The wolves had hardly finished dissolving when the rain started.

  Not heavy.

  Not violent.

  Just steady.

  Grey sat on the wet ground, panting heavily as the system windows loomed before him.

  Level 8.

  Two levels in one fight.

  His hands were still shaking with adrenaline.

  Lyra stood motionless, her eyes fixed on the treeline.

  "You said this was a growth opportunity," Grey grumbled. "You could have started with that."

  "You lived," she said calmly.

  "That wasn't a given."

  She didn't respond.

  Grey turned his attention inward, examining the evolution preview once more.

  Fortune Walker. Probability Breaker. Stormbound.

  The last option was faintly glowing.

  Lightning flashed within the text.

  He closed the window.

  Not yet.

  The rain grew heavier.

  Lyra's gaze narrowed.

  "Someone is coming."

  Grey immediately turned on Emotional Insight.

  At first, nothing.

  Then—

  Cold calculation.

  Focused.

  Controlled.

  Not beast.

  Human.

  From the north.

  A figure emerged from the trees as if he owned the place.

  Tall. Muscular. Dark coat reinforced with leather and chain. A long spear slung over his shoulder.

  Grey Appraised him.

  The system hesitated.

  Then obeyed.

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  Kael Virek – Lv. 28

  HP: 1,200/1,200

  Class: Relic Hunter

  Primary Traits: Suppression Field, Mark of Pursuit

  Emotion: Calculating

  Grey's gut sank.

  Level 28.

  That wasn't a gap.

  That was a chasm.

  Kael's eyes locked on Lyra.

  Not on Grey.

  Never on Grey.

  "Found you," he said flatly.

  Lyra's stance changed.

  Not fear.

  Anticipation.

  "You shouldn't have tracked me," she said.

  "I was well compensated."

  Kael's gaze flicked briefly to Grey.

  "Collateral?"

  Grey tried not to take a step back.

  Emotional Insight skyrocketed.

  Kael felt... mild interest.

  Nothing more.

  Grey was not the objective.

  Lyra took a slight step forward, positioning herself between them.

  "I won't go back."

  Kael let out a sigh.

  "They all say that."

  The atmosphere changed.

  Grey could feel it in his body.

  Pressure.

  Kael triggered something.

  [Warning: Suppression Field Detected]

  Stat Efficiency Reduced by 15%

  "What—"

  Lyra's hand clenched.

  The rain started to hiss against the ground.

  Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Still unstable," he noted. "Interesting."

  Grey's mind was racing.

  Level 28.

  They couldn't win.

  Not directly.

  Luck.

  He needed a way in.

  Micro-Analysis was triggered.

  Kael's breathing was steady.

  Stance was perfect.

  But his boots—

  Mud.

  Heavy ground.

  Forest slope.

  Grey's Luck Alignment prickled with a faint sensation.

  He took one step back.

  And "accidentally" kicked a loose stone downhill.

  It rolled.

  Knocked into another.

  The slope shifted slightly beneath Kael's feet.

  Barely.

  But enough.

  Kael's weight shifted instinctively.

  Lyra moved in an instant.

  Her blade flashed.

  Kael blocked without looking.

  Metal clashed.

  The ground beneath him gave another inch.

  His suppression field wavered.

  Grey felt his stats come back for a split second.

  He lunged forward without thinking.

  Not at Kael.

  At Kael's spear.

  He grabbed the shaft and twisted.

  Kael moved in an instant.

  Too instantly.

  He overcompensated for the unstable ground.

  The spear came loose from its strap but slid towards Grey.

  Grey stumbled back with the spear.

  Kael clicked his tongue.

  "Annoying."

  Lyra pressed the advantage.

  Her movements were quicker now.

  Lightning flickered faintly along her blade.

  Kael noticed it.

  And for the first time—

  His emotions changed.

  Interest.

  "Ah," he whispered. "There it is."

  He disengaged suddenly.

  Stepped back.

  The suppression field collapsed.

  "You're closer than they predicted."

  Lyra didn't chase.

  Kael's gaze shifted to Grey once more.

  "Protect her well, Level Eight."

  Grey stiffened.

  "How do you—"

  "Mark of Pursuit."

  A faint symbol flickered on Lyra's wrist.

  Grey had never noticed it before.

  Kael adjusted his coat.

  "I will return."

  Then he stepped backward—

  And disappeared into the forest.

  Not teleportation.

  Just speed beyond Grey's detection.

  Silence fell.

  Rain slowed.

  Grey turned to Lyra.

  "Okay," he said slowly. "You want to explain?"

  She fixed her gaze on her wrist.

  The faint symbol faded.

  "…We need to leave this region."

  "That wasn't an explanation."

  "He won't stop."

  Grey's heart still raced.

  "Who is he?"

  "A collector."

  "Of what?"

  Lyra's gaze locked with Grey's.

  "Me."

  Thunder boomed in the distance.

  And somewhere deep inside Grey's status display—

  Stormbound flashed brighter.