Chapter 16 – Predator's Instinct
Kael staggered back from the pile of goblin corpses, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his temples. The fire still burned, its smoke curling into the night sky, carrying the scent of blood and charred flesh with it. His body trembled, his arms heavy, yet his eyes gleamed with something new.
Power.
The system's blue interface still floated before him, words etched into his vision like divine law:
[ Skill Unlocked: Predator's Instinct ]
> Grants heightened awareness of nearby enemies.
Effect grows stronger with each kill.
Kael closed his eyes, letting the strange sensation wash over him. At first, it was disorienting—a pressure at the edge of his consciousness, like the faint tug of invisible strings. Then it sharpened, settling into clarity.
The forest was alive in a way he had never felt before.
He could feel the flutter of wings as a crow took flight far above the treetops. He sensed the small skitter of paws in the undergrowth as a rabbit bolted away from the smell of blood. Every rustle, every vibration in the air seemed to hum against his nerves.
When he opened his eyes again, the world was sharper, more dangerous—and yet, more manageable.
Kael whispered, half in awe, half in fear, "I can… sense them."
---
The system's notifications hadn't stopped there.
[ Level 5 Reached. ]
[ Equipment Box (Rare) Acquired. ]
[ Stat Points +20 ]
Kael willed the Equipment Box open, and with a shimmer of blue light, an object materialized in his hands. His breath caught.
It was a weapon.
A short sword, sleek and balanced, its blade glowing faintly with an inner light. Unlike the crude goblin tools, this was crafted—its edge sharp enough to catch the firelight in a dangerous gleam. The hilt fit perfectly into his grip, as if it had been made for him.
[ Item Acquired: Dawnfang (Rare) ]
> Attack +35
Durability: High
Passive Effect: Slight regeneration when killing enemies.
Kael's heart pounded. A real weapon. Not rusty iron, not scavenged bones—this was something worthy of a hunter.
He gave the blade a test swing, the air humming as it cut through. For the first time since his awakening, he felt like he wasn't just surviving. He was fighting back.
---
But the forest didn't allow him long to bask in victory.
Predator's Instinct prickled at the edge of his mind. Something was coming.
No—many things.
Kael froze, body tightening. He turned his head slowly, scanning the darkness. Beyond the glow of the goblin campfire, shadows moved. Dozens of them. Yellow eyes flickered like embers, narrowing with hunger.
A low growl rolled through the trees.
Wolves.
But these weren't ordinary wolves. Their bodies were leaner, their fur mottled with streaks of black and gray that almost made them blend into the shadows. Saliva dripped from their fangs as they crept closer, muscles rippling under their hides.
Kael cursed under his breath. "Shadowfang Wolves…"
The name wasn't from the system—it came from the old stories hunters told around fires, warnings whispered to children. Wolves that thrived in darkness, stronger and faster than their daylight kin.
And there were at least eight of them.
---
Kael tightened his grip on Dawnfang. His legs wanted to run, but Predator's Instinct throbbed like a heartbeat in his mind. It wasn't just warning him of danger—it was guiding him. His senses sharpened, catching every shift of muscle in the wolves' bodies, every twitch of their ears.
The pack circled, testing him, snapping their jaws in the air. Their leader, larger than the rest, stepped forward with eyes that glowed a deeper, fiercer yellow.
Kael took a step back toward the fire. Instinct screamed at him to keep the flames at his back. The wolves hesitated at the heat, growling, but their hunger was stronger than fear.
The leader howled, and the pack surged forward.
---
Kael moved.
The first wolf lunged at his throat, but Predator's Instinct pulled him sideways a heartbeat before it struck. He twisted, driving Dawnfang upward into its ribs. The blade sank deep, and the wolf yelped before collapsing into the dirt.
[ Enemy Defeated. +70 EXP. ]
No time to breathe. Another wolf was already at his flank, jaws snapping. Kael swung his blade, sparks flying as it scraped against teeth. He kicked hard, shoving the beast back, but two more closed in.
He ducked under one's leap, rolling across the dirt, then slashed upward. Blood sprayed across the firelight as a wolf fell.
The passive effect of Dawnfang pulsed through him—a faint warmth knitting the edge of his wounds, dulling his pain. It wasn't much, but it kept him standing.
Still, there were too many.
Kael gritted his teeth, heart pounding. "Think. Move. Survive."
---
The fire.
An idea struck.
He snatched a burning branch from the bonfire, holding it high in his free hand. The flames roared, casting wild shadows. The wolves snarled, recoiling from the sudden blaze. Their eyes flickered, uncertainty breaking their rhythm.
Kael bared his teeth in a grin. "That's right… afraid of the light, aren't you?"
With the fire in one hand and Dawnfang in the other, he pressed forward, forcing them back. The pack circled warily now, no longer charging recklessly.
But the leader wasn't deterred. It lowered its body, muscles coiling, then sprang with terrifying speed.
Kael barely had time to react. Predator's Instinct screamed at him, and he swung the burning branch up, smashing it across the wolf's face. Flames burst against its fur, and the beast howled, thrashing wildly.
Kael didn't waste the chance. Dawnfang drove into its throat, ending its cries in a spray of blood.
[ Elite Enemy Defeated. +200 EXP. Rare Material Dropped. ]
The remaining wolves froze, their leader's body twitching at Kael's feet. Then, with a chorus of whines, they melted back into the forest, vanishing into the shadows.
---
Kael stood alone in the clearing, chest heaving, Dawnfang dripping red. The fire crackled, the night silent once more.
A shiver ran through him—not from fear, but from exhilaration. He had faced a goblin nest and a wolf pack, and he was still standing. Stronger than before.
The system's voice echoed softly:
[ Predator's Instinct has grown stronger. ]
Kael lifted Dawnfang, its blade gleaming in the firelight. His lips curved into a grim smile.
"I'm not the prey anymore."
⚡ End of Chapter 16 ⚡