Chapter 2: Encountering The Great Stag
Hammond moved fluidly through the forest, leaping from one tree branch to another with the grace of a ninja from those anime shows. Amidst his agile maneuvers, he found his thoughts drifting towards the future and his place in this new world.
How do I fit into human society? Should I randomly and secretly start eliminating them one by one, devouring their souls to become an Arch-Walker? No, too obvious.
He shook his head as he jumped off one tree branch like a diving board, landing on another with a front flip.
Assuming someone’s identity would be risky. A parent would notice the difference in their child, even if I completely took them over. Besides, I’m a Skinwalker, but my soul isn’t a typical one, so mimicking perfectly might be beyond my abilities... maybe.
The perfect way to infiltrate the human race… Is through children. But not by becoming a child. But by putting their attachment to cute fluffy animals against them! Thus, I must become a cute and fluffy wolf cub.
Of course, I’ll slaughter the test of the pack. Can’t have them tracking down my scent and causing problems. Plus if anyone goes looking for my family to try to return me, they’ll find the remains and have no reason to kick me out.
Because what little boy or girl in a fantasy world can resist a cute wolf cub? In almost every anime there was always that one who found an animal when they were young and made a bond with it. I just have to bide my time, and wait for the perfect opportunity…
I’ll fake my death. Then the child will be in “mourning” and after that, when they run away to some secluded place to cry, or are alone… I’ll strike.
Any abnormality that the mommy or daddy senses after that will be chocked up to emotional damage due to the death of the pet. Ah, my own genius frightens me sometimes~ Hehehe!
With a few more graceful leaps, the tantalizing aroma grew stronger. It was as if he were standing in a gourmet kitchen, savoring the rich scent of a seasoned sirloin being seared to perfection, buttery juices mingling with fragrant rosemary.
“Mmmmngh… Has… Has steak always smelled so good?” I muttered, my gaze sharpening, saliva slowly pooling in my mouth, forcing me to gulp.
Suddenly, a deep, guttural voice, reminiscent of Venom, slithered into my mind.
« Prey… I smell prey! The soul of a stag is near! »
I halted, my mind racing with questions.
What's with this voice? Can it smell the steak too? Wait, it's calling it a Stag. Can it distinguish the creature from its soul's scent? And how on earth is it in my head?
Think, Hammond. Let's make sense of this. The last voice was from the inheritance, the guy explaining my mission. But this is different, yet eerily similar. Could it be another Skinwalker? No, that's not right; he said I'm the last.
Hold on a second…
Transmigration brought me here, causing my soul to merge with the original Skinwalker's. It merged the remnants of its soul with mine. Technically making it a 1/4th skinwalker, 3/4th human soul…
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
So, by that logic, a bit of the skinwalker is still alive inside me… And since my half is bigger, I’m the main host, and it's just a voice now…
Hmm, intriguing. Maybe this can work to my advantage. I lack a Walker's instincts, but it doesn't. They're experts at deception, luring, and trapping.
However… it seems to communicate primitively, it only spoke when I got close to the scent’s source… Why is that? Could it be that it-
Wait! No time for this. Focus.
I locked onto the light green mist-like trail now visible, a result of my proximity to the scent. It led me straight to the stag that produced it. A deep breath steadied me, and then I burst forward, closing in on the delectably smelling creature.
« Mmmmm. Prey is strong. It will sense. Hide presence or prey will run. »
Mid-leap, I was taken aback. My thoughts raced as I landed.
Does this voice possess intelligence? Or is it an instinct? Either way, it's the pro here, not me. Maybe it can give me some advice.
Walker-bro, how do I conceal my presence? I can shift and control my body, even suppress my footsteps. But presence control? I’m clueless. Can you guide me?
« Weakling. Know nothing. »
Yes, I’m new at this. But could you lend a hand? You wouldn’t want your prey to escape, right?
Despite his request being ignored. There was something about the thought of his prey running that delighted him. He couldn’t help but gulp at the thought of a beautiful brown stag, running in terror as he loftily chased it, before jumping in front of it and then-
« Hide presence. Prey not know predator is near. Like ant in forest. invisible if not looking. But always there. »
Walker-Bro's voice, rough and primitive interrupted his thoughts like glass shattering in the quiet of the night.
Like an ant? Invisible if not looking… Are you telling me to make my presence smaller? No, maybe transparent… Or maybe both… Perhaps I should use a visualization technique for this… Yeah, that makes sense…
As I mulled over his response, I continued forward, and at the same time, my essence began to slowly sync with the vibrations of my surroundings. It was like enlightenment in those xianxia novels. I understood it, and my body moved according to my thoughts.
But the feeling of doing it couldn’t be described. It simply just happened. Time flowed, and the misty green trail guided my path. The scent of the stag grew stronger, like a siren’s irresistible song.
As the trees whizzed by, I couldn’t help but appreciate the scenery, and my own oddity. The world pulsed with life. Creatures rustled, birds soared, all making their natural sounds.
Yet I remained silent, utterly noiseless like a phantom, shrouded by the skill I was learning. It was… Awesome.
As I journeyed deeper into the forest, the scent intensified. My instincts ignited, and the predator within me fully awakened. The stag's soul felt almost palpable, like a plated delicacy that was set right in front of me at dinner time...
The scent reached its absolute limit, and then, through the foliage, the stag appeared. It stood otherworldly, unlike anything I'd ever seen. A shimmering aura of mist surrounded it.
But through the mist's gaps, I could see the stag’s navy blue coat. It’s thick muscles and glossy texture, almost like flowing water, yet its muscles were defined like immovable boulders.
Its ginormous antlers were a deep blue, almost black color. But they seemed to be made of an incorporeal mist. As they harmlessly passed through the trees around it.
Its eyes were emerald green with silver pupils. And its stature was at least twice as big as the infamous Emperor of Exmoor… Its body was muscular and almost savage like a tiger… And yet, it was beautiful like the statues of greek deities...
I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. I was in pure awe, I mean, just what… What sort of Stag is that?
« Male Misted Blue Stag. Also known as. Great Blue Mist King. Sovereign Species. Born with Water, Earth, and Mist Force. Tier Two Force-Beast. Very strong. »
Walker-Bro's voice echoed, timely answering my question. This was obviously no ordinary stag—As he said, it was a creature of magic… A Force-Beast.
Specifically, a Tier Two Force Beast, a moniker of which I immediately grasped the significance of. These creatures were not normal animals; they all were born with whatever energy it was that flowed through this world.
« Force. Energy of World. Nine tiers of Force-Beast. Higher number is stronger. We are similar. We are peak Tier-One. Weak. But can kill Stag easy. If catch off guard. Otherwise. Can’t. »
Nine tiers of them? Interesting… Just like those light novels I used to read… But now’s not the time to compare and analyze…
In the presence of this being, my heart raced. This hunt had evolved beyond my expectations. Here was a creature woven from the magic and wonders of the world, an opponent worthy of my newfound abilities!
A feral grin parted my lips revealing glistening white fangs; this encounter was more than a chance to feed. It was an opportunity to challenge myself against something strong. It was a test… An opportunity to better gauge where I stood in this world…
As my gaze locked with the stag, curiosity burned in my eyes. There was a question on my lips, a desire that’s been gnawing at me ever since I laid eyes on the creature.
"I wonder… Will its meat be rough like steak, or tender like chicken…?"