Level Up: Assassin.

Alastor examined the two new skills now gleaming in his menu, a wide smile splitting his face.

"Now we're talking," he murmured, immediately activating [Shadowsight].

The world around him snapped into focus, as if someone had turned up the brightness on the night itself. He could see far beyond the small circle of light that had surrounded him just moments before. The landscape wasn't a surprise; jagged rocks and mountainous peaks stretched as far as his enhanced vision could see.

Besides the glowing tree and the equally luminescent weeds at it's base, there was no other sign of life. They stood out against the rugged terrain like beacons in the night.

"Okay, time to see how this one works," Alastor mumbled, turning his attention to the second skill. His eyes settled on the largest of the glowing trees.

'Let's see if this does the trick,' he mused, activating [Analytical Glance].

Instantly, a translucent screen materialized within his vision, hovering beside the tree. Information scrolled across its surface.

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Object: Bioluminescent Silver Birch (Betula pendula luminescens)

Age: 4700 years

Health: Robust

Description: The ancient Silver Birch, a gnarled sentinel against the biting winds, pulsed with an unnatural light. It was a testament to survival, its wounds laced with glowing lichen, whispering tales of defiance and a bond forged in the crucible of hardship.

-----

"A silver birch, huh? Doesn't look like any birch I've ever seen," Alastor frowned. But then again, 4700 years of mutation on a strange planet like this could do that to a tree. He brushed aside the overly dramatic description offered by the system and continued scanning his surroundings.

With his newfound vision, Alastor felt confident enough to venture beyond the circle of light. As he stepped past the edge, his gaze was drawn upwards, finally free from the obstruction of tree branches. The sky above sent a shiver crawling down his spine.

It was a normal night sky, except for the sheer number of stars, far more than he was used to back on Earth. And there was no moon. But those weren't the details that chilled him to the bone. It was the dark tear in the fabric of the sky, a jagged wound that looked as if it had been slashed open by a monstrous blade. Alastor knew that sight all too well – an Abyssal Gate.

"That can't be... is that really an Abyssal Gate?" he whispered, dread filling his voice. A terrifying thought struck him.

"System, how far is planet Vrym from Earth?"

"[Very far]"

The system's response, while not overly helpful, told him enough. This planet had to be incredibly distant from Earth, perhaps hundreds of thousands, even millions of light-years away. Which made the presence of the Abyssal Gate even more terrifying.

If Vrym, so far from Earth, also bore the mark of an Abyssal Gate, did that mean Earth was not the only planet targeted by these… things?

'The Deathstalker wolf should have tipped me off,' Alastor muttered, shaking his head in horror. The pieces were starting to fit together in the worst way possible.

"Wait a minute, system. Is planet Vrym inhabited? By anyone? Humans? Aliens?"

"[Negative. Planet Vrym was once inhabited by the Zygorian race, approximately 1000 years ago. They were eradicated by creatures from the Abyss.]"

The system delivered this devastating piece of information with its usual childish tone, but it sent chills down Alastor's spine.

Even after all this time, no one on Earth truly understood the Abyssal Gate. Where it came from, what its purpose was, where it led… all remained a mystery. The war on Earth had ended with humanity pushing back the Abyssal creatures, and the initial terror had faded into an uneasy acceptance of the Gate's presence. But were they truly safe?

Alastor stared up at the gash in the sky, his blood running cold. As long as that Gate remained open, Earth was in danger. What happened on Vrym was a testament to that. The Abyssal Gate, and whatever lay beyond, was a threat to all life, everywhere. And Alastor was now stranded in the middle of it.

Alastor knew the fate of Earth hung precariously by a thread. He understood that survival, both for himself and for a chance to unravel the mysteries of his past, hinged on one thing: immense power. And he needed it fast.

Thankfully, he had two aces up his sleeve: his fully activated bloodline and the enigmatic system. But those were worries for another time. Right now, he had a more pressing matter to attend to. The system's mission wouldn't complete itself, after all.

-----

Whish!

A powerful gust of wind buffeted a hulking, wolf-like creature, followed by a spray of blood as a deep gash appeared on its neck. The creature crumpled to the ground, dead before it even registered what had happened.

One moment it was the hunter, the next, the hunted.

Such was the brutal reality of a world where strength determined survival.

Alastor sheathed his dagger and let out a long breath as he examined the screen before him.

-----

QUEST: APEX PREDATOR COMPLETED!!

Reward:

+500 Experience Points.

-----

"Finally," he murmured, a satisfied smile spreading across his lips.

'Status.'

-----

[Status]

Name: Alastor Havensworth

Title: (Locked)

Level: 5

Exp: 1950/8000

HP: 199/200

Energy: 200/250

[Attributes]

>Agility: 18

>Strength: 12

>Defence: 9

>Stealth: 8

>Perception: 4

>Assassination: Null

[Stat Points: 9]

-----

Alastor grinned at his updated status. It had been roughly two hours since he started hunting, and it had gone smoother than he could have imagined. He'd been targeting weaker prey, mostly one-star creatures, easily identified thanks to his [Analytical Glance] skill.

His speed proved to be a major advantage; most of his targets never even saw him coming. [Shadow Walk] further enhanced his stealth, allowing him to silently stalk his prey.

Dismissing the status screen, Alastor surveyed his surroundings.

'Now what? I've still got plenty of time,' he thought, weighing his options. Should he continue hunting, or perhaps explore this strange planet a bit?

He knew some kind of civilization had existed here once, so maybe he could stumble across something interesting. Treasure, perhaps.

As if on cue, the system screen flashed back to life with a new message.

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[Would you like to upgrade your quest?]

[WARNING! Previous rewards will be affected. Do you wish to continue?]

[Yes] / [No]

-----

Alastor hesitated for a moment before selecting "Yes."

Exploring did sound appealing, but it would mean venturing deeper into potentially dangerous territory. He wasn't sure the risk was worth the reward – yet.

He had a pretty good idea he was currently in a relatively safe zone. By observing the creatures around him, he'd determined they ranged from one-star to four-star in strength.

This seemed surprisingly weak for creatures capable of wiping out an entire sentient species and claiming a planet for their own. Alastor suspected the system had placed him in a beginner area, a buffer zone to acclimate him to this world before throwing him to the wolves, so to speak.

As soon as he confirmed his choice, the screen updated once more.

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[Congratulations! Your quest has been upgraded.]

[NEW MISSION UNLOCKED: APEX PREDATOR]

Objective: Assert your dominance over this unfamiliar territory. You are the Apex Predator. Survive for the remaining hours and eliminate as many creatures as possible.

Requirement: Creatures must be at least two stars to count.

Time Remaining: 05:05:42

Kill Count: 0 / ♾️

Rewards: Determined by kill count.

Failure Penalty: Permanent stat decrease.

System Message: Let the hunt begin.

-----

"Guess it's time to rack up a body count," Alastor muttered, a confident smirk touching his lips. He dismissed the system screen and focused his gaze on the distance, his eyes scanning for his next targets. The hunt was on.