Chapter 10: Vorrans

Inside the world number one, a Vorran called Saberiths crouches low in the underbrush, his sharp feline eyes locked on the target ahead. He leads four other young Vorrans through the thick, dew-covered foliage, their padded feet silent against the earth.

Ahead of them, grazing near a clearing, stands a creature—something resembling a deer, but far more dangerous. Its antlers, jagged and sharp as spears, gleam under the faint light filtering through the trees. The creature towers over them, its powerful legs rippling with muscle. One misstep, and its deadly antlers could tear through any Vorran's body like it was nothing more than thin hide.

Saberiths's muscles tense, and he signals for his hunting party to halt. His companion, Leoran, moves up beside him, crouching just as low. The other three—Felarri, Cethrans, and Jha'Kari—wait behind them, perfectly still, their eyes darting between Saberiths and the beast.

"We don't usually hunt prey this dangerous," Leoran whispers, his voice barely audible. His tail flicks nervously behind him, but his amber eyes remain sharp, never leaving the beast.

Saberiths nods. "I know. But today is special. We need a worthy gift to celebrate our new chief. If we bring this down, it'll be talked about for seasons."

He turns to the others, his voice barely a murmur. "Here's the plan. Me and Leoran will attack first—try to get its attention. The three of you will flank it, surprise it from the sides. Once it's distracted, we'll all strike."

Felarri, a burly Vorran with dark fur, grins and nods. "About time we take on a real challenge."

Cethrans, smaller and quicker than the others, flashes her fangs in a silent snarl. "Let's make this quick. We don't want it charging us."

Jha'Kari, the youngest of the group, swallows hard but nods in agreement, his hand tightening around his primitive spear.

Saberiths takes a deep breath and signals to Leoran. The two move forward, their bodies gliding through the underbrush like shadows. The beast continues to graze, unaware of the danger stalking it.

"Now," Saberiths whispers.

In an instant, both Saberiths and Leoran leap from their hiding place. Saberiths hurls his spear, aiming for the creature's flank. Leoran is right behind him, his claws bared, ready to pounce.

The spear hits its mark, embedding itself in the creature's side. The beast lets out a bellowing roar, its massive head snapping toward them. Its eyes, dark and wild, narrow in fury as it lowers its antlers and charges toward Saberiths.

"Move!" Saberiths shouts, dodging to the side just as the creature barrels toward him. Leoran rolls out of the way, but the creature's antlers swipe dangerously close, cutting through the air with a whistle.

Felarri, Cethrans, and Jha'Kari spring into action, attacking from the sides. Barok lands a blow with his spear, digging it deep into the creature's shoulder. Cethrans slashes at its legs, trying to weaken it, while Jha'Kari circles around, looking for an opening.

The beast roars again, turning wildly to face the new threat. Blood trickles down its side from the wounds, but it's not slowing down. With a sudden burst of speed, it charges at Felarri, its antlers aimed directly at his chest.

"Felarri, watch out!" Jha'Kari yells.

Felarri leaps to the side just in time, the beast's antlers missing him by inches. He grits his teeth and jabs at the creature again, but it swings its massive head, knocking him back with the sheer force of its charge.

Saberiths growls in frustration. "We need to take it down together, now!"

With a swift nod, the group regroups. Saberiths and Leoran circle to the front while the others press in from the sides. The beast, now surrounded, thrashes wildly, trying to defend itself. Blood flows from multiple wounds, but it still stands tall, refusing to go down.

Saberiths locks eyes with Leoran. "Hit it hard."

In perfect synchronization, the five Vorrans strike. Saberiths and Leoran leap onto the creature's back, their claws digging into its thick hide. Felarri and Cethrans drive their spears into its legs, forcing it to stumble, while Jha'Kari lands a critical blow, piercing the beast's throat.

The creature lets out one final, guttural roar before it collapses, its body falling with a heavy thud. The forest falls silent as the Vorrans stand over their kill, breathing heavily.

Saberiths wipes the sweat from his brow, his chest heaving. "We did it."

Leoran grins, his fur matted with sweat. "The chief's going to be proud of this one."

Cethrans smirks, nudging the fallen beast with her foot. "I'd say this is more than enough to celebrate the chief's son."

Saberiths gazes down at the massive creature, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. Today, they had proven their strength, their unity. The Vorrans were not just survivors—they were hunters, warriors.

"Let's bring it back," Saberiths says, his voice firm but filled with satisfaction. "Tonight, we feast."

Outside the mini world, Azure stands before the transparent dome of Mini World One, watching the scene unfold. His heart races with a mixture of awe and fascination as the Vorrans coordinate their hunt with incredible precision. Saberiths and his group had just taken down a massive, dangerous creature, something Azure had never expected them to target so effectively.

He lets out a low whistle, shaking his head in amazement. "Their intelligence… it's higher than I thought. They're not just surviving; they're thriving."

Inside the dome, the Vorrans are already preparing to bring the slain beast back to their village. The celebrations for their chief's newborn will be grand, and Azure can almost feel their excitement through the glass-like barrier that separates their world from his. Yet, despite all their achievements, the Vorrans remain completely unaware of the vast universe beyond their dome—unaware of him, their silent observer.

Azure watches as the Vorrans start dragging the creature back to their village, using ropes and raw strength. "They're celebrating, Nexus. I didn't think they'd be capable of such complex emotions or social structures this early in their evolution."

"They've adapted remarkably well," Nexus agrees. "Their agility, intelligence, and cooperation give them an advantage over other species in Mini World One."