Saint:My Daily Routine Became My Superpower

Kael jolted awake—sharp, precise. No dreams. No whispers.

Just cold, brutal clarity.

The forest wasn't silent anymore.

Something had changed.

The wind howled between the trees like a warning. The birds—gone. And the air… it tasted strange. Like copper and ash.

His interface blinked alive.

> [Notification: Daily Task Available]

"Clear out a mutated predator—solo."

Reward: Precision Focus Pill + 5% Reflex Boost (Temporary)

> [Weekly Task Progress: 0/3 Elite Creatures Defeated]

So... elite monsters now.

Kael clenched his fists. Muscles burned with familiar heat.

The Soul Fragments thrummed faintly in his core—like they sensed something coming.

His family still slept.

Kael slipped past the shelter's edge without a sound. The dagger hung snug at his waist. He descended the mossy slope into the mist-drenched valley.

---

It didn't take long to find it.

The creature moved like a nightmare—each step cracking the forest floor.

Antlers that could shatter stone. A malformed elk body—bulging muscle, patches of black iron skin. Blood dripped from its fanged maw.

> [Enemy Identified: Crimson-Horn Stalker — Tier C+]

It stood over a half-eaten wolf. Steam curled from the corpse.

Kael exhaled.

Time to work.

> [Routine Surge: Active — Power Surge x100% for 10 minutes]

He launched forward—faster than thought.

The forest blurred. Kael's senses sharpened to needlepoints. Every leaf, every heartbeat, every breath—amplified.

He burst from the brush like a missile.

The beast turned—too slow.

Kael dove low, sliding beneath a stomping hoof, and slashed across the rear joint. Sparks flew as blade met bone.

The creature screamed—a sound like grinding metal and broken thunder.

It lunged, hooves pounding the earth.

Kael twisted left. A horn whistled past his face, slicing his cheek. Warm blood dripped down.

Ignore it.

The Stalker charged.

Kael ran—straight toward it—then leapt sideways, landing on a broken tree stump. He sprang off with perfect timing, using it to vault over the monster's head.

His blade arced down—

Clang!

Iron patch. The dagger skidded off its neck plate.

Kael landed behind the beast, but the Stalker was already turning.

Its antlers slashed out—

He ducked.

A branch exploded above him. Bark rained down.

Kael stepped in and slammed his dagger into its ribs—into the exposed muscle between plates.

A hiss of black-red blood burst out.

The creature thrashed violently. Kael held on, his fingers digging into slick flesh.

It spun, trying to throw him.

Kael climbed higher—toward the spine—

But the beast reared back.

Kael was launched like a stone. His back slammed into the ground. The air left his lungs. He rolled, coughing.

The Stalker roared and charged.

Kael barely raised his arm in time. A hoof crashed into his forearm.

Crack. Something gave.

Pain flared like lightning.

He twisted beneath the monster and stabbed upward—deep into the armpit.

It shrieked. Stumbled back.

Kael rolled away, staggered to his feet, breath ragged.

His body screamed at him to stop.

But he didn't.

He rushed forward again—faster. His blade blurred as he feinted left, then darted under the right leg and stabbed deep into the belly.

More blood. The beast faltered.

Still alive.

Still dangerous.

It reared again.

Kael dodged low—then ran up the creature's side using its leg like a ramp.

He leapt high—and plunged the dagger into the spine at the base of its skull.

The blade sank deep.

He twisted. Felt the tendons snap.

The creature convulsed.

Then collapsed with a heavy thud, shaking the ground.

Silence.

> [Daily Task Complete]

[Weekly Task Progress: 1/3]

Reward Added to Inventory

Kael stood still—panting. Blood soaked his shirt, arms, and blade.

The creature's ichor spread like ink, staining the grass and dirt black.

He didn't move.

Didn't speak.

And then—

Rustling.

From behind the ridge, four survivors emerged.

They froze when they saw him.

One stepped forward, eyes wide. "You… took that thing down solo?"

Kael didn't respond.

Another called out. "What rank are you?"

He shook his head. "I don't share that."

"C'mon, man!" another pleaded. "We're trying to group up! That monster nearly killed three of us yesterday!"

Kael looked them over.

Rusty pipes. A kitchen cleaver. Nervous eyes. Mismatched armor.

Not warriors.

Just people trying to survive.

But desperate people get others killed.

He turned away.

"No thanks."

---

Back at the shelter, the sky had begun to lighten.

His mother nodded silently. His father handed him a tin cup of water.

No words exchanged.

His brothers stared—eyes filled with something between awe and fear.

Kael didn't bask in it.

He walked past them and sat near the wall.

Opened his interface.

> [Soul Fragments: 2/4]

Echoes of the past. Blood of the future.

He didn't understand the message.

But it felt like a warning.

> Next: Chapter 23 – The Pact and the Predator