The Bush Hedgehog (2)

The bush hedgehog ran through the field, with Erik following. The creature moved erratically, at least at first glance, with no clear destination.

Erik tracked it for the experience points; those were the key for him to finally get powerful, and since he had been lucky enough to deliver a nasty injury, killing it was a possibility.

However, it was also true that his sharpening power was better than he thought. 

The problem, though, was that the wheat made it difficult to keep sight of his target. He relied on its trail to stay close, but he could lose it at any moment.

Luckily, there was a blood trail. In the end, the wheat field gave way to forest. Thick trees rose. Erik found himself far from any signs of civilization. Only birds called in the silence.

A rustling caught his attention.

<It must be near.>

The rustling continued. Somewhere amidst the trees and underbrush was his target.

Erik moved forward, deeper into the forest, following the rustling sounds. Looking around, he tried to spot any quills or eyes in the shadows.

Checking the ground, Erik found the blood trail. With his sharpened wheat stalk in hand, he followed the blood drops to a bush.

Erik used a stick to push aside the leaves. The injured monster was on the ground in pain. It was breathing hard, its eyes full of fear. Blood dripped from where Erik had cut it, soaking its quills. It tried to crawl away but couldn't move because of the pain.

Erik hesitated, weapon poised. The creature was already doomed, its blood leaking out to water the thirsty soil. To kill it now would be a mercy.

The problem was that all of this was different from when he killed the Densoph. That had been a fast affair, one that didn't leave alternatives or time to think. This time, Erik found himself in front of an agonizing creature. 

With each breath, it whimpered. An unfamiliar feeling rose within Erik, one he had never known.

The urge to end its life arose, sudden and overpowering. 

<I must do this…>

Gripping his weapon, he stepped forward, leaves crunching underfoot.

The creature's beady eyes locked onto his, wide with primal fear. It tried to drag itself away again, claws raking the bare earth.

Erik loomed above it now, his shadow falling over its matted fur. With a single motion, he brought the weapon down, feeling it slice through quills and flesh.

The hedgehog convulsed once, then lay still, its blood seeping into the soil. Erik stared at the lifeless body. 

[Hostile creature killed: Mana absorbing process starting.]

[0%...1%...5%...30%...70%...100%]

[Mana successfully absorbed, starting converting procedure.]

[3...2...1...0]

[Mana successfully absorbed into experience. 242 experience points awarded to the host.]

[The host is advised to collect the creature's brain crystal and a sample of blood.]

Crouching down, Erik angled the sharpened stick and drove it into the hedgehog's underbelly and split open its tender flesh. 

Dark blood welled up, spilling out in a steady crimson flow. Gritting his teeth to avoid gagging, Erik sliced again, carving a deep gash across its abdomen.

The fresh wound gaped open, a red river pouring forth. 

Erik watched the growing pool of blood seep into the earth. The forest had gone silent once more, save for the steady drip of blood from his weapon. 

[QUEST COMPLETE. ALL SUB-GOALS COMPLETED.]

[LEVEL UP.]

The notification rang in Erik's mind, but he barely registered it because of his racing thoughts. He had never taken a life before, man or beast, at least not like this, not so cold. 

Though the hedgehog, like most Thaids, preyed on other creatures, humans included, so he didn't feel bad. Not as he expected, at least.

He knew he should feel remorse or unease looking at the dead creature. Instead, he felt almost nothing. Killing was new to him, but his lack of emotion was weird even for him. 

The emptiness he felt at taking a life seemed wrong. Mana surged within him, raw power simmering beneath his skin. 

Back in the city, Erik kept to himself and stayed quiet. He bottled up his frustrations deep inside. Now, looking at the dead Thaid, he felt nothing but detachment. 

The act of hunting and killing awakened a basic instinct in him, driven by his desire to gain strength. Now that he had a path to power, the young man felt a new sense of purpose take over.

"Now that's a harvest," Erik said. 

Erik turned back toward the lifeless hedgehog, an eager glint in his eye. "Time to get my bonus."

He looked at the blood with disgust. But he had no choice—it was either drink it or stay weak forever. The power it offered was too important to ignore.

Erik collected some blood on his finger and quickly brought it to his mouth. The metallic taste hit his tongue as he swallowed the warm liquid, trying not to think about it.

"Disgusting," he said, choking down another mouthful as a system message appeared in his mind.

[Bush Hedgehog's DNA gained. Initiating analysis…]

Wiping his mouth, Erik fought to keep the blood down. The aftertaste clung to his throat, metallic and cloying.

[Analysis complete.]

[100 DNA points required for extraction. 500 points to avoid pain and loss of consciousness.]

[410 DNA points detected. Starting extraction?]

Erik took a deep breath, waiting for his roiling gut to settle. He then found the strength to talk. "No. I need to get home first."

He proceeded with the gruesome task. Taking the wheat stalk, he made a cut into the creature's skull, cutting through the bone.

Inside was a mass of tissue surrounded by fluid. Though unpleasant, Erik knew what he had to do to get the brain crystal.

He reached inside, feeling through the soft material until his fingers found a hard object.

After retrieving the brain crystal, he cleaned the small bead and swallowed it.

Another notification rang up inside his head.

[Bush Hedgehog's brain crystal gained. Initiating analysis…]

[Analysis complete.]

[100 DNA points required for power extraction. 500 points to avoid pain and loss of consciousness.]

[410 DNA points detected. Extraction is not advised since the host has incompatible DNA.]

[Extraction Aborted.]

<This is the same notification I got other time, when unknown Thaid brain crystal.>

There was something different compared to the last time, though. The mention of getting the power without incurring pain. Unfortunately, he didn't have 1000 DNA points to spend.

Looking around, Erik noticed he was in an unfamiliar place. Sure, a forest, but he finally realized there were no forests inside New Alexandria. There were parks, but they were not so large, and for sure the vegetation wasn't so deep.

Various small creatures moved through the undergrowth. Erik turned away from the dead hedgehog and started heading back.

He soon spotted the wheat field ahead and felt relieved to see something familiar. But this feeling didn't last long. As he tried to reach the field, he hit something solid but invisible.

"Ouch!" Erik smacked into something solid but invisible. He put his hands out, feeling a smooth surface blocking his path. Some kind of barrier wrapped around the woods.

"What is this thing?" he said.

His hands pressed against the clear wall that blocked his way back to Mister Fox's farm.

"No... No way!"

Fear gripped him as his head got clear enough to realize where he was. He hadn't gone through any city gates, yet here he was.

<I'm outside the barrier!>

Now it made sense—the unfamiliar area, this impassable wall cutting him off from everything he knew.

Erik forced himself to breathe slowly. He needed to find the hole that got him out here and getting worked up wouldn't help.

He ran his hands across the invisible wall, searching for the hole through which he got out. The barrier felt smooth everywhere he touched.

<Maybe… >

Thoughts of leaving New Alexandria arose. This was his chance.

However, a look at the dark forest changed his mind quickly. If a bush hedgehog was already a challenge, what could he do against whatever lurked out there? 

<Better not find it out.>

For now, he just needed to get back inside New Alexandria, as much as he hated that place. He'd escape properly once he was stronger. Erik kept searching, knowing there had to be a way through.

The blood trail from the hedgehog caught his eye. 

<That should lead me inside.>

Then his hands met empty air instead of the barrier. He tried again—nothing blocking his way. He'd found it—the gap in the wall!

"YES!"

He moved his hand left and right, fingertips tapping along the invisible wall. It was solid, impenetrable. Yet, just to the left, there was nothing.