Chapter 4_Almighty Hunter

Chapter 4 12 Saving 12 poor girls

Running as swiftly as the wind, going deeper into Luqane Forest. After some thoughts, Victor decided not to return yet and continued on his hunting trip. He had list of materials needed to collect.

An entire six days was wasted in Phantom City, but he couldn't call it a waste of time as he ripped great rewards. However, such thing was only one of the passing experiences in his life and he needed to return to his main objective: To Hunt!

Jumping over several thick branchs of a very tall tree, Victor climbed up to the top and propelled himself into the sky. His body light as a feather, he glided into the air, space rippled as he slowly descend like stepping on a stairway.

From high perspective, he could sew the Orc Tribe at the edge of one of the branches of Sinow River, the Goblin Tribe at the top of a hill, the Kobold Tribe near the largest tree around the vicinity and the Lizard Men Tribe near a waterfall.

The distances between each tribes were only several kilometers and they seemed not in friendly terms. Life and death battle was happening ahead, the loud angry warcries and collision of weapons could be heard from Victor's position.

Victor could see everything far clearer than before, although it was night time. The vast sea of greenery, the high rocky hills from afar and the branching Sinow River that covered half of the continent.

"So this is the combined effect of Low Light Sight and Dark Vision. What I can see, in either night or day, makes no difference." It surprised Victor. He noticed it late, after his mind cleared.

Heading towards the site where monsters battled against each other, Victor landed at one of the trees, concealed by leaves and with his Stealth Skill, no one would notice him.

What's more, darkness field the entire Luqane Forest as the moon wasn't present tonight. Only the the twinkling stars above the nine clouds could lighten up the darkness, but most lights were blocked by the towering Quaren Trees that propagated across Luqane Forest.

From the darkness, Victor peered down through the opening of the leaves at his hiding spot, his eyebrows almost became linear at what he saw. A group of orcs and goblins were fighting each other to death, led by three High Orcs and three Hobgoblins. Under each of their leaderships were 20 goblins and orcs. This wasn't a simple force use for hunting, but a raiding group!

But it was not the lineup of the groups mentioned that made Victor angry, but the thing they were fighting for. On the sideline, thirteen people were watching the battle, bounded by chains and ropes.

The shadows covered them and their appearances were vauge, but Victor could see them as clear as day. Their skins were pair white with silver, blonde and green hair, sharp pointed ears and emerald eyes. They were twelve of them and all of them were female with age ranging from young to adult.

Seeing the elves, wearing only tattered and stained clothes, looking like beggars, Victor thought. 'Is there an Elven Village around this part of the forest? For these monsters to capture a group of female elves, they sure have guts!'

After some thought, he decided to help. Putting the Cirulas Long Bow in his ring, he took put the Star Fall and heard a voice. "Master?"

It was the voice of the Star Beast.

"Do you have a name?" Victor asked.

"I don't." It answered.

"Well then, from now on I'll call you, Strall. Lend me your strength." Victor said as he pulled the string and an arrow materialized, mounted on the bow.

"Yes, master!" Strall roared.

"Gruahh!" Cried the Hobgoblin leader as the battle arrived into the climax.

There were no commands issued in the battle, as the number on both sides were even, they faced their own opponent. The orcs were strengthful and possessed more stamina, but the goblins weren't normal at all. The movements of the goblins were nimble and quick, they could easily dodged an incoming attacks from the orcs. In a battle such as this, the goblins were still in disadvantage.

"Guah kha guha!"

"Chiwik chikki!"

The leaders conversed as their weapons clashed. Victor had no idea what they were talking about and he had no interest to find out.

At this moment, Victor shot an arrow towards the sky. The arrow glow as it whistled, piercing through the air. When it reached the highest point above the clearing where the goblins and orcs were battling, the second the arrow descent it multiplied into hundred, then thousands as they rain down like storm.

Arrow Storm, the second Special Ability of Star Fall. Replicating arrows into thousands according to the number of the targets. In this case, 23,000 arrows rained down on both sides without mercy.

