High above the forest floor, Adrian crouched on a thick branch of an ancient tree. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows over the canopy, painting the world in hues of gold and black. He was still—completely still—his breathing silent, body blending into the leaves like a ghost.

  Earlier, he had activated Weapon Enthusiast Mode, loading the equipment he needed: the Tree Phantom Dart ZS-19, and the Spectral Combat Knife Mk. V—both secured at his side, perfectly balanced.

  Now it was time to test them.

  His eyes locked on the movement below. A Duskwolf, a beast native to this realm, padded cautiously between stones, sniffing for prey. Its lean muscles rippled under matted black fur, and its ears twitched with every sound.

  Adrian’s fingers tightened slightly around one of the darts. Lightweight. Carbon-titanium. Barbed for internal rupture. Engineered to kill fast and quiet.

  He narrowed his eyes.

  A breath in.

  Flick.

  Three darts flew like spirits through the air. One embedded directly in the wolf’s left eye. The second pierced its jugular. The third slammed into its heart, ripping through flesh like paper.

  The Duskwolf didn’t howl. It didn’t twitch. It simply dropped dead, legs folding beneath it mid-step, its life extinguished before it even felt pain.

  > [Kill Confirmed: +100 Weapon Points]

  Perched above, Adrian murmured, “So it works on monsters after all.”

  No celebration. No smile. Just a cold confirmation of efficiency.

  He remained in the tree for a few more seconds, scanning the forest, shadows crawling around him. Then, silently, he dropped down from the branch—boots landing in the soft moss below without a sound.

  He approached the corpse, knelt, and carefully retrieved the darts, wiping each one clean before returning them to his utility belt.

  His gaze shifted toward the deeper woods.

  “One kill. Not enough. I need to confirm the knife next.”

  He turned and vanished into the thicket, footsteps silent, the ghost of a predator among monsters.

  Adrian crouched in the dense underbrush, watching the Blue Ogre as it shuffled through the trees, clearly focused on something on the ground. His senses were sharp, honed from years of training and experience. The target was ripe for the taking.

  Target acquired.

  He reached into his pouch and retrieved a Tree Phantom Dart ZS-19, a lightweight, precise weapon, designed for quick, silent strikes. With one fluid motion, he launched it into the air.

  Shnk!

  The dart buried itself into the ogre’s left shoulder, striking just below the clavicle, targeting the subclavian artery. Adrian’s eyes flicked over to the ogre, noting the immediate stagger. The poison would spread quickly, causing weakness and numbing of the limbs.

  Perfect hit. The poison will work its magic in seconds.

  Without hesitation, Adrian moved, his body shifting into action before the ogre even had time to react. He was already closing the distance.

  He drew the Spectral Combat Knife Mk. V, its sleek, black blade gleaming in the dim light. He could feel the weight of it, a weapon that was both familiar and deadly. He was a ghost, moving faster than the ogre could process.

  The first strike was precise. Adrian’s knife slid into the ogre’s left ribcage, just below the sternum. The blade cut through the thin layer of muscle, the cartilage, and then—the heart. It was a clean strike, a lethal blow. The ogre’s body jerked slightly, blood pulsing out, but it wouldn’t be enough to stop it.

  Left lung punctured. Heart damaged. The poison will accelerate the effect. It won’t last long.

  Adrian was already in motion again, his body a blur as he pivoted, his knife slicing upward in a sideways arc. The second strike found the ogre’s lower right side, slipping beneath the hip bone. The blade tore through thick muscle and fat, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake. The ogre grunted, its movements becoming sluggish, its breathing labored.

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  Another strike. Internal organs are torn. Major loss of blood. It’ll collapse soon.

  But Adrian wasn’t done yet. He spun, using the momentum to launch a kick directly into the ogre’s jaw, the force of it snapping the creature’s head backward with a sickening crack. The impact was hard enough to shatter teeth, and possibly the jaw itself.

  Jaw shattered. The head’s already whiplashed. That’ll do it.

  The ogre’s body faltered, and Adrian could already see the fight draining from it. The poison, the precision strikes, and now the brutal finishing blow had done their job. It was only a matter of seconds before it would collapse.

  The ogre’s legs gave way beneath it, and it hit the ground with a heavy thud.

  Mission complete. Target neutralized.

  Adrian didn’t waste any more time. He sheathed the Spectral Combat Knife Mk. V and stepped away from the fallen ogre, already surveying his surroundings for the next potential target.

  Adrian crouched low, his senses sharpened by the heavy presence in the air. His eyes scanned the surrounding forest, and a flicker of movement caught his attention to the west. There was something powerful, something lurking with a dangerous energy. It wasn’t like the usual creatures he'd encountered.

  What is that?

  His instincts flared. He had to prepare. Whatever it was, it was dangerous. He needed a trap. Adrian immediately opened the Weapon System, his fingers swiping through the available options.

  Trap Set: Needle Spikes | Caltrop Mines | DarkMesh Webbing.

  He selected the items with practiced ease, not wasting a second. His training and precision turned the setup into an art.

