Book 1: Chapter 23 - The Hunt [Part 1]

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The berry of the Galebush is sweet and nutritious, attracting fauna and adventurers alike. However, unless thoroughly cooked, the seed will sprout within a few hours spontaneously, causing an almost certain and gruesome death. This is likely a mechanism to provide the new seedling with fertilizer for the next part of its life cycle.

If the being somehow survives the ‘sprouting,’ they will slowly turn into a volatile and strange chimera of plant and animal. One such creature was the infamous Sun Bear of the Duskdown Forest, which terrorized the local territories for many years before a group of Knight Penitents brought it down.

- Monsters of the Mortal Realms by K. D. Fidditch.

Seraphina stood tall, one hand lifted to shield her eyes from the morning sun's piercing glare. The light danced on the forest’s edge, painting a picture of serene wilderness that belied the chaos within. Somewhere in the woods, a cuckoo, or this world's peculiar equivalent, sang its relentless chorus, its cries echoing above the clamor of beaters crashing through the underbrush.

As a noblewoman, Seraphina was no stranger to the privileges her rank afforded. Chief among them? The luxury of delegating the less savory aspects of a hunt. Today, the men scouring the woods at her behest were a motley crew: off-duty soldiers from her father’s barracks enticed by the promise of fresh game, and a handful of low-ranked adventurers from the local guild, lured by coin and the vague promise of future favors.

Seraphina would be damned if she had to go running about in the woods in search of her prey.

She allowed herself a small, private smile, even as her lady-in-waiting Eloise shifted uneasily beside her, fingers tightening imperceptibly around the shaft of her winged boar spear. Eloise’s tension was palpable, but Seraphina felt no such unease. Today was a good day. All was well in her world.

The two brothers Crayton and Giles did what they did best, looming imposingly, and Seraphina doubted that any vicious wildlife would dare approach them.

Her confidence was bolstered further by the weapon she held, a modified sling of her own design. A simple but elegant construct. By harnessing her Power Strike skill, Seraphina had unlocked the potential to hurl projectiles with devastating force. Though her skill level was still modest, she had adapted—creating a sling capable of launching multiple stones from an oversized pocket. Paired with her monstrous Strength, the weapon was a force of nature, its destructive potential rivaling that of a modern weapon.

The testing grounds bore silent witness to its power: shattered archery targets and miniature craters where once-sturdy posts had stood. She had yet to perfect her accuracy, but the results were promising enough. A deft figure-eight motion, timed with precision, sent stones flying with savage speed. For now, it was enough and made up for lack of accuracy. Still, she made a mental note to experiment with slingstaffs when time allowed.

The men had given her wary glances when she arrived, her unconventional weapons slung at her hip. After all, a sling was a commoner's weapon, and it was hard to learn to shoot with any accuracy without a lot of practice. Skepticism flickered in their eyes, but they wisely kept their thoughts to themselves. No one openly questioned a noble—especially not one as capable and commanding as Seraphina. They would do their part, and she would reward them well. That was the bargain.

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The clamor of the beaters grew louder, and Seraphina’s smile widened in anticipation. The hunt was truly beginning. Stretching her limbs, she prepared herself, fingers brushing the smooth stones nestled in the barrel beside her. The first wave of smaller game burst from the trees—rabbits, rodents, and other desperate creatures scrambling for escape and freedom. They were at the edge of her maximum range, but she had plenty of ammunition. Why not start early?

With calculated precision, Seraphina loosed her first volley. She refrained from activating Power Strike—its ten Stamina cost was steep, and she preferred to conserve herself for larger prey. Even so, the stones flew with lethal speed, striking earth and bark with resounding thuds, or felling creatures outright where they connected.

You have slain a Woodswise 5 experience gained.

You have slain ??? 10 experience gained.

Not bad, she mused, a whimsical smile playing on her lips as notifications scrolled across her vision. A fleeting thought crossed her mind about making a clever remark on slaying animals with stones, but nothing witty came to mind. No matter—they were dead, and that was enough.

The Woodswise, small to medium-sized rodents endemic to the region, were no great prize. Also, because she could see and knew what one of the creatures was, the system of the game, if this was indeed a game, told her what it was. Cute creatures, perhaps, but today they were nothing more than meat for the stew pot.

She vaguely recalled that Este Lize had kept one as a pet.

Her musings were cut short as a new threat emerged—a Tree Laur, its massive reptilian form slithering forward on four powerful legs. Behind it came a surge of other creatures, both furred and scaled, driven into a panic by the beaters. Seraphina’s lips curled in anticipation as she prepared another volley, this time activating Power Strike.

The stones flew like meteors, propelled with savage speed and power. The Tree Laur took the brunt of her assault, several stones striking with enough force to pierce flesh and shatter bone. It collapsed in a heap, its reptilian bulk twitching as the reality of its death had yet to take it. The notifications followed swiftly.

You have slain a Tree Laur 50 experience gained.

You have slain a Giant Treesnake 20 experience gained

You have slain a rabbit 5 experience gained.

Now this was more like it. Seraphina laughed, a clear, joyous sound that rang across the battlefield. The rush of experience filled her, a heady sensation that spoke of her growing power. Her smile widened into something wild and unrestrained, a grin known only to those who relished the chaos of a fight.

Beside her, Eloise bit her lip, casting a worried glance at her lady. The brothers exchanged looks but said nothing. They were accustomed to Seraphina’s moods, and this, at least, was a familiar one.

Satisfied, Seraphina swiftly reloaded her sling, already preparing for the next wave. She would continue until the woods were emptied of game, or until she had gained a fresh level. Today was her day, and the hunt was hers to command.