It's been three days since he started his second hunt. During this time, he had hunted three beetles, four spiders of different varieties, five small birds, and six ants.

He couldn't access much of his usual form, struggling to merge his new body with his eldritch side. He couldn't use his tendrils effectively as before, nor could he climb to the trees since he didn't have claws like before. He was in a clumsy meat sack, too large, and too noisy.

He couldn't level up since he assumed it wasn't enough experience for the system to recognise so he needed to hunt other things. Besides that he also had access to the hero's memories, information he deemed useless but now relied on it like a crutch. Apparently, he was a farmer and hunter during his adolescence.

He sharpened a wooden stick with a rock as he sat above a tree branch. The hero often hunted alone since their father died and he needed to provide for his family. 'Apparently, humans have these things called stomachs and they need to eat like him but to use it for an energy source... strange... why don't they just use absorb energy through the sun...' he smirked before losing his train of thought as he heard it, one of his traps that he made thanks the hero's memories.

He crawled down, before running towards it. He grinned as he spotted the hole he dug out along with the rabbit inside impaled on the sharp wooden sticks below. "finally some substance" his stomach growled, since eating bugs and small critters isn't a good diet for an eldritch/human adult. He needed to eat, more so after becoming human he gained their biology as well, well most of their biology since he can actively morph his form a bit if he concentrates he can add an extra arm or pop out a tendril or two from anywhere on his body.

Still, he needed more than a rabbit, he needed to devour monsters. He devoured it, though due to how low his level is he had to devour it through the human way instead of just fully absorbing it through tendrils. While gorging on the rabbit he thought about the land he was currently in, because he ate mostly humans and human-like species he was able to piece together their memories.

The Kingdom of Dawn is one of the largest of the three human kingdoms. They were founded during the first Crusade, where the Church of the Sun, a zealot religious group held a campaign against nonhumans. They slaughtered and enslaved the Lizardfolk and the Beast folk as well as burned and captured elven territory. Their biggest accomplishment was exterminating the Sea folk due to suspicions of heresy and relations to evil gods.

He finished the rabbit though he left the fur alone, not being able to eat it. Getting up he hid the trap with leaves and foliage, he grabbed the spear he crafted as he went on foot for a proper hunt.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

With the recent discovery of the village attack, the king had sent forward one of his knights alongside two adventurers who specialized in tracking to find anything of importance.

Keras, A high-ranking knight clad in his armor, gazed outside the window while the two adventurers not shy in their admiration smiled in glee on seeing such a powerful share a ride with them despite the gravity of their mission.

"Is it true?" one of them, a young B-Class hero with the ranger occupation asks. Keras raises his eyebrow, not expecting to be disturbed but humors them. "What's true?" he responds before the girl stumbles over her words until the other adventurer, a B-class Druid answers for her. "What she asking is, is it true that knights like you can slice through mountains?" Keras Smirks before answering. "Yes, Yes I can" the girl shakes in glee as the druid tries to calm his companion.

"May I ask for your names, I have a hard time remembering them" he lies, wanting to flatter them. The Ranger looks like she is about to pass out before she manages to croak out a soft "Tessa..." The druid then responds calmly but smiling, trying not to look too excited "Aderes m'lord" The druid cringes at using such an honorific but the knight smiles, appreciating the sentiment.

*Knock! Knock!*

A sudden noise from above, the rider letting them know they arrived at their destination.

The two walked out gleefully before having it soured by the grimness of the situation in front of them. The knight doesn't look too affected, as he approaches the village entrance. The sign was covered in dried blood, the knight assessed it, the blood had to be from the village guard, and it had to be sudden and violent enough to have the blood travel high enough to reach the twelve-foot-high sign.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"Sorry to interrupt but there are others here" Tessa informs the knight as she stands behind him, anxious as she watches the strange figures roam around the village.

Keras looks up and his jaw tightens. "Fucking Inquisitors"

Inquisitors are an important sect of the church of Sun, they investigate claims of heresy, rogue demons, and cults. He knew that the group who came here sent word for the Inquisitor's help but he didn't expect them to still be here after a few days. Keras and most of the populace had a general dislike of them due to how harsh and cruel they could be in their investigations.

