The evergreen that stood so tall it could pierce the sky, the small rays of the sun that every so often finds their way through the leaves, and the occasional breeze that offers a soothing sensation to this dry skin of mine.

As I stand beside a tree, I take it all in.

My worries were washed away in the wind, my mind occupied on the rustling leaves, my body bathed in the faint light.

A smile crept on my face.

"I wish it was always this peaceful," I mumbled beneath my breath.

But it was short-lived as that of a mayfly, inside my mind, a sound rang.

*CHIRP* *CHIRP*

For a normal person, it was just the sounds of birds chirping, nothing less and nothing more.

But thanks to my skill, I understood it clearly.

Maggie successfully found a lone forest wolf.

With great haste, I made my way toward where she is.

After a bit of walking through the trees without a sound leaving my body.

I gaze my eyes on it.

A beast of blue fur, hind legs fast as a flash, teeths sharp as a knife.

It was a forest wolf, alright.

The canine was walking slowly, sniffing the ground looking for any tracks of potential prey.

It had no idea, that I was stalking it.

With caution, I stepped out of the tree where I was hiding from.

Each step made the beating of my heart faster.

As I get closer to the point I can smell its disgusting stench.

Its neck guarded by a hide thick as metal was an arm's reach before me.

I raised my dagger in front of my face.

In my mind, I inwardly activated a skill.

[Aura of Assassination]

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An aura devoid of any light came from within me, but soon it escaped from my body.

The black aura enveloped the steel blade that I was holding in my right hand.

I gaze my brown eyes back onto the monster.

The beast was still sniffing the ground, not aware that its life was about to flash before its very eyes.

I held my steel blade as tightly as I could.

And swung it with every strength I have.

*GUSH*

Soon blood flowed from the beast's neck and the life in its eyes was no more.

Its hide which took me countless bullets just to scratch was cut open like paper.

Its heavy body fell to the ground almost getting some dust onto my eyes.

Just seconds after I sley the beast a transparent blue screen appeared before me.

[You have gained 20 XP.]

It vanished into thin air just as soon as it appeared.

I put my eyes back on the beast.

The ground was stained in its scarlet red blood and its muscle twitched from time to time.

I put my Berreta back into my bracelet.

After taking a deep breath, I began skinning its body.

Its hide which donned the color of the ocean indicates that it's probably E-Ranked.

5 minutes?

10 minutes?

I lost the track of time as I try my hardest to skin the hide of the wolf.

It was inefficient and slow but eventually, I was able to skin a part of it off without damaging it.

I used my black shirt to dry off the sweat that accumulated on my forehead, after which I hurriedly put the hide I successfully skinned off inside my bracelet.

As I was about to continue skinning the other parts of the beast.

*CHIRP* *CHIRP*

Maggie who I ordered to keep an eye out, suddenly was warning me.

Two wolves, one grey, and one blue was quickly heading to my area.

They must have smelled the stench of blood.

I hurriedly hid behind a tree.

Not long after, like thunder, two wolves appeared and went to the place where I assassinated their brother.

They were sniffing its lifeless corpse trying to catch the scent of the one who killed him.

From the trees, I grab my Berreta out of my bracelet and proceeded to cautiously and slowly approach them.

This time, I enveloped my gun with the same black aura that covered my dagger.

After successfully doing it last time, I was now more confident.

I planned to kill the stronger wolf first then turn to the weaker one after.

As I get closer to the blue wolf, I raise my dagger once again in front of my face.

Its blood-stained steel ready to pierce its neck.

I swung it with all of my might.

*GUSH*

A clean hit, its neck was cut open like butter.

The grey wolf immediately looked to its side as it heard the sound of flesh ripping.

With quick thinking, I aimed my gun at its head.

*BANG*

"Tsk,"

The wolf easily dodged it with its quick hinds.

It dodged to the side, making the bullet hit a tree behind it.

I quickly reposition my gun and shoot again.

*BANG*

This time it grazed its hide.

But before I could shoot again, it pounced toward me.

I didn't falter, I stayed calm and aimed my gun.

*BANG*

A bullet flew in the air piercing the skull of the wolf right into its brain.

I move to the side letting the wolf-perished body fall next to me.

The blood-covered ground grew even redder.

[You have gained 30 XP]

There were now 3 wolf corpses around me.

Two more bodies to skin and I'm not even done with the first one.

*CHIRP* *CHIRP* *CHIRP*

I then hear the cries of Maggie in my head.

But before I could fully understand what she was saying.

I felt two eyes behind my back.

As I turn,

A scarlet wolf was staring right at me, its size significantly bigger than the first two.

I take a deep breath,

It seems I still have more work to do.