Jayden’s eyes widened at the unexpected stat increase. "All these... just from one bite?" he marveled.

[I told you] Luna said, a hint of smugness in her tone. [Raw meat provides superior benefits to cooked ones. And keep in mind, this meat is already processed and preserved. If you were to consume the freshly killed, unpreserved flesh of a high-ranking beast, the stat yields would be even greater]

Jayden scoffed. "I think you’re just trying to get me to eat raw carcasses off the ground," he joked, taking another massive bite.

[Maybe] Luna giggled.

Jayden finished the entire slab. And by the time he was done, the System had awarded him a permanent total of 20 additional Strength and 40 additional Stamina. The sudden surge of physical density and endurance was intoxicating.

He turned back to his beasts. They had picked the gators bones clean.

"Alright. Let’s get back to work," Jayden commanded.

For the rest of the afternoon, the forest became a slaughterhouse. Jayden simply walked the paths while his beasts hunted, ambushed, and tore apart dozens of Howlers, Stalkers, and Gators. The notifications pinged constantly in his peripheral vision, feeding him a steady stream of passive EXP.

By the time the sun began to dip below the tree line, casting long, fiery shadows across the forest, Jayden had accumulated a massive amount of Exp and beast crystals.

But more importantly, he’d finally acquired enough Wolverine Stalker crystals to rank up the gene in his own system. He did so without wasting any time.

[Ranking up process has begun]

[Wolverine Stalker Gene: D >>> C-Rank]

This time it was way simpler compared to when he ranked up his Chthonix Gene. He didn’t have to go through stasis, and the whole process was pretty straightforward and way less of a hassle.

It didn’t take long before the process was completed.

[Rank Up Complete]

[Wolverine Stalker Gene is now C-Rank]

*Crystals Required for Next Rank: 30/30]

Jayden checked his interface, satisfied with the day’s monumental progress. The sun was setting down and Jayden knew it was time to head home. But he couldn’t take his beasts with him.

He had a decision to make about how to leave them.

He gathered the eight beasts in a wide clearing and began laying down orders.

"All of you are to keep hunting," he commanded. "You can move as a pack or split into two groups, but take breaks from time to time to recover your health and stamina. Every time you make a kill, drag the corpses to a hidden, secure location. I need the bodies intact." Jayden added this order so he would be able to harvest the crystals of the dead beasts and to also see if the meat is edible.

But it also mostly because there was a chance his beasts would encounter and kill a new beast whose abilities and genes he didn’t have in his arsenal. So he’d be able to acquire that energy and claim the beast’s powers.

Then he singled out the Wolverine Stalker, projecting his authority.

"You, you’re in charge," Jayden said, imprinting the complex orders into their linked minds. "Keep the other pack beasts hunting more than the others. And keep them alive." He paced in front of them. "And if you encounter a D-Rank or C-Rank beast, you do not engage in a deathmatch. Immobilize it and capture it for me, or simply stalk it from the shadows if it’s too powerful."

Finally, he looked at the four beasts not in his Subpack. "Your primary directive is to protect the Subpack members. You provide cover and support for them, even at the cost of your own lives. They are the ones who feed me power. Ensure they secure the kills. Do you all understand?"

The four pack members acknowledged this with the attentive stillness of creatures that had understood every word. The other four took their cue from the pack members’ response and oriented accordingly. They all chuffed and bowed their heads in unison.

With his final, absolute orders set, Jayden pointed toward the deep woods. "Now, go," he commanded. "Hunt like your lives depend on it, and bring me power."

The eight beasts turned as one and vanished silently into the darkening forest, a perfectly coordinated unit of death.

Jayden stood in the empty clearing and watched the last of them disappear between the trees.

[The way you issue orders... you sound like a dictator commanding a private militia] Luna teased in his ear.

Jayden stretched his arms, a highly satisfied grin on his face. "Isn’t that why the title is Beastlord? I’m supposed to lord over them."

[You must feel pretty awesome right now] Luna giggled. [Having little minions doing your every bidding]

Jayden chuckled, turning his back to the forest. He did feel powerful. Unstoppable. But as he walked toward the city limits, his thoughts drifted to a blur of white fur and crackling electricity. He wondered when he would see the Sapphire Sonic again. And even if he could manage to see her, could he tame her? A legendary creature, easily on par with an A or S-Rank beast.

The thought alone made his heart race.

But that was a dream for another day. He sighed, letting the fantasy fade as the neon lights of Emerald City came into view. He walked out of the forest and headed straight home.

....

The house was warm when Jayden got back. The smell of Harleen’s cooking had migrated from the kitchen throughout the ground floor in the way it always did in the evening, and the quiet sounds of the household settling into its Sunday night rhythm came from the living room as he passed through.

He slipped quietly back into his bedroom and went straight to his desk, pulling out up his holotab, and navigating to the profiles Fred had sent him.

He opened the first one. The one whose location was pinned to Emerald City. Jayden had decided to go after this pioneer first, since he was in his city and would be much easier to find.

Jayden read through the pioneer’s information carefully.

——————

*Name: Anthony Tate

*Code name: Tazer

*Level: 65 | Pioneer Rank: S

*Ability: Lightening Manipulation

*Affiliation: Veteran & Former Zeta Pioneer

*Kill Count: 8,000+

——————

Jayden stared at the pioneer’s photograph... it was grainy and taken at distance. He leaned back in his chair and let the holographic screen cast its quiet light over the room.

He had real work to do tonight.