Sector 11 was quiet.
At least on the surface.
Jin Seok-woo stood at the edge of a containment barrier, eyes locked on the swirling blue fracture suspended in the air like a jagged wound in space. This Rift was different. Deeper. Colder.
The officials outside gave him a wide berth. His freshly registered Hunter Pass, still warm from printing, hung around his neck. No guild name. No god.
Just Seok-woo, Jin.
Rank: Unclassified.
A monitor nearby listed the Rift's classification: B-Rank.
Danger level: Moderate-High.
> Estimated Monster Types: Pack-based, High Agility.
> Environment: Forested Ruins.
He stepped through.
The moment he entered, the air changed.
The sun above was false—dim and unmoving. The wind rustled through crumbling stone temples buried in overgrowth. Tree roots split ancient roads. Vines strangled what remained of long-forgotten statues.
It smelled of rot. Of age. Of death.
His System chimed.
[Entering Rift: Sector 11 - B-Rank Ruinscape]
[Objective: Survive and Eliminate Threats]
He drew his dagger.
It was still scratched from the last battle. He'd meant to upgrade it—but held back, saving his credits for something more crucial.
[Credits: 160]
[Skill Tree Available - 1 Skill Point Earned]
He accessed it.
A glowing panel appeared before him:
>Skill Upgrade Tree -
[Quickstep Lv.1] Upgrade Available (20 Credits)
[Predator's Instinct Lv.2] Upgrade Available (1 SP, 40 Credits)
[New Skill: Blood Sense] Unlock Cost: 80 Credits
He hesitated—then selected Blood Sense.
> [New Skill Acquired: Blood Sense Lv.1]
> Allows detection of enemies within a 25-meter radius via heartbeat, blood flow, and aggression levels.
A tingling spread behind his eyes.
And then he heard them.
Soft thuds. Shuffling. Rapid, silent movement in the brush.
Dozens of them.
[Detected: Rift Wolves - Count: 13]
He knelt, lowering his breathing. A pack. Coordinated. Fast.
They leapt from the trees moments later.
Fanged, sleek, with shadowy fur that shimmered between invisibility and substance .Rift Wolves.
Seok-woo didn't flinch.
"Quickstep."
He vanished mid-lunge, appearing behind the alpha. His dagger sank deep under the ribcage, where instinct guided his hand. One kill.
The rest snarled.
He moved again, using the environment—broken stone, shattered towers, moss-slick walls. A predator in the ruins. The wolves chased, but his blade found throat after throat. His movement had rhythm. Flow.
> +80 EXP
> Credits +20
> Predator's Instinct - Proficiency Increased
By the time the last wolf fell, Seok-woo was panting.
But he was grinning.
This was growth. Real, undeniable progress.
And somewhere deep in the Rift—something darker stirred.