11 Chapter 11 : Predation
Inside a silent, cloud forest, where the trees were motionless and the wind was still. Feeding on grass freshened up by dew, a rabbit-like creature filled itself up. It had thick, black fur, abnormally large hind legs, and big red eyes. There was nothing more peculiar to this creature other than the razor-sharp spines coating the edges of its long, thin ears.
*SNAP*
Its ears quickly launch quills, darting towards the sound behind the thick line of bushes. It paused and stood straight up for a better view, questioning its security. Sunlight never got to the ground, but it could still see well around the trees. The fog was not too much, though it was well enough to reduce visibility of the surroundings. Nothing. Just the deafening silence.
Its long ears were straight up like an antenna, twitching from one direction to the other.
*SLASH*
And there goes his right ear.
*SQUEAL*
He dashes away for dear life, the remains of his right ear bleeding profusely while the left was was heavily injured with three claw marks. There was no way to defend himself in one on one combat now, his instincts told him that the assailant was close behind. There was a cliff near the eastern side of the forest that divided the ground. If he could cross over to the other side, the predator wouldn't be able to pursue.
The only problem is...it was really far from where he is right now. He was losing blood, a lot of it that he's started feeling dizzy. But he needed to tough it out if he wanted to live, the deadly marathon begins.
...
<After two hours of endless running>
The fog cleared and the cliff could now be seen. He had to rest briefly five times and check if he was still being followed. But each time he did, he almost lost his life. Now he had three gaping wounds on his back but his ears stopped bleeding after an hour. But even so, he's lost so much blood on the way.
The edge. The will to live wins today, he was finally safe. He jumps with all his might, visually suspending him in mid-air. Goodbye to that persistent monster trying to kill him.
...
*Grabs*
Something gripped his head from behind, looking closely at his face with the most sinister smile.
"...CAUGHT YOUU~!!!"
*SQUEAL—BPLEURGH*
Dead, head bashed into a tree. Eyeballs popped out of the skull, its face turned into a messed up spaghetti of brain and blood.
*Twitching*
The killer looks at his kill and opens his mouth wide.
*Woiishh*
The rabbits body was deteriorating quickly while its blood was slowly going into the killer's jaws. After a few seconds, it was less than a dry piece of rag. The creature stands upright then wipes its mouth.
'There...took me a while to catch this one. You were right, this pest is really troublesome.'
'L:(Told you so. It's called a [Quilled Hare], their unbelievably quick on their feet and those throwing darts are lined with paralyzing venom. They get more potent as the Hare ages.)'
It was Enoch...but with a dark monkey-like figure. His body and limbs were covered in black-violet fur, excluding only his face and chest. He looks much healthier now than he did before. The mangled face of his healed but left behind a scar going across. And finally, a tail twice the length of his arm. Leviathan, ever since settling in Enoch's body, communicated telepathically.
'And remind me why I had to hunt this rat?'
'L:(Try reviewing your stats for a moment.)'
"Okay~...[Examine]"
*Ping*
He said while looking at his arm. The usual-unusual panel popped up infront of him, showing his stats.
{
Name : • Enoch •
HP : • INVALIDATED •
MP : 280/340 + 142, 697
Age : • 7 •
Race : • Undead Puppet •
Condition : • Morphed : [Shadow Ape] •
Stats :
{
STR : • INVALIDATED •
AGT : Lvl 13 + 628
DEX : • MAX •
INT : Lvl 13 + 759
WSD : Lvl 13 + 651
STM : • INVALIDATED •
}
Skills :
- Active -
[Shape Shifter {[Flicker ] | [Shadow Armour] | [Brute Strength] | [Venomous Dart Quills]} ]
[Intimidate]
[Consume]
[Examine]
- Passive -
[Wrath - Lvl 4]
[Shared Mana - Leviathan]
[Shared Skills - Leviathan]
[Bloodlust - Lvl 4]
[Self-Reconstruction - MAX]
[Mana Manipulation – Lvl 5]
[Conjure Mastery – Lvl 5]
Affinity :
[Corrupt Magic]
[Shadow Magic]
Titles :
[Leviathan's Host]
[Devourer]
[Reanimated]
[Limitless]
[Defiant Being]
}
"Undead Puppet, huh..."
'L:(Yes, It was the only way to revive you. Now you are an Undead because you technically were supposed to be dead but I tied your soul to an immortal-body, that is a copy of yours. The [System] must have recognized you as an officially new race.)'
'I still don't understand what this [System] of yours is. I get that it can transform and calculate given information into a series of numbers, but is that all? That would've been useless to begin with."
'L:(*sigh* Ignorant child...Nevermind that now, you should be able to experience how useful it really is along the way. Well more importantly, look. We've accomplished the task at hand, try using the new skill)'
'Ohh~! I finally understand why we had to chase that rabbit around. Now that I have ranged weapons, hunting wouldn't be as annoying as before...Do I have to shoot it from my ears too?!'
'L:(That is an option, but it truly will be inefficient. You will need to learn controlling your ears, just as you did when your tail first came to...How about using your tail instead? I mean it would be quite difficult but once you learn to, it would be very beneficial having one other appendage.)'
"Right~. I'll do practice while we're on the way. C'mon, where's the next target?"
'L:(How impatient...might as well. Done with [Shadow Ape], killing the leader got you [Shadow Armour],you killed a lot of those lower ranked apes to be honest. I almost feel pity for the clueless chimps. The [Quilled Hare]. We're fortunate enough to accomplish that on the first try. So next is...a [Crystal Leopard].'
'...well? Where and what is that?'
'L:(It's quite a rare being and considered holy by some half-wits when it's only like a statue of ice chiseled into the shape of an overgrown cat. The only place where we're sure to find one is at an old school to the northwest from here.)'
*BOOM KKRRRSSHH*
Taking a stance, he started travelling northwest. Leapt from tree to tree using [Flicker], disappearing and reappearing.
'L:(It should take you a day and a half to arrive there, counting on your skill. But be very careful, there are a lot of powerful magicians there. They protect everything within the school's vicinity.)
Enoch stopped, perched on a branch while scanning the area for prey.
"Man, I could go for some snack right now. That rabbit didn't really fill me up."
'L:(Mind you, with that body I gave you. There is no such need for food or rest, now off we go.)'
"Tch! Scaly old-man."
'L:(Oh shut it, you mangled mongrel. You can feast on the [Magic Beast]s they keep there in that school. Most of them have been domesticated anyways, so they won't pose too much of a problem.)'
'And what's the name of this school you keep talking about?'
'L:(As I recall~...It was Queensfort.)
