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Chapter 7: Swarm Night
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Night did not fall.
It gathered.
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The rain softened into a fine drizzle, drifting quietly through the clearing, tapping against leaves and soaking into the earth below. The storm had not ended—but it had changed.
Just like everything else.
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Kael stood beneath his shelter, unmoving.
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The tree behind him pulsed faintly.
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Not visibly.
Not completely.
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But he could feel it now.
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"…It's different," he murmured.
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His palm rested lightly against the bark.
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The Life Fruit Tree.
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It was no longer silent.
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Not fully.
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There was something there now.
A slow rhythm.
A steady pulse.
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Alive.
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Awake.
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Not completely—but no longer dormant.
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Kael exhaled slowly and stepped forward, turning his gaze toward the forest.
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The air felt heavier tonight.
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Not suffocating.
But dense.
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Filled.
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"…Energy concentration increased…"
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His voice was low, thoughtful.
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After transferring life energy into the tree, something had changed in the surrounding environment.
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The clearing felt like a center.
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A gathering point.
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Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.
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"…That might attract things."
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That thought had not fully settled—
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Before his instincts reacted.
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"…Nature Sense."
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The world unfolded instantly.
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Not through sight—
But through presence.
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The lake pulsed gently with ripples of life.
Rain striking the surface created layered signals.
The soil beneath him vibrated with subtle movement.
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And the tree—
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Behind him—
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Was no longer quiet.
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It radiated.
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Not aggressively.
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But clearly.
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A faint field of life energy spread outward from it.
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"…So this is what the Vital Aura feels like…"
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Kael's expression tightened slightly.
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"…Then it's not just helping me."
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"…It's broadcasting."
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He extended his awareness outward.
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20 meters.
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50.
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80.
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The forest entered his perception.
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Dark.
Dense.
Alive.
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For a few seconds—
Nothing.
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Then—
A disturbance.
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Small.
Faint.
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Kael's eyes opened.
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"…There."
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Movement.
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More than one.
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He focused again.
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The signal sharpened.
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One.
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Then two.
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Then—
More.
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Five.
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Ten.
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His breathing slowed.
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"…That's too fast."
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The numbers climbed.
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Twenty.
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Thirty.
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Fifty.
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More.
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Kael's grip tightened around his bow.
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"…They're being drawn here."
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This wasn't random.
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This was response.
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To energy.
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To the tree.
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To him.
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"…A swarm."
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Kael didn't hesitate this time.
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He stepped forward.
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Positioning himself between the forest—
And the Life Fruit Tree.
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Behind him—
The faint glow of developing buds shimmered weakly in the darkness.
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Fragile.
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Valuable.
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Target.
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"…You're not getting past me."
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The forest ahead trembled.
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Branches shook violently.
Leaves scattered.
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Then—
They came.
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Rats.
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But larger than before.
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Their bodies were tighter.
Stronger.
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Their movements—
Sharper.
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More controlled.
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And their eyes—
Reflected hunger.
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And something else.
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Awareness.
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"Appraisal."
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[Target Information]
Name: Scavenger Swarm Rat
Type: Beast (Mutated)
Rank: F
Level: 3
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HP: 22 / 22
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[Attributes]
Strength: 7
Agility: 8
Stamina: 8
Wisdom: 3
Spirit: 3
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[Mutation Stage]
→ Mid–Late Mutation
→ Strengthened coordination and reflex response
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[Traits]
• Swarm Behavior
→ Attack efficiency increases drastically in groups
• Frenzied Hunger
→ Aggression spikes near high-energy targets
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[Weakness]
→ Vulnerable when isolated
→ Low resistance to sustained damage
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[Status]
Hungry
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Kael exhaled slowly.
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"…Level 3…"
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Stronger than expected.
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Which meant—
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"…Good."
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More EXP.
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But also—
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More danger.
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More rats poured from the forest.
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Dozens.
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Then more.
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The ground seemed to ripple under their movement.
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"…Over a hundred."
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Kael adjusted his stance.
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Bow raised.
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Distance—
50 meters.
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Closing fast.
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"…Thin them out first."
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He drew.
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Released.
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Thud.
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A rat dropped instantly.
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[System Notification]
+3.00 EXP Gained
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The swarm paused—
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Then erupted.
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A sharp screech cut through the night.
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They surged forward.
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Faster.
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More aggressive.
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Kael fired again.
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Another fell.
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+3.00 EXP Gained
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40 meters.
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30.
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Kael steadied his breathing.
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"…Closer…"
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He needed density.
