Kai exhaled, his body still aching from the battle. The Crimson Horned Direwolf was finally dead. The once terrifying beast now lay motionless, its crimson horns dimmed, its fur soaked in blood.
The assassin wiped sweat from her forehead, eyeing the corpse. "That was closer than I'd like."
Kai nodded. "Yeah."
Despite the exhaustion, his eyes sharpened. A Tier 5 beast was an incredible find. Every part of it was valuable—its fur, claws, bones, and especially its core.
His gaze landed on the beast's forehead, where a faint glow pulsed beneath the skin.
The Monster Core.
Before he could act, the assassin stepped forward. "I assume you want the core?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're letting me take it?"
She smirked. "You dealt the final blow. Besides, I don't use cores. I need something else."
He narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"
She crouched beside the Direwolf, running a hand along its thick hide. "The fur and claws. They're excellent for crafting weapons and armor."
Kai considered her words. It was a fair trade. He nodded. "Deal."
Wasting no time, he pulled out a knife and began the extraction. The assassin worked on her side, efficiently removing the fur and claws with precise movements.
Minutes passed in silence, the only sound being the rustling of fabric and the occasional squelch of flesh being cut.
Then, Kai finally reached the core.
A deep red crystal, the size of a fist, pulsed with power. He held it up, feeling the energy radiating from it. A Tier 5 Monster Core—an extremely rare treasure.
Before he could store it away, the assassin spoke. "What do you plan to do with it?"
Kai glanced at her. "Haven't decided yet. Might sell it. Might use it."
She nodded, then stood, stretching. "Well, this was fun, but I've got other business to take care of."
Kai tensed slightly. "So, we're back to being enemies?"
She smirked. "For now, let's call it… a temporary ceasefire."
Without another word, she disappeared into the forest, leaving Kai alone with the beast's remains.
He sighed, looking down at the core in his hand.
This was only the beginning.