The monster roared.
Rain splashed violently across the pavement as it charged toward Kael again, its bone-covered body scraping against the asphalt like a moving nightmare.
Kael tightened his grip on the metal pipe.
"Stay behind me," he said without turning.
Daniel nodded quickly, though his hands trembled.
"O-Okay!"
The creature lunged.
Its claws ripped through the air toward Kael's head.
"Shadow Step."
The world shifted into darkness for a split second.
Kael vanished.
The monster's claws slammed into empty pavement.
Then—
Kael appeared beside its neck.
He swung the metal pipe with all his strength.
CRACK!
The blow landed against the monster's jaw.
But unlike the Ironfang Hound…
This creature barely reacted.
Instead, its tail whipped through the air.
BAM!
Kael was thrown across the street again.
He crashed into a mailbox and rolled across the wet pavement.
Daniel shouted, "Are you okay?!"
Kael groaned and slowly pushed himself up.
"Yeah…"
But the truth was obvious.
This monster was stronger than the last one.
A red system window appeared.
[Enemy Analysis]
Bonecrawler
Level: 7
Threat Level: Very High
Kael clicked his tongue.
"Level seven… great."
The creature crawled forward slowly now, its yellow eyes focused entirely on him.
Daniel whispered nervously, "C-can we even beat that thing?"
Kael stared at the monster.
Then another system message appeared.
[User Behavior Analysis Complete]
Kael frowned.
"Now what?"
The red text slowly formed.
[Conclusion: User is resisting assigned destruction path.]
Kael smirked slightly.
"You noticed?"
The system continued.
[New Protocol Activated]
Adaptive Reward System
Another window appeared.
[Special Condition]
If the user continues to reject world destruction objectives, alternate rewards may be provided.
Kael blinked.
"…Wait."
"So you're saying I don't have to destroy the world?"
The system paused for a moment.
Then another message appeared.
[Correction]
Primary Objective remains unchanged.
End the World.
Kael sighed.
"Of course."
But the next line caught his attention.
However… the method of reaching this objective remains flexible.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"…Flexible?"
The monster suddenly rushed forward again.
Daniel panicked.
"It's coming!"
Kael took a deep breath.
His mind raced.
The system wanted destruction.
But it didn't say how.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
There was a way to use it without becoming a monster.
The Bonecrawler leaped toward them.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"Shadow Step!"
Darkness swallowed him again.
He appeared beside the monster's back this time.
And then something strange happened.
The red system window flashed.
[Combat Adaptation Triggered]
A surge of energy flowed through Kael's arm.
His next strike moved faster than before.
CRACK!
The metal pipe smashed into the creature's spine.
The monster screamed.
Daniel stared in shock.
"What was that?!"
Kael jumped back.
"…I think the system just helped me."
But why?
Another message appeared.
[Observation Continues]
Kael looked up at the glowing red letters. For the first time since the system appeared…
He felt like something was watching him.
Not a machine.
Not a program.
But something far more intelligent.
Something curious.
Something dangerous.
The message changed again.
[Interesting.]
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…Interesting?"
The Bonecrawler roared again and charged forward.
But Kael was already smiling.
"Good."
He cracked his neck.
"Then watch closely."
The rain poured harder.
The battle was about to begin.