The arrows glow, and thus were easily noticed, but the speed of the arrows as they rain down surpassed that of an actual rain drops. Unable to defend, one after another, goblins and orcs were turned into porcupine, no one was spared.

Clouds of dust field the area as the elves in captivity saw what transpired in disbelief. They couldn't understand what happened, but they knew they still weren't saved.

After the dusts cleared off, the once plat clearing became a pasture of grasses, and the plants that sprouted were arrows stuck on the ground.

Looking at the scene, Victor gasped in amazement. 'Worthy of being an National Treasure Grade Item. No wonder, any kingdom would do anything to possess such items at all cost. I should better not used this bow at all times.' He thought and talked to Strall. "Well done, Strall. You can rest for now. I'll call you when I am in need of your strength again."

"I'm at your disposal, Master." Strall answered loyally.

Victor stored the Star Fall in the Universe Ring and took out his Cirulas Long Bow as he jumped down from his hiding spot.

The elves didn't rejoiced when they saw the monsters that captured them died as another came. They saw a Human, appearing from the darkness as the arrows on the ground were disappearing as they were mere copies, leaving only a single arrow, pinning down the head of the orc group leader.

While storing the dead bodies of the High Orcs and Hobgoblins in the Magic Storage Bag, he heard the Voice of the World.

[Your battle performance has been evaluated.]

[You killed 3 High Orc, 3 Orc Scout, 5 Orc Warrior, 7 Orc Spearman, 5 Orc Archer, 3 Hobgoblin, 8 Goblin Thief, 5 Goblin Archer, 7 Goblin Spearman.]

[You gained.... 270,900 EXP.]

[Due to the large difference in Levels, the Unique Skill: Hero's Gift from the Devil hasn't been activated.]

[Unique Skill: Soul Collector has been activated.]

[46 souls of monsters you slay has been collected. You can choose to absorb them or store them in your Soul Space for future usage.]

Through thought, Victor commanded. 'Absorb the souls.'

Victor could see the 46 small flames, floating aimlessly around him. The small flames then entered his body.

The Voice of the World resounded in his ears and listened to it.

One of the elves were frightened at what she saw.

[Your Stats increased. Spirit +90, Vitality +120, Magic +150]

[You have learned new Skills]

[Passive Skill: Libido | Rapid Digestion | Physical Endurance | Danger Perception]

[Unique Skill: Forest Guide]

The soul was based of pure energy, and when Victor absorbed the souls, it then turned into three form of energies his body needed.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The embodiment of Spirit, Psionic.

The embodiment of Vitality, Life Force.

The embodiment of Magic, Mana.

Spirit increased the being's the calculation speed, thought process and memory recollection, while Vitality increased the being's lifespan and regenerative ability, and Magic increased Mana capacity and Mana regeneration.

These three Stats could be increased efficiently through Leveling Up. There were also other means, but it required more tedious process and sometimes needed rituals and special items.

Victor could feel something inside him bubbling up and expanding. He felt full, but this feeling immediately disappeared. After processing his spoils, Victor turned his head to the elves and approached them.

Their fears and anxiety were visible on their faces as they saw the Human that slaughtered their captors walked towards them. Bounded with chains and ropes, at both hands and feet, a dirty clothes blocking their mouths, there was no escape for them. They could only weeped and begged for mercy in silence.

Aware of their distrust in Humans, Victor amiably asked as he freed one of the elves from being bounded. "Can you speak Human Tongue?"

Trembling, she heard Victor spoke in language she couldn't understand, but one of her friends that were also captured spoke some words she vaguely understood as her friend's mouth was covered with a cloth.

Looking at her friend, she gulped down her fear, stood up and freed her friend. She no longer cared if the Human before her killed her.

After being freed, her friend spoke in Elven Tongue and hugged her tightly. "Euresha, thank you. I'll talk to the Human, you untie the others."

Euresha cried and spoke. "Amber, you stall the human while I'll free the others and escape."

Amber looked at her friend and shook her head. "There's no need. This Human is here to help us. He's good."

"But..."

"Don't worry. I'll everything will be alright." Amber reassured amd approached Victor.

