Chapter 6: The Hunt and the Hunted
A chime echoed in Mark's head, a stark contrast to the guttural growl of the Alpha Wolf. His stomach clenched. He had just barely evaded the wolf's snapping jaws, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
For a fleeting moment, a thought flickered in his mind - a desperate gamble. Should he stall, check the notification, see if the system offered any last-minute lifeline? But the wolf's amber eyes, burning with predatory hunger, snapped him back to reality. There was no time. Brute force wouldn't win this fight.
Mark sidestepped as the wolf lunged, its massive jaws snapping at the empty air. The adrenaline coursing through him heightened his senses, turning the world into a slow-motion blur. He spotted an opening – a gap between the wolf's forelegs. With a burst of speed, he darted forward, rolling beneath the snapping jaws and coming up behind the beast.
The metallic clang of his sword connecting with the alpha wolf's thick hide echoed through the still forest. Mark barely had time to register the dull pain in his arm before the monstrous beast lunged, its massive jaws snapping at his head. He sidestepped the attack with a desperate agility, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
He had the urge to open his status window and check for any new abilities or information burning bright. But the wolf's guttural growl snapped him back to reality. There was no time. In that split second, he saw the creature's amber eyes narrow, sensing his momentary lapse in focus. The wolf pounced, its powerful body a blur of gray fur and razor-sharp claws.
Mark barely sidestepped the attack again, rolling across the forest floor just as the wolf's jaws slammed shut where his head had been a moment earlier. The wolf spun around, its amber eyes blazing with fury. It unleashed a deafening snarl, the sound echoing through the trees. Mark barely had time to raise his sword in a desperate block as the wolf's powerful jaws slammed into the metal. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his arm, nearly causing him to lose his grip.
He stumbled back, his mind racing for a solution. He knew he couldn't keep trading blows with this behemoth; he needed to tire it out, find its weakness. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the terrain, searching for anything that could give him an advantage.
He spotted it – a fallen log, partially hidden beneath a thicket of bushes. It wasn't much, but it was a chance. Using his remaining strength, he propelled himself towards the log, rolling behind it just as the wolf lunged again.
The wolf slammed into the log; its momentum momentarily stopped. Mark took the opportunity to catch his breath. He knew he couldn't stay behind the log forever; the wolf was too powerful. He had to be creative, use his environment to his advantage.
He noticed a loose branch sticking out from the other side of the log. It was barely thick enough to hold his weight, but it was all he had. With a silent prayer, he lunged, grabbing the branch and using it to pull himself over the log.
The wolf, momentarily confused, circled the log, searching for its prey, it grew frustrated by the barrier, snarled and pawed at the log. Mark, panting heavily, took a moment to catch his breath. He knew he was safe for now, but it wasn't a permanent solution. He needed to find a way to take the beast down or escape.
He then checked his status, a flicker of hope igniting within him.
Perception Threshold Reached: 15 Stat Points
Congratulations, Mark! You've reached a significant milestone in your journey. With 15 stat points allocated, you've demonstrated remarkable growth and resilience. Keep pushing your limits and striving for greatness!
Perception Enhanced: Hunter's Instinct
As you've honed your perception through vigilant observation and strategic thinking, a new ability has awakened within you. Your heightened senses grant you the Hunter's Instinct, allowing you to detect hidden threats, track elusive prey, and uncover hidden secrets with unparalleled accuracy. Trust in your instincts, Mark, for they will guide you through the darkest of challenges.
New Ability Unlocked: Weak Mana Sensing
Your journey has granted your insight into the mystical energies that permeate this world. With your newly acquired ability, Weak Mana Sensing, you can detect faint traces of aether essence in your surroundings. Use this skill wisely to navigate the arcane mysteries that lie ahead.
New Effect: Slowed Mental Perception
Your perception sharpens, your mind becomes more attuned to the subtle nuances of the world around you. However, this heightened awareness comes with a price. Your mental processes may be slowed momentarily as you process the influx of sensory information. Stay vigilant, Mark, and learn to adapt to this newfound aspect of your perception.
He calmed down. This could be his advantage.
A renewed surge of hope coursed through Mark as he absorbed the information about his enhanced perception and newfound abilities. The "Hunter's Instinct" seemed particularly relevant in this desperate situation. He focused his gaze on the wolf below, activating the skill.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The world seemed to sharpen around him. He could perceive the subtle shifts in the wolf's muscles, anticipating its next move. He saw the faint shimmer of mana around its paws, indicating a potential attack. He knew he couldn't afford to be caught off guard.
He had sensed mana earlier during the day, a faint hum around him. He activated the Weak Mana Sensing skill, and a small wisp of energy flickered around his body and within the wolf. It wasn't much, but it was something. Perhaps, with his newfound perception, he could exploit this energy in some way.
He focused, trying to control the faint wisp within himself. To his surprise, he managed to channel a small amount towards his legs, granting him a surge of temporary speed and agility. He felt lighter, his movements quicker.
