The night air felt heavier than before.
Rayan stood in the middle of the broken street, breathing hard. The two monsters slowly circled him, their claws scraping against the road.
The dark energy from Shadow Drain still flowed through his body.
He could feel it.
His strength… his speed… everything had increased.
Rayan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at the monsters.
"Alright… let's finish this."
The first monster charged.
Its claws cut through the air.
Rayan moved instantly.
Using his new speed, he stepped to the side and grabbed the creature's arm.
"Got you."
Dark shadows wrapped around his hand.
"Shadow Strike!"
CRASH!
The attack blasted the monster into a nearby car, crushing the metal.
The creature let out a painful roar and stopped moving.
Immediately, the system appeared again.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Dark Points +10]
Rayan smiled slightly.
"So that's how I level up."
But the last monster was already rushing toward him.
It jumped high into the air and tried to slam its claws into him.
Rayan quickly rolled forward.
The monster crashed behind him.
Before it could turn—
Rayan attacked.
He drove his fist forward, covered in dark energy.
BOOM!
The monster was thrown backward and slammed into a wall.
For a moment, everything became quiet.
Then the system appeared again.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Level Up!]
A bright flash surrounded Rayan.
He felt power rushing through his body again.
[Level: 3]
[Dark Points: 15]
Rayan exhaled slowly.
"So this system really makes me stronger…"
But suddenly—
CLAP… CLAP… CLAP…
Someone was clapping slowly from the end of the street.
Rayan froze.
His eyes snapped toward the sound.
A tall man stepped out from the shadows.
He wore a long black coat, and his cold eyes were fixed directly on Rayan.
"You handled those monsters pretty well."
Rayan immediately became alert.
"…Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly.
"You can call me The Hunter."
Rayan frowned.
"And why are you here?"
The man stopped walking a few meters away from him.
His eyes glowed slightly red in the darkness.
"Because someone like you… shouldn't exist."
Rayan felt a strange pressure coming from him.
This man was far stronger than the monsters.
The Hunter slowly pulled a strange weapon from his back.
"I've been ordered to capture you."
Rayan clenched his fists.
"And if I refuse?"
The Hunter smiled coldly.
"Then I'll break every bone in your body… and drag you with me."
The street suddenly became silent again.
The system appeared in front of Rayan.
[Warning: Extremely Dangerous Enemy Detected]
Rayan swallowed slowly.
"…Great."
He raised his fists again as dark energy began gathering around him.
Looks like the real fight…
Was about to begin.