I Shall Pervert the Heavens

The system flickered another line of text, almost mocking him.

[Alpha Trait Detected: Bloodlust Aura. Opponents suffer increased aggression and minor fear.]

"So it's got an aura cheat code?!" Zach snarled, digging his claws into the soil just to keep from being thrown again.

The other two hyenas didn't attack immediately, instead, they flanked him, yellow eyes glowing with intelligence that unsettled him more than the snapping jaws, he felt like at this moment they were like trained military beasts under the command of a wise leader.

Carrion Hyenas weren't born cunning. Their ancestors were scavengers, too cowardly to challenge apex predators. But centuries of evolving in mana-soaked forests made them evolved into such state. Their packs developed coordination rivaling wolves, even learning to lure prey into uneven terrain to cripple mobility. Alphas, in particular, carry the collective instincts of generations, making them not only stronger but unnervingly tactical.

The alpha darted again, low this time. Zach crouched, swinging his claws downward, only to realize the beast had feinted. Pain lanced across his thigh as its jaws clamped and tore.

[Status: Major wound – Leg. -12 HP per minute until treated.]

[Current HP: 58/100]

"Fucking cunning bastard," Zach hissed, stumbling backward. His wings caught on a branch again, the wood snapping as if laughing at him.

One of the smaller hyenas chose that moment to dart in as if having spotted a chance to land a hit. Zach instinctively lashed out with his tail in frustration, the spiked end cracking against its ribs. Bone shattered with a satisfying crunch, and the beast collapsed, twitching with blood pouring out from the ribs side.

[Carrion Hyena slain. +20 EXP]

"Two left. And I'm half-crippled already. This is such bullshit," Zach muttered, limping, if only he knew earlier fighting will lead him to such state he might have choose to remain inside the dungeon till he grew stronger.

The alpha didn't understand his words as it barked once, and the last subordinate circled behind him. Zach's instincts screamed, and he twisted, grabbing it mid-leap. Before using it's own momentum to throw it against a tree, letting it slammed into it, not giving it the chance to clear it's head, Zach dash towards it and right at that moment the alpha attack, clawing at his leg but Zach didn't dare stop as he grit his teeth and leap, smashing his fist into it's head and killing it.

[Level 1 Carrion Hyena slain. +25 EXP]

Now it was one on one. His chest heaved, blood dripping from wounds on his leg and arm. As if knowing he was weaker, the alpha padded closer, deliberate, confident as if trying to intimidate him. It didn't rush anymore. It wanted him exhausted.

Something which made Zach cursed. Why will a beast be this smart? Where is the honour in such a fight?!

Swoosh!

The alpha reacted instantly, lunging with far more speed than before towards Zach head, aiming to end him with a snap of a jaw. Zach swung wide, his claws luckily colliding with its skull. The impact jarred his bones, but the beast's hide absorbed most of it. He staggered, nearly collapsing.

[Alpha Carrion Hyena Resists! Minimal damage inflicted.]

"Yeah… figures," he rasped.

The alpha snapped for his throat. Zach barely shoved his wing between them, the leathery appendage tearing under the force. He roared in pain, but the distraction gave him a single opening. Desperation took over.

He slammed his clawed hand down, straight into the alpha's eye.

The beast howled, thrashing violently. Zach hung on, teeth gritted, driving deeper until his talons scraped brain. Hot blood spurted across his face.

With one final jerk, the alpha collapsed, twitching before going still.

[Alpha Carrion Hyena slain. +120 EXP]

[Level Up! Lv. 5 → Lv. 6. + HP restored.]

Zach staggered, panting, his scales slick with gore. His leg shook violently, wounds still bleeding.

"Damn mutt nearly sent me to the afterlife," he rasped, falling back against a rock. His golden eyes narrowed, but then a grin cracked across his bloodied face.

"…Still counts as my win. Guess I'll need four big boobs ladies as a reward now."

After resting for thirty minutes, he stood up to continue his journey of exploring the surrounding.

The forest around him stretched wide, shafts of light filtering through the canopy in dusty rays.

Again, after resting, he start jogging ahead. If a professional hunter was to see this, he would have shake his head in disappointment and call him foolish.

Who jogs inside a forest when he isn't even the strongest out there? Isn't this a blatant challenge to the apex predators?

His run eventually broke through a stretch of forest into a clearing. The ground here was beaten flat, not by nature but by something consistent like tracks etched deep into the soil, forming grooves. The terrain dipped slightly, packed with gravel and wood chips, as if prepared by human hands.

