The forest trembled.
The moment stretched—
Then snapped.
The Cerberus lunged.
Fast.
Violent.
Its right claw tore through the air, aimed straight for Luciferus' chest—
He moved.
A clean leap backward.
The claw missed by inches—
But the force behind it split the ground where he stood moments ago.
The beast didn't stop.
It pushed forward immediately—
All three heads snapping toward him—
Jaws wide—
Aiming to tear his head off.
Luciferus tilted to the side.
Effortless.
The bite missed.
And then—
WOMP.
His leg drove forward.
A brutal kick straight into the Cerberus' abdomen.
The impact lifted the massive creature clean off the ground.
For a moment—
It floated.
Luciferus looked up at it calmly.
Raised his hand.
Extended one finger.
"…Black Light — Missile."
A thin beam shot from his index finger—
Dark.
Compressed.
Then—
It expanded.
The beam grew wider—
Denser—
Overwhelming.
It struck the Cerberus mid-air.
And the beast—
Vanished.
No explosion.
No remains.
Just—
Gone.
Luciferus lowered his hand.
A small smile on his face.
"…Too easy."
Then—
The ground trembled.
Once.
Twice.
More.
Luciferus' smile widened slightly.
He turned his head.
"…Guess the scream of your kind led you here, huh?"
From the forest—
They came.
One.
Three.
Ten.
Multiple Cerberus.
Their eyes locked onto him.
Hungry.
Angry.
Luciferus glanced behind him.
The cave.
The mother Qilin stood there—
Still guarding.
Still unmoving.
Behind her—
Small figures shifted.
Her children.
Luciferus looked forward again.
"…Don't worry."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
"I'll protect you and your kids."
The Qilin watched him.
And for a brief moment—
Its stance shifted.
Just slightly.
As if it understood.
Luciferus stepped forward.
The pack was close now.
He didn't wait.
He ran.
A burst of speed—
Closing the distance instantly—
He leaped.
And landed directly in front of them.
His knee bent slightly—
His body lowered—
Then—
BOOM.
His fist shot forward.
The nearest Cerberus—
Didn't react.
Didn't defend.
Its three heads—
Gone.
Blown apart in a single strike.
Its body collapsed.
Luciferus straightened.
Smiling.
"…That all you beasts do?"
Another lunged from the side—
He turned—
Blocked—
Struck—
Then—
A presence behind him.
Another Cerberus—
Leaping—
Jaws wide—
Luciferus ducked.
Dropped low—
Placed both hands on the ground—
And swung his legs upward—
CRACK.
CRACK.
Two Cerberus—
Their heads shattered at once.
Their bodies dropped heavily.
Luciferus flipped—
Landed cleanly on his feet.
The remaining Cerberus stopped.
Hesitated.
For the first time—
They didn't rush.
They watched him.
Carefully.
The Ascendant System pulsed:
Congratualtions Host
Level Up X6
Cerberus Cores Stored x7
Luciferus rolled his shoulders slightly.
"…What's wrong?"
He stepped forward.
"…Don't back down now."
His smile widened.
"…Where's the energy you came here with?"
Silence.
Then—
Black light began to rise from his body.
Slow.
Heavy.
The air thickened.
The ground beneath him cracked again—
And the forest..
Fell into pressure.
The Cerberus growled—
But none moved.
Not yet.
Luciferus tilted his head slightly.
"…Come on."
The black light surged higher.
"…Don't be scared now."
The pressure deepened.
And the hunt—
Had just turned.