When Kaelion's back slammed into the wall, his entire body shook.
The air was forced out of his lungs.
For a few seconds he could only open his mouth, desperately trying to breathe.
Then the pain came.
Sharp.
Burning.
[HP -25]
Kaelion gritted his teeth.
"Damn…"
He lifted his head.
In the dim light of the stairwell, a massive silhouette slowly approached.
Werewolf
Rank: E
Level: 8
The creature stood nearly two meters tall.
Its muscles were visible even beneath its thick fur.
Long claws scraped the ground, leaving thin scratches in the concrete with every step.
But the most terrifying thing…
Were its eyes.
Glowing yellow eyes locked directly onto Kaelion.
The purple system screen flickered.
[Warning]
[Target is stronger than your current level.]
Kaelion laughed dryly.
"Yeah… I didn't need you to tell me that."
The werewolf growled.
Then suddenly—
It lunged forward.
Kaelion rolled aside at the last moment.
The werewolf's claw smashed into the wall.
Concrete exploded.
Part of the wall collapsed.
Kaelion's eyes widened.
"That thing… just shattered the wall?!"
The werewolf turned again.
This time it was faster.
Its claw swung toward Kaelion.
Kaelion raised the iron pipe.
The impact was so strong his arms trembled.
The end of the pipe bent.
The werewolf barely seemed affected.
If anything…
It looked even more furious.
"I can't win like this…"
Kaelion quickly looked around.
Then he remembered something.
The wolf he had killed.
The Blood Fang Wolf's corpse still lay a few meters away.
And on its chest…
The purple card remained.
Blank Skill Card
Kaelion's eyes widened.
"Right…"
But the werewolf attacked again.
Kaelion jumped backward.
The claw passed only centimeters from his face.
The air sliced.
"Damn!"
Kaelion rolled sideways.
But he was clearly at a disadvantage in speed.
The werewolf suddenly appeared right in front of him.
Then it kicked him away.
Kaelion tumbled across the ground.
His breath was knocked out again.
[HP -10]
His vision was starting to blur.
"At this rate…"
"I'm going to die."
The werewolf slowly approached.
Each step echoed through the stairwell.
Kaelion's heart pounded.
Then his eyes shifted back to the card.
The card on the wolf's chest.
"If that card works…"
"…maybe…"
The werewolf jumped.
Kaelion threw himself aside at the last moment.
The claws slammed into the floor.
Concrete shattered.
Kaelion didn't waste the chance.
He dashed forward with all his strength.
Running toward the wolf's corpse.
The werewolf roared.
GRRRRRAAA!
And leaped after him.
But Kaelion was faster.
He reached the wolf.
Dropped to his knees.
And grabbed the card.
[Skill Card activating]
Target: Blood Fang Wolf
Purple light flashed.
[Selecting random trait…]
The werewolf was about to strike from behind.
Its claw came down toward Kaelion's head.
The purple light stopped.
Skill Card Acquired
Predator Instinct
Tier: E
Mastery: 0%
The card shattered.
Purple energy flowed into Kaelion's body.
Suddenly—
The world changed.
Sounds became sharper.
The werewolf's breathing…
Its heartbeat…
The sound of its claws cutting through the air…
He could sense everything.
Kaelion's eyes widened.
"This…"
He felt the werewolf's attack before it happened.
Kaelion leaped aside.
The purple system screen appeared again.
Skill Panel
Predator Instinct
Tier: E
Mastery: 2%
The claw struck the exact spot where he had been.
But this time…
Kaelion wasn't there.
The werewolf turned in confusion.
But Kaelion was different now.
His breathing was calmer.
His eyes sharper.
"Now…"
Kaelion tightened his grip on the iron pipe.
"…I can see you too."
The werewolf attacked again.
But this time—
Kaelion moved one step ahead.
And the battle had only just begun.