"Do carriage passes here frequently?" Zach mutters in deep thought, but just then, a faint rumble vibrated through the ground.

Zach turned, pupils narrowing to slits. The sound wasn't the growl of a beast, but a mechanical grind.

Through the tree line came something alien yet familiar.

At first glance, it looked like a massive rectangular carriage, its frame bound in heavy darkwood and reinforced with bands of iron etched with faint runes. Four large wheels carried it forward, but they weren't true wheels—more like rotating chains looped in a continuous cycle, biting into the earth. Each churn sprayed loose soil, propelling the bulk forward with surprising smoothness.

A pillar of light-blue mist vented from its rear, pure mana exhaust. Glowing stones were fixed inside cylindrical casings along its sides, each pulsing like a heartbeat, keeping the construct alive.

It was neither cart nor wagon, and certainly not the sleek vehicles Zach once knew in his past life. This was crude ingenuity—mana replacing coal, wood in place of steel, chains substituting tires. A medieval monstrosity of transport, cobbled together with desperation and brilliance alike.

A bus. Of sorts.

"Did someone transmigrated from Earth and made this?" Zach mutters in shock seeing it as he stood squarely in its path, wings half-flared.

The thing slowed, its front etched with runes that flickered before dimming. A grinding hiss followed as the side door slid open, wood panels parting with a clatter of chains. From within, a man stepped down.

He was middle-aged, tall and lean, clad in plain travel-worn leathers with a longsword strapped across his hip. His hair was flecked with gray, his eyes sharp but calm. Unlike what Zach thought, he didn't falter at the sight of Zach's dragonic form, towering, scaled, horns curling like a crown, eyes burning with molten light.

Instead, the man tilted his head, as if mildly curious.

"You heading to Ratking Dungeon too?" he asked.

Zach blinked. His mind skimmed the question, parsing through unfamiliarity. He had no idea what or where Ratking Dungeon was, yet his lips moved before logic caught up.

"Yes."

The man nodded, accepting the answer without hesitation. "Good. We've got space. Come on."

Zach stepped closer, talons crunching the dirt.

Inside, the carriage opened to a dim but surprisingly spacious interior. Wooden benches lined both sides, the walls reinforced with metal struts to withstand bumps and ambushes. The air smelled faintly of oil, sweat.

Nine young figures occupied the left side—teenagers, barely seventeen by the look of them. Their armor was fresh, mostly shiny leather and expensive steel, their blades. They were loud, laughter bubbling, voices overlapping in youthful excitement. One boy held a wooden practice staff, twirling it clumsily to impress the others. Another had feathers braided into her hair, clearly more fashion than function. Their energy filled the cabin, almost infectious.

On the right side sat five older men, all in their thirties or more. Their armor bore scratches, their weapons clean but dull-edged with wear. Their faces were stoic as if having experience this countless times, etched with years of blood and battle. They spoke little, eyes flicking to Zach with the faintest edge of suspicion before returning to silence.

Zach stepped into the aisle, crouching slightly under the low roof, wings folding awkwardly against the cramped space. The benches creaked under his weight as he sat, claws resting on his knees.

The teens immediately went quiet, curiosity crackling in the air. Whispers broke out.

"Is that a demon?"

"No, look at the scales—he's like… a dragonkin?"

"Never seen one before…"

"Maybe a child of Dragon and demon?"

"Yeah, then doesn't that means he will have Dragon abundant mana, skills and demons forbidden skills, strong bodies and enhance physical powers?"

"Hmph! What's so special about that? We have humans genius in the Academy too!"

One boy, braver than the rest, leaned forward. "Hey! You're coming to Ratking too? What's your level?"

Zach tilted his head, voice flat. "Level five."

The group erupted in laughter, though not mockery, just the easy arrogance of youth.

"Same as us!" one girl said, grinning. "Guess we'll be comrades then."

The older men exchanged glances but said nothing. To them, words were cheap, and levels meant little without scars.

The middle-aged swordsman closed the door with a thud and returned to the driver's bench at the front. With a tug of runes and pull of chains, the bus lurched forward, resuming its steady crawl across the beaten path.

Zach leaned back against the wooden wall, the motion swaying him. His eyes drifted to the glowing stones embedded overhead, faint hum filling the cabin. Ingenious, crude, unstable—this machine was all of it.

He exhaled slowly, molten gaze sweeping across the cabin.

Nine children. Five hardened men. And one curiosity in leather with a sword.

All bound for a place called Ratking Dungeon.

Zach didn't know what awaited there, but all he prays for is, it's not something hard.