Chapter 22: The Hunt Part One

Chapter 22: The Hunt [part 1]

Alan was currently deep within the inner part of the forest, prowling silently in his Wildmutt form. The transformation had turned him into a hulking, orange creature with no visible eyes but an acute sense of smell and hearing. His body was covered in thick, coarse fur, and his claws were sharp enough to rend through steel. This form was perfect for the hunt he was about to embark on.

'From the information I gathered the bandit camp is here somewhere…..' Alan thought to himself.

Alan had discovered that there was a notorious bandit camp located somewhere in this dense, unforgiving part of the forest. His plan was simple: eradicate every single bandit and, if possible, save any captives. But his motivations were far from noble. Alan had learned that by killing strong humans and intelligent species, he could absorb their soul essence, a powerful resource that enhanced his abilities. By eliminating the bandits, he would not only gain more soul essence but also keep their treasures and resources for himself. Charity was not in his nature; he was driven by pragmatism and the pursuit of strength.

'If I am lucky enough I will score big and have a huge loot I should buy a house I really need one and some servents…. A butler, Maids…. I should visit the slave market soon…..' Alan thought to himself.

As he moved stealthily through the undergrowth, Alan's heightened senses picked up the distant sounds of human activity. The crackling of a campfire, the muted conversations of men at rest, and the occasional clink of metal against metal. He was getting closer. The Wildmutt form was perfect for this kind of mission. Its enhanced senses allowed him to pinpoint the location of the bandit camp without being detected.

'Look what I found' Alan thought to himself with a growl coming out of his mouth.

The forest around him was dense and dark, with towering trees that blocked out much of the sunlight. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, and the ground was carpeted with a layer of fallen leaves and twigs. Alan moved with practiced ease, avoiding any noise that might alert the bandits to his presence.

Alan deactivated his Omnitrix and reverted to his human form. He perched atop a sturdy tree branch, hidden among the dense foliage, and observed the bandit camp below. The camp was bustling with activity; around twenty-five bandits roamed the perimeter, their weapons glinting in the fading light of dusk. Alan's eyes narrowed as he took note of their movements and positions.

"They have this much people as security guards? What the hell!" Alan said to himself.

The Omnitrix on his wrist emitted a faint hum, signaling that it was recharging. Alan waited patiently, his mind focused and his heart steady. Despite the grim task ahead, he felt a sense of determination. These bandits were a blight on the land, preying on the innocent and amassing wealth through cruelty and violence. He would see to it that their reign of terror ended tonight.

'I wonder if they have good looking slaves, I woudn't mind taking one or two for myself.' Alan thought with a smile.

Finally, the Omnitrix emitted a soft beep, indicating it was fully charged. Alan activated it and selected his favorite alien form, Ghostfreak. In an instant, his body transformed into a ghostly, spectral figure. He became invisible and intangible, able to pass through solid objects and move undetected.

'Lets do some scouting….'

Alan floated down from the tree and glided towards the camp, passing effortlessly through the walls of the wooden barricade that surrounded it. He navigated through the camp silently, his ghostly form rendering him undetectable to the bandits. As he moved deeper into the camp, the sight that greeted him was both horrifying and heart-wrenching.

'F#CKKKK…..' Alan exclaimed.

Inside a large, warehouse-like structure, Alan saw numerous female captives—humans, elves, and beast kin—chained or caged. Most of them were unclothed, their bodies bearing the marks of beatings and signs of sexual assault. Alan felt a heaviness settle in his heart, a mix of anger and sorrow. He had to remain focused, but the sight of such suffering only strengthened his resolve.

'Looks like I'm gonna perform an exorcism today. I need to collect the more information here.' Alan thought to himself.

Determined to gather as much information as possible, Alan continued his spectral journey through the camp. He floated through walls and doors, silently observing the layout and identifying key locations. In a large storage room, he found crates filled with gold bars, fine jewelry, and high-quality weapons. The bandits had clearly been successful in their raids, amassing a significant hoard of valuable items.

'YES YES It's a JACKPOT I'm richhhhhhh' He exclaimed in his mind. He looked at the gold bars which were stacked in a giant vault. 'Don't loose your focus Alan, Gotta take all of the bandits out before this.' Alan said in his mind.

Alan pressed on, his goal now set on finding the bandit leader. He passed through several more walls and doors until he located a well-guarded structure near the center of the camp. Inside, the atmosphere was different—more opulent and less chaotic. This had to be the leader's quarters.

Floating through the thick wooden door, Alan entered the leader's room.

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