The dirt road felt long under Raiden's boots. His shirt hung open, flapping in the wind. Bite marks still lingered on his chest. Faint bruises trailed along his hips. He didn't care to cover them.
Let the world see what he'd conquered.
[System: Passive Buffs Active – Energy Recovery: Stable. Awareness: Enhanced.]
Ahead, the village slowly came alive. Smoke drifted from chimneys. A farmer was herding goats past the edge of the woods. A boy chased a dog down the path. No one paid him much mind, but he noticed the way one woman peeked through her curtain and quickly ducked away.
They'd seen the royal crest on his coat.
Or maybe just the way he walked.
He didn't stop in the village. Didn't need food. Didn't want small talk. His mind was set on something else.
Power.
He headed for the tree line, where the forest grew thicker. A warning sign hung at the edge—"BEAST ZONE – ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK."
Raiden walked right past it.
The forest swallowed him quickly. Thick roots tangled underfoot. Branches hung low like claws. The deeper he went, the colder it got, but his body stayed warm.
[System Scan: Searching for high-yield targets.]
[Recommendation: Follow eastern ridge path – Cave Network Detected. Beast Nest: Active.]
"Perfect," he muttered, brushing past a thorn bush.
Soon, the sounds of the village faded behind him. Only the crunch of his steps and the occasional bird cry remained.
Then—
A low growl.
He turned fast. Something charged from the brush—fast, silver-furred, low to the ground. Fangs flashing.
Raiden sidestepped, grabbed a broken branch, and slammed it down onto the beast's skull as it leapt.
It yelped.
Cracked bone.
The wolf hit the dirt and rolled, dazed.
Raiden didn't hesitate. He stomped down hard on its neck.
Snap.
Silence.
[Beast Slain: Silverfang Wolf. EXP +8.]
He looked around. Another growl. Then another. Three more shapes darting through the brush.
He drew his sword.
No more games.
They came at once. Teeth flashing. One jumped at his face. He ducked, slashed upward. Blood sprayed. The second hit his side but bounced off the hardened coat.
He turned, grabbed it mid-lunge, and slammed it into a tree.
Third one bit his calf.
He hissed. Slashed down.
More blood.
More silence.
[+12 EXP.]
[+9 EXP.]
[+11 EXP.]
[Current Power Level: 64/100.]
[Skill Tree Upgrade Available.]
Raiden straightened. His leg bled, but the System kicked in fast.
[Minor Injury Detected – Healing in Progress.]
[Estimated Recovery Time: 7 minutes.]
He leaned against the tree, breathing slow and deep.
They weren't strong enough.
He needed bigger prey.
Back in the palace, the Shadow Division moved.
Twelve riders dressed in black, faces covered, blades strapped to their backs. They left no footprints. Left no scent.
Their orders were simple.
Find the prince. Do not be seen. Bring him back—alive or not.
Each one carried a stone—linked to Raiden's aura. The tracking signal pulsed weakly. He was still alive.
But he wouldn't be for long if the Queen's patience snapped.
Raiden found the cave by late afternoon.
It sat at the base of a steep cliff, hidden behind a curtain of vines. Bones littered the ground—goat skulls, broken antlers, a torn saddle.
Whatever lived here didn't hunt for sport.
He stepped inside, blade ready.
It was dark. Cold. The air smelled like wet earth and blood.
Then came the sound—scraping claws, slow and heavy. Something big breathing in the dark.
[Target Detected.]
[Stonehide Lurker – Rank: B-Class. Power Level: 78/100.]
It lunged from the dark—seven feet tall, back covered in thick grey plates, eyes glowing red.
Raiden rolled aside just in time.
The thing hit the wall with a crash that shook dust from the ceiling. It turned, snarling.
Raiden struck—blade sliding between two plates on its side. It roared and whipped around with a claw.
Too slow.
He ducked. Slashed again. Cut deep.
The creature's tail caught him by surprise—slammed into his ribs and sent him flying into the wall.
Pain bloomed in his side.
[Damage Registered – Fracture Likely.]
He coughed. Wiped blood from his mouth.
Still stood.
Still smiling.
"I needed a real fight."
He rushed it again, this time faster—body low, blade ready. The thing opened its jaws wide, going for his throat.
He threw a handful of dirt in its face.
It flinched.
And in that moment, he jumped onto its back and drove his blade down hard—into the soft flesh at the base of the neck.
The Lurker roared, stumbled, crashed against the wall, trying to throw him off.
Raiden held on.
Kept stabbing.
Again.
And again.
Until it stopped moving.
[Beast Slain: Stonehide Lurker.]
[High-Tier Core Acquired.]
[EXP +36.]
[Current Power Level: 72/100.]
He rolled off the corpse, breathing hard, blood running down his arms.
But he was alive.
And stronger.
[Skill Tree Unlocked: New Trait Available.]
["Stoneborn Grit" – Passive Defense Boost in combat.]
"Take it," he said through clenched teeth.
[Confirmed.]
He leaned against the cave wall, head tilted back, chest heaving. His vision swam for a second—but then cleared.
The pain faded.
Not gone, but manageable.
He wiped the blade clean on the creature's fur.
Then stood.
And walked back into the fading light.
By the time night fell, Raiden had made camp in a hollow tree. The fire was small. The stars above were cold and endless.
He sat shirtless, bandaging his side. His breath steamed in the air.
He thought about the trial.
About Tatsuo.
About the Queen's cold voice.
He smiled.
They thought he'd run.
Thought he was a spoiled fool playing at being wild.
They had no idea.
At the palace gates, the Shadow Division reached the outskirts of the forest. Their stones pulsed stronger now.
One of the shadows whispered to the leader, "He's near."
The leader nodded. "We take him tonight."
[System Alert: Threat Approaching.]
Raiden's head snapped up.
He stood slo
wly, eyes narrowing.
[12 targets. Concealed. Armed. Trained.]
He smiled again.
Finally.
He pulled on his coat, grabbed the sword, and stepped into the darkness.
"Let's see what the palace sent to fetch their runaway prince."