The gentle rays of sunlight crept in through the small gaps in the wooden blinds, waking me up. I stretched, washed up, and made my way downstairs to grab some breakfast. To my surprise, Lilla was at the counter, already looking fresh and ready for the day.
"Good morning, Adam. Nice to see you. How's your morning going?" she greeted with a light smile.
"It's good," I replied. "Just here for some breakfast."
She guided me to a table, and a few minutes later, a hearty breakfast arrived. It was a bit more expensive than I expected, but I ate with gusto. When I asked for the bill, Lilla handed me a pouch instead.
"Here," she said. "460 bronze, or 4 royal bronze and 60 bronze. That's after deducting the cost of your meal."
She explained that the wind core we had obtained sold for 20 royal bronze, while the two regular cores sold for 10 royal bronze. Based on our contributions, I earned 500 bronze—5 royal bronze.
I accepted the money, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. This was the first time I felt I could afford to live in this world for a while longer.
"So, what's today's plan?" Lilla asked.
"I'll just roam around the city," I replied casually.
But that was just an excuse. The truth was, I had made up my mind. I was going solo from here on out. Lilla seemed like a good person—or vampire—but I couldn't judge yet. My trust in people wasn't something I gave away easily. Apart from my grandmother, I hadn't trusted anyone in my life.
Before I left, Lilla gave me a bit of advice.
"You should consider buying a weapon. As a body cultivator, it'll help. And maybe even explore qi cultivation if needed."
That's when I asked her about her own powers. She explained she was a qi cultivator—more talented in qi than mana—and chose the cultivation path due to her racial boosts. I didn't press her on the details, but it made me wonder: what about my own talent in qi or body cultivation?
I doubted I had any, but maybe the UOR had ignored testing me. They said my spiritual power was already rare enough so they will hide my power path in my card credentials. Still, it wouldn't hurt to know myself better.
While walking down the streets, shops lined both sides—potions, clothes, gear. Eventually, I spotted a weapon shop. Lilla's words echoed in my head. It wouldn't hurt to have a weapon. I wanted a dagger and a sword.
As I stepped in, the interior amazed me—walls packed with weapons, armor gleaming under oil-lamps. A vampire shopkeeper approached me.
"What would you like, sir?" he asked.
"A dagger and a sword," I answered.
"Your budget?"
"Under 100 bronze."
He didn't judge. Instead, he presented a basic steel dagger for 30 bronze, sharp enough to damage up to B-rank beasts, and good for mana core extraction. Alongside it, a steel sword crafted by senior blacksmith apprentices—imbued slightly with the ability to channel qi and aura—for 70 bronze.
Both looked solid, and I nodded. "I'll take them."
Now equipped, I headed toward the city gate—the same path I'd taken the day before. After running for about 45 minutes, I reached the forest's edge. I was listening to music. Always music. It was the one companion I trusted, the rhythm of tones and drums guiding me through my thoughts. I never listened to lyrics—just beats. That's all I needed.
As I walked deeper into the forest, alert yet relaxed, I could feel the presence of nearby beasts. None attacked—maybe they sensed something—but I continued on, hopping and dancing a bit to the rhythm. Not like a monkey. Just a lighthearted skip here and there.
Then I spotted it.
A wolf-like beast. D-rank.
I didn't need to go all out. Just a punch.
I charged forward, letting my muscle power flow through me, and with one clean hit to the face—*crack*—its skull burst open like a watermelon. Blood splashed across my face. Without thinking, I licked some of it. The taste of blood and brains wasn't repulsive. It felt… normal.
That's when the thought struck me.
I'd licked blood. Instinctively. Naturally.
It didn't feel strange.
It felt right.
Was I... losing my humanity?
This thought had surfaced before—when I inserted elephant DNA for the first time. Back then, I had ignored it. But now… I couldn't. The primal urge was stronger. More natural. Like something inside me had always been this way.
A wild beast... that hunts, kills, and feeds.
Was I becoming one?
Maybe I already was.
But how do I accept something like that?
How do I embrace the monster within, without completely losing myself?
That... I hadn't figured out yet.
As I was walking deeper into the forest, lost in thoughts about what I was becoming… something shifted.
Wosh. Wosh.
The distinct sound of something slicing through the air caught my ear—a moment later, I realized. Arrows.
Without warning, five figures dashed from the shadows—vampires, moving with speed and precision, their eyes locked onto me.
Why?
Why were they attacking me?
Are they just hunting alone human that they see in forest. Or was there something deeper—something they knew about me?
I didn't have time to ask questions. But strangely, I didn't panic either.
I grinned.
They were all C-rank. Perfect.
This was the perfect chance to test something I'd been holding back—my **tusks**. I had never used them in real combat. Maybe now was the right moment.
And then… it happened. Like fate had aligned with my wild instincts.
One of my best songs came on.
Strong. Fierce. Beautifully rhythmic beats echoed in my ears. A primal melody.
I felt it in my bones.
Dumbh... dumbh…
The drums struck deep.
I moved.
I jumped to the left, pivoting hard on my heel—dumbh. Then to the right—dumbh. My body started flowing with the beat as if I was dancing with death.
I dodged the arrows, not through calculated reflexes, but through rhythm. My hands flailed like I was shaking something off—no, someone off—something primal.
The arrows missed me completely, slicing the wind behind me.
The vampires were still charging—but now, I was smiling.
Blood still fresh on my face, I licked my lips as they closed in.
The beat matched the surge in my chest.
This… this was my beginning.
Not as Adam.
But as something greater.
Something terrifying.
A being that would rise from instinct, evolution, and chaos.
My journey to become the most powerful, the most revered, the most feared…
The one they would all one day know as—
The Beast King.