Threat Level: C-Rank.]
Pack formation? Oh, wonderful… teamwork now. Guess they've been reading the same survival manual I have, he muttered under his breath, scanning the movement carefully, calculating angles, timing, and distances. His heart pounded, but the system's hum in his vision steadied him, guiding each breath, each step.
The leading predator lunged first, a blur of claws and fangs aimed for his chest. Travis' body moved before his mind fully processed it, rolling under the strike, rod swinging in a perfect arc, connecting with the creature's side. Sparks flew, ichor splattering across his arm, and he felt the warmth pulse through him, a tangible reminder that every kill now strengthened him.
Okay… okay… keep flowing. Don't hesitate. Don't think too far ahead, just move, he thought, adjusting his stance as the next predator circled, eyes glinting, calculating his patterns. They're smart… smarter than I expected. I need to anticipate, not just react.
He pivoted, letting one predator's momentum carry him past another, striking in seamless motion, every dodge leading into a swing, every block feeding into a counter. His body was a weapon now, every movement synchronized with the system's guidance.
[Warning: Fatigue rising. Vitality at 85%.]
Great, perfect. Just when I start feeling invincible, my body decides it hates me, he groaned silently, muscles screaming. Can't stop. Won't stop. Not now. Not ever.
A predator leapt from the shadows, claws extended, teeth bared. Travis anticipated, rolling low, bringing the rod down on its flank, feeling the give as ichor sprayed across the glowing moss. His vision flickered with the system updates.
[Hunt Complete: Partial.]
[Essence Acquired: +4 Strength, +2 Agility.]
[Skill Progression: Predator's Instinct Lv.6 → Lv.7.]
Partial…? Travis muttered, eyes narrowing. Still more. There's always more. The remaining shadows circled, stalking, testing, whispering in the rhythm of the mist, and he let his mind sync with theirs, predicting their next move, his breath steady, muscles taut, every thought flowing into action seamlessly.
He struck again, rolling through a claw strike, spinning into a counter that slammed into the nearest predator, ichor and light blending across his skin. Faster… stronger… smarter… this is what the system wants. This is what I want.
By the time the final shadow dissolved, Travis stood in the clearing, chest heaving, sweat, blood, and ichor coating him, and yet, he felt stronger than ever, every kill, every movement, every thought embedding deeper into his body, forging him into a weapon no ordinary creature could match.
[Hunt Complete.]
[Essence Acquired: +6 Strength, +4 Vitality, +3 Agility.]
[Skill Progression: Predator's Instinct Lv.7 → Lv.8.]
He wiped the residue from his face, inhaling the misty air, tasting its metallic tang, feeling the pulse of the forest sync with his heartbeat. Deeper… always deeper. There's more, I can feel it. Shadows shifted, waiting, whispering, daring him to step further, and Travis smiled, bloodied, exhausted, exhilarated.
Bring it on. I'm ready for everything this place has, he whispered, stepping forward, letting the forest close around him as he flowed seamlessly into the next trial, the hunt, and the evolution that awaited.