Ray’s muscles tensed, and he felt the shard's power coursing through him. With a burst of speed and strength, he charged at the gate, smashing through the steel barrier like it was made of paper.
Alarms blared. Armed guards poured out, but Ray was a blur, dodging bullets and incapacitating his attackers with precision.
He made his way inside the facility, navigating through the maze-like corridors. The system guided him, highlighting paths and marking threats.
Finally, he reached a holding cell. His heart pounded as he approached the door.
"Harley!" he called out.
No response.
He unlocked the cell and stepped inside. His blood ran cold. Harley's lifeless body lay on the floor, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
"No... no, no, no," Ray whispered, dropping to his knees. He gently cradled her head, tears streaming down his face.
The system's voice was solemn.
"I warned you, Ray. The Morphidons do not leave survivors."
Ray clenched his teeth, rage boiling inside him. "Why? Why did they do this?" he shouted.
"They see humanity as inferior. A resource to be consumed. The Phantom Prowler was just the beginning. More will come." The system stated.
Ray stood, his grief morphing into determination. "Then I'll kill every last one of them."
As he turned to leave, the system alerted him.
"Multiple life forms detected. Prowlers inbound. Hurry ray, they have infiltrated the building"
Ray readied himself. He could hear the faint, eerie growls echoing through the corridors.
The prowlers emerged from the shadows, sleek, predatory creatures with sharp claws and glowing eyes. They moved with terrifying grace, surrounding Ray.
"Come on," Ray growled, raising his fists.
The first prowler lunged, but Ray was faster. He dodged to the side, delivering a powerful punch that sent the creature crashing into the wall.
Another prowler pounced, but Ray grabbed it mid-air and slammed it to the ground. The shard's power made him stronger, faster, more lethal.
"Enhancing combat capabilities," the system announced. "Activating adaptive reflexes."
Ray felt his body responding instinctively to the threats. Every move he made was precise, calculated.
One by one, the prowlers fell. But more kept coming.
"Ray, we need to leave. This fight is unsustainable. I can only concentrate the energy you have in your body, it wont last forever. You will soon run out of energy if this keeps up." The system warned.
Ray nodded, retreating down the corridor. He reached an emergency exit and using his shoulder, he burst through it, emerging into the night.
The system scanned the area. "Hostiles neutralized for now. We must move quickly."
Ray kept running until he reached a safe distance. He collapsed against a rock, breathing heavily.
"Why are they after me?" he asked.
"Because you are an anomaly. The shard embedded in you makes you a threat to their invasion. If you could kill is prowler, they deem you a serious enough threat. You are also the only person who knows that they have overtaken the government"
Ray looked at his arm. "What exactly are you?"
The system paused. "I was created by an ancient civilization. They sought to transcend their physical forms and evolve into something greater. I was their guide, their companion for this next stage of evolution."
"What happened to them?"
"I do not remember. My memory is fragmented. But I do know this: you have the potential to become something more. If you train, if you push your limits, you can evolve beyond human limitations."
Ray's eyes narrowed. "Evolve? Into what?"
"A new species. One capable of standing against the Morphidons. But it will not be easy. The process requires immense physical and mental discipline. Are you ready for that, Ray?"
Ray stood, his resolve hardened. "If it means avenging Harley and saving this planet, then yes. I'm ready."
The system's glow intensified. "Then let us begin."
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The Apex Predator System EPISODE 9: Arena.