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Maximum effect.
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20 meters.
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The ground trembled.
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10—
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"…Now."
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"Link."
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The parasitic net burst outward.
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Wider than before.
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Stronger.
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More stable.
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It expanded—
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Then dropped.
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Impact.
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Dozens were trapped instantly.
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The vines tightened.
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Then pulsed.
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Draining.
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Absorbing.
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Weakening.
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The trapped rats screeched violently.
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Their movements slowed.
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"…Good."
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But not all were caught.
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Around fifteen broke through.
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Fast.
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Too fast.
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Kael dropped the bow instantly.
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Grabbed his spear.
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"…Come."
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The first rat lunged.
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Kael stepped forward—
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And struck.
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Clean.
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He pulled the spear free—
Spun—
Struck another.
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Blood scattered across wet ground.
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The fight erupted.
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Kael moved faster than before.
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His body responded sharply.
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Efficient.
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Controlled.
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But then—
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A shift.
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Different.
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Heavier.
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Sharper.
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His instincts flared.
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"…Behind—"
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He moved.
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Barely in time.
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A blur tore past him.
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Fast.
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Too fast.
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Kael turned—
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And saw it.
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Larger.
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Much larger.
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Nearly the size of a dog.
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Its body—
Dense.
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Muscular.
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Its eyes—
Focused.
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Clear.
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Aware.
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"…Leader."
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"Appraisal."
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[Target Information]
Name: Scavenger Rat Leader
Type: Beast (Mutated)
Rank: F+
Level: 5
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HP: 60 / 60
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[Attributes]
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Stamina: 12
Wisdom: 5
Spirit: 6
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[Mutation Stage]
→ Early Peak Mutation
→ Stable awareness and combat coordination
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[Skills]
• Swarm Command
→ Coordinates nearby units for synchronized attacks
• Charge
→ High-speed burst with increased impact force
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[Weakness]
→ Vulnerable after Charge
→ Momentum-dependent attacks
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[Status]
Hostile
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Kael's grip tightened.
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"…Level 5."
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Now it made sense.
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The coordination.
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The aggression.
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The leader screeched.
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The swarm responded instantly.
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Their movements changed.
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Less chaotic.
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More precise.
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"…So it's directing them."
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Kael adjusted his stance.
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No hesitation left.
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"…Then I kill you first."
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The leader lowered its body.
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Muscles tightening.
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Energy gathering.
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Kael inhaled slowly.
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Rain tapped against the ground.
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The tree pulsed behind him.
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The swarm closed in.
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And in the next moment—
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The leader moved.
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The real battle—
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Began.
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The moment the leader moved—
The air itself seemed to tighten.
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It didn't charge blindly.
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It chose its path.
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Direct.
Precise.
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Kael's eyes sharpened.
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"…Faster than before."
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The leader closed the distance instantly.
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Too fast to fully evade—
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So Kael didn't.
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He shifted.
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Half-step.
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Minimal movement.
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The leader's claws tore past his shoulder—
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Missing his neck by inches.
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Kael twisted his body—
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And drove the spear forward.
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Thud.
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The strike connected—
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But shallow.
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The leader's muscles flexed violently—
Deflecting the deeper penetration.
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"…Too tough."
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Kael pulled back instantly.
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The leader didn't pause.
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It turned—
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And struck again.
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Faster.
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Sharper.
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Behind him—
The remaining rats surged.
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Coordinated.
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Controlled.
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No longer mindless.
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"…It's controlling everything."
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Kael stepped back—
Just enough—
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Then shifted his focus.
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Not the leader.
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The swarm.
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"…Break the control."
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He pivoted suddenly—
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Charging toward the nearest group instead of retreating.
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The rats hesitated—
Just for a fraction—
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And that was enough.
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Thud.
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One died instantly.
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[System Notification]
+3.00 EXP Gained
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He didn't stop.
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Another thrust—
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Another kill.
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+3.00 EXP Gained
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The formation broke slightly.
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Small gap.
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Disruption.
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The leader screeched sharply.
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The swarm adjusted again.
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But slower this time.
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"…Good."
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Kael moved continuously.
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Never staying in one place.
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Strike.
Shift.
Kill.
Move.
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But the numbers—
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Still overwhelming.
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One rat lunged—
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He blocked with the spear shaft—
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Another struck from the side—
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Claws tearing into his arm.
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"…Tch—!"
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Pain flared.
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But he didn't retreat.
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He slammed the spear down—
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Crushing it.
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Blood mixed with rain.