Victor heard them exchanged words, but couldn't understand them. 'Communication will be hard.' He thought. Then, he remembered something that could help him in his ring.

Amber saw Victor took out something from his small bag and ate it. No idea what it was, she steeled herself and spoke in Human Tongue. Though, not proficient, she still tried. "Friend, saving us, thank you."

She waited for the human to reply and observe him. The Human was looking at her other kins as though listening to their conversations. She started to feel nervous and thought the Human would changed his mind and capture them instead. They would fetch a high price in the Slave Martket after all.

A minute later, Amber saw the Human turned to her. She was taken aback. Then, she heard the Human spoke in Elven Tongue proficiently. "I'm a friend."

Amber stopped and the other girls also looked at Victor in surprise. Elves were known as reclusive in the society and seldom leave their land. The known kingdom of elves, the Graindia Kingdom, only invited people of other races they fully trust. And those that learnt their language were close friends of their race.

The girls cried and sighed in relief as they heard Victor spoke more. "Is anyone of you hurt? Fortunately, I'm hunting in this area and spotted you. If not, I'm afraid you'll live a miserable life."

The girls heard him couldn't help but cry even louder and Victor felt it was his fault. He sighed helplessly. "I came from Ferlan Village. It's seven days away from here. You can call me Victor. Anyway, we need to relocate first. The scent of blood will attract monsters here and I doubt you have strength to fight them."

Amber smile and show courtesy as she spoke. "Thank you for saving us, Victor. We will follow you."

Victor nodded and pointed behind him. "Alright. Take up some weapons there. You might need it somehow."

Watching the girls grabbed their own weapons, Victor look up to his Status.

[Name: Victor Marcus | Age: 25]

[Gender: Male | Race: Human]

[Level: 31 | EXP: 68%]

[Job: Hunter]

[Power: 309 | Dexterity: 275(+200) | Spirit: 426(+110)]

[Physique: 368 | Vitality: 385 | Magic: 369(+100)]

[Unique Skill: Hero's Gift from the Devil | Soul Collector | Forest Guide]

'Language Acquisition Skill really helps a lot. Now, they'll listen to me.' Thinking his next move, Victor couldn't continue his hunt any longer. 'I should take them back to the village first for their safety. I can't continue hunting while protecting them.'

"Mr. Victor, were ready to leave." Amber said out loud.

Seeing them holding on to their own weapons, Victor nodded. "Alright, let's leave. Follow me and don't stray away. We'll go back to our village. There are elves living in Ferlan Village and you can ask them to help you contact your families."

Following behind Victor, they walked back to the river, traversing the route he thread before for several hours. When they arrived at the riverbank, the night had deepened, Amber and her kin were already tired out.

Amber proposed. "Mr. Victor, can we rest for a moment here? Some of us are already exhausted and can't walk anymore. Furthermore, we still hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. We're... very hungry."

Looking at the elven girls collapsing on the sandy riverbank, Victor agreed. He wasn't like them whom could travel for seven days without sleeping and eating. "Alright, let's set up a camp here."

Victor took out several tent in his ring by using his Magic Storage Bag as a disguise. "These are what all I have with me. You set up the tent, I'll leave for a moment and set some traps. Let others collect some firewoods, but don't go too far."

He took out several bag of jerky and bottles of clean water. "Help yourself."

When Victor disappeared between the trees, the girls observed each others, quite hesitant, and attacked the bags of jerky like hungry wolves.

"Hey! Give me some!"

"Give me too! I'm hungry!"

But because it wasn't enough for them, Amber took them away before they could eat anything. "Wait! Don't be selfish and only fill your own stomach! We'll share this evenly to everyone."

The girls stopped and begrudgingly sat back.

Then, a young girl interjected innocently. "It's meat! Are we really going to eat it?"

Another said. "Then, don't eat! I'll take yours instead! I don't care if it's meat! Why care? I'm so hungry!"

"No! That's..." The young girl looked at Amber for help.

The others that heard the young girl hesitated as they stared at the jerky on their hands.

