Chapter 5: The Hunt
Night returned with a quiet dread.
The sky once again shimmered with that unnatural aurora, waves of shifting light spreading across the darkness like a living veil. It pulsed slowly, casting eerie colors across the lake and forest.
But tonight—
It wasn't silent.
From deep within the forest…
Came the sounds.
Low growls.
Distant roars.
The heavy movement of something large pushing through trees.
Kael sat beneath his shelter, bow in hand, spear resting within reach. His body remained still, but his senses were sharp.
"…They're active now," he whispered.
The noises echoed throughout the night—sometimes far, sometimes close enough to make his grip tighten.
Nothing entered the clearing.
But something was always there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Kael didn't sleep much.
---
Morning came with a suffocating heaviness.
The air felt thick.
Wet.
Kael stepped out from beneath his shelter and frowned slightly.
"…Humidity…"
The wind carried a strange pressure, pressing against his skin.
Storm.
"Rain is coming," he muttered.
Dark clouds slowly gathered above the fractured sky, blending with drifting landmasses.
Kael exhaled.
"…Good and bad."
Water.
But also danger.
He turned his gaze toward the forest.
"…Today, I hunt."
---
His target was clear.
"A boar."
Kael tightened his grip on the spear.
"Wolves are fast… snakes are unpredictable…"
His eyes narrowed.
"But boars…"
"Simple."
Strong.
Direct.
Dangerous—but predictable.
"If I plan right… I can kill it."
---
Kael moved deeper into the forest, following the trails he had discovered the previous day.
The ground bore clear signs—deep hoof marks pressed into the soil, broken branches, disturbed earth.
"…Fresh."
He crouched briefly, studying the pattern.
"It's nearby."
---
Hours passed.
The wind began to pick up.
Leaves rustled louder, branches swayed, and the sky darkened further.
Then—
Kael froze.
Ahead.
Movement.
A massive figure stood between the trees.
The boar.
It was larger than any normal boar—its body thicker, muscles more defined, its tusks sharper and slightly curved. Its dark hide looked tougher, almost hardened.
Kael's breath slowed.
"Appraisal."
---
Name: Wild Boar
Level: 2
Status: Mutation (Early–Mid Phase)
Sex: Male
Race: Beast
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Wisdom: 4
Spirit: 6
Stamina: 10 / 10
Skill: Charge
A basic ability commonly used by strength-type beasts.
Increases speed temporarily
Adds +50% damage on impact
---
Kael felt a chill run down his spine.
"…That's strong."
Too strong to face head-on.
But—
He didn't move.
He watched.
Observed.
Thought.
"…I can't fight it directly."
His grip tightened slightly.
"…So I won't."
---
Kael retreated quietly.
Then began preparing.
Deeper in the forest, he searched for specific vines—the same parasitic type he had encountered before.
Carefully, he cut several using his spear, avoiding direct contact.
"These will work…"
He gathered them and returned to a safer area.
Then—
He began weaving.
Using Linking, Kael bound the vines together, reinforcing them into a wide, flexible net. The process was slower than expected, but his improved control made it possible.
Finally—
It was complete.
"Appraisal."
---
Name: Parasitic Net (Growth)
Type: Constructed Tool
Property:
Absorbs small amounts of life energy from trapped targets
Stores energy for later use
Increases efficiency in combat when used properly
---
Kael nodded.
"…Good."
---
Next—
The trap.
He selected a narrow path—one the boar was likely to use.
Then he began digging.
The soil was hard, but he forced through it, creating a deep pit.
At the bottom—
Sharpened spikes.
Bound together with Linking.
"Not perfect…" he muttered. "But enough."
He covered the pit with branches and leaves, disguising it carefully.
Then he positioned himself.
"…Time to lure it."
---
Kael approached the boar's territory again.
This time—
He didn't hide.
He stepped on branches.
Made noise.
The boar noticed instantly.
Its head snapped toward him.
Eyes locked.
A deep, angry snort echoed.
