Chapter 18｜The Newcomer's Awakening

The night was not yet over.

The low growls of the hounds gradually faded, and the forest fell silent once more.

But Zhou Yan knew—

This was not the end, but the beginning.

He leaned against a tree and sat down, his palms drenched in sweat.

The System's Gaze

The campfire had died out.

Li Xing was inspecting his gear, Zhao Yun was sharpening his blade, while Li Yu quietly organized her magazines.

No one offered comfort.

It was one of the rules:

Those who truly chose this path must stand firm on their own.

Suddenly—

Zhou Yan’s vision went black.

Not from fainting.

His consciousness was being pulled away.

Contract Activation

A cold voice echoed in his mind:

“Detecting high-pressure survival environment.”

“Detected intense protective will.”

“Accept trial contract activation?”

Zhou Yan's throat tightened.

He recalled the moment his parents collapsed.

Remembered the weight of his sister hiding behind him.

“Accept.”

Awakening: Perception Thread

The world shifted abruptly.

Scents layered into distinct tiers.

Footsteps left tremors in their wake.

With eyes closed, he could “see”

bushes ten meters away, animal trails fifteen meters distant,

and even farther—

traces of human passage.

System Notice:

“Primary Ability Awakened: Path Perception.”

“Applications: Tracking / Counter-Tracking.”

The First Price

Agonizing pain surged through him.

Warm blood gushed from his nostrils.

Zhou Yan collapsed to his knees, stifling a cry.

Li Xing finally looked up, glancing at him.

“Don't hold back.”

“This is the price.”

Another rule left by his father.

Sister's Anomaly

Just then, Zhou Xiaoyu suddenly grabbed Li Yu's sleeve.

“Sis...”

Her voice trembled.

“I... I can hear the absence of a dog's bark.”

All eyes turned to her simultaneously.

The Second Awakening

Zhou Xiaoyu's vision was unusually sharp in the night.

She could hear

the distance of heartbeats,

the direction of fabric rustling,

and the extraneous noises that shouldn't exist in the wind.

The system interface unfolded before her eyes:

“Potential Secondary Confirmation.”

“Awakening Direction: Static Sniper Adaptation.”

“Support Ability: Extreme Stability.”

Li Yu drew a quiet breath.

“She's a natural-born sniper.”

The Hunting Ground No Longer Held Just Three

After her awakening, Zhou Yan collapsed against a tree, utterly drained.

Zhou Xiaoyu, however, remained unnervingly calm.

She gazed into the depths of the forest.

“Someone... is watching us from far away.”

Not a guess.

A certainty.

The hunting dog lifted its head, its gaze fixed in the same direction.

Li Xing's Decision

Li Xing fell silent for a moment.

Then he spoke:

“From this moment on, you are no longer protected subjects.”

“You are part of the team.”

The system prompt finally flashed:

“Contract members updated.”

“Team size: Five.”

“Hunting ground level: Elevated.”

End of Chapter

The night had fully passed.

Dawn was approaching.

Yet everyone knew—

True daylight no longer belonged to ordinary people.