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The Apex Predator System EPISODE 10: A Stranger in the Forest
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The Apex Predator System Episode 2: The Long Chase
Morning broke over the endless desert, the sun casting a harsh golden light across the dunes. The wind whispered through the sands, carrying with it the distant hum of an approaching helicopter. Raymond Cooper stirred from his restless sleep beneath a rocky outcrop, his body aching from the previous night’s escape.He blinked against the sunlight, his eyes bloodshot and weary. His mind raced as he replayed the events of the night before. Harley was gone. Taken. And now, the Morphidons were using the remnants of human governments to hunt him down.The faint rumble of engines pulled Ray from his thoughts. He scrambled to his feet, peering over the rocks. In the distance, a convoy of jeeps and a low-flying helicopter approached, kicking up clouds of dust.“They’re not giving up,” Ray muttered, his heart pounding in his chest. He grabbed his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder, and started moving. The desert offered little in the way of cover, but Ray knew he had no choice. He had to
The Apex Predator System EPISODE 3: The Shard from the Sky
The desert stretched endlessly before Raymond Cooper, a sea of golden sands beneath the dark canvas of night. He walked purposefully, his mind racing with thoughts of Harley, was she trully captured? He wondered.He needed to stay alive, to achieve that, he needed to disappear — at least for a while. The city was a death trap, and the desert offered a chance to regroup and plan. He was not the only one on the morphidon threat list, if he could find any of the others, maybe they could survive.His footsteps crunched over the sand, and the cool desert breeze whispered through the air. Above him, the stars twinkled like distant flames, scattered across an infinite void. The silence was comforting, giving him a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos.But peace was fleeting.Ray stopped abruptly when a streak of light pierced the sky. His eyes widened as he watched the object blaze across the heavens, burning a fiery trail behind it. It was moving fast — far too fast for a normal meteor.“W
Latest Chapter
EPISODE 12: A City of Secrets
The sun hovered low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the alien landscape. Ray and Ikarus walked with purpose, their destination in sight, a sprawling city of towering spires and bustling markets. The city was a hub of commerce and secrecy, a place where whispers held more value than gold.“We’ll find what we need here,” Ikarus said, his reptilian eyes scanning the horizon. “But tread carefully. This city is as dangerous as it is resourceful.”Ray nodded, his mind focused on one thing: finding Kaela.Ikarus’s mission had become his own. They entered the city through a crowded gate, blending into the throng of travelers and merchants. The air was thick with the scent of spices and metal, and the streets buzzed with activity.“We need to head to the informants’ quarter,” Ikarus said, leading Ray through winding alleys. “There are people here who know everything that happens in this region.”They moved quickly, avoiding the watchful eyes of guards patrolling the streets. The Mo
EPISODE 11: Evolution.
Ray and Ikarus skinned the ground dragon, harvesting some of its undamaged scales and its core, a crystal that some high-level beasts have that can be sold for a fortune or be exchanged for currency.They journeyed together eastwards of the planet into the desert.At first, Ray was hesitant to follow Ikarus. He had no problem trusting him, since his instincts about people had never been wrong before, and he could tell that he was a trustworthy person despite the fact that they just recently met, and that he was a reptilian humanoid, not even human.The desert air buzzed with tension as they trudged across the cracked, red soil, their footsteps echoing faintly in the eerie silence. The sun hung low in the sky, casting elongated shadows across the rugged landscape. They had left the ruins of the arena far behind, but the dangers of the planet still loomed. Every step was a reminder of how unforgiving this world could be.Ray glanced at Ikarus, the reptilian warrior who had become his un
EPISODE 10: A Stranger in the Forest
The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, an ocean of dark, towering trees whose leaves shimmered under the twin suns of Vorrak. Ray staggered through the underbrush, exhaustion weighing him down after his escape from the arena. The gravity of this planet still pressed heavily on his every movement, but his body had begun to adapt—slowly but surely.“You’re getting stronger,” the system's calm, ever-present voice echoed in his mind. “The increased gravity is forcing your muscles to evolve at an accelerated rate. Given time, you will thrive here.”Ray grunted in response, brushing aside a low-hanging branch. His thoughts were scattered, his emotions turbulent. He had fought, he had bled, and he had barely made it out alive. Now he was on a planet that seemed to revel in violence and chaos, with no clear path forward. But he wasn’t about to give up, not when he had come this far.Suddenly, a rustling sound from the shadows caught his attention. His senses sharpened, instincts
EPISODE 9: Arena.
Ray was shoved into a cage beneath the arena. His cellmate, a blue-skinned humanoid with glowing yellow eyes, hissed at him."You’re not from around here," the alien said."No," Ray replied, catching his breath. "Where are we?""This is Vorrak. The Wasted Planet. A refuge for those who have nowhere else to go. And you’re about to become entertainment for the savages above." The blue alien said.Ray’s heart Started beating fast with fear, he has never been outside of the Earth, until a lttle more than a day before, he had no idea that aliens even existed.Now he is on an alien planet, a savage and brutal one with a gravity that is making his body ache unstoppably."I have to get out of here." He murmured under his heavy breath.The reptilian chuckled. "No one escapes Vorrak. You survive the arena, or you die."With labored breaths, Ray fell unconscious from the gravity, his muscles twitching unstoppably.The next day, Ray was dragged into the arena half asleep. The crowd roared as he w
EPISODE 8: The Rift Beyond.
