First Hunt
The night air felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Not a single insect chirped. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Garud stood near the edge of the farm field, barefoot on the cold soil. The moonlight reflected faintly in his sharpened eyes—eyes that now noticed every movement, every vibration in the air.
Karan stood a few steps behind him, holding a wooden farming tool like a weapon.
"So…" Karan whispered, forcing a smile,
"This is your first hunt, huh?"
Garud didn't answer.
The system panel hovered in front of his vision.
Quest: First Step of the Heir
Status: In Progress
Objective: Test your awakened body
Condition: Engage a hostile entity
Garud clenched his fists.
So it really wants me to fight…
Suddenly—
The system flashed red.
"Hostile entity detected."
Distance: 48 meters
Direction: South-East
Garud's head snapped toward the sugarcane fields.
The crops rustled.
Slowly.
He raised his arm, signaling Karan to stop.
"Don't come closer," Garud whispered.
"No matter what happens."
Karan swallowed hard.
"Garud… that thing better not be big."
The sugarcane parted.
Something stepped out.
At first glance, it looked human.
Too human.
Its body was thin, unnaturally thin, with arms hanging longer than they should. Its skin was pale gray, stretched tightly over its bones. Its head twitched sharply from side to side—as if sniffing the air.
Then it smiled.
Its mouth split open wider than a human's ever could.
Rows of crooked teeth gleamed in the moonlight.
"Found…"
"You…"
Karan's knees almost gave out.
"That's… not human," he whispered.
Garud felt it.
A pressure in his chest.
Fear.
But beneath it—
Something else stirred.
Calm.
Cold.
Focused.
The system updated.
Enemy Identified:
Name: Lesser Shade
Type: Scout-class demon
Threat Level: Low
The creature tilted its head.
"Smells like… Shiva…"
In an instant—
It lunged.
Too fast for a normal human eye.
But Garud moved.
His body reacted before his mind did.
He stepped aside—smooth, instinctive—and the creature's claws tore through empty air.
Garud felt it.
So this is my speed…
The Lesser Shade shrieked and turned sharply, swinging again.
Garud blocked.
Barehanded.
The impact sent a shock through his arm—but it didn't break.
It didn't even hurt.
He grabbed the creature's wrist.
And squeezed.
CRACK.
The demon screamed.
Black blood splashed onto the soil, hissing like acid.
Karan stared in horror.
"Garud—your eyes—!"
Garud didn't hear him.
The world had narrowed.
Just him.
And the enemy.
The Lesser Shade tried to pull away.
Garud stepped forward and drove his fist into its chest.
The sound was dull.
Wet.
The demon flew backward, crashing into the field.
It convulsed violently.
Then the system spoke.
"Finish the target."
Garud walked toward it slowly.
The demon looked up at him—fear finally replacing hunger.
"Heir…" it croaked.
"You don't know what's coming…"
Garud raised his hand.
For a moment, he hesitated.
This is my first kill…
Then he remembered—
The storm.
The village.
His parents.
Lord Shiva's words.
He brought his hand down.
The ground cracked.
The Lesser Shade's body shattered into black smoke and ash, dissolving into nothingness.
Silence returned.
The system chimed.
"Enemy defeated."
Quest Progress: Complete
Reward Acquired."
Notifications flooded his vision.
Strength +3
Agility +2
Skill Unlocked: Basic Combat Mastery (Passive)
A final message appeared.
"Divine Power: +1"
Garud exhaled slowly.
His hands trembled—not from weakness, but from reality settling in.
Karan ran to him.
"You—You just—"
"You killed it!"
Garud nodded.
"Yeah…"
Karan looked at the spot where the demon had vanished.
"So this is real," he said quietly.
"Monsters… systems… gods…"
He looked at Garud.
"And you're in the middle of all of it."
Garud stared at the night sky.
"Not by choice," he said.
"But I won't run."
Far away—
In a place where light did not reach—
A pair of crimson eyes opened.
"The Heir has tasted blood…"
A deep voice echoed through darkness.
"Send the next one."