The golden shell dimmed slowly.
The battlefield fell silent.
Ajay stood still.
Breathing steady.
He didn't look at Han Sen.
Didn't ask.
Because he already knew.
That creature—
Was different.
After the Kill
Han Sen remained standing.
Her eyes shifted slightly.
"…Sacred-blood…"
Her voice was low.
Calm.
But sharper than before.
Ajay said nothing.
He simply crouched beside the corpse.
Quiet.
Observing.
The golden shell was harder than anything they had faced.
"…Stronger than it looks…"
He didn't say it out loud.
He didn't need to.
She already understood.
Fire
The fire burned steadily.
The golden beetle's flesh roasted slowly.
The smell was different.
Heavier.
Richer.
Ajay held a piece in his hand.
He didn't rush.
Didn't show anything.
Just ate.
Slowly.
Change
The moment the meat settled—
Something shifted.
A stronger warmth spread through his body.
Not like before.
Deeper.
The pain in his side eased more noticeably.
His breathing steadied.
His muscles felt… tighter.
Stronger.
Ajay paused.
Then continued eating.
Without a word.
System
Time passed.
Then—
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Sacred Geno Point +1."
Ajay's eyes stilled for a moment.
Then returned to normal.
No reaction.
No surprise.
"…As expected…"
A panel appeared.
[Status]
Name: Ajay
Status: Not Evolved
Life Span: 200 Years
Ordinary Geno Points: 1/100
Mutant Geno Points: 0/100
Sacred Geno Points: 1/100
Super Geno Points: 0
Beast Souls: None
He closed it immediately.
No interest shown.
Han Sen
Across the fire—
She watched.
Not openly.
But enough.
Because his reaction—
Was too calm.
Too controlled.
Most beginners would:
Be shocked
Ask questions
React
He didn't.
He just ate.
Like it was normal.
"…Strange…"
She said nothing.
But she noticed.
Silence
The fire crackled softly.
Neither of them spoke.
No need.
They both understood one thing—
This hunt—
Was not normal.
Decision
After a while—
She stood.
"We move tomorrow."
Ajay nodded once.
"…Deeper?"
"Yes."
Short.
Simple.
Ajay didn't ask more.
Because he already knew.
Primitive area was only the beginning.
Night
The sky darkened.
The land grew quiet.
Ajay leaned back slightly.
Body recovering.
Mind steady.
No excitement.
No fear.
Just calculation.
"…Faster than expected…"
But still—
Not enough.
He closed his eyes.
Because in this world—
Stopping meant death.
And moving forward—
Meant becoming something else.
End
The fire slowly died.
Two figures remained.
Silent.
Growing.
Unnoticed.
For now.