Chapter 18: Harbinger Of Darkness

As the inky darkness of night descended, what should have been a serene and peaceful evening was violently shattered by the deafening cacophony of terror. The air reverberated with spine-chilling screams that pierced through the silence of the forest, a macabre symphony conducted by an unseen malevolence. Explosions punctuated the night, their fiery bursts illuminating the horrors that unfolded.

Emerging from the dense foliage, a menacing horde of colossal Obsidian Tusk Boars surged forth. These hulking creatures, renowned as the most formidable denizens of this treacherous terrain, were feared for their unrivaled prowess in both offense and defense. But on this night, fate had taken a sinister twist, and the formidable titans found themselves fleeing in abject terror, pursued by a far more lethal predator.

Their colossal frames thundered through the underbrush, massive tusks cutting through the foliage like obsidian scythes, but their efforts were in vain. They were powerless, mere prey in a merciless hunt, desperately seeking escape from an impending doom that seemed inescapable.

Relentlessly, thousands upon thousands of ebony projectiles hurtled towards the retreating giants with lethal precision. These deadly projectiles descended like a relentless rain, showing no mercy to those who dared to pause and glance back at their relentless pursuers.

Explosions rent the night, and two ill-fated Obsidian Tusk Boars, caught unawares, were engulfed by the calamitous blasts. Swallowed by the voracious black smoke, they vanished in an instant, leaving behind naught but a colossal void where their towering forms once stood.

Amidst the chaos and destruction, a maniacal laughter emerged, a chilling symphony in the midst of pandemonium. From the swirling abyss of darkness, the architect of this gruesome spectacle made his entrance. Gideon, a diminutive figure with a sinister air, emerged with an eerie grace, his rubbery voice rising in pitch to match the madness that swirled around him.

*You have leveled up.*

*You have leveled up.*

Gideon reveled in the eerie acknowledgment that rang out within his mind, savoring the sensation of growing power. His voice, which had been high-pitched and maniacal moments before, echoed through the night like a harbinger of doom.

"You can run, but you can't hide," Gideon taunted, his words a grotesque parody of childlike glee. With a snap of his fingers, he triggered the detonation of two of his sinister creations, the dreaded *Tracker's Quill*. The invisible spines, which had latched onto the hapless Obsidian Tusk Boars, exploded in brilliant bursts of malevolent energy.

Explosions of black smoke enveloped the panicked giants, their agonized cries mingling with the acrid scent of corroding flesh. The formidable hides of the Obsidian Tusk Boars, renowned for their imperviousness, offered no sanctuary against the devastating power of the *Tracker's Quill*. They crumbled, their once-imposing forms reduced to shattered remnants.

*You have leveled up.*

Gideon's laughter, now tinged with a twisted satisfaction, reverberated through the haunted forest. The juxtaposition of his diminutive stature and the overwhelming destruction he wrought was a disconcerting sight to behold. Yet, even in the midst of his elation, a sudden bout of self-awareness gripped him.

As the ominous sound of his laughter continued to hang in the air like a lingering curse, he couldn't help but pause and clear his throat with a cough.

"Perhaps," he mused, the wicked glint in his eyes contrasting starkly with his unassuming form, "I am deriving a tad too much enjoyment from this spectacle." Gideon's gaze shifted to the chaotic scene unfolding before him, where a small group of Obsidian Tusk Boars, driven by a primal fear, desperately sought escape from his relentless pursuit.

The vile grin that crept across his lips hinted at a darker truth. "I must admit," he confessed, his voice dripping with malefic satisfaction, "I do sound rather like a deranged psychopathic villain, don't I?" He shook his head.

Gideon, a formidable hunter, summoned his innate ability, *Roll*, transforming into a menacing spiky ball. With relentless determination, he surged toward his elusive prey, his gaze fixed upon the quarry that dared to escape his grasp. Awaiting his command were the hovering *Spike Missiles,* poised to strike with deadly precision at his will. However, as he closed in on his targets, Gideon's strategic instincts veered him in a different direction.

"These shall become my morning repast," he declared with a calculated grin, passing by the lifeless forms of two Obsidian Tusk Boars sprawled on the earth, their remains partially corroded. They had fallen victim to his *Tracker's Quill*. "Just two remain."

Gideon's spherical form accelerated, relentlessly pursuing the two fleeing Obsidian Tusk Boars. As he closed the gap, he unleashed his *Claw Attack,* momentarily vanishing into thin air, only to reappear atop one of the colossal beasts.

With a deft swipe of his claws, Gideon cleaved a vicious, inky gash through the boar's neck, the malevolent sound of rending flesh echoing through the air. Given the boar's immense size, its head did not fully separate from its body. Instead, it bounced erratically on the ground as the creature's body continued its futile escape.

Before the first Obsidian Tusk Boar could succumb, Gideon vanished once more, his form materializing above the second behemoth. His slash, this time, was executed with pinpoint precision, cleanly severing the head from the giant boar's body. The disembodied head soared through the air as the lifeless body collapsed beneath it.

"A flawless strike!" Gideon exulted as he touched down upon the ground, his triumphant claw raised skyward.

*You have leveled up.*

Gideon stood in silent reverie for a few moments, absorbing the overwhelming sense of victory that enveloped him. When he finally roused himself, his keen senses went to work, his nose twitching as he scanned his surroundings, seeking out any potential new quarry. To his dismay, a thorough investigation revealed nothing; all the monsters in the vicinity had fled in abject terror at his fearsome display of power.

"I've sown quite a bit of chaos," he remarked casually, snapping his fingers. Every remaining spine that had been floating around him rocketed into the sky, erupting into inky explosions that reverberated throughout the area. Gideon remained nonchalant, unfazed by the thunderous echoes.

"Ah, well, no matter. Time to seek out a new hunting ground," he mused aloud, his gaze turning toward the floating status board suspended in the air before him. "But first, it's time to allocate my available stat points."

With deliberate care, Gideon began the meticulous process of distributing his newfound attributes, a thoughtful prelude to the next phase of his relentless journey as a formidable hunter in this treacherous world. His every movement exuded an air of indomitable purpose, as he forged onward into the unknown, ready to conquer whatever challenges lay ahead.

•••••

NAME: GIDEON BRANGWEN

LEVEL: 16/20

SPECIES: SMALL BUT ALL-ROUNDER HEDGEHOG

*STATS*

VITALITY: 79 (+395)

STRENGTH: 81 (+405)

MAGIC: 82 (+410)

SPEED: 80 (+400)

STAMINA: 79 (+395)

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