"Everything is worth it… as long as I can eat like this every day."Zephyr spoke lightly, almost jokingly.
Yet the expression on his face betrayed him.
There was no joy.
Only a quiet solemnity lingered behind his words, as though something heavy weighed upon his heart.
"If only… Father and Mother were still alive… and my brother was here…"
His voice trailed off.
"…then everything would have been perfect."
A faint, bitter smile formed on his lips before fading just as quickly.
"But life… is truly cruel."
He leaned back against the rough interior of the hollow tree, his gaze unfocused as memories, fragments of a life long gone briefly surfaced within his mind.
Warmth, laughter ,a sense of belonging.
All of it… lost.
Gone beyond reach.
Maw remained silent.He did not interrupt.He understood.
Zephyr was still just a child.
Seventeen years old.
A boy who had endured suffering far beyond what anyone his age should have experienced. Pain, loss, and relentless hardship had shaped him into what he was now.
For someone like him, such thoughts were inevitable.
Natural.
So Maw said nothing.
He simply watched...
*****
At the very heart of the training ground
Something stirred.
The earth itself ruptured as a massive crater formed, soil and debris collapsing inward as though the land had been forcefully hollowed out from beneath.
From within that abyss—
A figure emerged it walked upright.
Two legs,Humanoid.
Yet far from human.
In its grasp was a massive weapon—something resembling a scythe, though far larger and more grotesque than any ordinary blade.
Its frame towered at four meters high.
Its entire body was encased in black, obsidian-like armor that stretched from head to toe. The surface of the armor was riddled with countless holes, and from within those openings writhed thick, black vines.
They moved... More of like alive.
Slithering and coiling as though they possessed their own consciousness.
But its most disturbing feature was its tail.
A mass of those same black vines, extending outward like a living appendage. It twisted and undulated, as if capable of devouring anything that came within its reach.
A true abomination.
A presence that exuded death itself.
Then...An elite beast appeared.
Drawn by instinct or perhaps by sheer misfortune, it lunged toward the towering entity with feral aggression.
It never stood a chance. In a single motion.
The scythe moved.There was no resistance.No struggle.
No time for even a desperate cry.
The beast was reduced to countless fragments, its body severed cleanly as though it were nothing more than soft tofu.
A brutal, instantaneous death.
Before the pieces could even settle.The thrall's tail reacted.
The writhing vines converged, forming a grotesque maw at its tip. Without hesitation, it swallowed the minced remains of the beast, consuming everything in a single, fluid motion...
The being continued walking.
Unhurried and Unbothered.
It moved toward the darkness, its massive form gradually fading into the shadows as though it had never been there at all.
No one noticed.No one sensed its presence.
Or at least...that was what everyone believed.
Far away, within Zephyr's consciousness—A sinister smile stretched across Maw's entire form.
*****
Then morning came.Zephyr stirred.
A long yawn escaped him as he slowly opened his eyes, the faint light of dawn filtering through the hollow of the tree.
"It was a good sleep…"He stretched his body, muscles loosening as he regained full awareness.
Then he paused. His arm.
The one that had previously been injured can move freely, without pain.
He blinked in mild surprise, rotating it slightly as if to confirm that it was truly healed.
"…Huh."He wasn't entirely sure how it happened.
Perhaps it was due to his affinity.
Or maybe the lingering effects of the Bloodfang's vitality.
Either way.He wasn't complaining.
A faint smile appeared as he flexed his fingers, satisfied with the recovery.
Then, he summoned his talisman.
A translucent interface appeared before him.
Name: Zephyr
Points: 21
Hunted Beasts:
Lower Beast – Burrower Rat
Normal Beast – Mountain Boar
Elite Beast – Bloodfang Wolf
Ranking: 87 / 105
He stared at it for a moment.
"My ranking is too low…"
A slight frown formed on his face.
"I'm probably near the bottom. Most of those below me are likely already eliminated."
There was no frustration in his voice.
Only calm acknowledgment.
He stepped out of the hollow tree.
Fresh air greeted him, cool and crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth from the previous night's storm.
"I need to gain more points."
Without hesitation—
He moved.
His body surged forward as he activated his newly acquired passive ability.
Super Speed.
The effect was immediate.
His movements became faster—far beyond what any normal human could achieve. The wind rushed past him, his surroundings blurring as he dashed through the forest.
"This passive is really good!"
Zephyr couldn't help but exclaim.
The sensation was exhilarating.
Running at such speed without discomfort felt almost surreal.
Yet nothing is free in this world.
There was a drawback.
"But… my stamina…"
His expression shifted slightly as he slowed down.
"Even if I can move faster, without proper physical training, I won't last."
He exhaled, acknowledging the limitation.
Power without endurance was incomplete, he knew it.
Suddenly..He stopped.
Ahead of him stood a massive figure.
A mountain boar.
Its size surpassed the one he had previously slain, its muscular frame imposing and formidable. It was currently digging into the ground, seemingly unaware of Zephyr's presence.
An opportunity.
Zephyr's eyes sharpened.
He did not hesitate. He positioned himself.
Left foot forward.Right foot bent behind.Both hands gripping the katana, raised high above his head.
It wasn't a stance he had formally learned.
Yet instinctively...It felt right.
Perfect for a downward strike.
Everything happened in an instant.
He moved.With everything he had.
His body blurred as he dashed forward, his speed reaching its peak. The katana descended in a single, decisive motion
A downward slash aimed at the beast's neck.
"Boom!"
The ground where he had stood moments before caved in from the force of his movement.
That happened after the deed was already done.
The boar's head rolled across the ground.
Lifeless...
Its massive body remained standing for a brief moment before collapsing, as though it had yet to comprehend its own death.
That was how fast it was.
Zephyr exhaled slowly as he retrieved his katana, resting it casually over his shoulder in what he thought was a cool posture.
"Annoying brat," Maw remarked dryly.
Zephyr's face immediately cracked, embarrassment flashing across his expression.
"Ahem… it was cool though," he muttered meekly.
Despite that,the result was undeniable.
Everything felt almost too good to be true.
Yet reality quickly caught up to him.His arms trembled uncontrollably.His legs felt as though they might give out at any moment.
"This… is my current limit."His voice was calm, accepting.
He stepped forward and touched the beast, completing the process before immediately resuming his movement.
"I need to hunt more beasts if I want a better ranking."His thoughts were clear.
Focused.Higher rank meant better resources.and a better opportunities.
And in this world, that meant survival.
Without overthinking, Zephyr sprinted forward once more.
Determination was radiating in his eyes
Unaware that at the storm gathering around him was far from over...