The extraordinary state that had carried Alph through the battle evaporated the moment the corrupted bear drew its final breath. His enhanced body, already strained from the violent transformation of advancement, suddenly felt the accumulated weight of exhaustion. The predatory grace that had guided his movements just moments before abandoned him entirely, leaving him gasping for air as his legs gave out beneath him.

  Alph sprawled onto the forest floor beside the massive corpse, his chest heaving as beads of sweat rolled down his face and dripped onto the leaf-strewn ground. The twin daggers felt impossibly heavy in his trembling hands. Every muscle in his body ached with the deep fatigue that came from pushing beyond his limits—first the advancement, then this intense battle that had demanded everything from his newly transformed physique.

  After several ragged breaths, something shifted in his peripheral vision. A cluster of ethereal energy was emerging from the bear's corpse, glowing with a warm amber light that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his own heartbeat. The phenomenon was unlike anything he'd encountered before, yet his Slayer instincts recognized it immediately—this was his trophy, the spoils earned through successful combat.

  Before he could fully process what he was seeing, the sound of running footsteps crashed through the forest quiet. Multiple sets of boots pounding against earth, voices calling out in coordination. The patrol had found him.

  Without time for contemplation, Alph stretched his willpower toward the glowing cluster. The energy responded to his touch, flowing into his consciousness like liquid fire just as several uniformed soldiers burst into the clearing with weapons drawn.

  Alph watched the soldiers rush into the clearing, their faces blurring into familiar ones. He managed a weak smile, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. They had found him.

  “Alph!” Lukan's voice was unmistakable, echoing through the trees. Relief etched his features as he knelt beside Alph. "You alright, kid?"

  Alph nodded, though the act took more effort than he expected. "Just... tired."

  Before he could voice anything further, reality swayed around him. Shadows crept along the borders of his sight, dragging him downward with persistent force.

  Alph sensed palms against his shoulders, holding tight, anchoring him briefly. Yet the moment had passed. The burden of weariness, the toll from his latest conflicts both mental and physical, overwhelmed him and he slipped into unconsciousness.

  The leading sergeant burst through the treeline with his pike held in a two-handed grip, the weapon's steel point aimed directly at the massive form sprawled across the forest floor. His voice cut through the evening air with practiced authority.

  "Halt!"

  The single command galvanized his squad into immediate action. Six soldiers moved with drilled precision, their varied weapons—spears, crossbows, and swords—snapping into ready positions as they formed a loose circle around the corrupted bear's corpse. Their movements spoke of veteran experience, each man taking a position that provided clear lines of attack while maintaining visual contact with his squadmates.

  The sergeant's weathered eyes swept over the scene, taking in the creature's unnatural size, the blood-red crystals jutting from its hide, and the pool of dark blood spreading beneath its massive head. Several arrows protruded from various parts of the beast's body, while deeper wounds along its flanks and throat suggested close-quarters combat with bladed weapons.

  After a tense moment of observation, the sergeant caught the eye of his spearman—a lean soldier positioned near the creature's hindquarters. A subtle nod and meaningful glance conveyed the unspoken order.

  The spearman understood immediately. He stepped forward with cautious deliberation, extending his weapon toward the bear's flank. The steel point made contact with corrupted flesh, pressing firmly against the creature's ribs in a careful prod.

  No response. No twitch of muscle, no reflexive breath. The threat had been neutralized.

  The sergeant barked a sharp command to his remaining soldiers. "Check that thing carefully! I want to know what we're dealing with here."

  His men moved forward with weapons still at the ready, beginning their methodical examination of the corrupted corpse. The sergeant's attention, however, had already shifted to the two figures near the treeline—one of his own scouts kneeling beside an unconscious youth sprawled on the ground.

  The sergeant's experienced eyes took in the unconscious youth with immediate recognition. Alph—one of the conscripts assigned to his unit, the young scout who'd been placed on patrol duty just hours earlier.

  He approached the pair with measured steps, his pike now held more casually at his side. "How is the boy?" he asked, his voice carrying the gruff concern of a veteran who'd seen too many young soldiers in over their heads.

  Lukan finished his quick examination, checking pulse and breathing before looking up at his commanding officer. "Uninjured, Sergeant, but he's fainted from exhaustion. Whatever happened here, it took everything he had." The hunter glanced meaningfully at the massive bear corpse. "Request permission to carry him back to camp."

  The sergeant nodded his approval, then cast one more calculating look at the scene around them—the oversized creature, the corruption crystals, the evidence of a desperate fight that somehow ended with a tier-0 conscript standing victorious. "Granted. I'll report this to Master Abel." His gaze lingered on the corruption-riddled corpse. "We'll expect some answers from the boy once he wakes up."

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "Understood, Sergeant."

  Lukan carefully hoisted Alph onto his shoulders and began the trek back toward camp, leaving the sergeant and his squad to continue their grim investigation.

  Several hours later, consciousness returned to Alph in gradual waves. His awareness drifted upward through layers of exhaustion like surfacing from deep water, each level bringing more clarity to his surroundings. The familiar scent of medicinal herbs filled his nostrils, while canvas walls filtered the late evening light into a warm amber glow.

  The medical tent. He was lying on a simple cot, a rough woolen blanket pulled up to his chest. His body ached with the deep fatigue that followed intense exertion, every muscle protesting as he shifted slightly on the narrow bed.

