A cold shiver ran down Zeke's spine, causing the hairs on his neck to prickle. Initially, their journey through the jungle had proceeded without incident. However, upon passing a small pond of fresh water, an unsettling sensation began to gnaw at his consciousness. An inexplicable sense of unease settled over him, hinting at the presence of unseen dangers lurking within the depths of the dense foliage.
He peered into the darkness, his gaze sweeping over the gnarled trees, twisting vines, and lush foliage, yet discerning nothing amiss. Nonetheless, the feeling nagged at the back of his mind, whispering that they were not alone. Despite the absence of any visible threat, Zeke couldn't shake the sensation that unseen eyes were fixed upon them, observing their every move from the shadows.
“Do you see anything, Akasha?”
[Answer]
Negative.
Zeke frowned. Her reassurance only made his worries grow. Akasha's inability to detect the threat suggested one of two possibilities. Either the entity observing them was clever enough to stay beyond his senses or could deceive his Spatial Perception, and Zeke couldn't determine which scenario was more troubling.
A moment later, Ash, who was leading the way, abruptly raised his arm, signaling everyone to halt. The group immediately went on high alert. Vulcanos was scanning the treeline in front while Gravitas ensured their rear was secure. Before Zeke could even give the order, Akasha had already cast the spell, reestablishing a mental connection between their group.
“What do you see, Ash?” Zeke asked mentally.
“We have another one of those snakes,” their scout replied, pointing toward a tree to their left. “I don’t know if it is aiming for us, but it would be safer to take it out.”
Zeke gazed at the tree that was still quite far away. At first, he couldn’t make out anything. However, after a moment of concentration, he spotted the beast through the leaves of a low branch.
The serpent's scales created a pattern of interlocking waves. As his eyes adjusted further, he discerned its full form. Coiled around the tree trunk, the massive creature was shrouded in shadows, and judging by its size, it was more likely a constrictor than a venomous snake.
Zeke nodded at Gravitas, who promptly advanced toward the tree. This wasn’t the first time their group had encountered one of those snakes, and after being surprised by the first one, they quickly found a way to deal with them.
As she approached, the snake lunged, only to be ripped from its perch and pulled into midair. With a deliberate movement, Gravitas closed her outstretched fist, crushing the snake's head before rejoining the group.
Zeke shook his head. No matter how often he saw it, her control over gravity was frightening. While most ambush predators posed little threat once exposed, witnessing her dispatch such a dangerous beast with nothing but a wave of her hand remained impressive.
Without further ado, Ash resumed his role as the lead, keeping a sharp eye out for potential dangers. Vulcanos, Zeke, and Snow trailed at a distance, forming the group's core. Bringing up the rear was Gravitas. This had been their formation since the beginning, and Zeke planned to keep it that way.
After a few minutes, Zeke noticed Vulcanos becoming restless with the monotony of their task, but there was little else for them to do. Positioned at the center of the group, their role primarily involved searching for any threats missed by their scout.
Zeke's attention was drawn to his right at the sound of a branch snapping. Anticipating nothing, as had been the case before, his blood turned icy when he locked eyes with a pair of glowing yellow orbs. The creature remained perfectly still, its form obscured by darkness, with only its eyes piercing through.
In his peripheral vision, Zeke noticed Gravitas and Ash slowly converging on his position, their eyes focused on something ahead and behind them, respectively.
[Notice]
Multiple hostiles detected.
“What are they?” Zeke questioned without even daring to blink, focusing on the pair of unnervingly still eyes before him.
[Answer]
Uncertain. The enemies seem to be able to escape my senses. However, given those abilities, the most likely hypothesis is that Host is dealing with Shadowstalkers.
Zeke licked his dry lips, not liking the sound of that name. The knowledge that these predators had remained hidden for so long spoke volumes about their cunning. The realization that they were likely hunting in a coordinated group, surrounding them from all sides, only heightened his apprehension. “What do you know about them?”
[Answer]
Samuel Rinen, author of the book 100 nights in Irroch, describes them with the following words: Shadowstalkers are sleek, obsidian-black predators, blending seamlessly with the darkness as they silently stalk their prey with lethal precision. Their eyes gleam like coals in the night, their movements as silent as whispers, instilling primal fear in all who cross their path.
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Ash stopped stepping backward when his rear collided with Vulcanos, and Gravitas was no more than a step away. They were forming an outward-facing circle, with Snow at its center. For a moment, nobody moved, yet the jungle seemed to close in around him, each rustle of leaves and shadowy movement amplifying the sense of impending danger.
Zeke took a deep breath, trying to push down his fear in favor of something more productive. It was up to him to take charge while they still had the chance. When he felt the connection snap into place, he quickly issued his orders: “Gravitas, I’ll leave the defense up to you. Vulcanos, offense. Ash, ambush when possible, but don’t overextend. Our main priority is to protect Snow.”
No sooner had he finished issuing his command than their enemies struck. It wasn't just one of them but a pack of at least a dozen beasts pouncing in perfect synchrony. Chaos erupted as Ash transformed into mist, and Vulcanos roared, conjuring a barrage of blazing rocks that shot out in all directions.
Amidst the fleeting brightness, Zeke caught his first glimpse of the sleek figures. They looked like phantoms that had materialized from darkness itself, their nimble bodies weaving seamlessly between the trees. Each movement was a study in predatory grace, their obsidian-black fur blending effortlessly with the dark surroundings. Their eyes, burning with a fierce intensity, betrayed the intelligence and cunning of creatures born to hunt.
The sudden burst of light caught them off guard, causing three of Vulcanos projectiles to strike true. The scorched beasts whined pitifully as they fell back. The rest of the pack also backed off, beginning to circle.
