Chapter 2: The First Hunt
1077 Words
The night burned.
Black clouds rolled over the ruined skyline, flashing with orange lightning. The city that once thrived on machines was now a wasteland of metal and ash. Fires crawled up shattered towers like dying embers trying to reach the stars.
Leon Vale trudged through the wreckage, a makeshift wrench in one hand, a strip of cloth tied around his forearm. His boots crunched on glass. His breath came out in ragged clouds.
[Quest Active: Rise from the Ashes.]
[Objective: Survive the first night.]
He gave a humorless laugh. “Yeah, easier said than done.”
The System’s blue interface glowed faintly at the corner of his vision.
[USER: LEON VALE]
[LEVEL: 1]
[CORE ABILITIES:]
• Predator Protocol — Absorb the Systems of defeated hosts.
• Minor Regeneration — Passive healing over time.
That first time it activated—when he killed that glowing man—something in him changed. His blood hummed with energy, his vision sharper, his senses alive.
He pushed forward, climbing onto what used to be a freeway. Twisted cars littered the road, melted from whatever storm destroyed the city. As he moved between the wrecks, movement flickered in the distance.
Three figures advanced along the road, weapons drawn. Their silhouettes were clear in the lightning flashes—one carried a shotgun, the others pipes and blades.
Leon crouched behind a burnt-out car.
[Warning: Multiple King Candidates detected nearby.]
“So it’s not just me,” he muttered.
The group drew closer. Their leader’s voice carried through the rain. “Boss said every Candidate we find, we strip his Core. No mercy.”
Leon’s jaw tightened. These weren’t survivors—they were hunters.
When the smallest of them split from the others to check a nearby ruin, Leon moved.
Fast. Silent.
He wrapped an arm around the man’s neck, dragging him back behind cover. “Stay quiet,” Leon hissed.
But before the man could answer, his chest glowed faint blue.
[System Active: Impact Shield.]
A burst of energy erupted, throwing Leon backward. He crashed into a car, gasping.
[Health: 74%. Minor injuries detected.]
He groaned, pushing up as the others shouted.
“Over here!”
“Someone’s fighting!”
The leader swung his shotgun up, glowing circuitry pulsing along the barrel.
“Time to feed the System,” the man snarled—and fired.
The shot exploded against the wall beside Leon, scattering debris. He dove aside, heat burning his cheek.
He snatched up a fallen crowbar and rushed forward. The leader turned just in time to catch a steel bar to the chest. The weapon glowed orange from the energy surge pulsing in Leon’s veins.
[Predator Protocol Activated.]
[Absorbing System Core: Firearm System (Rank D).]
Light streamed from the man’s body into Leon’s hands. The leader dropped, lifeless.
[Ability Acquired: Thermal Rounds.]
Leon gasped, staring at his trembling fingers as the glow faded. The shotgun beside him hummed softly. He grabbed it and spun toward the next attacker.
One pull of the trigger. A flash of orange light.
The man dropped instantly, smoking hole in his chest.
[Predator Points +1.]
The last one froze in shock, eyes wide.
Leon aimed. “Run.”
The man bolted. Leon didn’t shoot. He lowered the weapon, chest heaving. His hands shook, not from fear—but from the thrill.
The System’s voice was calm in his ear.
[Quest Progress: 78%.]
[New Quest: Predator’s Instinct.]
[Objective: Defeat one ranked King Candidate.]
“Ranked…” Leon murmured. “Guess this game just got serious.”
He scavenged what he could—armor scraps, ammo, the working shotgun. The city moaned under the storm as he pressed deeper into the ruins.
By the time he found shelter under a collapsed bridge, the rain hissed like acid. He checked his ammo—four rounds left.
The System blinked again.
[Level Up: 1 → 2.]
[Choose Ability Enhancement:]
(A) Upgrade Minor Regeneration → Rapid Regeneration
(B) Enhance Thermal Rounds → Plasma Burst
Leon selected (A). Warmth surged through his body as wounds closed instantly.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
A metallic scraping echoed through the dark. Leon looked up sharply.
A tall man stepped out from the shadows, clad in scavenged armor that gleamed with faint light. Across his chest glowed System text:
[SYSTEM: Iron Sovereign (Rank C)]
“You’ve been busy,” the stranger said calmly.
Leon raised the shotgun. “You’re one of them.”
“I’m one of the few that matter,” the man replied. “You’re new. That makes you prey.”
He lifted his hand. Metal around them rose into the air, floating weightlessly.
[Ability Detected: Magnetic Control.]
Leon fired first. The shot hit mid-air—deflected by the magnetic field. The Iron Sovereign flicked his wrist and the debris shot forward like bullets.
Leon dove, rolling behind a truck as steel slammed into it, denting the metal.
[Health: 62%. Rapid Regeneration active.]
He peeked out, panting. The man walked forward slowly, calm and confident, like gravity itself bent to his will.
Leon needed a plan. He spotted a loose wrench near a floating chunk of scrap—an idea flickered.
He threw the wrench—not at the man, but at the floating metal behind him. The impact threw off the magnetic balance just long enough.
Leon fired.
The Thermal Round hit center mass. The Iron Sovereign staggered, sparks flying from his chest plate. Leon sprinted through the smoke and slammed into him, wrench raised.
[Predator Protocol Activated.]
[Attempting Core Absorption… ERROR: Rank Disparity Detected.]
“What?” Leon gasped.
The man’s hand closed around his throat. “You’re too weak,” he growled. “Predators only eat what they can kill.”
Leon’s vision blurred, air leaving his lungs—but he grinned anyway. “Then I’ll kill harder.”
He jammed the shotgun barrel under the man’s chin and pulled the trigger.
The blast lit the bridge like sunrise.
The Iron Sovereign dropped to his knees, armor smoking. Leon fell beside him, coughing.
[Core Absorption Complete.]
[New Ability: Magnetic Pulse (Minor).]
[Predator Points +3.]
Electric energy crackled across Leon’s hands. His eyes glowed faintly silver in the reflection of the rain.
He stood, drenched and panting. “Guess the hunt’s just getting started.”
Lightning split the clouds as Leon walked away, the shotgun slung over his shoulder and his shadow stretching long behind him.
The world had ended.
But for Leon Vale, the game had just begun.
- Writer
