Kapitel 5: First Monster Kill
The weather turned cold, and the short skirts and stockings were replaced with thick leggings and pants. Unknowingly, the season where you turn into a dog if you don't own a heater had finally come to the south.
But winter didn't affect Zhou Fan much. He had controlled almost all the stars in his star cluster, which produced enough warmth for him not to feel the cold.
For others, it might be hard to control the stars, but with the system's achievements he had completed, Zhou Fan found it effortless. He was just one star away from being able to cast magic. Awakening Predation not only allowed him to devour others but also increased the time he could practice, as his mana recovered passively by absorbing ambient energy. This was an incredible advantage! Most people could only practice for an hour or two before exhausting their mana. Zhou Fan, on the other hand, could train much longer, thanks to Predation.
Zhou Fan left school with a smirk, the cold air biting at his skin but failing to penetrate the warmth generated by his internal fire. He enjoyed the season; the chill gave him an excuse to revel in the power he held, the heat emanating from his body a constant reminder of his growing strength.
As he walked through the park on his way home, he noticed Ye Xinxia sitting alone in her wheelchair, struggling to adjust a blanket that had slipped from her lap. She looked up as he approached, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and caution.
"Zhou Fan, could you help me with this?" she asked softly, her voice almost drowned out by the wind rustling through the bare branches.
Zhou Fan stopped, considering her for a moment. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes as he bent down, picking up the blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders. "Of course, Xinxia. You should be more careful; the cold isn't good for you."
"Thank you," she said, her gratitude evident. "It's been a tough day. The weather makes it harder to get around."
Zhou Fan looked at her, an idea forming in his mind. "Why don't I take you home? It's on my way."
Xinxia hesitated but nodded, grateful for the offer. "If it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all," Zhou Fan said, his tone smooth. He started pushing her wheelchair, his mind already scheming. The park was quiet, the occasional passerby the only interruption to the solitude.
They walked in silence for a while, Zhou Fan lost in thought. He could feel the dark energy within him, the power of Predation urging him to find more ways to grow stronger. As they reached Xinxia's apartment building, he leaned down, his voice low. "You know, Xinxia, you're always so kind and trusting. But you should be careful who you trust. Not everyone has good intentions."
Xinxia looked up at him, confusion and a hint of fear in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Zhou Fan straightened a cold smile on his face. "Just a piece of advice. The world is a dangerous place."
He helped her up the steps and into her apartment, ensuring she was settled before asking. "Xinxia, do you ever wonder what it would be like to have real power?" Zhou Fan asked, breaking the silence.
Xinxia looked up at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, power to change things, to control yours or someone else's destiny/life," Zhou Fan said, his voice low and intense. "Wouldn't that be something?"
Xinxia shook her head slightly. "I don't know. I've always believed that kindness and understanding are the true powers we should strive for."
Zhou Fan chuckled softly, a dark edge to his laughter. "Maybe you're right. But sometimes, a little power can go a long way."
After saying that Zhou Fan left her place.
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The next day, Zhou Fan stood in the practice field, the early morning sun casting long shadows. He closed his eyes, entering his meditative state. The star cluster appeared in his mind, the seven stars twinkling brightly. He reached out with his mind, controlling the final star and aligning it with the others.
A surge of power flowed through him, and he opened his eyes, his hand crackling with fiery energy. With a swift motion, he cast his first spell, a fireball forming in his palm before he hurled it at a nearby tree. The fireball exploded on impact, leaving a charred mark on the trunk.
"Finally," Zhou Fan muttered, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. The power was intoxicating, and he craved more. He knew there were greater heights to reach, and more power to obtain.
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Zhou Fan wandered through the quiet streets, the cool evening air carrying the distant sounds of everyday life. He had made significant progress with his magical abilities, but his hunger for power and control was far from sated. As a new villain on the rise, he constantly sought out opportunities to test and expand his abilities, particularly his unique Predation trait.
His steps led him to a more desolate part of the city, where abandoned houses and dilapidated buildings cast long shadows in the fading light. Zhou Fan enjoyed wandering these areas, as they often hid secrets and dangers that others avoided. Today, however, there was something different in the air—an uneasy stillness, broken only by the occasional rustle or distant clang.
As he approached an especially rundown house, Zhou Fan heard a faint noise coming from within. It sounded like scratching, followed by a muffled thud. Intrigued, he moved closer, his senses alert. The house in question was a two-story structure, its windows broken and the door hanging off its hinges. Weeds and overgrown grass surrounded it, adding to the aura of neglect and abandonment.
He stepped inside, the floorboards creaking under his weight. The interior was dark, with only slivers of moonlight piercing through the broken windows. The smell of mold and decay was thick in the air. Zhou Fan's eyes glinted with excitement; this place had the potential for something interesting.
As he moved deeper into the house, the noises grew louder. It was definitely coming from the basement. He found the door to the basement slightly ajar and pushed it open, revealing a set of rickety stairs leading down into darkness. He descended carefully, the air growing colder and damper with each step.
At the bottom, he found himself in a large, open space. The basement was mostly empty, save for a few scattered pieces of old furniture and debris. However, in one corner, the dirt floor had been disturbed. Zhou Fan approached it, noticing a large hole that had been dug into the ground. The noises were louder now, clearly emanating from within the hole.