"…Good," Kael whispered.
Then—
He ran.
---
The boar charged.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kael's heart pounded as he sprinted through the trees.
"…Faster than I thought!"
The distance closed quickly.
Behind him—
Heavy footsteps.
Crashing trees.
The boar was gaining.
Kael gritted his teeth.
"Zig-zag…"
He shifted direction rapidly, weaving between trees.
The boar followed—but struggled to build full speed.
Still—
It was catching up.
Too fast.
Too strong.
Then—
A faint glow.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…Charge."
A white aura surrounded the boar.
Its speed increased.
"Shit—!"
The distance closed instantly.
Just a few meters.
Two.
One—
Kael didn't hesitate.
He sprinted straight ahead.
The trap.
Now.
At the last second—
He jumped.
The ground beneath him vanished as he cleared the pit.
Behind him—
The boar couldn't stop.
It charged forward—
And fell.
A heavy crash echoed.
A furious roar followed.
Kael turned instantly.
"…Now!"
He threw the parasitic net.
It expanded mid-air, wrapping around the trapped boar.
The vines tightened, pulsing faintly.
The boar struggled violently—but its movements slowed slightly as the net began draining its energy.
"…It's working."
Kael grabbed his spear and approached carefully.
The boar thrashed below, wounded but far from dead.
"…End it."
He thrust the spear down.
It struck—
But not deep enough.
The boar roared, shaking violently.
Kael pulled back quickly.
"…Too thick…"
His breathing grew heavier.
"Think…"
Then—
He saw it.
The eye.
A weak point.
Kael steadied himself.
"One chance…"
He leaned forward—
And struck.
The spear pierced cleanly into the boar's eye.
The movement stopped.
Silence followed.
---
+6.0 EXP Gained
---
A bright notification appeared.
---
Level Up! → Level 2
---
Stat Increase:
Strength: +1
Agility: +1
Stamina: +1
Wisdom: +1
Spirit: +5
---
Kael staggered back slightly, breathing heavily.
"…I did it…"
He looked at the massive body.
Relief.
Exhaustion.
Victory.
---
Then—
Another thought.
"…Life Transfer."
He placed his hand on the boar.
Focused.
A faint energy flowed into him.
Warm.
Heavy.
Powerful.
---
Life Transfer Proficiency Increased
---
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Useful."
---
Then—
Rain began to fall.
Slow at first.
Then heavier.
Kael looked up.
"…No time."
---
He moved quickly.
Using branches and Linking, he created a crude pulley system tied to a tree.
With effort, he lifted the boar partially, then dragged and slid it across the ground toward his camp.
It was exhausting.
But necessary.
---
By the time he reached the clearing—
He was soaked.
But he didn't stop.
"…Work first."
---
Kael began skinning the boar.
His movements were rough—but practiced.
Years in the village had taught him enough.
He carefully separated the hide.
"…Leather."
Useful.
Valuable.
He set it aside.
Then—
The tusks.
Sharp.
Strong.
"…Weapons."
He removed them carefully.
---
Next—
The meat.
Kael cut it into manageable pieces.
Then built a smoking rack above the fire.
"Rain will spoil it faster…"
He adjusted the fire carefully under his shelter.
"…Good thing I built the roof."
He glanced upward briefly.
"If not… this would've been impossible."
---
The smell of smoke filled the air as the meat began to preserve slowly.
Kael sat back for a moment, exhausted.
Then took a piece of cooked meat.
A bite.
"…Better than fish."
He exhaled slowly.
---
Rain continued to fall outside.
But inside his small base—
Kael was alive.
Prepared.
Stronger.
---
After eating, he stood again.
"…Still work to do."
Even in the rain, he moved around the clearing, gathering more branches and leaves.
Fortifying.
Improving.
Preparing.
Because now—
He understood.
This wasn't just survival.
It was a race.
Against time.
Against evolution.
Against the world itself.
Kael looked out into the rain-soaked forest.
"…I'll keep moving forward."
No matter what came next.
---