Capítulo 6: Monster Hunter

His answer was instantaneous.

"Yes!"

[Derrick Tarlin, 16 (Body) & 37 (Mind) — Human]

[Class: Necromancer]

[Strength: 2.3]

[Agility: 1.1]

[Endurance: 1.5]

[Vitality: 2.1]

[Magic Power: 5.3]

[Traits: Enhanced Body, Enhanced Vision, Death's Valet, Gluttony.]

[Skills: Appraisal, Contract (1/2), Summoning (1/1), Craftsman.]

[New trait! You have acquired the trait <Gluttony> by eating raw monster meat and surviving its nearly always lethal and devastating effects. When eating the meat of monsters you've vanquished, you will now acquire a part of their strength and, in rare occasions, inherit one of their skills! You can also feed it to your summons to accelerate their growth.]

Derrick was floored. Such growth was phenomenal, to the point where he couldn't help but think he was blessed by the gods. The system had obviously sent him a jab by saying he had been tremendously stupid, but he didn't care.

Ignorance truly was bliss.

As a bonus, his shoulder was also completely healed, meaning he had been out cold for quite some time.

While getting off the ground, his first reflex was to inspect his surroundings with the map to make sure he hadn't attracted other creatures. Getting caught because of complacency would just be too tragic.

Once it was all clear, he went to Io and patted him.

"You've done well. I'll definitely reward you later."

After thanking his companion for standing guard, he looked at the remaining meat, wondering.

"I can't be vulnerable like that again... I'll have to figure out a way to consume this safely."

But with this came a certainty, one that'd chart his future.

He remembered that fateful night… Their laughs, their cackles, the cries of terror from the villagers… And then his powerlessness, his lack of agency...

Had he not sworn to never feel that way again?

With renewed resolve and determination, he packed everything and moved out, his course of action now set in stone. He knew what had to be done.

"System, show me the map of the cave."

The layout once again appeared in his mind, alongside the remaining 236 red dots and the exit path.

"You can remove that exit for now. It's time to hunt."

When he said those words, his heartbeat jumped.

After the fight and its massive gains, it was obvious that this cave was a blessing in disguise.

Leaving anything behind, especially with his promise, would be utter waste.

"Let's find another solitary beast, since I'm not strong enough to take on these small groups. From what I can see, there's one pretty close..."

But before going any further, he continued thinking, seemingly forgetting a pretty important concept, one he had had to respect throughout his years of hunting.

And suddenly, it hit him, leading him to shamefully slap his forehead.

"But it could also mean that it's strong enough to have its own territory... In other words, an apex predator… Ahhhhh..."

After a long sigh of exasperation, he came back to his senses. He had unknowingly risked a lot by coming here, although now walking away with the spoils.

"At least my rotten luck has turned around, and there's no point in thinking about the 'what ifs'. Just have to thank my lucky stars, stay cautious and continue. Let's go!"

He then jumped on Io before immediately leaving the area, swearing that he'd think more instead of randomly throwing himself off a cliff – metaphorically, of course.

The duo's flight lasted 5 minutes, the cold and moist air reminding Derrick there truly was an entirely different climate down here. As for their landing spot, it was on a small, rock-like hill. It didn't have any cover, but it was still far away from their target, allowing them a fair viewpoint of the field.

But to make sure that they were really invisible, he made Io merge again with his shadow which, when paired with his armor's special abilities, basically made them disappear.

It was time to check out his next victim, but what he saw left him speechless.

"What the hell is that thing?! It looks like a dragon!"

While using his <Enhanced Vision> skill, he could see the beast's characteristics, with its numbers sending shivers throughout his body.

Out there walked a beast dozens of meters long and ten meters high, with a body covered in dark, greenish scales and long, muscular legs, their extremities equipped with razor-sharp claws. Its eyes, meanwhile, were pitch black, pupils seemingly absent, as if an evolutionary trait from the ever-surrounding darkness. From its mouth also quipped a long and slender purplish tongue, its color hinting at the presence of toxins, which was a nice complement to the 2 rows of pearly white teeth that were sure to lacerate anything they came into contact with. Finally, and rounding up its dragon-like appearance, was a massive tail swaying around, its sheer size a testament to its probable use as a club to blow its opponents into smithereens.

"System, use <Appraisal>."

[Viper Varanus Komodoensis]

[Strength: 1?]

[Agility: 1?]

[Endurance: 1?]

[Vitality: 1?]

[Magic Power: 12]

[Traits: ???]

[Weakness: ???]

[The Host isn't strong enough to see all its stats.]

"Ah?! There's no shot I'm ready to fight this bastard... The only thing I can detect is its magic power, which still trounces me. I thankfully didn't charge in there, or I'd be dead in an instant."

After analyzing the creature for a bit longer, Derrick's fear gradually disappeared, its void replaced by an emotion he wasn't expecting: greed. The only thing he could think about were all the benefits that'd come from killing it, and how it would propel him to new heights.

After checking up on the map again, he concluded that this was the cave's strongest monster. It was the golden ticket, the first step in his plan to attain revenge.

"Well, if that's the strongest out there, it's time to get moving."

His green eyes, still fixed on his final prize, shone once more before vanishing in the darkness.

***

And just like that, a few months went by.

The boy, who was previously clumsy and weak, had disappeared. His skin had turned pale white from the lack of sunlight, with his previously golden hair turning a shade darker, their length now at his waist.

Derrick had matured, both physically and mentally, at lightning speed, his height reaching 5'11" with bulging muscles now covering his body. Gruesome scars, which showed his hardships and the cave's unforgiving environment, also littered his skin, their presence a reminder that death had been kept at bay.

For a 16-year-old, he was a freak of nature.

His green eyes, once portals to an innocent soul, had gained an extra depth to them, their gentleness washed for the gaze of a hardened veteran.

But it wasn't just his body that he had tampered. His old assassination gear had made way to some much more adequate equipment.

His new armor, although ordinary in appearance, now radiated a dangerous aura that screamed to stay away. As for the weapon stringed on his back, it was a bone-made sword emanating strong bloodlust.

Both of these, he thought, were his finest creations.

His preparations were complete, and he was now walking in the direction of the place he had left months prior.

But when thinking about back then, he couldn't help but scoff. How naïve had he been… How had really thought that killing would be so simple?

The rage, the failures, the bloodlust, the cruelty… His emotions had run him ragged, their impact and meaning slowly diminishing the more he progressed. What was life, if not for something to take away?

After all, was it not just a circle, where one died for another to begin?

He barely remembered his past self, his flashbacks now a jumbled mess of distorted faces and events.

Who was he, and what had he become?

No… He knew that last part. This cave had taught him what his promise entailed. The promise of absolute strength. If one wanted to live, weakness wasn't allowed. Mercy would, without question, get you killed. Only by dancing with death multiple times had he finally assimilated this vital lesson.

Of course, he hadn't turned into a total psychopath, but he was certain of one thing: he now wouldn't hesitate to cut down whoever blocked his path.

"I'm finally back... I hope you haven't missed me too much."

Derrick's shadow strongly trembled, with Io's eyes shining in excitement.