The forest was silent.
Not empty—
But tense.
Han Sen stood still, hidden behind a thick tree, his breathing slow and controlled. His eyes never left the distance ahead.
"…this is it."
Han Chandu stood in the open.
Closer to danger.
"…yes."
No hesitation.
Everything until now—
Had been preparation.
Observation.
Understanding.
Now—
Execution.
Han Sen lowered his presence.
Completely still.
Waiting.
Because this plan—
Needed perfect timing.
Han Chandu stepped forward.
Alone.
Calm.
Measured.
He picked up a stone.
Threw it.
The sharp sound echoed through the forest.
The Black Beetle stopped.
Then—
Turned.
Golden cracks spread across its body.
Faint light flickering within.
Unstable.
But powerful.
Han Chandu didn't move.
He stood still.
Letting it focus on him.
The beetle roared—
And charged.
Fast.
Violent.
Destroying everything in its path.
Han Chandu moved—
At the last second.
Dodging.
Barely.
The ground exploded behind him.
Dust rose into the air.
But he didn't counter.
Didn't attack.
He ran.
Controlled.
Not fleeing—
Leading.
The beetle followed.
Relentless.
Aggressive.
Han Sen watched everything.
Every movement.
Every step.
Because this moment—
Had to be perfect.
Han Chandu ran toward the prepared zone.
A narrow section between thick trees.
Restricted.
Planned.
The beetle charged in without hesitation.
Full force.
Han Chandu's eyes sharpened.
Now.
At the last moment—
He shifted his body sideways.
Just enough.
The beetle surged past him—
Entering the trap zone completely.
"…now."
Han Sen moved.
Like a shadow breaking free.
Fast.
Silent.
Precise.
He cut the vine.
The logs dropped.
Crashing down with heavy force.
The ground shook.
The beetle was struck.
Forced downward.
Its body tilted violently.
For a brief moment—
Its underside—
Was exposed.
That moment—
Was everything.
Han Sen didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward.
Every step precise.
Every movement focused.
One target.
The stomach.
The known weakness.
His strike landed.
Direct.
Deep.
The beetle let out a violent roar.
Its body trembled.
Golden cracks spread faster across its shell.
Unstable.
Breaking.
Han Sen stepped back—
Then struck again.
Same point.
No wasted movement.
Only efficiency.
Han Chandu moved in again.
Not to attack—
But to control.
He struck the beetle's side.
Redirecting its movement.
Forcing imbalance.
Keeping it unstable.
Keeping its underside exposed.
The beetle tried to retaliate.
Its claws swung wildly.
Its tail lashed out.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
But its body—
Couldn't keep up.
Its power—
Was turning against it.
Each movement—
Made the cracks worse.
Its structure—
Breaking under its own strength.
Han Sen moved again.
Another strike.
Same location.
Precise.
Focused.
The beetle staggered.
Its movements slowed.
Its power—
Fluctuating.
Han Chandu stepped in once more.
He struck its leg joint.
Disrupting its balance completely.
The beetle collapsed partially.
Exposing its underside even more.
Han Sen's eyes sharpened.
This—
Was the end.
He stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Final strike.
Clean.
Perfect.
His attack pierced deep into the stomach.
The beetle froze.
Its body stiffened.
Golden cracks spread across its entire shell.
Light burst through them.
Then—
Silence.
The beetle collapsed.
Heavy.
Still.
The forest went quiet.
Han Sen stood there.
Breathing heavily.
"…it's over."
Han Chandu stepped closer.
Calm.
Watching.
Because even now—
They didn't relax.
Moments passed.
Nothing happened.
Then—
A faint golden light appeared above the corpse.
Flickering.
Unstable.
Han Sen's eyes focused instantly.
"…Beast Soul…"
He moved forward without hesitation.
The light trembled—
Then suddenly shot forward.
Directly into his forehead.
Han Sen froze.
His vision blurred.
For a moment—
Everything disappeared.
Then—
He was somewhere else.
A vast inner space.
Silent.
Endless.
His Sea of Consciousness.
The golden light appeared again.
Floating.
Then—
It transformed.
Golden armor.
Complete.
Sharp.
Powerful.
Resting within that space.
Waiting.
Han Sen's eyes snapped open.
He inhaled sharply.
"…inside…"
Han Chandu nodded.
"…you got it."
Han Sen focused.
The next moment—
Golden armor formed around his body.
Instantly.
Perfectly fitted.
Heavy—
Yet light.
Powerful.
Real.
Han Sen looked down.
Silent.
Then clenched his fist.
The armor responded instantly.
Like it was part of him.
He released it.
It disappeared.
Returning—
To his Sea of Consciousness.
Stored.
Ready.
Han Sen exhaled slowly.
"…this changes things."
Han Chandu didn't reply.
Because he already knew.
They turned to the corpse.
The work wasn't finished.
They began eating.
Carefully.
Each bite—
+1 Geno Point.
Han Sen ate steadily.
→ +1→ +1→ +1→ +1
Han Chandu ate his share.
→ +1→ +1→ +1→ +1
Total—
8 Geno Points.
The meat was finished.
Nothing remained.
Han Sen stood up slowly.
Feeling the changes.
Stronger.
More stable.
More controlled.
He looked forward.
"…we're not the same anymore."
Han Chandu nodded.
"…no."
A brief silence followed.
The forest felt different now.
Not because it had changed—
But because they had.
Han Sen looked at his hand.
Then ahead.
"…next time…"
Han Chandu finished calmly.
"…we go further."
They turned.
Walking back.
Leaving the battlefield behind.
The forest returned to silence.
But something had shifted.
Because now—
They were no longer just survivors.
They were hunters.
And this time—
They had gained something real.
Power.
Control.
And the beginning—
Of something much greater.