Sleep had become more of a formality since the blessing bestowed upon me. Around five hours seemed to be the magical number, enough to revitalize me completely. As I wasn't venturing too deep into the woods, exhaustion could be kept at bay, and if it dared to creep in, I always had a clear path to return.

Currently, I was closing in on the source of the noise. Burnt trees surrounded me, but the moisture in the air indicated the fire hadn't spread far. Vaulting over a fallen tree, my keen senses caught something on the periphery.

A sudden halt brought me face to face with a tight cluster of burnt trees, and there it was—a hint of white, another Thunderquill fox. But this time, there was a difference; no goblin entourage in sight.

Swiftly activating [Umbral Concealment], I crouched down. A solitary giant ape-like monster stood before me. Its limbs were elongated, gnarled, and misshapen. It had ceased feasting on the vixen the moment I approached. Crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness—feral and predatory.

Its grotesque nose twisted in the air, sniffing out something amiss. The internal voice that usually urged me to cut down the weak fell silent. My heart, however, pounded in my chest as the creature stood up, moving with an eerie, loping gait.

Its eyes suddenly fixated on me.

[Keen Perception] screamed a warning, and though its eerie gaze might have paralyzed others with fear, my body had transcended such emotions. Without a second thought, I initiated [Lethal Precision] and [Aerial Grace], generating a burst of strength beneath my feet to propel me backwards.

The deformed ape shrieked, and in a blink, two gleaming claws tore through the tree I had sought refuge behind. Towering at double the size of a normal human, its elongated hands granted it a far greater reach.

My fingers instinctively moved, weaving the [Twilight Veil] spell, but the creature remained locked onto me with relentless focus.

[Fleet footed sprint]

This marked the first occasion where I found myself employing more than three skills simultaneously, and rapid succession was the key. My entire power hinged on being swift and dispatching the target before it had a chance to retaliate.

The catch: exhaustion would inevitably start creeping in.

I needed to be both swift and clever in this.

The ape's shrieks echoed as it pursued me, demolishing burnt trees with wild fervor.

But speed was on my side.

Once [Twilight Veil] was primed, I cast it. Darkness rushed forth, swallowing the moon's ambient light and shrouding the area in pitch-black. [Umbral Concealment] was already in play.

I waited, and so did the ape. It paused, sniffing the air, before locking onto my exact location.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

This confirmed it. My stealth was useless against it. It was relying on its keen sense of smell to hunt me down.

Activating [Lethal Precision] and [Aerial Grace], I leaped out of harm's way, ensuring this time that my gaze was fixed on the approaching ape. Observing it was crucial before making any hasty moves.

The ape contorted its body backward, limbs retracting with a sickening crunch. A piercing shriek followed, and its limbs extended like hungry serpents, covering a significantly larger area this time. Vicious claws tore through the burnt trees.

The creature's elongated limbs and razor-sharp claws allowed it to shred anything within a five-meter radius.

With [Umbral Concealment] deactivated and [Twilight Veil] dispelled, I initiated [Fleet-footed Sprint] and bolted back. The relentless ape was hot on my heels, determined to chase me down.

My heart raced within my chest, but it wasn't fear that fueled my sprint; it was something different, something primal. The thrill of the hunt coursed through my veins.

Ahh, If I found myself anywhere near that ape, I'd be torn apart in an instant.

The creature grew frustrated, shrieking and demolishing burnt trees as if they were the very obstacle preventing it from reaching me. A plan took shape in my mind. The ape needed solid footing to attack within its deadly radius, and I needed to be close to it while it lacked that stability.

A smile crept onto my face, and I came to a stop.

With one hand reaching for my dagger, I seized the moment as the ape gleefully rushed toward me. However, just before entering its deadly radius, I leaped back, halting a few paces away.

This proved to be the breaking point for the already frustrated ape.

It let out a thunderous shriek, launching itself directly at me. Its elongated claws flailed behind, and its gaping maw threatened to devour my head whole.

The body of this abomination was indeed a dangerous weapon, but it failed to account for one crucial factor—I was a weapon too, sharper and more dangerous.

Sheer glee found its way onto my countenance as I watched the ape approach from above with an open maw, its abandoned claws wobbling behind it. It had forsaken the only part of its body that made it a threat.

[Lethal Precision]

A neck approached. Exposed. Bare. Vulnerable.

The sharp blade slid through it, cleanly severing the head. Warm vitae spilled, but the momentum of the ape's body remained, crashing onto me.

The massive form, akin to a small car, slammed into me, launching me backward. Pain coursed through my body, muting my senses, and agony seared as I gasped for air. It was the first time.

Yet, the smile on my face refused to vanish. The thrill, the adrenaline, the essence of the hunt coursed through my veins. I embraced it, revelled in it.

A sensation of rejuvenation filled my body, a momentary surge that made me feel greater, higher, a bit closer to something.

However, I couldn't fully grasp it yet. Pushing everything to the back of my mind, I needed to retreat. The sounds of battle were still ongoing nearby.

Groaning, I managed to stand up, sharp pain coursing through my chest. I fervently hoped I hadn't broken any ribs. Retrieving my knife that had slipped from my grip when the ape crashed into me, I stared at its headless corpse, still twitching.

Rushing back the way I came from, toward the clearing with the first Thunderquill fox, my chest burned with pain. A persistent skill kept whispering in my ears—Adaptation. I hesitated to activate it at this moment.

Constantly using [Keen Perception], [Visionary Mastery], and [Fleet-footed Sprint] had already drained my energy, and now it was taking its toll on me.

Needing a moment of respite, I found myself back in the clearing where I had hunted the goblins, the lifeless vixen's carcass still lying there.

Lingering around it was a risky move, considering that monsters seemed drawn to such scenes. However, staying close yet inconspicuous enough to observe any approaching threats seemed like a prudent choice.

Venturing into the forest, I located a suitable tree and climbed it for a better vantage point. From my elevated position, I had a clear view of the charred clearing, allowing me to heave a sigh of relief.

The pain in my chest persisted. Turning off every single skill, I rested against the thick trunk of the tree. My hood remained intact, and I pulled it closer to ward off the chill of the night.