The city changed as Blaine moved.
Bright lights faded.
Replaced by dim streets.
Broken buildings.
Cracked roads.
The further he went—
The quieter it became.
Until—
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Blaine stopped.
Ahead—
A massive metal gate stood.
Rusty.
Old.
But sealed.
Above it—
Faded letters remained.
SECTOR 9
"…"
So this was the place.
The "real hunting ground."
Blaine stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the gate—
The air changed.
Heavy.
Thick.
Filled with something unseen.
The system flickered.
[Warning: High-Risk Zone Detected]
Good.
That's exactly what he wanted.
Blaine activated Perception Scan.
The results—
Different.
Very different.
[Strength: 15][Strength: 17][Strength: 25]
"…"
Higher.
Much higher.
This place…
Was dangerous.
A faint sound echoed.
Not human.
Low.
Growling.
Blaine turned.
And saw it.
A creature.
Not like before.
Larger.
Twisted.
Its body covered in dark, hardened skin.
Claws—
Long.
Sharp.
Eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
Above its head—
[Strength: 13]
"…"
Stronger than him.
Perfect.
The creature moved.
Slow.
But heavy.
Each step—
Cracked the ground.
Then—
It lunged.
Fast.
Faster than expected.
Blaine reacted instantly—
Dodging sideways.
The creature slammed into the ground.
BOOM.
The impact shook the street.
"…"
Strong.
Very strong.
Blaine tightened his stance.
Then—
He moved.
Forward.
Not retreating.
Not hesitating.
The creature attacked again—
Claws slicing through the air.
Blaine ducked—
Countered—
CRACK.
His strike landed.
But—
Minimal effect.
"…"
Tough.
Durable.
This wasn't human.
No weak points.
No hesitation.
Only instinct.
The creature roared—
And attacked relentlessly.
Blow after blow.
Blaine was forced back.
The difference—
Clear.
But—
He didn't panic.
Because this—
Was exactly what he wanted.
A real fight.
A real challenge.
Blaine adjusted.
Observed.
Analyzed.
Then—
He saw it.
A pattern.
The creature's movements—
Heavy.
Predictable after each strike.
A delay.
Small.
But real.
The next attack came—
Blaine dodged—
Waited—
Timed it—
And struck.
CRACK.
This time—
He aimed for the neck.
The creature staggered.
An opening.
Blaine didn't waste it.
He grabbed a broken steel rod from the ground—
And drove it forward.
STAB.
The rod pierced deep.
The creature roared—
Violently.
But—
It was too late.
With one final push—
It collapsed.
Heavy.
Still.
Silence returned.
Blaine stood there.
Breathing steady.
Eyes sharp.
Then—
The system responded.
[Monster Eliminated]
[Strength +5]
[Strength: 15]
"…"
A bigger gain.
So monsters—
Gave more.
Better.
Much better.
Blaine looked deeper into Sector 9.
Dark.
Endless.
Filled with stronger creatures.
Danger everywhere.
Opportunity everywhere.
A faint smile appeared.
Because now—
He had found it.
The perfect place.
To grow.
To evolve.
To dominate.
He stepped forward—
Deeper into the darkness.
Because this hunt—
Had just begun.