CHAPTER 21 - 21 - MONSTER HUNTER (PART 1)

Chapter 21 - Monster Hunter (Part 1)

"Can Main Chronicals be abilities that aren't necessarily useful in battle?" Jack asked, his eyes still locked on the glowing orb hovering in front of him.

"Absolutely," Lune replied. "They can be anything and everything. In fact, they're usually not battle-oriented. Some are better suited for professions like blacksmithing, enchanting, even cooking."

"Interesting," Jack murmured. "So there are professions that rely entirely on their Chronicals to support their work?"

"Yeah, and they're in high demand across all nations and clans in Aevum," Lune nodded. "Yours seems more combat-focused, though, based on what you described."

"Hm. The description doesn't clearly specify that," Jack said thoughtfully. "So I assume I might come across other types of choices along the way. But for now, unlocking the first step is the most obvious path forward."

There was no real alternative. If Jack wanted to progress, he had to unlock Monster Hunter—and he had exactly one Wisdom Point, just enough.

"How do I do that...?" he muttered, tapping the glowing orb on instinct.

A screen appeared immediately.

[Do you wish to unlock 'Monster Hunter'?]

[Yes.]  [No.]

Two simple options. Jack didn't hesitate. He tapped Yes.

The moment he did, the orb flared brighter than ever before. Simultaneously, a rush of energy surged through his body. It wasn't just a fleeting spark—it was a torrent of strength, overwhelming and absolute. The sensation gripped his muscles and bones, making them thrum with power. His feet felt lighter, and his senses sharpened with startling clarity. He stood there for a moment, stunned.

"I felt it," he whispered, staring at his own hands. "I felt the power rush through me... out of nowhere. It's real."

"How much stronger do you feel?" Lune asked.

Jack hopped lightly in place, assessing the difference. "Almost thirty to forty percent stronger."

"That's quite a bit," Lune blinked in surprise.

Jack nodded slowly. 'Isn't this a little too good to be true? Gaining so much strength with no effort... there must be a catch. I'll figure it out—'

RAWR!

A sudden roar tore through the air outside, followed by a blood-curdling human scream.

"AGHH!!! SAVE ME!!! SAVE ME!!"

Jack peeked out the window, his eyes narrowing at the sight before him. One of the monstrous dogs was ripping a human apart, their stomach torn open, entrails spilling onto the ground. It was a grotesque, horrifying scene—but it didn't move Jack one bit.

Silently, he slipped out of the house and crouched behind a bush. His eyes scanned the neighborhood.

"They're... everywhere..." he muttered.

The entire street was infested with monsters. Dozens of them roamed freely, blood and gore painting the pavement. The air reeked of iron and rot, and the silence was broken only by screams or low growls echoing from different directions.

'They move in packs,' Jack noted, pressing himself deeper into the foliage. 'They're grouped up and not attacking each other... That tells me something.'

"What are you going to do, Jack?" Lune asked quietly in his mind.

"I need to leave this neighborhood," Jack answered. "Find a place with fewer people. That's where the monsters won't be as dense."

But before that...

Jack slipped back into the house and headed straight for the kitchen. He raided the drawers and cabinets, stuffing knives, forks, and anything remotely usable into his pockets.

'These will have to do for now. I need something—anything—to fight with,' he thought, gripping one of the sharper blades in his hand as he stepped outside once more.

Suddenly, one of the monsters—still feeding on a corpse—snapped its head up. It sniffed the air and began stepping forward.

Jack's gaze sharpened. A target.

He crouched low, waiting. The monster came closer, unknowingly walking straight into an ambush.

Swish!

Jack lunged, tackling the beast to the ground. He drove the knife deep into its throat, silencing any potential screech. Then, he slashed horizontally, severing the creature's veins in one clean motion.

Blood splattered across his face and arms, but he didn't flinch. Dragging the corpse into the bushes, he crouched low as a notification appeared:

[You have killed a Black Spider Dog.]

[You have gained 1 Essence.]

[Your power has increased by a tiny bit.]

[You have gained 1 Wisdom Point.]

Jack exhaled, feeling a subtle yet noticeable increase in his strength. 'So killing them gives me Essence... and Wisdom Points. Very good.'

He wiped the blood from his face and looked up at the street again.

"There are so many," he muttered. "I'll have to thin them out slowly..."

Focusing on his next move, Jack sprang out of the bush and darted toward a nearby shrub. His movement made a slight rustle—enough for some monsters to lift their heads.

Two began sniffing the air, moving toward the source.

'Damn. Their sense of smell is sharp... I moved too fast.' Jack tightened his grip on the knife. With his free hand, he grabbed a rock and hurled it toward a wrecked car nearby.

BANG!

The loud noise diverted their attention. The two monsters turned left, one of them charging furiously toward the sound.

Jack didn't waste the opportunity. He lunged at the second beast, slicing its throat with practiced precision.

[You have killed a Black Spider Dog.]

[You have gained...]

He didn't even stop to read. Moving swiftly, Jack crept up to the first one now investigating the car and stabbed it in the nape. As it collapsed, he gently laid its body down, avoiding any thud.

No other monsters noticed.

'Good.'

From behind the wreckage, he peered out, planning his next move.

Meanwhile, Lune remained silent, too stunned to speak. She didn't dare interrupt him—not when he was this focused. But the sight before her left her speechless.

'He's... taking them down, one after the other, like it's nothing. Where did he learn how to do that? To aim for the vital points so accurately... so quietly? That takes experience...'

A mix of awe and unease twisted in her chest. Jack was revealing a side of himself she hadn't seen before. She thought he was just like everyone else at first—just another exceptionally talented boy. But clearly, she had been wrong.

He wasn't just talented. He was terrifyingly capable. The level of intelligence and awareness he showed at that moment was horrifying, to say the least. It was not supposed to exist in a normal human boy or even a rookie Chronist, for that matter.

Over the next several minutes, Jack moved like a shadow through the darkness. He used the terrain, the night, and his environment to his advantage—luring monsters one at a time, killing them, and hiding the bodies. It was a deadly dance, and Jack performed it flawlessly.

[You have killed...]

[You have killed...]

[You have killed...]

Each kill brought more Essence, more Wisdom, more strength. He could feel it—his body reacting, adapting, improving.

And then, after the tenth kill, a new notification appeared:

[You have killed a Black Spider Dog.]

[You have gained 1 Essence.]

[Your power has increased by a tiny bit.]

[You have gained 1 Wisdom Point.]

[You have collected 10 Essence.]

[You have evolved.]

[Your Time Essence has increased considerably.]

[Your strength has increased considerably.]

The moment that final message appeared, Jack's body was overwhelmed by a surge of power. His aura exploded outward like a storm unleashed. Thick, dark mist enveloped him, wrapping around his form like a cocoon, coiling tighter and tighter as if trying to consume him.

"Hm," Jack exhaled calmly through the storm. "I evolved already? ...Good."