The forest did not welcome him.
It watched.
Silent. Patient. Unforgiving.
Kael stood still for a long moment, staring at the empty space where the creature had vanished, his breathing slowly stabilizing but his mind anything but calm. The damp air clung to his skin, the faint scent of earth and moss filling his lungs with every breath, grounding him in a reality that still felt too sudden, too unreal. Just minutes ago, he had been walking through a lifeless routine under cold rain. Now… he had killed something. No—absorbed it.
"…This is insane," he whispered again, but the words felt weaker this time, as if even his disbelief was already starting to fade.
Because something inside him had changed.
He could feel it clearly now.
Not just physically—but deeper.
His body felt lighter, more responsive, like every movement required less effort than before. His senses were sharper, more precise. The world around him seemed… clearer. Every sound had direction, every motion had meaning. Even the air itself felt different, as if he could almost read it.
Mente Analitica Suprema…
The ability was working constantly, silently organizing information, breaking down what he saw, what he felt, what he experienced.
And then there was the other one.
Assorbimento Totale.
Kael slowly raised his hand, staring at it as if seeing it for the first time. Just moments ago, that same hand had erased a living creature from existence.
No weapon.
No training.
Just… contact.
"…So I can take abilities… just by touching?" he muttered.
The answer came not as a voice this time, but as understanding.
Yes.
But not that simple.
There were conditions. Limitations. Efficiency factors. Compatibility.
His mind began to process it automatically.
Stronger targets = harder absorption.
Direct contact required.
Time varies based on resistance.
"…So I got lucky," he said quietly.
If that creature had been any stronger, things might have ended very differently.
Kael lowered his hand slowly, exhaling through his nose as his gaze shifted back to the forest. The silence had returned, but it no longer felt empty. It felt… tense.
Like something could happen at any moment.
"…Right. This isn't over."
If one monster was here, there would be more.
And next time, he might not get lucky.
That thought alone was enough to push him forward.
Kael took a step, then another, moving deeper into the forest with more caution than before. His posture had changed subtly—less uncertain, more aware. His eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, his mind analyzing every detail automatically.
Then—
A faint shift.
Not a sound this time.
A feeling.
Kael stopped instantly.
"…Something's here."
His body tensed, every sense sharpening at once.
He didn't turn.
Didn't move.
Just listened.
The forest remained quiet.
Too quiet.
Mente Analitica Suprema activated.
The world seemed to slow—not physically, but mentally. His awareness expanded, picking up details he would have missed before.
There.
Behind him.
Slight movement in the air.
A presence.
Without thinking, Kael moved.
He spun to the side just as something shot past him at incredible speed, slicing through the space where his head had been a fraction of a second earlier.
"—!"
A sharp, high-pitched sound echoed through the air as the creature landed on a nearby tree trunk, clinging to it with unnatural precision.
Kael's eyes locked onto it instantly.
"…What the hell is that?"
It was smaller than the first monster, but far more unsettling. Its body was thin, almost skeletal, covered in a dark, chitin-like shell that reflected faint light. Multiple legs gripped the tree surface, each ending in razor-sharp points. Its head tilted slightly, revealing a cluster of glowing eyes that stared directly at him.
An insect.
But wrong.
Completely wrong.
Analysis in progress.
Information began to form in his mind.
High speed. High precision. Fragile defense. Lethal attack capability.
"…So if it hits me, I'm dead," Kael muttered.
The creature didn't hesitate.
It launched itself again.
Faster than before.
Kael reacted instantly, stepping back, but this time he was ready. His eyes tracked the movement, his mind predicting its path.
Left—no, adjust—now!
He shifted his body at the last second, narrowly avoiding the strike, but instead of retreating, he countered.
His hand shot out—
But missed.
"…Too fast!"
The creature had already repositioned, clinging to another surface, its movements erratic, unpredictable.
Kael clicked his tongue.
I can't grab it like before.
Different enemy.
Different approach.
His mind began recalculating immediately.
Speed advantage: enemy.
Strength advantage: unknown.
Strategy: force close contact.
"…Then I just need to corner it."
The creature attacked again.
This time, Kael didn't dodge completely.
He moved into its path.
The sharp edge grazed his arm, slicing through his sleeve and drawing blood instantly.
"—Tch!"
Pain shot through him, sharp and immediate, but he ignored it.
Because this time—
He caught it.
His hand closed around its body mid-motion.
The creature screeched violently, its limbs thrashing as it tried to escape, its sharp legs cutting into his skin.
But Kael didn't let go.
"…Got you."
For a brief second, their eyes met.
Then—
"Absorption."
The effect triggered instantly.
Unlike before, this one resisted more. Its body vibrated violently, emitting a piercing sound as energy began to flow into Kael.
"—This one's fighting back!"
He tightened his grip, forcing the process to continue.
Seconds stretched.
Pain increased.
Then—
It stopped.
The creature disintegrated into particles of energy, disappearing completely.
Kael staggered slightly, breathing heavily as he looked down at his hand again.
Blood dripped from small cuts across his fingers and wrist.
But even as he watched—
They began to close.
Slowly.
"…Regeneration?" he murmured.
The voice returned.
"Absorption complete."
Then—
Skill Acquired: High-Speed Movement (Lv.1)
Skill Acquired: Enhanced Reflexes (Minor)
Kael froze.
"…You're kidding."
He moved his hand slightly.
Faster.
Noticeably faster.
His eyes widened just a little.
"…This is broken."
A quiet laugh escaped him, low and almost disbelieving.
Just two fights.
Two enemies.
And he was already evolving.
His gaze lifted slowly, scanning the forest once more.
But this time—
There was no hesitation.
No fear.
Only focus.
"If every fight makes me stronger…"
His expression hardened, something new settling behind his eyes.
"…then this place…"
He took a step forward.
"…is perfect."
The forest remained silent.
But it no longer felt like a threat.
It felt like a hunting ground.
And Kael…
Was no longer just trying to survive.
He was beginning to adapt.
To grow.
To evolve.
And somewhere deep within the shadows of that endless forest—
Something far stronger had already begun to notice him.