He looked back down at the frustrated wolf below. It was time to turn the tables. With a renewed sense of purpose and utilizing his enhanced speed, he leaped from the outcrop, landing behind the beast with a practiced roll. The wolf, caught off guard, spun around, its enraged snarl echoing through the trees.
Mark, fueled by the channeled mana and his newfound Hunter's Instinct, saw an opening. He lunged forward, aiming for the weak point on the wolf's hind leg. His blade found its mark, drawing a surprised yelp from the creature. The wolf stumbled; its momentum momentarily disrupted.
Seizing the opportunity, Mark unleashed a flurry of attacks, his movements precise and controlled. He aimed for weak points, exploiting the momentary vulnerability caused by his initial strike. The wolf, enraged and disoriented, lashed out with its powerful jaws, but Mark's enhanced agility allowed him to dodge each attack with a blur of movement.
The fight continued, a dance of predator and prey. Mark weaved between the wolf's attacks, his sword leaving shallow gashes on the creature's thick fur. The wolf, frustrated by its inability to land a decisive blow, grew desperate. Its attacks became wilder, its movements slower, revealing the toll of the sustained exertion.
Mark, sensing his chance, channeled the remaining mana into his sword. The blade, for a fleeting moment, shimmered with a faint blue light. With a final, desperate lunge, he aimed for the wolf's throat. The creature, caught off guard by the sudden change in the blade, couldn't react in time.
The sword struck true, piercing deep into the wolf's flesh. A deafening howl erupted from the creature as it stumbled back, its eyes wide with surprise and pain. It collapsed with a heavy thud, its lifeless body falling silent on the forest floor.
Mark stood there, panting heavily, his body trembling from exhaustion. He heard a ding and he checked his notification
Congratulations, you have slain a creature five times your level (Alpha Wolf). You gain 2000 EXP.
You have leveled up. You are now in level 2.
You have gained 5 stats.
You have gained a title
Title: Survivor
Description: In a harrowing display of courage and resilience, you defied the odds and emerged victorious against a formidable foe five times your level. This remarkable feat earns you the prestigious title Survivor, commemorating your ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Your exceptional display of bravery has not gone unnoticed. As a reward for your triumph, you receive a permanent 5% reduction in damage when facing opponents significantly higher leveled than yourself.
Before he could dwell further, he heard multiple growls, sending shivers down his spine. He activated his Hunter's Instinct, focusing on his newly enhanced perception. Time seemed to slow around him, and he spotted several red eyes glowing in the surrounding foliage.
He remembered then that the wolf he had just defeated was an alpha, and where an alpha goes, its pack often follows. Despair threatened to engulf him, but he forced himself to remain calm. The wolf had dissipated, leaving behind a card, a detail he had missed in his earlier haste.
He didn't bother to check its contents. Instead, with a renewed surge of adrenaline, he willed the card into his inventory and began running. He didn't know what dangers awaited him in the darkness, but he knew he had to keep moving, to find shelter before the pack of wolves, drawn by the scent of their fallen leader, caught up to him.
He knew he couldn't fight them all. He needed to escape, and quickly. He started to run and as he was running he looked around desperately, searching for any sign of an advantage. Mark's vision blurred, the world tilting on its axis as his body screamed in protest. The adrenaline that fueled his fight against the alpha wolf had waned, leaving behind a crippling fatigue. He knew he couldn't fight the approaching pack. Every step felt like wading through mud, his breaths coming out in ragged gasps.
He stumbled through the undergrowth, the forest floor littered with gnarled roots and fallen branches that snagged at his clothes. Desperation fueled him, pushing him forward even as his legs screamed for rest. The growls grew louder, closer, echoing off the ancient trees. He could see the glint of red eyes through the dense foliage, their hunger an undeniable truth.
Suddenly, a flash of movement from the side. Mark barely registered the warning from his instincts before a dark shape slammed into him, sending them both tumbling to the ground. A snarling wolf, its fur matted with blood, pinned him down, its fetid breath washing over him. Panic clawed at his throat, hot and suffocating.
His hand instinctively went to his sword, but it was gone. It must have fallen during the struggle. With a surge of primal fear, he rolled the wolf off him and scrambled to his feet. He sprinted, ignoring the searing pain in his side, the snapping jaws of the wolf hot on his heels.
He burst through the undergrowth, emerging onto a rocky cliff edge. Below him, a dizzying drop into a churning river. He skidded to a halt, the ground giving way beneath him as he stumbled back. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the backdrop of the approaching wolves' growls.
He was trapped. He had nowhere to run. His eyes darted around, searching for any escape route, any hidden crevice, but there was nothing. He sank to his knees, his head falling onto his hands. Defeat tasted like ash in his mouth. He had exhausted every option, every ounce of his strength, his mana reserves drained.
A guttural growl sliced through the silence. He looked up to see the alpha's pack encircling him, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate. He knew his fight was over.
With a final, desperate surge of defiance, he jumped. The wind rushed past him, carrying the echoing howls of the wolves. He didn't know if he would survive the fall, but he wouldn't give them wolves satisfaction of a kill and he would take the chance. He closed his eyes, bracing for the impact.