Chapter 14: Winter Beasts

I decided to start hunting by the time I was 11 years old.

Feeling the wips of cold winter wind prickle at my face, I continued to leap through the forest canopies, from branch to branch.

It was mid winter in Aetohria. I donned a light grey winter coat with a furhood to defend against the low temperature of the season. The coat was light enough to not impede my movement and make any sound, and thick and warm enough to serve it's purpose.

In my hand was a simple bow I had been practicing along with spearmanship these past three years, and a quill of arrows I carried by waist.

Landing untop a tree branch, I temporarily halt my advancement and studied my surroundings while quickly activating my {Inspect} skill.

...

[Skill {Inspect (lvl3)} is currently active]

...

My {Inspect} skill had maxed out a while ago after I repeatedly started activating it. And using my advanced vision, I zoomed further into the distance of the snowy forest carefully.

This is the first time I'll be hunting like this, I thought wistfully.

It didn't take long for me to lock on to my prey not too far away. My {Inspect} skill zoomed on it and outlined it's stats for me to see.

...

[Name: Wererabbit

Type: Beast

Level: 9

Rank: E+

...]

...

A beast, huh. And level 9 as well. That's a bit higher than mine, but I should have no problem sniping it down from this distance.

The beast was a large white furred rabbit with three horns and blood red eyes that stood out in a contrast in the white of its fur and snow.

The Wererabbit still hadn't noticed me from the distance, as was expected. I could only see it thanks to the zooming feature of my {Inspect} skill.

Not lingering any longer, I set an arrow on my bow string, turned around then hooked my legs round the tree branch...and fell backwards.

I hung upside from the branch at an awkward position and raised my bow to aim.

This was totally unnecessary of me, but I saw it in a movie once so...

Cough. Plus I loved a challenge.

My bow skills weren't anything spectacular, but they weren't bad or lacking too much. I felt the odd position bring the world into focus for me.

The wind continued to beat at my face, but it was at a temperature that was neglible. My concentration piqued as I focused on my oblivious target in the distance.

I pulled back the string and calmed my breathing and settled my mind. I halted for a moment, measuring the wind velocity and calculating the distance and precision between my target and I.

The {Inspect} skill quickly helped with that and I grew more confident in hitting my mark.

I lingered just a little longer, syncing with the winter forest.

And with a small turbid breath, I let go of the bow string, and with a silent whistle, the arrow tore through the air quickly and traveled the distance for my target.

The arrow whistled and hit the target in less than two seconds.

With my current strength, the oblivious Wererabbit couldn't react at all and died with a single arrow in its neck without knowing what hit it.

Subsequently, a system message appeared before my eyes with a ring.

[Ding! You have slain a Level 9 Beast, Wererabbit! You have gotten stronger!]

Simultaneously, as I watched the Wererabbit fall lifelessly to the snowy ground, I felt a vague surge of energy flow through me. It was so small and subtle, that I barely noticed it.

Yes! I jubilated internally and threw myself down to the forest ground.

I felt lighter as I touched on my feet gently to the snowy forest ground.

'Ohh, I see. So this is what it feels like to level up with Beasts?' I was mesmerized as I clenched and opened my fingers. The strange feeling I got had already dissolved, but it felt stranger and fulfilling.

At the very least, I could tell I had gotten stronger by just a tiny bit, even if I hadn't leveled up yet.

This is way better than exercising. I quickly understood why hunting Beasts and Monsters was a more productive method of leveling up.

Pushing the thoughts aside, I raised my head and smiled broadly.

That was my first successful kill, and I did so without hopefully damaging the prey so much. I'm sure a fur as white and sterling as that will sell nicely in the market.

Musing like so, I marched through the snowy ground to retrieve my game.

I was happy, why wouldn't I be? I managed to get a tiny bit stronger and even had my first kill.

I arrived at the spot the Wererabbit fell dead with the point of my arrow sticking through it's fur covered neck.

Scanning it's body for any external damages and seeing none, I nodded in satisfaction. I lowered myself on one knee to pick the rabbit up and pack it into a bag I had brought with me.

But I immediately stopped.

My perception was reacting to unfamiliar presences around me. And they were approaching from various directions around me.

Oh, what's this?

Feeling slightly amused I turned my head to realize I was surrounded by ferocious looking Beasts. They were wolf type beasts with miniature ram horns, and jagged teeth that was wet with saliva.

I grabbed the Wererabbit corpse form the snow and stood up from my knee, slowly observing the Wolves.

"...what?" I asked dryly and the wolves growled menacingly.

It didn't take too long for me to realize.

I raised the white furred rabbit in my hand and dangled it in front of all of them.

"You want this?" I mused, not at all thinking it weird that I was talking to wild animals.

I see. They must have been targeting the Wererabbit too, but I stole their kill.

The wolves were slowly circling me and shrinking the distance, each with eyes full of bloodlust and hunger.

I remained calm and shifted my eyes through them.

'{Inspect}'

...

[{Inspect (level 3)} has been activated]

...

I counted the number of wolves without moving, while casting my {Inspect} skill on each of them.

...

[Name: Dire Fanged Wolf

Type: Beast

Level: 13

Rank: D]

...

There were seven of them. Six were level 13 and the bigger wolf with the largest horn was a level 17 beast.

Fuck. I restrained the urge to whistle as a strange smile made it to my lips.

These guys were way out of my league. Especially the one I guessed was the pack leader.

As the wolves only continued circle me, their prey, I silently began weighing my options.

Should I just run?

Yeah that seemed right.

The wolves were leagues above me, and there were seven of them. An entire pack. Could I even outrun them?

[Logically speaking, that would be the safest option. The Monsters are an entire rank above you, and your only weapons now are the bow and a single dagger. Your advantage is lacking.] Meta inputted.

I heaved a small helpless sigh.

'Logically? When has anything ever been logical with me?:

The eyes of one of the wolves flashed with hunger as it took a single step forward at me.

'Uwa, this is terrifying, isn't it, Meta?

[...]

[You're smiling]

Hu— am I smiling? Touching my face and feeling the curl of my lips, my shoulders quivered.

'I hadn't noticed. '

"...you said these guys were an entire level above me, right?" I silently asked internally, feeling a strange emotion stir inside of me.

Well, it can't be helped. I was getting excited.

"Alright little fellas," I suddenly said to the wolves, wearing a soft smile and raising one finger. "You think you can let me off for today? No? I guess not. Then question two." I raised a second finger.

Feeling only dark glee stir inside my heart, the edges of my lips grew wider. "How many level up points are you worth?"

As if on cue, one of the Dire wolves bared its fangs and pounced at me. Immediately, my instincts and agility kicked in. I took half a step back, clenched my fist at my waist, and bent my arm inward. The large build of the wolf loomed a vast shadow against me, and a bead of sweat ran down my face.

Alas, I still kept my smile.

"Aura..." I lowered my stance and center of gravity, spacing my legs and twisting my torso slightly. Underneath my breath, I said in a low voice, "Armament."

A powerful burst of energy surged through my best arm as a gray, colorless energy exploded forth and knitted around it. I released the tension from my twisted torso and shot my fist forward in a straight jab, punching the wolf.

-BANG!

I felt my fist connect with the side of the wolf's face, and an explosive sound resounded through the winter forest as the head of the wolf jerked back instantly, its body blown away.

The Dire Fanged wolf let out only a fleeting whimper as it's massive body flew through the air and crashed against a nearbye tree then into the snowy ground, it's head and neck twisted awkwardly.

...

[Ding! You have slain a Level 13 Beast, Dire Fanged Wolf! You have grown stronger!]

[Ding! You have leveled up]

...