043 Instinct Evolution Rune

“Something seems off…” Number Eight said, suddenly struck by a wild thought.

A bullet pierced her temple and exited through the other side, spraying a spiral of red and white fluid. Cassius’s first target was her—Number Eight’s ability posed a threat, since sunglasses offered no protection against flash effects.

Right beside her, Number Four’s eyes widened.

“∑(⊙□⊙)!!!”

He activated his ability in an instant, tripling his reaction speed, his hands blurring into afterimages.

He raised his shotgun, ready to pull the trigger.

Boom! A gunshot rang out—but not from him.

A new wound blossomed on Four’s body. Before his eyes, two Cassiuses seemed to appear—one standing behind Eight, the other five meters to his right. In truth, this was merely an illusion created by Cassius’s incredible speed; meditation time accelerated him more than tenfold.

Under absolute suppression, Four’s chances of defeating Cassius were nil. His death was inevitable.

Moments later, two more announcements echoed over the broadcast.

“Hunter Seven has eliminated Hunter Eight in Zone C!”
“Hunter Eight confirmed dead!”
“Hunter Seven has eliminated Hunter Four in Zone C!”
“Hunter Four confirmed dead!”

In Zone C, a running figure stopped—Number Three glanced around and breathed a sigh of relief.

Luckily he’d run fast, or he would have died too.

His hawk-eye ability had spared him. Now, his best option was to hide, avoid being found by that killer, and survive until the game ended—securing second place with ease!

Number Three gritted his teeth and continued his escape.

Elsewhere, Cassius did not give chase. His meditation time had been fully spent in the previous battle; pursuing now might expose him to unknown dangers.

He reloaded his gun and began to clean up the battlefield.

Soon, Cassius strode away, carrying a shotgun in his hands and another slung across his back—the extra one, the terrifying Roaring Shotgun.

At this moment, Cassius had no opponents left; the remaining Number Three hunter posed no threat. All that remained was to hunt freely until time expired.

Zone C trembled to the roar of shotguns.

The terrifying Roaring Heavy Shotgun thundered louder than a tiger’s growl, its power enough to make a grizzly bear quake.

During this period, the once-dominant mountain lords hid away, cowering in their dens.

Xiunan, through this game, experienced the thrill of hunting that reality could never provide. If tasked with hunting in real life, he wouldn’t dare, but here in the game, Xiunan found himself thoroughly intrigued.

After slaying several fierce beasts, Xiunan felt compelled to venture into Zone D. According to the game rules, two mysterious and ferocious creatures lurked there.

He wasn’t worried about Cassius dying; this was only the first life—there was room to be reckless. Besides, with each restart, Xiunan only grew stronger. Familiarity with the process made clearing levels as effortless as eating or drinking.

He acted at once, directing Cassius towards Zone D.

“Player Seven has entered Zone D!” The broadcast promptly reported Cassius’s location.

In a dense thicket, leaves rustled. Number Three poked his head out, then quickly withdrew.

“He’s finally gone…”

Zone D’s terrain was rugged, the ground uneven, with hidden pits in places.

Cassius moved cautiously through the woods.

Suddenly, a rustling sounded from the treetops, several leaves fluttered down.

Cassius looked up—a shadow dropped like lightning.

It dove with incredible speed, but nothing could outpace Xiunan’s finger on the mouse; Jessica’s pendant had already issued a warning.

Boom! The shotgun roared.

The bullet blasted the shadow away, slamming it against a tree before it crashed to the ground.

Cassius approached, but the shadow rolled on the ground, suddenly unfurled its wings and tried to leap skyward.

“Still not dead?”

Cassius switched guns, exchanging the Roaring Shotgun for the Deadly Wanderer Shotgun. The Wanderer’s spiral rounds worked wonders against Zone D creatures.

Draw, aim, fire—swift and seamless!

With a whistle, the shadow was shot down again.

On the ground, it still writhed and trembled, its vitality astonishing—far tougher than a grizzly.

Cassius changed guns and delivered two more shots.

After the dull roar, the shadow finally lay still.

Cassius stepped forward and turned it over.

“What is this? A malformed creature, a lab mutant, a mythological being?”

For now, it could be called a bird—it had feathers and wings. Yet the three pairs of overlapping black wings resembled insects more than birds. The torso sprouted four legs—or rather, four sharp talons, each curved like a sickle. A single swipe would carve flesh from bone.

Moreover, these claws were huge, easily able to grasp a human arm. With enough force, they could sever the limb, skin, muscle, and all, then tear it away.

He examined the creature’s head—it was covered in a gray-white keratin mask, almost like a faceplate.

On the brow, a diamond-shaped pattern.

Black, radiating a subtle air of mystery.

“This is…”

“Congratulations, you have slain a transcendent creature.”

White Demon (Not Edible)

Name: White Demon

Type: Transcendent Creature

Rank: Bronze Wood (Intermediate)

Description: The White Demon is a terror bird, depicted in relic murals from tens of thousands of years ago. It is a ferocious, transcendent being, fond of eating humans. Its razor-sharp claws can slice through rock, its strength great enough to tear apart tigers and leopards. It prefers to hunt by diving from treetop layers.

Warning: It has been corrupted by the Power of the Ring.

Note: If you wish to avoid mutation, do not consume its flesh or blood.

Xiunan had just finished reading the introduction when a new prompt appeared, the original subtitles moving up as fresh ones emerged.

“Congratulations, you have slain the White Demon.”

“You have successfully unlocked the Instinct Evolution Rune.”

“Current progress: Instinct Evolution Rune 1/10.”

“Effect: The Instinct Evolution Rune is a consumable rune that allows you to evolve one of your abilities.”

“Hint: The Instinct Evolution Rune can be taken out.”

Xiunan now understood—the game was meant to be a chaotic melee. Hunters sought to kill transcendent creatures to gain rune power; transcendent creatures hunted hunters for food, and hunters fought among themselves.

The original Zone D would have been utter carnage.

But now, everything was different. Seven hunters were dead, Number Three cowered in Zone C, too afraid to move.

Only Cassius, Number Seven, entered Zone D.

It had become his private hunting ground.

“Looks like meditation time can be upgraded again…”