They unlike the rest of their church's forces besides the Executioners wear mainly black instead of white robes. Long hoods and golden masks in the shape of a sun. They wear the crest of the Sun god's symbol on their shoulder and carry light armor. They wear belts with pouches containing salts, relics, and tools in case anything bad happens. They're not weak either, usually carrying blessed swords, maces, or daggers, and have a few miracles to use just in case.

Keras didn't care as he walked up to a group of them, one of whom was watching them this whole time. "May I help you?" One of them spoke up as the Knight approached.

"Yes. This is still an ongoing scene. I can't have you and your guys roam around messing up everything for the trackers" He responds, his face tightening.

"Tracking for what?" Another asked, despite their mask he could feel their piercing suspicions, gauging him.

"Can't tell you?" he states flatly.

"Can't? or Won't? Seems quite... heretical" one of them speaks, looking down at him with a sense of disdain.

While watching the exchange, the two adventurers whisper between themselves "He seems like he might pop a blood vessel..." Tessa quips, Aderes nods, "Pretty obvious, it feels quite hot now"

Keras, simmering in anger as he snarls "Heresy?! you label anything that questions the church as heresy!" He lifts his chin up in defiance "If it weren't for my position as a knight I'd strike you down"

"I'd like to see that." the taller one responds. The situation was getting worse until a tall figure arrived, her immense power demanded respect as the Inquisitors bowed and the knight and the other adventurers instinctively kneeled, either out of fear or in reverence.

"I didn't expect an executioner to come here..." Keras, his voice was shaky, timid, and anxious as beads of sweat poured down his face. The two adventurers kept their heads down, in fear of accidentally disrespecting their superior.

"V-varied, I thought you were investigating the site..." one of the inquisitors asked.

The lady was built. Her black and gold armor was built for war, She had pendant seals on her bulky shoulder armor showing her devotion to her religion. The armor had the sun god's symbol on the chest plate and the shoulders. Her helmet was more decoration, it covered most of her head, but the exposed parts were more in a V shape, showing her mouth and her eyes though they couldn't see her eyes.

"I've finished, from what I can tell, it's eldritch in origin. How it hunts, how it attacks, and with the residue from this weapon it's been here for its upcoming evolution," she says, showing a sword covered in the cloth.

"I-is that!" Keras recognizes the hilt from paintings, statues, and various sources.

"Yes, it's his blade," Variel responds. She looks at the inquisitors, nods, and leaves. Before they can react the two adventurers were then killed from behind, having their necks slit open as the knight watches in horror, not detecting their presence as he looks for answers.

"I assume you can keep quiet about this." The new figure cleans both his knives as their bodies drop to the ground, his mask was a golden crest of the sun. His white robes were long and draping to the grass below.

"W-why!?" his voice shrill and terrified.

"Can we trust that you can keep your mouth silent," he says coldly, his knife pressed against the knight's neck drawing blood.

"Y-yes" he stammers. Looking down the knife was withdrawn.

"Good." he sheathes it, as he nods. "You're lucky that you're a knight. Those who know of this haven't fared so well" he walks off, snapping his fingers as the inquisitors take their bodies away, leaving the knight alone. In the middle of the town.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Executioner waits in the carriage as she clutches the sword wrapped in cloth. She didn't need to wait too long as the person she was expecting arrived quickly, appearing out of thin air in the carriage seat across from her.

"Are they dealt with?" she asks firmly.

"Yes. I dealt with them"

"And the knight?"

"He's going to keep his word. He will find a way to explain what happened to his companions."

"Good."

Variel, lifts the cloth up, gazing at the beautiful details on the sword, the hilt design was amazingly well crafted and made with the finest of materials. Her thoughts were interrupted.

"Do you think the king would understand?"

"No. But we can't let the hero's passing reach the public," she explains, sighing. "We simply just need to buy some time. I trust the burning will commence soon?"

"Of course. As soon as the knight leaves our inquisitors will burn the village down without hesitation."

She nods, facing the blade on her lap. The reflection captures the smile on her face.