The specters, though swift, weren’t fast enough to track my blink shot and struggled to change their direction abruptly in mid-air. As they were on flight to my last seen position, I had already loosened a [Silent Arrow of Nex] arrow, dropping another one from the sky. In my hands, Phantom Whisper thrummed slightly as I eliminated the specters, almost as if it's pleased.

The strengths of the ranged weapon were on full display - these flying specters would’ve posed a bigger threat had I gone for a melee class with sword or axes. While talon strike seems to be their preferred way to attack, they would've probably hovered a fair distance away and used their [Quillstorm] ability to swarm me with sharp edged feather projectiles.

Yet, they seem no different than flying ducks against the Phantom Whisper, the Emberbeak Specters too late to react to the arrows till it found its mark on each. Once injured, their movements became sluggish. Soon, two of them were grounded, pinned down by the arrows lodged in their wings, rendering them unable to fly or maneuver.

And a few seconds later, the forest fell relatively silent once more. I quickly reviewed the notifications

*Monster Slayed - Emberbeak Specter Lvl 15*

*Monster Slayed - Emberbeak Specter Lvl 16*

Level Up 13 -> 14

Upgrade: Strength +3, Perception: +2, Dexterity + 1, Additional Stat Point +2

*Monster Slayed - Emberbeak Specter Lvl 14*

*Monster Slayed - Emberbeak Specter Lvl 14*

*Monster Slayed - Emberbeak Specter Lvl 16*

Level Up 14 -> 15

Upgrade: Strength +3, Perception: +2, Dexterity + 1, Additional Stat Point +2

Feeling no rush on assigning the Additional Stat Points, I saved them for later. During the fight, everytime an arrow found its mark, I could feel the bow resonate with a gentle thrum. Out of curiosity, I inspected it.

[Phantom Whisper] (Awakening - Grade E)

(Step 1/2): The Phantom Whisper stirs (Progress: 10/100)

That’s new. It’s probably related to slaying the beasts with the Phantom Whisper. The progress shows it’s already at ten out of hundred. Definitely keeping an eye on this.

I resumed my journey, trudging along the river, its twists and all. Initially, a thought occurred - to stay here, set up a camp of sorts. The river was nearby and I didn’t see any other beasts here apart from the specters. I quickly dismissed that way of thinking; not only do I lack knowledge on building decent lodgings by myself, but I also had no desire to isolate myself in a secluded part of the forest, cowering and hoping that no formidable beast would discover my hiding place.

I refuse to let the encounters with the powerful beasts so far deter me. I am determined to keep moving forward, grow as strong as I need to be to ensure that I will be prey to none and get out of this forest. And only then, will I allow myself to take a breath and relax.

As I traveled further in, I found a nest of sorts, knotted intricately with some kind of wood and fiery red feathers. Fire nuts, lots of them! I popped a handful of nuts which audibly crackled in my mouth. Soon, the low warmth radiating from my core grew more intense and I could feel it spreading, lingering longer at the joints. Did I overdo it?

Upgrade: Dexterity +1

Heh. No wonder the Emberbeak Specters were enraged when I got near. I grabbed the rest of the hoard and settled myself on a high perch. I closed my eyes to focus on what was changing underneath, popping the fire nuts as needed to keep the internal warmth radiating steadily outwards. By the time I finished the hoard, I could feel the subtle changes even before I checked.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Upgrade: Dexterity +2

The brief period of rest also let me restore my mana resources a bit. While the fight wasn’t challenging, I have used multiple blink shots during the course of it. After their upgrade to D Grade, they provided an extended range and delayed teleportation effect, but at the cost of higher mana drain.

In hindsight, I realized there were moments in the battle where I could've conserved a blink shot or two. I’ll need to train with my arsenal a bit more to ensure I make the most of each window of opportunity. It could become a crucial factor if the battles start to stretch out in the future.

Ultimately, it’s only through experience gained from more battles that my skills will sharpen and my ability to assess situations mid-battle will improve. Just need to be conscious of it next time

After some debate over what to do with the bird-like specters' carcasses, I decided I wasn't hungry enough to stop. Instead, I chose to make the most of the daylight and continue my journey. Before long, I was darting from one cover to the next, staying close to the river's path on my side. My full attention was on my surroundings, letting my perception fill in the gaps as I moved, blending my footsteps with the natural sounds of the jungle as best I could.