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The ground turned slick.
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Dangerous.
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"…Use it."
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Kael shifted his footing deliberately—
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Letting the mud work for him.
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A rat lunged—
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Slipped—
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Missed.
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He killed it instantly.
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+3.00 EXP Gained
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---
But then—
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The leader attacked again.
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This time—
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Different.
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A faint glow surrounded its body.
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"…Charge."
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Kael's eyes widened slightly.
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"…Now."
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He didn't dodge backward.
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He stepped forward.
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At the last second—
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He twisted.
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The leader shot past him—
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Momentum too strong to correct.
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It crashed into a tree.
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A brief pause.
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"…That's the opening."
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Kael didn't hesitate.
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He moved instantly—
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Closing the distance—
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Spear raised—
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And struck.
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Deep.
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The blade pierced into the leader's side.
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The creature screeched violently—
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Thrashing.
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Kael held on—
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Driving the spear deeper.
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But—
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It wasn't enough.
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The leader twisted—
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And slammed into him.
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Impact.
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Kael was thrown backward.
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Rolling across wet ground.
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Pain exploded through his body.
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"…Get up…"
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He forced himself to move.
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To stand.
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The leader staggered.
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Injured.
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But still alive.
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And now—
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Angrier.
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Behind it—
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The swarm regrouped.
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Fewer now.
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But still dangerous.
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Kael exhaled slowly.
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"…Too slow."
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He tightened his grip.
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"…End it properly."
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His gaze shifted briefly—
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To the parasitic net.
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Still active.
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Still draining.
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An idea formed.
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"…Use everything."
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Kael moved suddenly—
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Not toward the leader—
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But toward the net.
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The leader reacted instantly—
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Charging again.
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Too fast.
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But this time—
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Kael didn't run.
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He turned—
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At the last second—
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And activated—
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"Link."
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The parasitic net surged.
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Not outward—
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But inward.
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Repositioned.
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Redirected.
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The leader crashed straight into it.
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Impact.
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The vines wrapped instantly.
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Tight.
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Restrictive.
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They pulsed.
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Draining.
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The leader roared violently—
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Struggling—
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Trying to break free.
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But its movements slowed.
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"…Now."
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Kael grabbed his spear.
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Walked forward.
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Step by step.
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Rain fell steadily.
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The aurora flickered above.
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The tree pulsed behind him.
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Everything—
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Led to this moment.
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The leader's eyes locked onto his.
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Still defiant.
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Still alive.
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"…This world…"
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Kael raised the spear.
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"…doesn't wait."
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He thrust.
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Clean.
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Through the throat.
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The movement stopped.
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Silence.
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[System Notification]
+9.00 EXP Gained
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Level Up → Level 3
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Kael stood there—
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Breathing heavily.
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But it wasn't over.
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He turned.
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Toward the remaining trapped rats.
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"…Finish it."
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One by one—
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He ended them.
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Efficient.
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Controlled.
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The parasitic net had already weakened them.
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They barely resisted.
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Each kill—
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Each absorption—
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Fuel.
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+3.00 EXP Gained
+3.00 EXP Gained
+3.00 EXP Gained
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Time blurred.
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The rain slowed.
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The forest quieted.
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And eventually—
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The last rat fell.
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Silence returned.
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Kael stood still.
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Covered in blood.
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Breathing hard.
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Then—
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The system responded.
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Level Up →Level 4
Level Up → Level 5
Level Up → Level 6
Level Up → Level 7
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Kael let out a long breath.
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"…Seven…"
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His grip loosened slightly.
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"…Worth it."
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But he didn't celebrate.
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Instead—
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He turned.
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Slowly.
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Toward the tree.
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It pulsed.
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Stronger than before.
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Responding.
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Kael stepped closer—
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Placed his hand against the bark.
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"…You felt that too… didn't you?"
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The energy in the clearing—
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Had changed again.
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Denser.
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Sharper.
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The result of battle.
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Of death.
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Of absorption.
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"…Everything feeds everything…"
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His voice was low.
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Understanding.
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"…This world…"
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"…runs on life itself."
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Kael slid down slightly—
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Sitting against the tree.
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Exhaustion hit him all at once.
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But his mind—
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Stayed awake.
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Because now—
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He knew.
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The stronger he became—
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The more attention he would attract.
---
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Not just beasts.
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But worse.
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Kael closed his eyes briefly.
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"…Let them come."
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Because now—
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He wasn't just surviving.
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He was becoming something else.
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Something this new world—
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Would have to reckon with.
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