Ray stood in the endless expanse of the desert, his mind buzzing with newfound power and confusion.The Apex Predator System had changed his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined, yet he felt more isolated than ever. Harley was gone, and Morphidon prowlers were hunting him. His only solace was the system embedded in his body—the alien intelligence that promised evolution, power, and survival.Suddenly, the system’s voice echoed in his head.The host has accepted to embark on the journey towards evolution, the way of the predator. Commencing now.Before Ray could respond, a swirling vortex of shimmering light appeared in front of him, like a tear in the fabric of reality.“What is that?” Ray muttered, shielding his eyes from the blinding light.The rift pulsed with energy, beckoning him forward. Before he could have the time to ask questions, the vortex started sucking everything around into itself.The system had gone silent and a new window appeared in his view.On the window, it wa
EPISODE 7: Trap
Ray’s muscles tensed, and he felt the shard's power coursing through him. With a burst of speed and strength, he charged at the gate, smashing through the steel barrier like it was made of paper.Alarms blared. Armed guards poured out, but Ray was a blur, dodging bullets and incapacitating his attackers with precision.He made his way inside the facility, navigating through the maze-like corridors. The system guided him, highlighting paths and marking threats.Finally, he reached a holding cell. His heart pounded as he approached the door."Harley!" he called out.No response.He unlocked the cell and stepped inside. His blood ran cold. Harley's lifeless body lay on the floor, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling."No... no, no, no," Ray whispered, dropping to his knees. He gently cradled her head, tears streaming down his face.The system's voice was solemn."I warned you, Ray. The Morphidons do not leave survivors."Ray clenched his teeth, rage boiling inside him. "Why? Why did t
EPISODE 6: The Rescue That Wasn't.
As the drone drew closer, the system slowed down Ray’s heartbeat and lowered his body temperature. It displayed a video of an African sand viper hiding in sand to ambush prey. In an instant, Ray, in a similar fashion, slowly dug through the sand and covered himself, completely masking his presence from the drone.When the drone finished scanning and was unable to find him, it left.He managed to escape and ran for several kilometres before coming to a halt by a dried-out tree in the middle of the desert.He made a camp fire.Ray sat by the dwindling campfire in the middle of the desert, his mind racing with a million questions. The shard embedded in his arm pulsated faintly, illuminating the dark surroundings with a soft blue glow. The system's voice echoed in his head, calm and calculated."You need answers regarding Harley, Ray. And you know where to start."Stark. He was the only person Ray could trust to have struck a deal.Stark had been his partner during his time in the Secret
EPISODE 5: The Phantom Prowler 2.
The creature collapsed, its body dissolving into a dark, viscous liquid that seeped into the sand.Ray stepped back, panting. The system’s voice resonated in his mind again.“Threat neutralized. Excellent performance.”“What the hell was that thing?” Ray muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.“The Phantom Prowler is a scout for the Morphidons, an alien species specializing in tactical colonization..”Ray’s heart sank. “The Morphidons! What do they even want with us?” he asked.Morphidons operate covertly at first. They usually infiltrate planets years ahead of their invasion, assess threats, and eliminate key individuals before launching a full-scale assault. Their primary objective is to subjugate or annihilate native populations, then mine all the resources they can from the planet. It is a little odd that they will breach the convention and set foot on a protected planet. Either way, killing a prowler has now made you a confirmed target, they will definitely be sending more. The sy
EPISODE 4: The Phantom Prowler
Ray continued to walk in the desert, heading towards the next city, but suddenly, like an instinct or natural adaptation hinting he was in danger.He crouched low behind a large boulder, his breath steady but his mind racing. The desert stretched endlessly around him.He felt an unnatural presence nearby. His newly acquired Apex Predator System alerted him with a subtle vibration in his mind.Threat detected. Scanning.Entity identified.A Phantom Prowler. Is stalking you. The system said.The system’s voice was calm, almost soothing, despite the chilling information it conveyed.“What’s a Phantom Prowler?” Ray whispered, gripping the pistol he had taken from his bag. His arm still throbbed where the blue crystal shard had embedded itself, but the pain was fading, replaced by a strange sense of vitality and awareness.“The Phantom Prowler is a stealth predator employed by the species called the Morphidons. It specializes in stalking its prey, using advanced cloaking adaptation and pr