---
Still, the wealth he had just consumed and stored would set him apart from almost every other one-star creature alive.
But one thought broke through the haze of pride. One that made his entire body burn.
Vex. That traitor, that Bastard. He attacked him and left him for dead. Kai clenched his claws. Rage curled deep inside his chest like a coiled serpent.
"I'll kill him," he growled. "Next time I see him, I'll rip him apart. And I'll feast on every part of him. His flesh, his strength, his lies. All of it."
His aura flared dangerously for a moment. Then he took a long breath and forced himself to focus.
"I can't fight a three-star beast alone yet. Even with this new strength, I need to be smart."
He activated Predator's Instinct. The world sharpened. He felt the wind's direction, the faint heartbeat of distant creatures, the subtle vibration of nearby lifeforms. And just as importantly, he felt which paths were safe.
