Back in the city, the sky had cleared—but Rei hadn't.
He stood in a derelict washroom, water hissing over his hands, watching blood swirl down the drain. His reflection in the cracked mirror showed bone protrusions on his shoulder blades, dark veins crawling up his neck.
The transformation was accelerating.
> [Mutation Stability: 64%]
[Warning: Excessive Devouring may lead to Instability]
"Great," he muttered. "Even my upgrades have side effects."
He pulled on his hoodie and left the building quietly.
---
▓ Elsewhere – Ironfront Guild Headquarters
Ari Voss watched the Rift footage in silence. Her eyes narrowed as she froze the frame: a shadowy figure leaping onto the serpent's back, then devouring it alive.
"That's him again," the analyst whispered. "But it's getting worse. Look at the Rift signature."
Airi leaned closer.
The core wasn't just absorbed.
It was replaced.
Like the Rift had accepted a new host—if only for a moment.
"He's not just leveling up," she said coldly. "He's becoming something else."
---
▓ Downtown – Luka's Hideout
"You're insane!" Luka yelled. "You cleared a Class C Rift by yourself and ate the boss?!"
Rei sat silently, nursing a cracked rib.
Luka paced, hair a mess. "They'll be looking for you now. Airi Voss is already sniffing around. That woman makes assassins piss their pants."
"Then I'll eat her too," Rei muttered.
Luka froze.
"...You're joking, right?"
No response.
Luka sat down hard. "Okay. New plan. You need a false ID, new location, and... maybe a mask. Like, an actual persona. If the Hunter Association doesn't kill you, some guild will."
Rei looked down at his hands—half human, half predator.
"Good."
Luka blinked. "...What?"
"I want them to come."
---
📘 Character Update: New Skill Unlocks
Acid Fang Lv. 1: Injects corrosive venom into physical strikes
Core Overload: Temporarily surges stats by 60% but causes mutation instability
Carapace Layer Lv. 1: Reduces physical damage by 20%