The night felt heavier.
Not because of the city.
But because of the gap.
Strength: 6 vs Strength: 9
Blaine stood alone under the dim streetlight.
His body still ached from the fight.
Every movement reminded him—
He was weak.
"…"
He didn't deny it.
Didn't get angry.
Because emotions…
were useless.
Only results mattered.
The system interface appeared again.
[Strength: 6]
Not enough.
Far from enough.
"…how to increase faster?"
[Answer: Continuous combat and high-risk encounters increase growth rate.]
Of course.
Risk.
Danger.
Death.
That was the path.
Blaine closed his eyes briefly.
Then turned—
And walked deeper into the city.
Away from the crowded streets.
Into darkness.
Hours passed.
The city changed.
Bright lights faded.
Replaced by broken roads.
Abandoned buildings.
A different zone.
More dangerous.
Perfect.
Blaine stepped into an empty street.
Silent.
Then—
He activated Perception Scan.
Numbers appeared.
[Strength: 4][Strength: 5][Strength: 7]
Better.
Stronger prey.
Blaine exhaled slowly.
"Good."
Then—
He moved.
The first fight came quickly.
A man rushed him—
Fast.
Confident.
But—
Too predictable.
Blaine sidestepped—
Countered—
CRACK.
The man dropped.
[Strength +1]
[Strength: 7]
No pause.
No rest.
Blaine moved again.
Second fight.
Harder.
The opponent resisted.
Stronger.
But—
Blaine adapted.
Faster now.
Sharper.
BOOM.
Victory.
[Strength +1]
[Strength: 8]
His breathing grew heavier.
But his movements—
More refined.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Then—
The third fight.
This one—
Different.
A man stood in the middle of the road.
Calm.
Waiting.
Above his head—
[Strength: 10]
"…"
Stronger than Kade.
Blaine didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward.
The man smirked.
"…another one looking to die?"
No reply.
Only action.
Blaine attacked first.
Fast.
Precise.
But—
Blocked.
Easily.
The man countered—
BANG.
Blaine was forced back.
The difference—
Clear.
But this time—
He didn't fall behind.
Because he had learned.
Adapted.
Improved.
The fight intensified.
Blow after blow.
Impact after impact.
The ground cracked.
The air shook.
But Blaine endured.
Every hit—
A lesson.
Every second—
Growth.
Then—
A moment.
A gap.
Small.
But real.
Blaine stepped in—
And struck.
CRACK.
The man staggered.
Surprised.
"…what—?"
Too late.
Blaine followed—
Relentless.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
BOOM.
The man collapsed.
Silence.
Heavy.
Still.
Blaine stood there.
Breathing hard.
Body shaking.
But—
Alive.
The system responded.
[High-Risk Target Eliminated]
[Strength +2]
[Strength: 10]
Blaine's eyes flickered.
Double digits.
Finally.
His body felt different.
Stronger.
Faster.
Sharper.
A faint smile appeared.
Not satisfaction.
Recognition.
This was the path.
The only path.
He looked up at the dark sky.
Kade.
Strength 9.
Now—
Below him.
"…"
Blaine turned.
Walking back toward the city lights.
Because now—
It was time.
Not to survive.
But to hunt.