However, Zeke’s face was grim. He was watching the injured cats rejoin their fellows moments later—not a good sign. If they could shrug off a hit from Vulcanos, then the beasts were not only fast and stealthy but quite tough as well. They would have to be a silver-level threat, at the least.
Zeke had been trying to decide what role to play in this fight, and this realization solidified his decision. After all, given his level, it was unlikely that he could even hurt their enemies. This left him playing support.
“Akasha,” Zeke called out mentally. “We are going with the new strategy. How many can you handle?”
[Answer]
Against enemies of this caliber, four would be my limit.
“Do it,” Zeke ordered.
In the next moment, four crimson threads pierced through the skin of his back, effortlessly penetrating his robe. Upon closer inspection, one would realize that they bore a striking resemblance to Zeke’s [Blood Whips], albeit controlled without the need for his hands. The cords resembled slender serpents crafted from blood, hovering behind him while remaining closely attached to his spine.
“We are going for control, not offense,” Zeke instructed, but that was all the time he had, as the Shadowstalkers had evidently gotten over their apprehension and now boldly charged once more.
This time, they didn’t stop, even after several were struck by projectiles of molten stone. They didn’t abandon their charge either when Ash jammed his claws into one of their skulls. Then, the large cats arrived at the last line of defense. Gravitas's eyes shone with power as an unseen force pulled their bodies backward.
However, she couldn’t stop them all.
Unbeknownst to the Shadowstalkers, they exploited one of Gravitas's greatest weaknesses. Her innate ability demanded intense focus, making it challenging to defend against attacks from multiple directions, even if the assaults were individually weak.
One of them, approaching from her blind spot, managed to advance uncontested. Ash threw a dagger at it, but it was no use. The cat effortlessly avoided the blade, only to pounce at Gravitas's neck a moment later, greedy for the taste of blood. Yet, the expression of savage glee froze on the monster’s face as it found itself entangled an instant later.
A red cord was wrapped around its hind legs, while another one was wrapped around its neck. The beasts struggled and trashed, but it didn’t seem to be able to extricate itself.
Zeke gaped at the spectacle.
The whips on his back had acted independently, lashing out like serpents. Their movements had contained a familiar, sinuous grace, making Zeke certain that Akasha had drawn inspiration from Ishaan's technique. It was quite disheartening.
Frankly, she exhibited greater mastery over them than he ever had. After all, there were only so many things he could focus on simultaneously. Yet, for Akasha, that limitation clearly didn’t apply.
While Zeke was still in a daze, another of the whips seized an opening, ensnaring the legs of a Shadowstalker that had just been struck by a burning piece of rock. In one motion, Ash materialized behind the restrained creature, swiftly ending its life. He nodded at Zeke before disappearing again.
For the next while, Zeke was running around as Akasha controlled all four whips to fill in the gaps in their defense. His entire focus was consumed by moving around the battlefield and avoiding the occasional attack. The strategy worked, as their group only sustained minor injuries compared to the multiple dead Shadowstalkers littering the ground.
Then, as fast as it had begun, the attacks ceased.
Breathing heavily, Zeke stood back to back with Gravitas. His eyes scanned the surroundings for any sign of their attackers. However, no matter where he looked, all he saw were burning trees, fallen enemies, and the occasional patch of crimson glowing faintly, courtesy of his attuned senses for blood.
After another moment, Zeke tentatively lowered his hands. In perfect tandem, Akasha retracted the four tentacles emerging from his back. As if they had been waiting for it, the others also relaxed, and Vulcanos began to chuckle.
“Well… That was quite something,” Ash remarked, though a faint wince of pain betrayed his stoicism. One of the cats had caught him off guard, leaving him with a bleeding cut in his ribs.
Vulcanos nodded energetically. Despite being the most injured among them, he appeared unfazed. Zeke couldn't quite comprehend the resilience of the man's body. Nevertheless, it was evident that he could shrug off such injuries without much trouble.
Before anyone could intervene, Vulcanos picked up one of the deceased Shadowstalkers by the neck, gently stroking its fur. “This is incredible. You guys have to feel this,” he exclaimed.
After exchanging a quick glance with the others, Zeke approached the carcass and ran his hand through the panther's fur as well. His eyes widened. Vulcanos had been right; it was indeed incredible. It was by far the softest and most comfortable material he had ever felt; it seemed to defy solidity, almost like a liquid or gas. However, despite its texture, it had to possess considerable durability to withstand their attacks.
Wouldn’t this make for an excellent material for clothing? Or furniture? Or… well… anything?
Zeke’s eyes began to shine with greed as he surveyed the scattered corpses. While some were charred beyond repair, others remained relatively intact. Most noticeably, the ones that were killed by Ash only had a single wound to their neck, throat, or skull. They would make for excellent materials.
However, before he could order the group to collect their spoils, he noticed the unusual atmosphere. The Chimeroi were already forming a protective circle around him.
Something felt amiss, but Zeke couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. There was no sensation of being watched, no snapping of branches—just an unsettling silence that enveloped the entire jungle.
Wait… Silence?
Zeke strained his ears, but no matter how hard he tried, there was nothing—no noise, not even the faint fluttering of wings or the distant buzzing of insects. A shiver ran down his spine. The jungle was definitely not supposed to be this quiet.
Then, he heard it—a distant noise reminiscent of the clap of thunder. It was followed by the creaking of wood and the ominous sound of a tree falling. Zeke's face paled. The trees in this area were so tall that he couldn't even see their crowns, and not a single one had taken any serious damange during their fight.
What kind of creature could possibly topple them?
As if summoned by the sound, he heard Khai'Zars voice echo in his mind. The Dragon uttered just one word, but its gravity was palpable, more serious than Zeke had ever heard from the Dragon.
“Run!”