Chapter 171: Predator And Prey
[Unknown Planet.]
"Good... Stay hidden. Don’t move." Sunny’s voice was a low murmur, a gentle whisper carried on the breeze from his perch high above. He took a slow, deliberate bite of a crisp apple, the sound of the crunch echoing in the sudden silence of the forest. Below him, a three-meter-tall tiger with sabre-like fangs and claws lay in wait, its golden eyes fixed on a rustling patch of bushes.
"Wait for your prey... and strike with one lethal attack. Never rush into a fight." He took another bite, the sweet juice a sharp contrast to the quiet tension below.
GRAAAAA...
A low growl rumbled from the tiger’s throat, a sound that vibrated through the forest floor. Without a moment’s hesitation, the massive beast coiled its powerful legs and sprang.
"Wait," Sunny muttered, his eyes not on the tiger, but on the barely perceptible outlines of the Wendigos’ Outpost in the distance.
The outpost, was a series of fortified, gnarled trees, seemed to pulse with a dark energy, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked on this forgotten planet.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The tiger’s long claws tore gashes in the earth as it leaped, a blur of muscle and fury.
"Now," Sunny said, lowering his gaze.
WHOOSH!
From the bushes, a small figure emerged. Ellen, her movements fluid and graceful, slid across the ground, her bow held low. As she moved, a faint, ethereal glow surrounded her, and an arrow of pure spirit energy materialized on her bowstring. The moment she was directly beneath the tiger, she aimed and released.
BAM!
The arrow struck true, sinking deep into the beast’s vulnerable lower neck.
"Accurate hit. Good job, dear." Sunny tossed the core of his apple and leaped from the branch, landing silently on his feet.
{Congratulations Master! Ellen has killed a Grandmaster-rank beast. Gained: 1,000 Exp.}
Ellen rose, her chest heaving slightly, and tapped the earpiece. "How did I do, Dad?"
"Good," Sunny replied simply as he approached, a rare, genuine smile gracing his lips.
"You’re getting better with the bow." He ruffled her hair, a gentle gesture that made the fatigue of the past two days of endless hunting melt away.
"Dad... We’ve been hunting for two days straight," Ellen said, her eyes on the tiger’s carcass. "I’ve killed more beasts than I can count. Why?"
"I’m getting you ready," he said, walking to the beast and, with a thought, absorbing the whole animal into a spatial storage within his system.
The carcass vanished, replaced by a simple line of text in his vision:
{Carcasses: 153.}
"Ready for what?" Ellen asked, her brow furrowed with confusion.
"To hunt Mythic Beasts."
"....?!"
Ellen’s eyes widened, the weight of his words settling over her. She knew the ranks of the beasts they hunted: Sky, Master, Grandmaster, and at the pinnacle of power, Mythic. They were creatures of legend, some said to be as old as the planet itself.
"You have all the celestial energy stones," Sunny continued, his voice firm:
"Use them all. Tomorrow, the main hunt begins." With that, he vanished, the space where he stood shimmering for a moment before the forest returned to its eerie silence.
"Dad?" Ellen’s voice was a small, lost sound. She looked around at the towering, alien trees, the air thick with the scent of unceasing predation. The forest, which had felt like a training ground, now felt like a cage. She was alone.
GRAAA....
A low growl resonated from behind her.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
She spun, her heart leaping into her throat, and scrambled to hide behind a wide, gnarled tree.
A shadow emerged from the bushes—a massive black wolf, twice the size of the tiger she had just killed. Its eyes were twin embers of red light, and it sniffed the air, its movements deliberate and menacing.
’This... that’s a Celestial-rank beast!’ Her mind screamed.
’A lot stronger than a Grandmaster beast! Why would Dad leave me here?’ Her thoughts raced, a whirlwind of panic. She hadn’t even had time to process the idea of hunting Mythic Beasts before this new, terrifying reality crashed down on her.
Suddenly, a series of soft footfalls echoed from the same bushes. One by one, ten more wolves, smaller but just as ferocious, emerged.
’There are more!’ A wave of sheer horror washed over her. She clutched her bow, her knuckles white.
"What will you do, Ellen?" Sunny’s voice, though disembodied, was as clear as if he were standing beside her. He watched from a concealed vantage point, the red glow of a gem shimmering in his hand.
"Although your Bloodline is sealed, that emotion known as fear must be removed. I thought after all you’ve been through, you wouldn’t feel it anymore." He sighed.
"You must face your fear. Kill those wolves, and only then will you be worthy of this."
He held up the glowing gem.
{Ultimate Gem: Absorb to unlock one God-rank skill.}
He looked down at Ellen, a small figure trembling behind the tree. Then, his gaze hardened as the wolves advanced, a unified wave of primal hunger.
"Prove you are worthy," he said, the words a cold command. "Jinx earned her reward with her own achievement—my retractable dagger. As my daughter, you must achieve more than her. Even if she is your elder sister."
The ten wolves stalked forward, their glowing eyes fixed on the tree.
’No, Ellen! You can’t die here! Dad will be back! I have to hold my ground.’ She gripped her bow, a new wave of resolve washing away the fear. She remembered the endless hours of training, the lessons her father had imparted.
’Dad bought me a lot of skills... Yes! He brought me out here to train me! This is a test, and I must not fail! Failure isn’t an option.’
She lowered her bow, the string drawn taut as another spirit arrow formed: "I made a promise, and I won’t fail it! Dad has never failed to fulfill a promise! I won’t be the first!"
With a newfound, grim determination, she leaped to the side.
GRAAAAAAA!
The wolves lunged, a chorus of snarls filling the air.
"Die!" she screamed, releasing her bowstring. The single arrow split into ten, each one a shimmering bolt of light.
BAM!
The arrows struck true, one for each wolf, piercing their skulls with pinpoint accuracy. The pack dropped dead, their momentum carrying their bodies a few feet before they lay still. Ellen, her momentum carrying her into a roll, came to a halt on her knees, her chest heaving.
{Congratulations Master! Ellen has killed ten Master-rank beasts. Gained: 200 Exp.} (x10)
"Not bad," Sunny muttered, a faint smile on his face. He leaned back against the branch. "Now... defeat the alpha."
Ellen slowly stood, her eyes fixed on the remaining beast. The Celestial-rank wolf was a monument of brute strength, its muscles coiling and uncoiling beneath its sleek black fur. She took out her armor chip, and pressed it against her chest. In a flash of white light, the chip expanded, encasing her body in a suit of gleaming white armor.
GRAAAAAAA!
The wolf let out a guttural growl, its body low to the ground. It was no longer a mindless hunter, but a creature that recognized a threat.
"Come on," Ellen challenged, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She tightened her grip on the bow.
GRAAA!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The beast charged, a black blur. Ellen reacted instinctively, leaping to the side and releasing a quick shot as she rolled. The spirit arrow smashed into the wolf’s head, but instead of piercing its skull, it merely left a small, glowing scratch.
GRAAAAAAA!!!!
The wolf roared in enraged fury, its eyes blazing with an unholy light. It lunged forward like a bullet, its massive claws swiping.
’I... I can’t dodge this.’
Ellen’s mind went blank as the colossal claws swung toward her. Her armor would protect her, she knew, but the force of the blow would be devastating. It was a test of strength, a crucible of fear, and she had to pass; no matter what.