Kaito’s breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale sharp and uneven as he forced air into his burning lungs. The Forest Behemoth, a monstrous colossus of muscle and fur, stood injured yet unbroken before him.


    Blood seeped from the deep gash in its underbelly, thick and dark, pooling onto the ground. Its left eye had been completely ruined, a deep wound sending rivulets of crimson trickling down its massive face. Yet, despite its injuries, it remained a towering force of destruction.


    Kaito’s hands clenched around the hilt of his rusted sword, his knuckles white with tension. His body screamed for rest, his legs trembled beneath him, and pain coursed through his ribs, making every breath a struggle.


    But there was no stopping now.


    The Behemoth let out a slow, shuddering breath, its chest rising and falling like a dying bellows. It was nearing its limit.


    So was he.


    He swallowed hard. This is it. This is my chance to end it.


    Summoning what little strength remained in his battered body, Kaito forced himself into motion. His muscles burned, his stamina nearly spent, but he pressed on, each step carrying him closer to the beast’s massive form.


    Then, the Behemoth stirred.


    A guttural roar of agony erupted from its throat, its body convulsing as it gathered its remaining strength for one final act of defiance.


    A last stand.


    Move!


    Kaito’s instincts screamed at him, but his body was too slow.


    The Behemoth lashed out with its tail, a colossal limb that moved with terrifying force despite its wounds. The air itself seemed to rupture from the sheer velocity, tearing up the ground and uprooting trees.


    Kaito barely had time to react before it hit him.


    <hr>


    [Health: 172 / 2,200]


    <hr>


    The impact was like getting struck by a runaway truck.


    Pain exploded through his ribs as he was sent flying, his body twisting violently through the air before he slammed into a tree. The bark splintered on impact, shards of wood piercing his skin as the force of the blow nearly knocked him unconscious.


    His vision blurred, his limbs refusing to respond. His breath hitched in his throat, unable to fill his lungs properly. His body felt like dead weight against the tree trunk, every nerve in his body screaming in pain.


    I… I can’t move.


    The world around him spun, but he forced himself to focus. He was not dead yet.


    Through his blurred vision, he saw the Behemoth still thrashing, each movement slow, labored. Its injuries were finally catching up to it. It was on its last legs.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    This… this is my only chance.


    His body refused to move, but he gritted his teeth, digging his fingers into the dirt beneath him. Move, damn it!


    He used the pain as fuel, forcing his legs to respond. If he did not act now, if he let the opportunity slip away, he would not survive the next attack.


    The tail whipped around again, demolishing another section of the forest. Kaito barely managed to roll to the side, his body sluggish, his reaction time a fraction of what it had been earlier.


    Dodge… I need to dodge.


    The tail lifted again, muscles tensing.


    Three seconds.


    The beast growled, shifting its stance.


    Two seconds.


    The tail whipped forward.


    One!


    Kaito pushed off the ground with every ounce of strength he had left, narrowly avoiding the crushing force of the Behemoth’s final strike. The ground behind him exploded, a massive shockwave kicking up dirt, leaves, and splintered wood.


    His body screamed in agony, but he could not stop now.


    He dashed forward, weaving through the broken battlefield with renewed focus. He could barely stand, let alone fight, but he had to finish this.


    As the Behemoth tried to lift itself, Kaito leaped onto its massive front limb, using its wounds as footholds to climb its staggering form. It roared, thrashing, but Kaito held on, dragging himself upward, his fingers bleeding from gripping onto the Behemoth’s thick, matted fur.


    Higher. I need to get higher.


    The creature shuddered, trying to shake him off, but its movements were slow. Weakened. It was almost done.


    He climbed onto its head, gripping tightly to its thick mane. This is it.


    With the last of his strength, he drove his sword into its remaining eye, piercing straight into its skull.


    The Behemoth let out one final, bloodcurdling roar.


    Then, its entire body collapsed, shaking the earth beneath it.


    Kaito barely managed to leap away in time, hitting the ground hard, rolling several feet before coming to a stop. His body refused to move, his breath was shallow. But…


    It was over.


    <hr>


    [Forest Behemoth Defeated.]


    [Fifteen Thousand Experience Points Earned.]


    [Level Up: Six → Thirty.]


    <hr>


    Without thinking, he activated Predation.


    A torrent of energy unlike anything before coursed through him, almost overwhelming his body.


    <hr>


    [Predation Activated.]


    [Absorbing Essence.]


    New Skills Acquired:


    <ul>


    <li>Titan’s Endurance – Increases resistance to damage and fatigue.</li>


    <li>Behemoth’s Might – Greatly enhances physical strength.</li>


    <li>Earthshatter – A powerful ground-based attack. Currently unavailable.</li>


    <li>Unyielding Stance – Increases resilience in battle.</li>


    <li>Primal Roar – Intimidates enemies, reducing enemy effectiveness. Currently unavailable.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    He attempted Predation again.


    <hr>


    [Predation Failed.]


    [Remaining Essence is too powerful for the current Predation skill.]


    <hr>


    Kaito’s eyes widened. He had never failed an absorption before. Was the Behemoth simply too strong?


    He let out a tired, bitter laugh.


    I’m still too weak.


    Dragging himself upright, he staggered over to the Direfang Alpha and the fallen Direwolf Scouts, forcing his shaking hands to harvest whatever materials he could.


    Claws, fangs, pelts, bones, all of it. His wounds burned, but he refused to waste the spoils of his battles.


    Finally, his gaze fell upon the Behemoth’s corpse.


    Its hide was thick, like stone. Even with all his newfound strength, his sword barely scratched it.


    Tough as iron… no, even tougher.


    He tried hacking at it again, but the blade only glanced off. His arms trembled, his strength failing.


    With a frustrated sigh, he stopped.


    I’m not strong enough to carve this thing apart.


    The realization gnawed at him, but there was nothing he could do.


    For now.


    He clenched his fists, forcing himself to move. He needed to get out of this cursed forest.


    And he needed to get much, much stronger.