Gorath stood amidst a sea of corpses, blood dripping from his black claws. The air was filled with the pungent smell of iron, mixed with the scent of charred flesh. Fires still burned in the distance, burning the ruins of the human camp he had destroyed.
He took a deep breath, letting the scent of victory soak into him. But the hunger in his body had not disappeared. It was no ordinary hunger—it was a deep, instinctive urge that demanded more blood, more power.
He crouched down, gripping the head of one of the human soldiers he had just killed. His eyes glowed red as his fangs sank into the skull.
[Devour has been activated.]
Heat coursed through his body, as if pure energy were being poured into his flesh. His muscles pulsed, his blood boiling.
[Ability gained: Battle Instinct Lv.2]
[Ability gained: Berserker Rage Lv.1]
Gorath smiled.
He could feel his power growing. Humans… these weak creatures… They were nothing but stepping stones.
Before he could fully savor his victory, however, footsteps sounded from behind the trees.
Fast. Trained.
Not goblins. Not ordinary humans.
Gorath's eyes narrowed. His hand instinctively gripped the weapon he had taken from one of his previous victims—a large axe that was almost too small for his muscular grip.
From the shadows of the forest, figures began to emerge.
They were clad in black armor, their faces hidden behind silver masks engraved with the symbol of an open eye.
Hunters.
But unlike the ordinary humans he had killed earlier, they did not flinch.
One of them raised his hand, and instantly, Gorath felt a terrible pressure around him. It was as if the air had become heavier, pressing down on him from every direction.
A cold voice rang out.
"You have gone on quite a rampage, monster."
Instantly, a black shadow shot toward him.
Gorath had only a split second to react.
But it was more than enough.
[Agility Boost Lv.3 has been activated.]
He turned around at a speed impossible for a creature of his size, his axe swinging in a deadly trajectory. The air vibrated.
However, before his weapon could reach its target, the figure in front of him disappeared—like a phantom.
Damn. So fast!
Gorath jumped back, but suddenly—
BANG!
An invisible force slammed into his chest, sending him flying backwards into a large tree. The trunk cracked, but it was not enough to stop Gorath's giant body.
He growled. His breathing was heavy.
From a distance, the masked figure stepped forward.
"You're different from other monsters," he said. "You can think. Can speak, perhaps?"
Gorath grinned, blood dripping from the corner of his lips.
"Damn, you humans always like to act like they're overbearing."
The hunter was not surprised. Not afraid.
Instead, he raised his hand again.
A black aura began to swirl around him, forming something resembling a sharp blade that floated in the air.
Gorath could feel it.
This was going to be a real fight.
And he couldn't wait to finish them off.
The air around Gorath felt heavy, as if an invisible pressure was trying to bend his body.
He felt something strange.
It wasn't just ordinary magic.
This technique… seemed to be trying to suppress his very existence.
The masked Hunter in front of him stood calmly, his hands still raised, manipulating the dark aura that swirled around him.
"Monsters like you shouldn't exist," his cold voice echoed.
Gorath growled, raising his axe and planting the tip into the ground, quelling the tremors that threatened to engulf his body.
"You talk too much…"
He took a step forward.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him cracked.
In an instant, he was flying forward.
His axe swung at a speed that was unthinkable for a creature of his size—slicing through the air, creating a sonic boom.
However, just as his slash was about to hit the Hunter—
His figure vanished.
Shadow!
DAMN!
BANG!
Suddenly, an invisible attack struck Gorath from the side, sending him flying several meters back until his body slammed into a large tree.
The trunk shattered, wood chips flying in all directions.
The Hunter had moved in an instant, standing on the other side, with shadow blades floating around him.
"A thinking monster... but still a monster."
He stretched out his hand, and in an instant—
The shadow blades shot towards Gorath.
Quick!
Gorath activated [Agility Boost Lv.3] and jumped to the side, dodging the first attack.
However, the blades spun in the air—changing direction as if they had a consciousness of their own!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A few blades pierced Gorath's skin, leaving gaping wounds that emitted black smoke.
He growled.
The Hunter raised his hand again, ready to end the fight.
But before he could move—
A savage smile appeared on Gorath's face.
"Got you."
WHAM!
The Hunter didn't even have time to react as a large rock came hurtling towards him at high speed, hitting his body and sending him flying far back.
Gorath swung his arm forward, his fist still smoking after throwing the rock the size of a human head.
The Hunter fell, his body rolling on the ground several times before finally hitting another tree.
Silence.
Gorath gasped, his blood still dripping onto the ground.
However, before he could enjoy his victory—
SHING!
From the shadows, something appeared.
A dark sword shot out from the Hunter's chest, piercing his body from behind.
Gorath's eyes narrowed.
Someone had just killed the Hunter.
But who?
From the darkness, a soft yet cold voice sounded.
"Interesting…"
Gorath turned his head.
From behind the trees, a woman stepped out.
She was wearing a black robe with purple accents, her long hair sparkling like a starless night. Her eyes were sharp, emitting a dim light reminiscent of a dying candle.
And in her hand—
The dark sword that had just killed the Hunter slowly disappeared into a black mist.
Gorath could sense something strange about this woman.
She was no ordinary human.
Not even a Hunter.
A faint smile crept across his face.
"A creature like you... shouldn't exist."
But this time, there was a hint of admiration in his voice.
"How interesting."