Refused The System

Body Refinement Stage Two

Gerry wiped the blood from his eyes with the back of his trembling hand.

Without warning, a savage hunger twisted through his stomach.

Back in the Sterling Clan, he had always been served the finest meals on silver platters.

Now, as he stared at the blood-soaked carcass before him, all he felt was absolute hunger.

He crawled toward it.

Using what remained of the sharp edge on his stone, Gerry split open the wolf's chest.

Nestled within its lifeless heart was a marble-sized crystal glowing with a deep violet light.

The Monster Core.

Without hesitation, Gerry pulled it free.

His stomach growled again, demanding sustenance.

His eyes fell upon the wolf's still-warm hind leg.

Without fire.

Without seasoning.

He sank his teeth into the raw flesh.

The sharp metallic taste of blood and the tough texture filled his mouth.

It was revolting.

Yet as he chewed and swallowed, warmth slowly spread from his stomach throughout his body.

[Analysis: Host has consumed the flesh of a Body Refinement Stage 2 creature. Nutrient extraction initiated. Crude energy is being processed to compensate for organ failure.]

Gerry continued eating voraciously, ignoring the blood smeared across his chin and clothing.

Every bite was an act of rebellion.

Every bite was another vow to survive.

He no longer ate for flavor.

He ate because he intended to become the predator of this place.

"I'll make every one of you pay," Gerry muttered between mouthfuls, his eyes fixed on the dark sky far above the abyss.

"Father..."

"Dandy..."

"Helena..."

"I'll tear apart every ounce of your pride and hypocrisy until nothing remains."

Once he felt a little strength returning, he clenched the Monster Core in his palm.

"Vesper."

"Begin the absorption."

"Use the fastest method."

"I don't care how much it hurts."

[Command Accepted. Beginning Shadow Wolf Core Extraction.]

[Warning: Because the Host rejected full synchronization, this energy will be forced manually through damaged meridians. Pain level will reach maximum capacity.]

"Just do it!"

"This pain is nothing compared to their betrayal!"

The crystal shattered into violet dust.

Wild energy instantly surged through every pore in Gerry's hand like thousands of burning needles.

A cry tore from his throat.

His body arched backward as the torrent of power crashed into his nervous system.

Every blood vessel burned.

The wolf's energy refused to submit, trying to destroy everything in its path.

Within his mind, Gerry watched the shattered network of his meridians being forcibly reinforced by stronger, unfamiliar energy.

"Hold on..."

"I won't lose to the power of some beast!"

He clenched his fists until his fingernails pierced his palms.

He refused Vesper's offer to numb the pain.

He wanted this agony carved permanently into his soul.

[Meridian Reconstruction: 3%... 5%... 8%...]

[Cultivation Level Increased: Body Refinement Stage 2.]

Nearly an hour passed in his struggle against death.

At last, the violent convulsions subsided.

When Gerry finally opened his eyes, the golden glow around his irises had become noticeably brighter.

New strength pulsed through his arms.

He slowly rose to his feet.

His mangled left leg had completely closed, leaving behind only a permanent scar.

His physical senses had sharpened dramatically.

He could hear water dripping somewhere in the distance.

He could feel the presence of other creatures lurking deep within the darkness.

Gerry tossed aside the stone.

Its edge had become dull, cracked, and nearly useless.

His hand drifted to the scar across his waist, the wound he had deliberately chosen to preserve.

"Two steps," Gerry murmured coldly.

"This is only the beginning."

Vesper's blue interface appeared before him once more.

[Notification: Host has fully adapted to the Law of the Wild.]

[New Quest Detected: "Footsteps of the Forsaken." Locate a permanent shelter within 24 hours before the Miasma Storm arrives.]

Gerry answered without a word.

He simply walked deeper into the darkness.

His footing was now steady.

Every step carried murderous intent.

Far above, the Sterling Clan was probably celebrating its brilliant future alongside its perfect heir.

They had no idea that deep within the darkest reaches of the abyss, Gerry was preparing to hunt every last one of them.

He suddenly stopped.

A chorus of growls echoed from somewhere in the distance.

A pack of monsters was approaching, drawn by the thick scent of fresh blood.

Gerry didn't run.

A faint grin spread across his pale face.

"Good," he said softly to the darkness ahead.

"Come."

"I'm still hungry."

Then the smile froze.

The chorus of growls from the dozens of approaching Shadow Wolves vanished all at once.

An even heavier silence swallowed the abyss.

The frigid wind turned into an icy chill that raised the hairs on the back of Gerry's neck.

An overwhelming pressure descended upon the atmosphere.

His newly recovered knees nearly buckled beneath it.

The pungent scent of wolf blood disappeared, replaced by the smell of rust, ancient sulfur, and overwhelming death.

From somewhere within the thick fog came terrified howls.

The pack of Shadow Wolves that had been stalking Gerry fled in complete panic, desperately trying to escape something that had awakened from an even deeper part of the abyss.

[HIGH-LEVEL EMERGENCY WARNING!]

Vesper's transparent interface suddenly turned a blazing crimson.

For the first time, the mechanical voice trembled, sending a stabbing pain through the base of Gerry's skull.

[Anomaly Detected! Entity presence exceeds all calculations for the First Layer!]

[Target: Abyssal Desolator. Ghoul King. Calamity Beast.]

[Power Level: ??? Beyond Body Refinement.]

[Host Survival Probability: 0.000000%.]

The black earth beneath Gerry's feet began to quake.

From the shadows beyond the dead trees, an enormous silhouette nearly sixteen feet tall slowly emerged.

Its eyes burned with silver-blue flames, radiating an aura of absolute oppression.

The creature dragged an enormous rusted sword across the stone, sending sparks dancing into the darkness.

Its blazing blue gaze locked directly onto Gerry.

[Emergency System Failure Protocol Activated!]

For the first time, Vesper's voice became a shout inside Gerry's mind.

"Host Gerry! The System will forcibly shut down your consciousness to preserve the remaining energy before this body is destroyed!"

"Don't you dare put me to sleep, Vesper!"

Gerry roared inwardly.

Every muscle in his trembling body strained as he forced himself to remain standing beneath the crushing pressure.

He stared at the colossal monster as it slowly raised its massive sword overhead, preparing to cut him down with a single strike.

His breathing grew ragged.

The golden light in his eyes blazed with reckless defiance against absolute despair.

Just as the enormous blade descended toward his head...

A woman's cold laughter suddenly echoed.

It did not come from the System.

It came from the newly formed energy core inside his abdomen.

"What an interesting body..."

Her voice was elegant.

Amused.

"Are you merely food..."

"Or are you the 'master' I was promised?"

The giant sword stopped only inches from Gerry's forehead.

Then everything went completely dark.