Oblivion Hunter: Rise Across the Stars.

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The world outside the shelter was still dark when Kael forced himself upright, groaning as pain lanced through his ribs. Sleep had been fleeting, broken by fever dreams of glowing shards and chittering Rift Beasts. His body ached, battered and bruised, but the System's relentless reminders left no room for rest.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Next Mandatory Quest: Beast Raid Defense – 22 hours 41 minutes remaining.

Egg Incubation Progress: 0%

Mutation Risk: 8% (Rising)

And Nyx.....the fragile egg fragment pulsing softly on the workbench, was starving.

Kael winced as he dragged his scavenger jacket over his shoulders. With no choice, he has no cores left and the system is giving him limited time. If he didn't find Beast Cores soon, Nyx's development would twist into something dangerous and unstable. The System had been clear.

[OPTIONAL SUB-QUEST ACTIVE]

Objective: Scavenge Fang Rat Den (1.2km SE)

Potential Reward: 2–4 Common-Tier Beast Cores

Threat Level: Moderate

Fang Rats Detected: Estimated 5–7 (Pack Mentality, Venomous Bite)

A soft moan from the cot drew his gaze. Lira shifted, her breathing shallow, lips cracked and pale. Kael clenched his jaw.

"Hang in there sis, I'll bring back something for both of you," he muttered.

He holstered his cracked bone knife and grabbed the emergency flare, his last one. No rations, no meds, just stubborn willpower and the System's cold guidance.

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The SE Ruins – Fang Rat Den

The eastern ruins loomed like a broken teeth against the murky sky. Distant Rift flickers cast eerie shadows across the skeletal remains of ancient towers. Kael crouched low, creeping along the debris-choked corridors. Every step sent pain through his ribs, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on.

His HUD blinked with red markers, signalling heat signatures and movement. Then he paused to take a scan of his environment..

[SYSTEM SCAN COMPLETE]

Threat Identified: Fang Rat Pack (Common-Tier Beasts)

Count: 6

Special Traits: Tunnel Ambush, Acidic Saliva, Pack Tactics.

Recommendation: Lure and Divide; Avoid Direct Swarm Engagement.

Kael grimaced, no clean way to do this.

A rattling screech echoed from a side vent. Yellow eyes glinted in the dark . "Shit...."

The Fang Rat lunged, fanged maw wide. Kael ducked, slashing upward. The bone knife bit deep, severing the creature's throat. Acidic blood splashed his sleeve, sizzling faintly.

[RIFT BEAST ELIMINATED]

Beast Core: Acquired (Common-Tier)

"One down…" Kael muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. His fingers tightened around the knife. Movement stirred in the shadows, more coming.

He threw the flare

FWOOSH

Light bathed the ruin in a harsh glare. The rats screeched, momentarily disoriented. Kael moved fast, kicking a loose beam to collapse part of the corridor, cutting the pack in half. Three broke through,snarling, snapping.

Kael charged, slashing wildly. Claws raked his arm...pain flared, but he drove the knife into another rat's skull. A third beast leapt he caught it mid-air and slammed it against the wall, cracking bone and spine.

[RIFT BEASTS ELIMINATED: 3]

Beast Cores Acquired: 3 (Common-Tier)

The System chimed.

[EGG INCUBATION RESOURCES ACQUIRED: 3/3]

Requirement Met – Egg Incubation Protocol Ready to Initiate.

Kael's breath burned in his lungs, blood soaking his sleeve. His arm stung, but the wounds were shallow. He stumbled to the Fang Rat nest, old bones, shredded metal, and a faint blue glimmer.

A faint Void Crystal shard, small, but enough.

[NEW ITEM ACQUIRED: Minor Void Crystal Shard]

Incubation Requirement (Void Energy Source) Met.

Kael exhaled sharply

Movement behind him

His heart froze.

A larger shape emerged from the tunnel gloom, twice the size of the Fang Rats. Sleek, dark-furred, red eyes glowing.

Rift Alpha Fang Rat.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

Rare Mutation Detected: Alpha-Class Variant

Threat Level: High (Tier II)

Status: Aggressive. Hunting Mode Active.

"Of course… figures one of you would mutate," Kael grunted, raising his knife, body tensed despite the screaming ache in his ribs. The Alpha hissed, tail lashing, saliva dripping from its maw. Kael's mind raced, fighting would risk death or worse, infection from its venom.

The System chimed again.

[COMBAT OPTION: BEAST COMPANION LINK INITIATION – EMERGENCY MODE AVAILABLE]

Activate Proto-Link with Dormant Egg Fragment?

Result: Limited Combat Boost. Risk: 3% Mutation Instability.

Confirm? [YES / NO]

Kael hesitated, the egg....Nyx, was not ready, but this might be the only way to survive.

"Damn it... Nyx... don't let me down."

YES.

Warmth surged from his pouch, blue light flickering as the Egg Fragment pulsed. A faint presence touched his mind, strange, curious and hungry.

[PROTOTYPE BEAST LINK ESTABLISHED – TEMPORARY SYNC MODE]

Strength +2, Agility +2, Reflex Boost Activated (1 Minute Duration)

Kael moved, faster and stronger.

The Alpha lunged, he ducked under its jaws, slashing its underbelly. Blood sprayed, the beast shrieked, twisting to strike with its tail but Kael rolled, trowing the cracked flare into its mouth.

FWOOOMPH.

The flare ignited, searing the beast's throat. It staggered, choking, Kael leapt, driving his blade deep into its skull.

The Alpha collapsed.

[ALPHA RIFT BEAST ELIMINATED]

Rare Beast Core Acquired (Tier II)

Proto-Link Duration Expired. Risk Level Stable.

Kael fell to his knees, panting, chest heaving.

"System... status..."

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

New Resources: 1x Rare Beast Core (Optional Upgrade)

3x Common Beast Cores (Egg Incubation)

Proto-Link Stabilized.

Mutation Risk: 2%.

Egg Reaction: Active.

Incubation Progress: 5%.

He looked down, Nyx's fragment glowed brighter, cracks spidering across its surface.

"Guess you're hungry too, huh…" Kael muttered weakly, smiling despite himself.

His vision swam,blood loss and fatigue catching up, but he'd survived.

He gathered the cores, the Void Crystal, and the scorched Alpha skull as proof. Slowly but painfully, he made his way back toward the shelter.

Somewhere in the distance, the Rift in the sky flickered, growing wider.

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