Chapter 3: Predator's Awakening
"Crackling..."
The goblin cubs roared, trying to locate Kaito in the chaotic nest.
But Kaito had been the top assassin in his past life. These newborn, inexperienced goblin cubs had no chance of finding him.
He moved silently among them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. One by one, they fell — each kill feeding his growing strength.
The voice of the world echoed in Kaito's mind:
[Congratulations on killing a goblin cub. Due to your skill "Devour," you gain 1 point of strength.]
[Congratulations on killing a goblin cub. Due to your skill "Devour," you gain 1 point of speed.]
[Congratulations on killing a goblin cub. Due to your skill "Devour," you gain 1 point of constitution.]
[Congratulations on killing a goblin cub. Due to your skill "Devour," you gain 1 point of strength.]
[You have committed the crime of killing your own kind.]
[Your sins are accumulating.]
[Your infamy is now recorded in the starry sky.]
After killing ten of them, Kaito no longer needed to hide. His enhanced body now far surpassed these newborn goblins.
The massacre began.
"Crack!"
One goblin cub froze as another fell before it. Realizing the power gap, panic spread through the survivors. They fled in every direction. Some tried to hide behind the women who had given birth to them, using them as shields.
"No, don't..."
A weak voice called out. A terrified woman backed away from a goblin cub creeping toward her, despair filling her face. Her pleading eyes locked on Kaito.
For a moment, Kaito froze. Something about her reminded him of his mother.
The goblin cub behind her seized the moment to tug her hair.
"Ah!"
The pain shocked her back to reality. The fear turned to fury. The one in front of her was a goblin, and so was the one behind her. Memories of past horrors resurfaced. Hatred swelled inside her.
"Kill it! Kill me too if you must!"
Tears welled up in her reddened eyes.
"Please... kill me... kill these beasts!"
Her desperate cries stirred a chorus of weak voices from the other women.
"Kill them... kill these monsters..."
"End this..."
In their broken voices, Kaito heard only despair. Yet beneath it all, there was hatred — raw and burning — for the goblin race.
The goblin cub behind the woman grinned smugly. It clutched her hair tightly, laughing mockingly as if it had won.
Whish!
A stone shot through the air, striking the goblin square in the head.
Bang!
The goblin crumpled instantly. The woman stood frozen, her expression a tangled mess of fear, relief, and rage.
Kaito didn't care.
The voice returned:
[Congratulations. You have killed dozens of your kind in record time.]
[Your sins are accumulating.]
[Your crime has begun to take form.]
[Your crime is recorded in the starry sky.]
[You have achieved an impossible feat. You are now awarded the exclusive skill [Predator]. Your lower-tier skill [Evil Food] has been integrated into [Predator].]
Kaito felt the change immediately. His body surged with power, far greater than before. The constant, gnawing hunger that had tormented him vanished, replaced by a deep, primal desire — to kill and consume.
On the other side of the room, the elf woman stood in stunned silence.
Is this... my child?
He wasn't just strong — he was ruthless. A demon in the body of a newborn goblin.
No... even demons didn't kill their own like this.
Her mind spun. This child, her child, was a terrifying force of destruction.
Kaito stood among the bodies, breathing deeply. The last goblin cub cowered before him, trembling on its knees. It clasped its hands together and bowed its head, begging for mercy.
Kaito's cold eyes never wavered. Mercy wasn't something he understood. His mother had taught him one rule: When the target is marked, you finish the job.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
He lifted the blood-stained stone.
Just as it was about to strike —
The goblin cub grinned wickedly. Its body melted into the shadow beneath it, vanishing before Kaito's eyes.
"Be careful!" the elf woman shouted.
Kaito spun just in time. The goblin leapt from the shadows, claws reaching for him.
Bang!
Kaito's stone crushed its head in an instant. The goblin slumped to the floor, lifeless.
The voice returned once more:
[Congratulations on killing a goblin cub. Due to your skill "Predator," you have obtained the goblin cub's skill "Stealth."].