Chapter 19: The Hunt

Aiden leaned against the rough bark of a tree, his eyes scanning the system window that materialized in front of him.

Status Window

Name: Aiden Fernandez

Age: 14

Race: Lesser Human (99.85% Human

Bloodline + 0.15% Primordial Devil ???)

Bloodline: Primordial Devil ??? (Grade: Unknown)

Level: 4/10 (Life Force: 070/800)

Realm: Awakened (Tier 1)

Strength: 6

Agility: 5

Vitality: 10

Endurance: 4

Spirit: 20

Health: 79/100

Stamina: 31/40

Mana: 0/100

Undistributed Stats: 2

Innate Talent: None

Skills: <Devil Truth of Misery (Rare)>, <Perennial Regeneration>

A satisfied smile tugged at his lips. The six giant caterpillars he had slain had propelled him to level 4. Four were level 3, each granting 60 Life Force, and the other two were level 2, giving him a nice boost. Now, reaching level 5 meant accumulating 800 Life Force. The climb was getting steeper with each level. He could only imagine the challenges that awaited him at level 10.

Another puzzling aspect was his Mana. His bar remained stubbornly empty despite having a seemingly set limit of 100. He had no idea what it was or how to use it, but for now, he pushed the thought aside.

With a grunt, Aiden picked up a chunk of flesh, shoving it into his mouth. He needed to recover fast. He had discovered that not only did eating the creatures replenish his energy, but it also boosted his stamina.

"There are more of those creatures nearby," Aiden murmured, his enhanced senses, fueled by his Devil Truth of Misery ability, picking up the faint scent of giant caterpillars. "The only way to survive here is to be a predator," he concluded grimly.

He understands that the only way to survive in this harsh world was to become a predator.

After a few minutes of rest, he pushed himself up and plunged deeper into the forest's verdant embrace

**

A thick, flexible rope whipped through the air, wrapping around a massive caterpillar and tearing through its tough hide. A death notification materialized before Aiden, confirming the kill. These notifications were lifesavers, a clear indicator of whether a creature was truly dead or not.

This was his eighth giant Caterpillar-like creature since entering deep in the forest.

The deeper he ventured away from the Mysterious Tree, the higher the creature levels seemed to climb. The forest itself seemed endless, spreading out in a vast, uncharted sea of green.

Aiden really needed a map, he thought longingly, it would be an invaluable tool in this labyrinthine wilderness

"I guess an army of these caterpillars awaits me if I go further in," he muttered, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

He can sense with his ability that there was an army of Caterpillars just 2 km from here. It seems that these caterpillar-like creatures live in a large group.

After killing dozens of the caterpillar-like creatures, he has found their weak point.

He had learned that their bursts of speed left them exhausted afterward, creating a window for attack.

But taking on an entire army was a different story altogether.

These creatures, Aiden realized, possessed an unsettling level of awareness. Their ability to sense the emotions of their brethren made fighting them in large groups a tactical nightmare, even with his super regeneration at his disposal.

Aiden looked at the boar tusk that was now a dull, chipped mess after its brutal use against the caterpillars. Aiden tossed it aside, the tusk clang against a nearby rock.

Aiden sank into thought for a moment, finally deciding to set up camp. His plan was to wait, lure lone caterpillars into the area, and pick them off one by one.

But a knot of doubt twisted in his stomach. Since arriving in this strange realm, the Mysterious Tree had always offered him a safe haven.

"If these caterpillars can thrive in this vast forest," he reasoned, "then maybe I can too."

Returning to the Mysterious Tree was tempting. Resting in its burrow was certainly appealing, but the distance was vast. He needed to learn to survive on his own, to push himself beyond the safety net of the tree.

Always staying there would cripple his growth. The creatures near the tree were weak, barely a challenge.

With his newfound abilities, Aiden felt confident taking on level 5 or even level 6 caterpillars – he just hadn't encountered any yet. The highest he'd encountered so far was a level 5.

Another thought struck him – the lack of creatures around this area. Maybe these caterpillars were the dominant predators in this area, driving out all competition.

Before settling into his waiting game, he needed to find a proper hiding place. The dense canopy of leaves above offered perfect camouflage, but first, he had to learn how to climb.

By nightfall of the third day, Aiden perched comfortably on a sturdy branch of the biggest tree he could find. It hadn't taken long to master the art of climbing – using a mix of instinct and observation, Aiden discovered a method to efficiently climb the tree's rough surface.

He could now climb a tree with surprising agility.

Though his planned hunt for more Caterpillars proved futile they seemed to avoid this region.

Although he did manage to kill three new types of creatures, none higher than level 2 and they didn't have any special ability.

However, what surprised him. After consuming these new creatures, he gained a significant boost – +2 Strength and +1 Endurance Maturation Attributes. Earning Maturation Points seemed easier than he expected. Perhaps it was his Primordial Devil bloodline at work, or maybe it was simply the sheer amount of food he was consuming.

Ever since awakening his bloodline, his hunger seemed insatiable. His stomach felt like a bottomless pit. He reasoned that by eating as much as he could, consuming every creature he hunted, he might accelerate his growth in terms of Maturation Points.

His current perch offered him a new vantage point, chosen after catching a faint whiff of caterpillar scent. And now, his senses flared – six colossal caterpillars emerged into the clearing below. They looked similar to the ones he'd fought before, except for prominent white markings on their bodies. An unsettling realization washed over him – these creatures radiated power far exceeding the level 5 caterpillar he'd encountered.

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