My Cheat Skill Lets Me Copy Powers....But only if i kill-Chapter 21: Predator vs Prey

Chapter 20 – Predator vs Prey

The first strike shattered the wooden dummy's chest in a splinter of shards. Renji stepped back, panting lightly, silver eyes gleaming as he studied his handiwork. His newly evolved body responded to every command with precision and force. He felt faster, stronger, more in control than ever before.

He tightened his grip on the training sword in his hand and launched forward again, using phantom step mid-swing. His form blurred, and he reappeared behind another dummy, cleaving it cleanly in half. The wood split with a satisfying crack, and Renji landed softly on his feet, the impact barely registering in his joints.

Sweat beaded his forehead, but his body felt alive—charged.

He stood in the courtyard behind the inn, alone for the moment. Elara, Lena, and Kiera had gone off to run errands and rest. Renji welcomed the solitude. He needed it—needed to understand exactly what he was now capable of.

He looked at the pile of broken dummies and nodded to himself. "I need more."

A memory flickered—Kiera's relief when he'd woken up, the girls clinging to him. And beneath it all, Gregor's face, twisted with hate, and the whispering threat of the demon girl. His fists clenched.

He wasn't going to grow stronger by standing still.

The guild hall was lively as ever when Renji stepped inside. The scent of ale, roasted meat, and burning oil greeted him, mingling with the clamor of adventurers boasting of recent conquests. He moved with purpose, ignoring the quick glances and hushed whispers.

"Hey, isn't that...?"

"He's still E-rank, right?"

"Going solo again? That guy's crazy."

Renji approached the counter where a seasoned guild attendant looked up with a smirk.

"Well, well. Renji. Finally coming to your senses about ranking up?"

Renji nodded. "I'm ready for a D-rank quest."

The man leaned on the counter. "Turned it down last time. Glad to hear you're ready to stop holding back."

"Got anything worthwhile?"

"Always." He handed over a stack of D-rank slips. Renji sorted through them at the board, ignoring escort missions and pest control. One stood out:

Dire Fang Boar – Eastern Woods

Reward: 45 silver coins

Danger Level: Moderate-High

Known to gore victims. Fast and aggressive. Proceed with caution.

Renji brought it back. The attendant stamped it with a grin. "Solo hunt for that beast, huh? You're either brave or stupid."

"I'll bring back proof."

"Then we'll process your rank-up." The attendant nodded. "Good luck."

The forest air was crisp, alive with the scent of damp earth and pine. Renji moved through the underbrush, tracking the telltale signs of the Dire Fang Boar—broken branches, deep hoof prints in the soil, the lingering scent of musk.

He crouched low near a clearing, scanning ahead.

Then—a rustle behind him.

He turned instantly, hand on his weapon.

A hooded figure emerged from the shadows, red eyes glowing beneath the cloak.

She lowered her hood, revealing striking features and crimson eyes, watching him with eerie calm. "You've evolved, Renji. Power like yours is rare. Our Lord has taken an interest."

"I'm not interested."

"You haven't heard the offer."

"I don't care."

She tilted her head. "You're strong, but humans will never accept you. You're something more now—a force to be reckoned with. With us, you'd have power, freedom. No guild restrictions. No limitations."

Renji's jaw clenched. "I don't want your freedom."

She smiled. "It's not about what you want. It's about what you'll become."

A pause.

"We won't give up on someone like you. Think on it."

Before he could respond, she vanished, leaving only silence.

Renji exhaled sharply. "Why me?"

Renji crouched low in the dense undergrowth, heart steady, breath controlled. The forest around him was still—unnaturally so. Birds had fallen silent. The usual rustling of woodland creatures had vanished. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

He was close.

He could smell it now—the pungent musk of the Dire Fang Boar, mixed with the metallic tang of blood and dirt. His silver eyes scanned the treeline, every muscle coiled and ready.

Suddenly, the underbrush exploded.

A massive, tusked beast barreled into view, earth flying in its wake. Its eyes burned with wild fury, matted fur slick with sweat and dirt. The Dire Fang Boar stood easily two heads taller than Renji, muscle-bound and snarling, foam flecking its snout.

"Let's go," Renji muttered, drawing his weapon.

The boar charged without hesitation, hooves tearing into the earth like thunder. Renji phantom stepped left, narrowly dodging the bladed tusks that whistled past his face. The sheer force of the charge sent trees shuddering and leaves scattering like confetti.

Renji landed on one knee, eyes tracking the beast. Fast. Strong. Reckless.

He lunged in, striking low at the boar's hind leg. His blade bit deep, but not enough—the beast reared and kicked, catching him square in the chest. The blow launched him backward, crashing through branches and hitting the ground hard.

He groaned, coughing, but rolled to his feet.

"Alright... that's how we're playing."

The boar charged again. This time Renji didn't dodge. He stood firm, hand glowing with power. As the tusks neared, he activated Phantom Step at the last second, vanishing and reappearing mid-air above the beast.

