As consciousness slowly returned, I forced my eyes open.
The world came back in fragments.
Light.
Blood.
Silence.
Then—
The Perezoso.
Its massive corpse lay at my feet, lifeless.
Gorthok and Kael stood nearby, watching me closely.
Not relaxed.
Careful.
Like they weren't sure what I was anymore.
I tried to speak.
My throat burned.
"…What… happened?"
Kael answered.
"You killed it."
A pause.
"But that's not the strange part."
My eyes narrowed.
"…Then what is?"
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Your body started healing itself."
I looked down.
He was right.
My wounds were closing.
Fast.
Too fast.
Flesh knitting back together.
Blood vanishing.
Like time itself was correcting me.
Something inside my chest pulsed.
Warm.
Heavy.
Unfamiliar.
"…I feel it," I muttered.
"Something changed."
Gorthok stepped forward.
His voice was lower than usual.
"What are you, Demos?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
"…I don't know."
But I knew one thing.
This wasn't normal.
Kael spoke again.
"We should return. Akira might understand this."
I shook my head.
"No."
Both of them looked at me.
"Akira can't help me."
A pause.
"…I know someone who can."
I didn't explain further.
And they didn't push.
Not after what they had just witnessed.
I turned toward the others.
Maverick and Thane were on the ground.
Badly injured.
Maverick was conscious—barely. Breathing rough, body torn and shaking.
Thane was unconscious, but alive. Weak breathing.
I knelt quickly and checked them.
Still alive.
Still here.
Relief hit me.
Quiet.
Controlled.
The system flickered.
SYSTEM INTERFACE
Name: Demos S. Sparta
Age: 15
Level: 1
Health: 100/100
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Abilities: Sealed
Unique Abilities:
• Five-Colored Lightning — Sealed
• Ice Age — Sealed
Skill: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Lv.1)
MISSION COMPLETE: FIRST HUNT
REWARD: 50 HEALING POTIONS
A small box appeared in my hands.
I opened it.
Glowing vials inside.
No hesitation.
I used them.
First Maverick.
Then Thane.
The effect was immediate.
Wounds closed.
Breathing stabilized.
Color returned.
Maverick gasped—then shot upright.
Thane followed seconds later.
Both stared at me in shock.
Maverick dropped to his knees.
"…We owe you our lives."
Thane nodded.
"You saved us."
I exhaled.
"…Just stand."
"We're leaving."
Then—
Light.
A flash.
The Perezoso's corpse vanished.
Silence.
Maverick blinked.
"…What the hell?"
Kael stepped back.
Even Gorthok tensed.
I simply said:
"It's a storage ability."
No one questioned it.
Not anymore.
We moved.
🧭 SCOUTING (FIXED CONTINUITY)
Thirty-nine minutes later—
Ryker returned alone.
Breathing hard.
He had been sent to scout the settlement only.
No combat.
No contact.
Just observation.
Now his face was pale.
"…They're coming."
I straightened.
"Report."
Ryker swallowed.
"…The Tall People… they're tracking us."
Silence dropped instantly.
Heavy.
Final.
The system flickered again.
Two new missions appeared.
I didn't react yet.
Not outwardly.
I looked at Ryker.
"We killed the Perezoso."
He nodded.
Then asked:
"…Where is the body?"
I smirked slightly.
"In storage."
Ryker froze.
"…How?"
"A gift."
That was all I said.
No further explanation.
🌙 RETURN TO TRIBE (FIXED)
We returned to the tribe.
They gathered immediately.
Fear.
Hope.
Uncertainty.
"Did you succeed?"
I stepped forward.
"We did."
A pause.
"We killed the Perezoso."
Shock spread instantly.
I raised my hand.
The body appeared.
Massive.
Dead.
Final.
No one questioned it anymore.
🌘 FINAL MOMENT
Hours later—
The tribe celebrated.
Laughter returned.
Food.
Fire.
Life.
Children ran around me.
For a moment… it felt normal.
Then—
The system reminder returned.
My expression changed.
I raised my hand.
"…Listen."
The laughter faded.
"We don't have time."
A pause.
"In three moons…"
My voice hardened.
"We leave."
Silence.
"If we stay…"
"…we die."
END