Someone gnashed her teeth and bit on the jerky. She chewed the meat for a moment as the taste spread inside her mouth and swallowed it. She choked and drank some water, taking a deep breath. She commented. "I-It's not that bad..."

Seeing one of them eat the meat, the rest followed. They knew with their current situation, they had no choices to be picky or they would starve to death before they could reunite with their families.

Amber sat before the young girl and spoke, seeing her hesitation. "Don't worry. We will not let others know that we ate meat." He turned to others and said. "Right, guys?!"

The other girls nodded while eating.

"Right! This will be our secret. So eat now, Daisy. And tomorrow you will be full of strength to travel back to our village. You will see your mother again! Isn't that good?" Euresha stated.

Daisy pursed her lips, as her eyes moistened and bite on the jerky and drank some water.

Amber stood and led three other girls to collect some firewoods, while the others set up the tent. Euresha asked carefully. "Sister Amber, can we really trust, Victor?"

Collecting some firewoods, Amber turned to Euresha and nodded. "Yes, I think so."

"I think that Human is a good guy. If not for him, we will definitely live in hellish place. If it is another Human, he'll definitely not free us." The girl that followed them said out loud.

Amber nodded. "Yes, Mina is right. But let's not fully trust him yet. None of us can fight monsters and can only rely on Victor, but I don't believe he's doing this for free. My grandfather said Humans never help without compensation. He might ask something we couldn't afford to give."

"I think we've collected enough firewoods. Let's return to the camp." Euresha stated. "I disagree with you. I think Victor is definitely not like that. He can speak our language fluently, he is definitely trustworthy."

Amber shook her head and muttered. "We can't fight him. If he forced us to do something unpleasant, we have no strength to refuse... I hope that doesn't happen." Tying a bundle of branches, she took a deep breath. "Alright, these should be enough."

The girls were about to return when suddenly, they heard screams coming from the campsite.

"Kyaaah!"

"Others are in danger! Let's hurry back!" Amber shouted and they rushed back to the camp.

When they returned, they saw the other girls holding their weapons against a five Lizard Men, protecting the young ones.

The grinning faces of Lizard men and flicking tongues came into view. The five Lizard men conversed, sounds of hissing came out from their mouths.

They didn't know what the Lizard Men were talking, but they all have a bad feeling about it.

Amber and the other three girls rushed to the aid of other girls who were in danger as they saw the Lizard Men drew near. From their movements, Amber judge that the Lizard Men intend to capture them alive, and so she decided to fight back.

She and the other three girls with her stood before the girls whom were cowering in fear, and raised their weapons. The Lizard Men halted on their feet for a moment, and then rushed towards them. Knowing that this four female elf were a threat, the Lizard Men decided to kill them.

Amber saw the sword coming towards her and deflected it with her spear. Her spear was long, and so, she was able to push back the one that attacked her safely. But the other Lizard Men weren't standing still, they also attacked.

No matter whether in speed or strength, they were not a match to the Lizard Men as they were only Level 1, while the Lizard Men were in Level 20.

The sword was about to decapitated the four of them when they closed their eyes, waiting for death. Then, they suddenly heard a whistling sound through the air.

When they opened their eyes, they noticed the four Lizard Men fell down into the river. The blue water turned into red as the four Lizard Men floated on the surface with arrows stuck on the side of their heads.

Then, a voice came from where the arrows came. "Is everyone alright? Fortunately, I'm not too late."

It was Victor.

They were saved once again. With no danger present, Amber and the other girls slumped down in exhaustion, sighing in relief, while others crying and whimpering.

Victor wasn't insensible. He sympathized with these unfortunate girls, but he wasn't good at comforting other people, specially women.

"You're now safe. Sleep. I'll take the guard tonight." That's all Victor could say.

Hearing his words, the girls silently went to their tents, taking a look at their savior before they slept. Though, space of the tents were small, they compromised so that they could all fit inside, better than sleeping on the sand.

Victor sat before the camp fire and closed his eyes, with bow and arrow at his side. Half asleep, in this state, he could still clearly sense everything around him. This was how he slept in the forest, where something might jump out and attack him any second.

Thus, he was always prepared for everything.

Chapter 4

目录