"Now."

He brought his blade down, slashing across the boar's back. Blood sprayed, and the creature squealed in rage, bucking and thrashing. Renji gripped the beast's hide, holding on, slashing again and again.

The boar twisted, throwing him off, but Renji landed on his feet, sliding backward through the mud.

Halfway there.

The beast turned, slower now, limping slightly.

Renji took a deep breath and charged, energy crackling around him. The boar lunged too—but he feinted, sliding under its tusks and driving his blade deep into its chest. The creature shrieked, thrashing violently, trying to gore him.

Renji held firm, planting his feet and using every ounce of strength to push. With a final roar, he twisted the blade and forced it deeper—until the beast finally collapsed, its weight crashing to the forest floor.

Silence.

Renji stood over it, breath ragged, body aching.

Victory.

[System Notification]

Beast Defeated. Soul Extraction Available.

Renji wiped blood from his face, eyes fixed on the fading light in the boar's eyes. He could feel it—the soul. Pulsing. Waiting.

[Soul: Dire Fang Boar]

[Mana Capacity: Medium]

[Convert to Mana or Accumulate for Unique Skill?]

He considered.

"Convert to mana."

[Soul Converted. Mana Increased.]

[MP: 600 → 700]

[You Have Ranked Up.]

[Level: 6→ 7]

[Status Updated:]

[HP: 300 → 350]

[MP: 600 →700]

[Strength: 100 → 150]

[Agility: 80 → 120]

[Mana control: 110 → 150]

[Endurnace: 60 → 180]

[Phantom Step Has increased to level 3]

A warm surge filled his body as the system's light faded. He could feel the difference—mana flowed smoother, his muscles felt lighter yet more powerful. He clenched his fist, watching energy flicker at his fingertips.

"Getting stronger... bit by bit."

He glanced at the boar's corpse, then turned back toward the path. Time to return.

The guild would process his rank-up—and he'd start preparing for whatever came next.

And the demon girl's offer?

He wasn't done thinking about that yet.

The heavy wooden doors of the guild creaked open as Renji stepped inside, the weight of the Dire Fang Boar's tusks slung over his shoulder. The midday sun cast long shadows behind him, and as he entered, the noise of the bustling hall slowly dulled.

All eyes turned to him.

The room, alive with chatter only moments ago, grew still. Conversations halted. Tankards paused mid-air. Adventurers leaned back in their chairs, eyes widening as they recognized him.

"Is that...?"

"He went solo on that boar quest, didn't he?"

"No way he's back already..."

Renji walked forward, boots thudding against the stone floor, ignoring the whispers that trailed behind him. The scent of battle still clung to him—blood, dirt, sweat—and the gleaming silver in his eyes made more than one person shift uncomfortably in their seat.

He approached the guild counter, dropping the bloodied tusks onto the wooden surface with a loud thud.

The guild attendant from earlier, a grizzled man with sharp eyes and a quick wit, raised an eyebrow. "You actually killed the damned thing?"

Renji didn't speak. He simply nodded.

The attendant inspected the tusks, turning them over, then let out a low whistle. "Clean kill. That's definitely the Dire Fang Boar... impressive work."

He reached beneath the counter, pulling out a small, iron-stamped seal. "Let's get this processed."

Renji waited in silence as the man filled out a record sheet, stamped the quest slip, and placed the silver coins in a pouch. The weight was substantial—well-earned.

"45 silver, as promised." The man slid the pouch over. "And more importantly—your rank-up."

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He held up a new guild emblem: the silver D-rank badge, polished and gleaming.

"Renji," the attendant said formally, raising his voice slightly for the surrounding crowd. "By right of successful completion of a D-rank solo hunt, and in accordance with guild standards, I hereby recognize your promotion from E-rank to D-rank."

A few murmurs echoed through the hall, some surprised, others begrudging.

"D-rank already..."

"Damn. He's not slowing down."

Renji accepted the badge, affixing it to his cloak where the E-rank one had hung just hours before. He met the attendant's gaze with a slight nod.

"Anything else?" the man asked.

"No," Renji replied. "That's enough for today."

As he turned to leave, the crowd parted for him instinctively. Some with respect, others with wariness. Renji could feel their eyes on him, the weight of expectations and fear mingled with curiosity.

As he stepped back into the afternoon light, Renji pulled his hood over his head and walked through the streets in silence. The coins at his hip barely registered; the fight was behind him, but something else lingered.

The demon girl's voice echoed in his mind.

"You're different now. Power like yours doesn't go unnoticed."

His hand tightened into a fist.

Why now?

Why him?

He didn't know what the Demon Army truly wanted — but he had no intention of being anyone's pawn. Still, the offer... it gnawed at him. Not for the promise of power, but for what it meant that they even made it.

Eyes on him from both sides of the war.

He needed to be ready.

Whatever was coming — he'd face it head on.