CHAPTER 36: APEX PREDATOR

Just like on Gravehaven Isle’s first day, the Black Umi rose from the Crimson Ocean again. Their undead, ink‑soaked bodies were no longer as frightening as before. Everyone present had already tasted battle and stood ready to meet them again.

The rankers had leveled up their skills and picked up new weapons, so the Crimson Shore felt more like an action film than a horror flick. Ace and his core team stood among them, loose‑shouldered and confident.

Beside him, a ranker about his age gripped his sword and muttered, "I gotta kill at least one... need food and a bed tonight."

So they’re already forcing folks to hand over the Starter Kit rewards from the Black Umi wave quests just for food and a safe place.

Heaven Village was the makeshift safe zone Ace knew best. In his first life he’d been that ranker, clawing his way up from the bottom while stronger rankers shielded newcomers from monsters and rented out gear in exchange for items, potions, or quest rewards.

Pawns’ and Bishops’ rewards kept gaining value over time, and stacking Eagle‑Eye Powder made everything so much easier.

The Black Umi roared, snapping Ace back to the fight, and he charged in, daggers flashing. He carved through armpits, upper arms, and inner elbows, leaving limbs limp. Then he seized a Black Umi’s hand and drove his other dagger into its chest. Ink spread over his skin as he shifted into the Drowned, while the undead’s force drained water and blood from his left arm.

If I mix the Drowned’s drain with my Lifesteal passive, it should double the pull and level up faster. Let’s test it.

Vitality trickled into him, then a far richer flood surged through his arm and healed it clean—undeniably the Drowned’s power, magnified in his hands. I can even sense mana... the Drowned’s skills sit passive, but this pull is wild.

Ace grinned at the incoming wave, seeing every one of them as a stepping‑stone.

—

Countless Black Umi fell in his wake.

[Life Steal II

• Node – Life Leech: A portion of damage dealt returns as health.

• Node – Fluid Siphon: Blends damage‑based life steal with fluid absorption, boosting total healing per hit.]

Now that Lifesteal’s up a tier, the Drowned’s traits are baked in. If I transform, the boost shoots even higher. I’m stealing everything the Drowned offers. Soon I can cut ties with the Crimson Shrine without losing a thing. I’ll keep Yvandra’Annah’s Blade, though, just to keep that lesser divinity off my back until I’m ready.

Another window blinked open, announcing his Human Engine’s evolution into Apex Engine IV.

[Your Human Engine has acquired a node far beyond its original purpose, triggering a skill evolution.]

[Human Engine III has evolved into Apex Engine IV]

[The Fourth • Node – Sanguine Graft: Uses absorbed fluids to harden muscle fibers, boosting power and endurance.]

Ace’s grin widened; chores had just turned into training.

He sensed a threat from the side, swung his left dagger to catch the blow, and sparks flew as steel met steel. A man with brown hair and emerald eyes glared into Ace’s crimson eyes. His hatchet shook as he tried to shove Ace back, but Ace didn’t budge.

"I’ll show you how it’s done," Ace said, then powered through his arm and sent the man skidding across the cold sand.

The stranger rolled, popped to his feet, and stared at the rank tag floating above Ace’s head.

[Rank One Ace Avalanche]

"Ah, hell," he muttered, lowering the hatchet. "So you’re number one. I was wonderin’ where you’d been—never saw you in Heaven Village. Must’ve found a sweeter spot, huh? I’m Hunter Hatcher, rank four so far. You’re a beast, man! Couldn’t move you an inch! Haha!"

"Did I come off like a monster?" Ace asked with a thin smile.

"Kinda." Hunter scratched his head. "You’re only killing monsters, sure, but somethin’s off. Those things might be folks from Earth, y’know? I watched a few get dragged into that red tide on day one and come back as Black Umi. If you follow that, every Umi was a human once. And you’re butchering ’em without blinking. Worse, you look like you enjoy it."

"..."

"Hunters back home respect their prey—say a quiet word for ’em. You leave a massacre and walk away like it’s nothin’, man!"

You always read people well, Hunter. You’ll survive this place. Better I don’t tangle you in my mess.

"I’ve lost too many people I love to care about strangers," Ace said flatly.

"Ah—sorry, man."

"No need. Thanks, Hunter. I hope you ace this Gate. And let’s never cross blades again."

Hunter grinned, and so did Ace.

"If we do, I’m takin’ you down," Hunter said.

"That’s my line."

After the standoff, Ace scanned the sand for fallen rankers. Even with better gear, plenty had come without bishops, and one mistake was fatal. Corpses scattered across the shore proved it.

"We doin’ this?" Alex asked, stepping up beside him.

"Yeah. Anyone no one will mourn—we haul ’em back to base," Ace said.

To many rankers’ surprise, Ace’s crew began stacking bodies away from the tide. No one objected, and even Chaewon helped in silence.

"Excuse me," a voice called.

Ace turned to a man in his early thirties. "Yeah?"

"Do you have any food? Leftovers, even...?"

He’s ashamed he can’t feed his family.

Ace spotted the man’s wife and their little girl, maybe five. All three looked starved, lips still salty from the Crimson Ocean.

People like this won’t last once the Gates open. I can’t—

"Ace," Chaewon said, soft but firm. "We carved up that big beast earlier. We can share. Seeing them like this breaks my heart. Please."

"Fine," Ace answered before he could think.

Chaewon beamed and waved them over. "You shouldn’t keep her near monsters and corpses. Come with me."

"Thank you so much!" the couple said together.

Other weak rankers overheard and drifted closer, hoping for food.

All of them looked genuinely desperate. Their stares weighed on Ace and Chaewon.

Ace sighed. "I need some hands for work."