[Opening Scene: The Breaking Point]

  The forest was silent. A chilling breeze swept through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves. The moon hung high, its silver glow barely piercing through the thick canopy.

  But beneath that tranquil night...

  Ameer trembled.

  His small fox body was frozen in place, his sharp ears twitching, his breath ragged.

  His eyes, however, told a different story.

  Ameer: "...That smug bastard... That arrogant piece of fur-covered garbage..." ??

  His entire being seethed with rage.

  ?? [Rage: 4%] ??

  Ameer: "I'LL SHOW HIM. I'LL SHOW THAT DAMN FOX WHO'S BOSS!!" ????

  System: "Oh? Still salty about your loss? Heh, not surprising. You got bodied so hard, I think I saw your ancestors cringe in the afterlife."

  Ameer: "KEEP TALKING, SYSTEM. I SWEAR ON EVERYTHING, ONE DAY I'M GONNA GRAB YOU BY THE—wait, what would I even grab? Do you have a neck?" ??

  System: "Nope! Just an eternal existence dedicated to making your life miserable~" ??

  Ameer: "...I hate you." ??

  System: "Love you too, buddy~" ??

  Ameer took a deep breath.

  He needed to focus. If he wanted revenge, he had to train, get stronger, and—

  System: "Or... you could just go fight him again right now. No training, just pure blind rage. Sounds fun, right?" ??

  Ameer: "That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard in my life—"

  System: "Ohhh, but it's soooo tempting, isn't it?"

  Ameer: "I—"

  System: "C'mon. Go. Charge in. No thoughts. Just vibes."

  Ameer: "...You manipulative little—"

  ?? [Rage: 6%] ??

  And just like that... he was moving.

  [The Hunt Begins]

  The black fox's scent lingered in the air, and Ameer's body moved on instinct.

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  His paws barely made a sound as he glided through the undergrowth, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of movement.

  Ameer: "Alright, you edgy little rat... Where are you?" ????

  Rustling.

  Ameer's ears twitched. He crouched lower, his muscles tensed.

  Then, he saw it.

  The black fox was lying near a tree, casually licking its paws, as if it had just finished a satisfying meal.

  Ameer's blood boiled.

  ?? [Rage: 10%] ??

  Ameer: "Oh, you cocky son of a—"

  System: "Ooooh, it's getting GOOD." ??

  Ameer moved in closer, his mind now completely focused on one thing:

  Victory.

  But then...

  Something happened.

  Ameer's body froze, a strange heat building inside him. His breath hitched, his vision blurred, and for a brief moment—

  He felt something... awaken.

  ?? [Rage: 15%] ??

  Ameer: "What... the hell is this...?!" ??

  System: "Hmm? Oh, nothing. Probably indigestion. Ignore it." ??

  Ameer: "WHY WOULD I HAVE INDIGESTION, I HAVEN'T EATEN ANYTHING?!"

  System: "Oh, right. My bad. Continue your little murder mission." ??

  Ameer: "I AM NOT—"

  Then it hit him.

  An explosion of pain.

  His spine cracked, his fur bristled, and an overwhelming heat surged through his veins.

  Something was happening to him.

  ?? [Rage: 20%] ??

  And then...

  His body changed.

  [A Fox's Evolution]

  ?? Golden markings appeared along his back, stretching from the base of his skull down to his tail.

  ?? His fur shimmered, his limbs elongating slightly, his once-small form growing stronger.

  ?? Flames flickered along his spine, his body emanating a heat that made the air waver around him.

  Ameer: "...What... what is this?!" ??

  System: "Dunno. Probably puberty." ???♂?

  Ameer: "DO NOT GASLIGHT ME RIGHT NOW, SYSTEM."

  System internally: ("...Wait. I didn't even notice this rage meter. Huh. I wonder what happens if it fills all the way up?")

  System (out loud): "LOL, THIS IS SO FUNNY." ??

  Ameer's vision honed in on the black fox.

  The creature's ears twitched, and it turned, its eyes widening.

  Black Fox: "...What the—?!" ??

  Too late.

  Ameer launched himself forward.

  The ground burned beneath his paws as he exploded toward his enemy, his new strength making him move twice as fast as before.

  The black fox barely had time to react.

  Ameer was on him in an instant.

  Ameer: "REMEMBER ME, YOU OVERGROWN HOUSE CAT?!" ????

  Black Fox: "WAIT, WAIT—!" ??

  Too late.

  Ameer's teeth sank into the black fox's neck, pinning him down.

  The black fox let out a choked gasp, struggling, but Ameer's jaw was like iron.

  System: "Woooooow, buddy! That's a little... intense, don't you think?" ??

  Ameer: "OH, NOW YOU WANT ME TO HOLD BACK?!"

  System: "Nah, go crazy, I'm just here for the entertainment." ??

  The black fox's struggles slowed.

  Ameer: "Consider this... PAYBACK!" ????

  With one final bite, he ended it.

  The black fox went limp.

  Ameer stood over his fallen rival, panting, his body still radiating heat.

  He had won.

  [Epilogue: A Predator is Born]

  Ameer stared down at his paws, at the golden patterns glowing faintly along his body.

  Ameer: "What... just happened to me?"

  System: "Dunno. Probably nothing important." ??

  Ameer: "I AM LITERALLY ON FIRE."

  System: "Meh. Happens to everyone."

  Ameer: "NO, IT DOESN'T?!"

  Deep inside Ameer... the embers of his rage smoldered.

  ?? [Rage: 21%] ??

  The Path of the Predator had begun.

  End of Chapter 4 ??