Later that week, Yuki rested near a riverbank. He had learned to gather herbs, cook over a fire, and survive. But comfort bred carelessness.
He didn't hear them until it was too late.
The first wolf lunged from the brush—mid-sized, black fur, glowing red eyes. Shadowfang. A monster-class predator known for ambush tactics. Yuki rolled, the beast grazing his arm.
Ding! Mysterious Skill Activated. Analyzing Trait: Shadow Movement...
Pain exploded in his side, but something clicked. His body blurred, shifting to the left, dodging instinctively as a second wolf appeared. Another swiped at him, but he was already gone—his movement had changed.
He was moving like them.
Yuki gritted his teeth and countered with a makeshift spear, jabbing forward and catching the first wolf's flank. It yelped and fell, but the alpha—the largest of the pack—lunged.
In the chaos, Yuki's mind went blank. His body took over.
Shadow Step.
He blinked behind the alpha, struck with precision, and watched it fall. The others fled.
New Skill Acquired: [Shadow Step] Hidden Trait Copied: [Pack Awareness]
Breathing heavily, Yuki stared at the fading bodies. His skills were growing, but not by his choice. They came with pain... and questions.