Without hesitation, Zhou Fan conjured a small flame in his hand, illuminating the area around him. The hole was about two meters wide, and it looked as if it had been dug recently. He could see claw marks along the edges, suggesting that whatever had dug it was no ordinary creature.
"This is interesting," Zhou Fan muttered to himself, peering into the darkness below. He could feel a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in the ground as if something was moving beneath him.
He knelt down and extended his hand towards the hole, his Predation trait stirring in response to the latent energy he could sense. The darkness within seemed to pulse with a life of its own, and Zhou Fan felt a thrill of anticipation. This was exactly the kind of challenge he sought.
Slowly, he descended into the hole, using his flame to light the way. The tunnel was narrow, forcing him to crouch as he moved forward. The walls were rough and uneven, and the air was thick with an earthy smell. As he progressed, the noises became clearer—scratching, shuffling, and the occasional growl.
After a few minutes, the tunnel widened into a small cavern. Zhou Fan stopped at the entrance, observing the scene before him. The cavern was occupied by a strange, monstrous rat. It was about the size of a large dog, with leathery white skin and a single, glowing red eye that seemed to pulse with energy. Its claws were long and sharp, perfect for digging through the earth.
"I seem to have seen this rat somewhere before," Zhou Fan said as he tried to recall the information on this monster from his memory."AHH" he wasn't able to recall anything but was rather hit with a sudden headache which seemed to be preventing him from remembering something important.
The monster rat noticed Zhou Fan immediately, turning its single, menacing eye towards him. Zhou Fan could feel the dark energy radiating from the creature, a raw, untapped power that called out to his Predation trait.
"This isn't good," he whispered, a sinister smile spreading across the monster's face. "Damn, just my luck."
The rat hissed and suddenly its eye glowed brighter. A ray of energy shot out, barely missing Zhou Fan as he dodged to the side. The beam scorched the wall behind him, leaving a smoldering mark.
"That could have been dangerous" Zhou Fan muttered, conjuring a larger flame in his hand. "Let's see how you handle this."
He threw the fireball at the rat, but it moved with surprising speed, dodging the attack. The creature hissed again, its eye glowing ominously. Zhou Fan realized that direct confrontation would be tricky. He needed to exploit its weakness.
Recalling that monsters like this were often vulnerable to brightness, Zhou Fan conjured a large and made it burst, lighting up the cavern. The increased brightness seemed to disorient the rat momentarily, but it quickly recovered, its eye narrowing in anger.
The rat lunged at him, its claws aiming for his throat. Zhou Fan sidestepped, but the rat was too quick. It bit down on his arm, its teeth sinking deep into his flesh. Zhou Fan gritted his teeth against the pain, his mind racing. He needed to act fast.
With his free hand, he tried conjuring another flame. As the rat bit deeper, Zhou Fan pushed his hand into its mouth and tried conjuring the spell in its mouth which he succeded, releasing the fireball directly into its throat. The creature's eye widened in shock, and it let out a guttural scream as the fire consumed it from within.
The rat thrashed wildly, but Zhou Fan held his ground, focusing on the magic coursing through his hand whilst grabbing its head with the other so it doesn't release itself from his grip. The fire grew brighter, and hotter, until finally, the rat collapsed, its body charred and lifeless.
Panting, Zhou Fan withdrew his hand, the pain in his arm was almost unbearable. He watched as the rat's body lay lifeless on the ground.
"Predate" Zhou Fan said as multiple black-purple mouths appeared around his and went towards the body of the dead monster and started devouring it like they have been starved.
『Trait Activated: Predation』
『You have absorbed the essence of a Giant Cyclops Rat.』
『Mana +75』
『You have obtained a new skill: Night Vision』
『Skill: Night Vision (Passive)
Description: Grants the ability to see clearly in low light or complete darkness. This skill enhances your visual perception, allowing you to detect movements and details that would otherwise be hidden from normal sight.
Benefits: Improved vision in dark environments.』
『Notification: 1』
Zhou Fan felt the energy surge through him, the pain in his arm slowly subsiding as the Predation trait worked to heal his wound. He looked down at his hand, watching as the skin knit itself back together but still, it would need considerable time and medication to heal.
"That was close," he muttered, flexing his fingers. "But worth it." Zhou Fan said as he was able to see even in the dark now. He could also feel the new energy settling within him, his mana reserves increased and his control over fire magic enhanced. The encounter had been dangerous, but it had also made him stronger.
As he made his way back through the tunnel, Zhou Fan couldn't help but smile. The world outside seemed brighter, sharper as if his senses had been heightened by the energy he had absorbed. As he emerged from the basement, he glanced back at the hole, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
Zhou Fan knew that this was just one of many encounters he would have in his quest for power. The creatures he had faced were only a small taste of what the world had to offer. With his Predation trait and growing magical abilities, he was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
As he walked away from the abandoned house, Zhou Fan remembered where he had seen that monster. It was in the novel he had read about the monster that dug tunnels.
As he tried recalling he was again hit with another headache which was much worse than before.
"Ahh, dammit" Zhou Fan cursed as he grabbed his throbbing head and rolled on the ground not even being able to stand due to pain.
After some time the pain subsided and he was able to stand with the help of a wall even though his body wasn't complying.
At that moment he recalled the words he heard when he went through the door of his memories being taken from him.
"It must be that two damn things that brought me to this world." Zhou Fan said as he tried to make his way towards his house.
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