The forest felt wrong.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just… wrong.
Han Chandu slowed his steps.
Not out of fear—
But instinct.
Beside him, Han Sen frowned slightly.
"…this place is different."
Han Chandu didn't reply.
Because he already knew.
They had crossed a line.
Not a visible one—
But a boundary between safety and danger.
The air was heavier.
Every movement felt watched.
Every step carried weight.
A faint rustle echoed from above.
Han Sen immediately looked up.
Nothing.
"…I don't like this," he muttered.
Han Chandu's gaze remained forward.
Calm.
Focused.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Fast.
"MOVE!"
Han Sen reacted instantly, rolling to the side.
A sharp claw sliced through the air where he stood.
Clean.
Precise.
Deadly.
Han Chandu stepped back.
Just in time.
The creature landed silently.
Light.
Almost weightless.
It revealed itself.
A sleek, dark body.
Sharp limbs.
Eyes glowing faintly in the dim forest light.
A Shadow Claw Beast (Primitive Creature).
Han Sen exhaled.
"…primitive…"
His voice was tight.
Because even this—
Was dangerous.
The creature didn't hesitate.
It moved again.
Faster than before.
Han Sen raised his guard—
Too slow.
A shallow cut tore across his arm.
Not deep.
But enough.
"…damn, it's fast!"
Han Chandu's eyes narrowed.
Because he could see it clearly.
Their Taijutsu—
Wasn't enough.
The beast circled them.
Silent.
Waiting.
Studying.
Han Chandu adjusted his stance.
Lower.
More stable.
More focused.
The creature lunged again.
Han Chandu moved.
Barely.
A narrow dodge.
His counter followed—
But it landed light.
Too light.
The beast barely reacted.
"…we can't win like this," Han Sen said, stepping back.
Han Chandu didn't respond immediately.
Because he was thinking.
Analyzing.
Watching.
Then—
The forest shifted.
A faint reflection.
Golden.
So subtle—
It could've been ignored.
But Han Chandu saw it.
He froze.
Just for a moment.
"…wait."
Han Sen turned.
"…what?"
Han Chandu's gaze locked deep into the forest.
Not on the primitive creature.
But beyond it.
"…leave it."
Han Sen blinked.
"…what?"
"…now."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Only certainty.
Han Sen didn't argue.
He trusted that tone.
They retreated.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
Creating distance.
The primitive creature didn't chase.
It simply watched.
Then disappeared into the trees.
But Han Chandu didn't stop.
Not yet.
Only when they were far—
Far enough—
Did he finally slow down.
Han Sen leaned against a tree, breathing out.
"…what was that?"
Han Chandu didn't answer immediately.
Because his mind—
Was elsewhere.
That flash.
That color.
Gold.
He had seen it before.
Not here.
But in memory.
From another life.
From ****.
His expression changed slightly.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Recognition.
"…golden shell…" he muttered.
Han Sen frowned.
"…you saw something?"
Han Chandu nodded.
"…that wasn't a normal creature."
"…then what?" Han Sen asked.
A short silence.
Then—
Han Chandu spoke.
Calm.
Certain.
"…Black Beetle."
"…evolved form."
Han Sen's eyes narrowed.
"…evolved?"
Han Chandu continued.
"…Sacred Creature."
Silence.
Heavy.
Han Sen froze.
"…you're serious?"
Han Chandu nodded.
"…if we stayed…"
"…we would've died."
Han Sen let out a dry laugh.
"…no 'if' about that."
He ran a hand through his hair.
Still processing.
"…how the hell is something like that here?"
Han Chandu didn't answer immediately.
Because he already had a guess.
Something—
Was wrong.
This wasn't normal progression.
Sacred creatures didn't just appear like that.
Not in areas like this.
Not this early.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…something is affecting it."
Han Sen looked at him.
"…affecting?"
Han Chandu's gaze drifted deeper into the forest.
"…accelerating its evolution."
A pause.
One word formed silently in his mind—
Black Crystal.
Han Sen frowned.
"…you're saying something made it stronger?"
Han Chandu nodded.
"…yes."
Silence settled between them.
Because that thought—
Was worse than the creature itself.
Han Sen exhaled slowly.
"…so what now?"
Han Chandu turned away from the deeper forest.
"…we don't go near it."
Simple.
Clear.
Absolute.
Han Sen nodded.
No argument.
Because for the first time—
They had seen something truly beyond them.
Not just stronger.
Unreachable.
Han Chandu took a step forward.
Back toward safer ground.
"…we hunt primitive."
Han Sen smirked slightly.
"…back to reality, huh?"
Han Chandu didn't reply.
But his mind remained active.
Because now—
He knew something important.
This world—
Was not following normal rules.
And if the Golden Black Beetle existed already—
Then the future he knew—
Might not stay the same.
A faint panel appeared.
[ Status ]
Ordinary Genes → 36 / 100
[ Skill Panel ]
Taijutsu → 6 / 100
Still weak.
Still at the bottom.
But now—
Aware.
Han Sen glanced at the panel and sighed.
"…we've got a long way to go."
Han Chandu looked ahead.
Calm.
Focused.
Because now—
The path was clearer.
Ordinary wasn't enough.
Primitive wasn't enough.
To survive what was coming—
They needed more.
Much more.
Behind them—
Deep within the forest—
A faint golden glow flickered once more.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like a predator—
That had already marked its prey.