The forest was no longer unfamiliar.
But that didn't make it safe.
Han Sen moved beside Han Chandu, his steps steady but careful. The earlier fights had changed him. Not just his strength—
But his thinking.
"…we're going after it," Han Sen said.
Han Chandu didn't look back.
"…we're preparing to."
Han Sen let out a small breath.
"…yeah… same thing."
But both of them knew—
It wasn't.
Because rushing that creature—
Would only lead to death.
They moved forward slowly.
Not searching.
Tracking.
The ground told them everything.
Cracks.
Broken roots.
Deep imprints.
Signs of something heavy.
Something powerful.
Han Sen crouched slightly, touching the ground.
"…fresh."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…it passed recently."
That meant—
They were close.
The air felt heavier.
Not fear—
Pressure.
Presence.
Han Sen stood up.
"…same species."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…black beetle."
That mattered.
Because they had already hunted many of them.
Ordinary ones.
Primitive ones.
And every time—
They had learned.
Han Sen's eyes sharpened.
"…then the weakness still exists."
Han Chandu replied calmly.
"…most likely."
The stomach.
That was the flaw.
Every beetle they had killed—
Had the same structure.
Hard shell above.
Weaker underside.
A vulnerable stomach.
Difficult to reach—
But not impossible.
Han Sen exhaled slowly.
"…so no matter how strong it gets…"
"…that part won't disappear."
Han Chandu added—
"…it may become tougher…"
"…but it won't vanish."
That was enough.
Because no creature—
Was perfect.
They moved deeper.
Slower now.
Because the pressure—
Was increasing.
Then—
They saw it.
The Black Beetle.
Standing still.
Massive.
Its body—
Had changed.
Golden cracks spread across its shell.
Faint light flickering within.
Unstable.
Incomplete.
Han Sen narrowed his eyes.
"…it's different."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…stronger."
Not just physically.
Something about it—
Felt different.
The beetle moved.
Fast.
Too fast for its size.
It slammed into a tree.
The tree shattered instantly.
But—
Its movement faltered.
Just slightly.
Cracks spread further across its shell.
Golden light flickering violently.
Unstable.
Han Sen noticed immediately.
"…it can't control it properly."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…its body hasn't caught up."
That was the key.
Power beyond its limit.
Strength—
That was damaging itself.
The beetle attacked again.
More violently.
More aggressively.
But each movement—
Made the cracks worse.
Han Sen's expression sharpened.
"…so we don't fight it directly."
He stepped slightly forward.
"…we let it break itself."
Han Chandu didn't stop him.
Because that—
Was correct.
But they needed more.
"…we test it," Han Chandu said.
Han Sen nodded.
He picked up a small stone.
Not to damage—
But to trigger.
He threw it.
The stone hit.
A sharp sound echoed.
The beetle stopped.
Then—
It turned.
Its gaze locked onto them.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Han Sen's body tensed.
"…it saw us."
The beetle moved.
Fast.
Violent.
It charged.
Han Sen dodged.
Barely.
The ground behind him exploded.
"…still insane…"
Han Chandu watched carefully.
Every movement.
Every delay.
Because that—
Was their advantage.
The beetle attacked again.
Then—
Paused.
A gap.
Small—
But real.
Han Sen saw it.
"…there."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…and it's increasing."
Because the more it used its power—
The more unstable it became.
Cracks spreading.
Control weakening.
Han Sen clenched his fist.
"…so we force it to use that power."
Han Chandu looked at him.
"…yes."
That was the plan.
Not fight strength with strength.
But let it destroy itself.
Han Sen smirked slightly.
"…and then we hit the stomach."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…the same weakness."
Because no matter how strong it became—
Its structure—
Didn't change.
That knowledge—
Was their greatest advantage.
The beetle attacked again.
Han Sen moved back.
Not fighting.
Only observing.
Only learning.
Because today—
Was not the day to kill it.
Today—
They prepared.
They watched it longer.
Studying its rhythm.
Its aggression.
Its instability.
Until finally—
"…enough," Han Chandu said.
Han Sen nodded.
They retreated.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The beetle didn't chase far.
It stopped.
Watching.
Then turned away.
Silence returned.
Han Sen exhaled deeply.
"…that thing…"
"…it's dangerous."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…but flawed."
Han Sen looked forward.
"…next time…"
Han Chandu finished calmly.
"…we kill it."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Because now—
They had everything they needed.
Not strength.
Not luck.
But knowledge.
And in this world—
That was enough to decide life and death.
Behind them—
The forest returned to silence.
But this time—
It didn't feel unknown.
Because now—
They understood their enemy.
And next time—
They wouldn't just survive.
They would end it.