  Relief flooded through him as the final moments before unconsciousness came rushing back. The corrupted bear, the desperate fight, and most importantly—the ethereal cluster of energy he'd absorbed just before the soldiers arrived. He could still feel it within him, a warm presence nestled somewhere deep in his core, waiting.

  His newly awakened Slayer instincts whispered with certainty: Grim Harvest could be activated at any time to properly process this trophy, transforming it into tangible power. The knowledge felt as natural as breathing, an integral part of his transformed nature.

  Alph listened carefully, extending his enhanced senses throughout the tent. No footsteps nearby, no voices, no breathing other than his own. He was alone.

  Without hesitation, he reached inward and activated Grim Harvest.

  The brown cluster responded immediately, breaking apart into smaller fragments that flowed through his spiritual pathways like liquid warmth. Each piece dissolved into his essence, and he felt his physical form strengthening—not dramatically, but with a noticeable increase in density and power that settled into his bones and muscles.

  The tent flap rustled, and Lukan ducked inside, cutting short any opportunity to examine the changes more thoroughly.

  "Alph! You're awake!" Lukan's voice carried genuine relief as he stepped forward, carefully balancing a steaming bowl in his hands. The hunter moved with practiced quiet, settling onto a small wooden stool beside the cot with the fluid grace of someone accustomed to field conditions.

  He brought the bowl closer, and the rich aroma of meat stew filled the tent's confines. "Brought you dinner," Lukan said, his weathered features softening with concern. "Figured you'd be hungry after... whatever the hell happened out there."

  Alph nodded, pushing himself up slightly against the thin pillow. As if summoned by the mention of food, his stomach responded with a loud, insistent growl that seemed to echo in the quiet tent.

  Lukan's mouth quirked upward in the first genuine smile Alph had seen from the usually serious hunter. "Right on cue," he chuckled, extending the bowl toward Alph's waiting hands. "Cook made it extra thick tonight. Said anyone who could take down a corrupted bear that size deserved a proper meal."

  Alph attacked the stew with the single-minded focus of someone who hadn't realized how desperately his body needed sustenance. The thick broth and tender chunks of meat disappeared rapidly, his enhanced physique demanding fuel to recover from the day's ordeals. Steam rose from the bowl as he worked through it with methodical efficiency.

  Lukan watched with quiet concern, noting the way Alph's movements grew steadier with each bite, how the pallor in his cheeks gradually gave way to healthier color. The hunter's weathered features showed genuine relief as the young scout's condition visibly improved.

  As Alph's pace finally began to slow, settling into more measured spoonfuls, Lukan leaned forward slightly on his stool. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his tone warm with the kind of care that comes from shared hardship in the field.

  Alph paused, the wooden spoon halfway to his mouth, and took a moment to actually consider the question. "I feel okay," he said after swallowing. "Still a little hungry, but otherwise good." He gestured toward the nearly empty bowl. "This helped more than I expected."

  After listening to Alph's reply, Lukan nodded thoughtfully, then fell into a moment of contemplation. His weathered fingers drummed against his knee as he seemed to weigh his words carefully, his usual straightforward manner replaced by uncharacteristic hesitation.

  Alph noticed the shift immediately, tilting his head in confusion. The older man's expression had taken on the look of someone trying to figure out the gentlest way to deliver unwelcome news.

  Seeing Alph's puzzled expression, Lukan's mouth quirked upward in another small smile. "Nothing much," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Just thinking about how to tell you that Master Abel is waiting for your report." He paused, watching Alph's reaction carefully. "He wants to know exactly how you found that bear—and how it ended up dead."

  Lukan's expression grew more serious as he continued. "We heard the roars from camp—that thing was loud enough to wake half the forest. But by the time we reached the scene, we found the bear already dead with you collapsed beside it, holding a pair of bloody daggers." He shook his head slowly, his voice carrying genuine bewilderment. "From our assessment, that creature had the strength of a tier 1 beast, boosted even further by those corrupted growths. I couldn't wrap my head around how a tier 0 scout could face something like that alone and live to tell about it."

  Alph realized why Lukan was taking such care to explain the situation, silently thanking the veteran for giving him the opening he needed. A genuine smile spread across his face, transforming his features with the unmistakable joy of someone who had achieved a long-sought goal.

  "You're correct," Alph said, his voice carrying newfound confidence. "A tier 0 couldn't face it. But what about a tier 1 Hunter?"

  Lukan stared at him for a long moment, his weathered features cycling through surprise, understanding, and finally amazement. "You advanced?" he blurted out, his usual composure completely forgotten.

  Alph nodded, unable to suppress his grin.

  "Congratulations!" Lukan's face broke into a wide smile, genuine relief flooding his voice. "By the gods, you were lucky to advance when you did."

  "Lucky indeed," Alph agreed, gesturing toward his empty bowl with mock gravity. "If not for that, I'd be dinner inside the bear's belly instead of having dinner here."

  Lukan nodded emphatically, his grin widening. "True indeed!" He took a long, steadying breath, as if the weight of worry he'd been carrying had finally lifted from his shoulders.

  Standing up from the small stool, Lukan reached over and gave Alph a firm, congratulatory pat on the shoulder—the kind of gesture that spoke of genuine relief and shared camaraderie between fellow conscripts who'd both seen their share of hardship.

  "Finish up that soup," he said, gesturing toward the bowl still cradled in Alph's hands. "Then head straight to the commander's tent. Master Abel is waiting for your report."

  With that, Lukan ducked back through the tent flap, leaving Alph alone with the remainder of his meal and the knowledge that his real challenges were just beginning.