The first rule of hunting: become less than a shadow.
Asher didn't breathe too loud. Didn't step too hard. The forest didn't acknowledge him—and that was exactly what he wanted.
> [Entropy: 4.0%]
[Kill Points: 110]
[Subsystem: Stealth – XP: 0%]
[Skill: Ritual Echo – Cooldown: 2h 18m]
[Skill: Shadow Flicker – Ready]
[Weapon Equipped: Rusted Survival Knife – Durability: 31%]
[Mask Equipped: Civilian Grade – Damage Reduction 5% (Cosmetic Alteration Active)]
The mask felt natural now. A pale ceramic shell with a red streak and a jagged crack along the cheekbone. He'd glimpsed his reflection in a puddle once and didn't recognize the face.
That was good.
Parasight pulsed behind his thoughts, syncing to his heartbeat. No tutorials. No direction. Just instinct—and hunger. The code evolved with every kill.
Tonight, he hunted not just to survive.
He hunted to grow.
---
It took an hour to track the first one.
A cultist gone feral, squatting in the ruins of a truck stop. Filthy. Half-naked. Glyphs carved into his own flesh. Still whispering prayers to Zalgo beneath his breath.
Asher waited in the dark, motionless. Patient.
When the wind picked up, he moved.
The blade slid clean across the man's throat. A gasp. A struggle. Asher held him down until the light left his eyes.
> [Kill Confirmed – KP +60]
[Stealth Subsystem XP +12%]
[Entropy: 4.1%]
[Weapon Durability: 29%]
No hesitation.
Just purpose.
---
The second was younger. Faster. She ran the moment she caught a glint of movement in the trees.
Asher didn't follow directly. He watched her route, then moved to intercept, using terrain and angles. Calculating.
When she veered left through a patch of briars—
> [Skill Activated: Shadow Flicker]
[Skill Proficiency: 3% → 9%]
[Cooldown: 10s]
[Weapon Durability: 29%]
Space twisted. Darkness folded.
He reappeared ahead of her, silent and still.
Her eyes widened. She tried to scream—too late.
His knife pierced her heart. She hit the ground, twitching.
> [Kill Confirmed – KP +65]
[Stealth Subsystem XP +16%]
[Entropy: 4.3%]
[Weapon Durability: 27%]
Her blood steamed on the cold ground.
Asher stood over her, motionless, listening to the forest exhale.
No sirens. No pursuit. Just quiet.
> [Shadow Flicker – Cooldown: 7.2s Remaining]
---
The third wasn't clean.
Blood trail. Recent. He followed it to a clearing where two cultists stood over a bound child. Ten, maybe eleven. Gagged. Terrified.
No time for stealth.
> [Skill Activated: Shadow Flicker]
[Skill Proficiency: 9% → 12%]
[Cooldown: 10s]
[Weapon Durability: 27%]
Asher tore across the clearing, blade flashing.
The first cultist dropped with a blade through his spine.
The second spun, shrieking in tongues. A red sigil flared—a whip of light cracked across Asher's shoulder, sending him skidding back.
> [Damage Sustained – Moderate Burn, Left Shoulder]
[Auto-Heal Triggered – 50 KP Spent]
[Remaining KP: 185]
He charged again, ignoring the pain. The second cultist died choking on blood.
The kid sobbed.
Asher stared. This wasn't part of the plan.
Still masked, still bloodied, he cut the ropes, handed over a flashlight, and pointed toward the road.
The boy didn't ask questions.
He just ran.
> [Kill Confirmed – KP +55]
[Stealth Subsystem XP +14%]
[Entropy: 4.6%]
[Weapon Durability: 25%]
---
Later, under a rusted railbridge, Asher wiped blood from his gloves as the system flickered awake.
> [Stealth Subsystem XP: 51%]
[Shadow Flicker – Proficiency: 18%]
[Entropy: 4.6%]
[Replay Log – 2 New Entries Available]
[Shop Suggestion: Shadow Flicker II – Unlockable]
[Weapon Status: Rusted Survival Knife – Durability: 25% – Near Break Threshold]
He didn't open the replays.
Didn't want to see the kid's face.
But he felt it—every movement sharper. Every kill cleaner.
He was changing.
And something out there had started watching.