  First, Adrian retrieved the Needle Spikes, each one sharp as a razor, capable of piercing through the toughest armor. He knelt down, placing them in a wide arc, their sharp tips angled to pierce through anything that stepped too far into the area.

  Next, he pulled out the Caltrop Mines, small but deadly devices designed to explode with a force that could tear through anything within range. Adrian scattered them carefully along a narrow path, covering them under layers of leaves to keep them hidden until the perfect moment.

  Lastly, Adrian unrolled the DarkMesh Webbing, a virtually invisible, sticky material that would trap anything that got caught in it. He attached it to nearby trees, stretching it taut, creating a net that would instantly spring into action and immobilize whatever walked into it.

  Everything was set. Adrian stood, his hands steady as he observed his work. He had arranged the traps with expert precision, knowing that whatever came through would trigger them in perfect harmony. Now, all that was left was to wait.

  He took a few steps back, finding a vantage point in a nearby tree, his eyes scanning the forest. His heart beat steadily, calm despite the impending danger. The presence was growing closer—he could feel it now.

  Moments passed, and then, through the brush, something massive emerged. The creature was large, its shape almost indistinct in the low light of the forest. Adrian tensed, his eyes narrowing.

  What is that thing?

  The creature’s fur shimmered in strange hues, almost like it was shifting in the light, but its glowing eyes were unmistakable. It was powerful, but Adrian wasn’t sure what it was. He held his position, waiting for the right moment.

  The beast prowled forward, its claws digging into the earth with a deep, rumbling sound. Its presence felt otherworldly. Adrian remained motionless, ready.

  And then it happened. The creature took a step, crossing into the trap zone.

  Now.

  The Needle Spikes shot out from the ground in an instant, striking the beast’s paw with deadly precision. The creature yelped in pain, but it didn’t stop. It tried to withdraw, its massive body twisting, but in doing so, it triggered the Caltrop Mines.

  Boom! The explosion was deafening. The creature staggered back, its side torn open by the shrapnel. It roared in fury, but the force of the blast had already weakened it.

  Before the beast could fully recover, the DarkMesh Webbing activated. The sticky strands wrapped around its legs, pulling tight and trapping the creature in place. It struggled violently, but the more it thrashed, the more entangled it became.

  Adrian observed the creature, noting its bloodied form. He could see it wasn’t quite as strong as before, its movements sluggish. He couldn’t help but feel the adrenaline surge through his body. The creature was wounded, trapped, and now, it was just a matter of finishing it off.

  He moved silently, his knife already in his hand. As he approached the struggling monster, Adrian didn’t feel fear or hesitation. His thoughts were calm, calculating. This was a job, and he was going to finish it.

  The creature, still unaware of his precise movements, roared one last time. Adrian slid his knife into its side with a sharp, fluid motion—targeting its vulnerable underbelly. He moved with the skill of a professional, stabbing deep and quick, hitting vital organs with deadly accuracy.

  One strike—deep into its side. It’s over.

  As the beast fell silent, its body went limp. Adrian took a step back, letting out a slow breath. It wasn’t an instant kill, but the damage was precise and effective. He’d put it down quickly, as any experienced killer would.

  Adrian paused for a moment, reflecting on the situation. The traps had worked perfectly, his instincts sharp and on point. He had no idea what kind of monster this was, but it was powerful, that much was clear. Its dark aura was unmistakable, but he wasn’t worried about it anymore. The job was done.

  Adrian stood over the fallen creature, his breath steady despite the battle. The traps had worked flawlessly, and the kill had been swift. His eyes narrowed as he took one last look at the monster's body.

  Suddenly, a soft chime echoed through the air, the familiar sound of the Weapon System acknowledging the successful takedown.

  Ding!

  Powerful Monster Defeated—2000 Points

  Adrian couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of satisfaction, though his face remained expressionless. The points were a reward for his effort, but they were nothing more than a measure of success. The real value was in the experience, the preparation, and the execution.

  He gave the creature one last glance, then turned away, ready to move on. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready. The points were only the beginning—he had his sights set on greater challenges.

  The forest had fallen quiet as Adrian approached the tent once more. The glow of the small fire still flickered softly through the thin veil of dusk. He stepped silently, his boots barely disturbing the soil, and opened the flap of the [Tactical Shelter: TerraForm Tent].

  Inside, the warmth greeted him—but so did something unexpected.

  The dark elf stood near the portable heater, her back to him, her cloak and armor set neatly to the side. The firelight kissed the curves of her body, outlining her silhouette with golden light. Her skin, dark like polished obsidian, gleamed with a soft, healthy glow. She was tall, elegant, yet there was a natural softness to her figure that made her seem untouchable, almost divine. Her waist curved gently into her hips, and her long, silken hair flowed down her back like liquid midnight, stopping just above the dimples of her lower spine.

  She turned halfway, startled by the sound, and instinctively tried to cover herself with her arms—though they hardly did much to hide the shape of her.

  Adrian’s eyes met hers. For a brief moment, time felt suspended.

  The air was warmer than before. Or maybe it wasn’t the air.

  He blinked once, slowly, his face unreadable—but then, as if the entire moment hadn’t struck him at all, he simply muttered under his breath.

  “Oh…”