I spotted it first—a tree farther to the right, its branch dipping slightly before snapping back into place. Instinctively, I darted behind the nearest tree and cautiously peeked out. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. The branches swayed gently in the breeze, so it could’ve just been the wind. But something about it lingered in my mind—it was the only branch that moved like that, like an anomaly.

I climbed the closest tree carefully - with calm deep breaths, ensuring nothing crunched under my foot as I crawled upward. With my current strength, climbing a tree felt trivial - my grip strong enough to lift myself up with just one hand. Ensuring nothing creaked or even twitched out of the ordinary is the challenging part. A faint creak or two made me pause, holding myself still for a few moments till I’m sure nothing is approaching. Eventually, I reached a spot where four thick branches extended from the tree at the same height, forming a natural platform of sorts.

Summoning my bow and quiver, I slowly plucked one arrow and set it on the string, positioning the tip on the rest. Crouching down, I stepped further sideways till the marked branch came into sight.

I found myself staring directly at a gnoll perched on a thick tree branch, its fur a mix of browns and greens that didn’t stand out much in its hiding spot. It stood hunched slightly, keenly observing the surroundings. As I pulled the bowstring back, its sharp, yellow eyes snapped right at my spot and narrowed. It braced its legs, preparing to pounce away as the arrow silently whizzed through the air.

The gnoll reacted a bit quicker than I expected it to, causing the arrow to hit slightly off its mark. The arrow aimed to strike right between its eyes instead lodged into its cheek. The Gnoll yelped and tumbled down from the branch. Nocking the next one, I saw the beast holding some kind of white rock in its hand.

The Gnoll pushed itself up from its fall and brought the rock to its mouth - just as the next arrow struck. It punctured the creature’s throat from its right side, almost making it out through the other side. The gnoll fell to its knees and then collapsed on its side. I observed the surroundings with an arrow nocked and ready to fly, only the beast’s labored gasps as my company. Soon, that too subsided and I leapt to the next branch, warily checking for any other disturbances.

*Monster Slayed - Gnoll Scout Lvl 14*

Both the Gnoll Scouts I have encountered so far had been alone. I have no idea how many of these Gnolls there are, and I’m not interested in chasing after any that aren't in my path.

It wasn’t too long before I could see a change in scenery ahead. The rugged thick trees from where I stood gave way to tall shrubs adorned with vibrant, blooming flowers which appeared to be bigger than any I’ve ever seen. Small streams branched off from the river, making their way through the land and far away, I spotted a waterfall, its rushing water casting a fine mist all over the shrubs. The entire landscape stirred a sense of wonder and renewed my excitement, urging me to explore further. With a new spring in my steps, I dashed forward…but only a few steps before a notification popped in front of me.

Boundary of [Beastlord’s Domain] ruled by [Gnoll War Tyrant]

Entry Status: Open | Exit Status: Restricted

What! A quiet rage boiled inside me—I’ve been dropped in the middle of nowhere, with no clue about what to do or where to go. Still, I’ve been navigating this miserable place, each step filled with the fear that some kind of beast would tear me apart before I knew it. And now you tell me I can’t even leave? Restricted, my foot!

I scanned my surroundings, half-expecting to see the Gnoll beasts somewhere close by. The area seemed clear.

I took a step forward. An uneasy feeling crept up as if someone was gazing intensely. A quick sideways glance showed none present; same as before. Another step - a sudden chill ran down me and hairs on my body prickled, standing on end, as if someone or something was breathing down my neck. Every instinct screamed that I wasn’t alone, though no one was in sight.

I leaped backwards and the feeling instantly subsided. Visually, nothing seemed different. Yet, I could sense something faintly - a haze of sorts ahead of me. I was tempted to try a blink shot, aiming for its maximum range of four hundred feet. But I couldn't help but hesitate at the intensity I just felt. If teleportation can't get through the barrier, I can’t even imagine what it would feel like deeper inside this haze - and I have no desire to find out, probably ever.

I guess I’ll be stuck with the Gnolls for a while longer.