Chapter 3: First Kill

Kael barely had time to react as the beast lunged at him, its claws extended and its yellow eyes locked onto his. The sheer speed of the attack took him off guard, and he stumbled backward, raising his sword just in time to block the strike. The beast’s claws scraped against the metal with a sharp screech, sending vibrations down Kael’s arm.

His heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins as he struggled to regain his footing. The beast snarled, circling him, its movements predatory and fluid. Kael knew he was outmatched—his Flicker essence and meager talents weren’t enough to make him a match for even a basic forest beast like this. But something in him refused to back down.

‘No one’s coming to help me,’ he reminded himself. ‘I have to do this.’

The beast lunged again, its claws aiming for his throat. This time, Kael sidestepped, swinging his sword with all his might. The blade slashed across the creature’s flank, drawing a yelp of pain and a spatter of dark blood. It wasn’t a deep wound, but it was enough to slow the beast momentarily.

Kael pressed his advantage, trying to focus despite the fear gnawing at him. The beast growled, baring its fangs as it crouched low, preparing for another strike. Kael’s hands trembled, but he forced himself to steady his grip. This wasn’t just a fight—it was a test. A test of whether he could survive in a world that demanded strength above all else.

He had no choice but to win.

The beast lunged again, but this time Kael was ready. He dodged to the side and brought his sword down in a sweeping arc, aiming for its neck. The blade connected, cutting deeper than before, and the beast let out a final, gurgling cry before collapsing to the ground.

Kael stood still, panting, his sword dripping with blood. The silence that followed felt surreal. He had done it. He had killed his first beast.

For a moment, Kael just stared at the fallen creature, his mind struggling to process what had happened. He’d been fighting for his life just seconds ago, and now it was over. The beast was dead, and he was still standing.

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But then, something unexpected happened. A faint, metallic sound echoed in his mind, like the ringing of a distant bell.

[Beast Defeated: Feral Wolf]

Do you wish to copy the following talents:

— Sharp Senses (Spark)?

— Agility (Flicker)?

Kael’s eyes widened in surprise. Copy & Evolve. His second EX-ranked skill had triggered. He stared at the floating prompt, his breath catching in his throat. He had no idea how it worked, but now he understood at least part of it—defeating a beast gave him the option to copy its talents.

Without hesitation, Kael focused on the talent he wanted. “Copy Sharp Senses.”

The moment he made the decision, a surge of energy shot through him, like a rush of cold water pouring into his veins. His body tensed, and for a split second, he could feel his senses sharpening—his hearing becoming more acute, his vision clearer, the smells of the forest more defined.

[Sharp Senses (Spark) copied.]

Kael stumbled back, taking a deep breath as the sensation faded. It was subtle, but he could feel the change in himself. His body responded faster, his awareness of his surroundings heightened. Sharp Senses wasn’t a major talent, but even at Spark level, it was a significant improvement over what he had before.

He stared at the beast’s corpse for a long moment, trying to understand the full weight of what had just happened. Copy & Evolve allowed him to take the talents of those he defeated—whether beast or human. That meant every battle, every kill, could make him stronger. Far stronger than his Flicker aptitude should allow.

‘This… this is my chance,’ Kael realized, his mind racing with the possibilities. He could transcend the limits of his weak awakening. He could fight and win, grow stronger with every step. As long as he kept defeating opponents with valuable talents, he could copy them, absorb them, and surpass the others who had awakened with better aptitudes.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves behind him. Kael spun around, sword at the ready, but it was only Roran, one of the village boys who had also just gone through the Awakening Ceremony. His face was pale as he stared at the blood-soaked scene in front of him.

“Kael…” Roran stammered, his eyes wide. “You… killed that beast?”

Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, forcing himself to relax. “Yeah. I did.”

Roran looked from Kael to the fallen creature, disbelief clear on his face. “But… you’re just a Flicker. How…?”

Kael sheathed his sword, his mind racing as he tried to come up with an answer. He couldn’t explain about his unique skills—at least, not yet. Instead, he gave a half-smile and shrugged. “Luck, I guess.”

Roran shook his head in disbelief. “That’s not luck. That’s skill. Most people with Flicker would have been torn apart by that thing. I can’t believe you’re still standing.”

Kael didn’t respond. He could still feel the rush of Sharp Senses coursing through him, the new talent giving him an edge he never would have had otherwise. But he couldn’t afford to get overconfident. This was just one beast. There were much more dangerous creatures out there, and much stronger people.

“I need to train more,” Kael muttered, more to himself than to Roran. “This was just the beginning.”

Roran nodded, his awe still evident. “You’re right. I’m going to tell the others what you did. They need to know you’re stronger than people think.”

As Roran ran off toward the village, Kael stared down at the corpse of the beast, his mind already planning his next move. This wasn’t just about proving himself to the village—it was about survival. And with Copy & Evolve at his disposal, Kael knew one thing for certain:

He wasn’t going to stay at the bottom for long.