NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15 – The Grand Hunt
Bam* Bam* Bam*
"I'm so fucking dead."
That was my first thought as I heard the thousands of monsters outside attacking all the shops on the shopping strip. The shop I was hiding in included.
Although the shop was barred and had laminated glass protecting it, it was only a matter of time...
"I need to escape, now!" - I thought and opened the bedroom door.
Shatter*
I heard the sound of a window breaking from another room. Something entered the apartment.
"Shit..." - I cursed.
I grabbed a 9mm silenced pistol in my right hand and a combat knife in my left and looked at the corridor.
All the doors were closed, but I knew from which door the enemy would come. It was the room on the other end of the corridor. It wasn't because I had super hearing, but...
Crash* Rattle*
The monster, likely a Stalker, was destroying the other room, likely overturning every corner.
I don't know if they are under orders, but I knew one thing. They are thorough.
That also meant I would be exposed sooner rather than later.
Taking advantage of its distraction, I sneaked to the opposite room, hoping it got a window installed for viewing the back.
As quietly as possible, I sneaked onto the stone floor, reached for the handle, and opened the wooden door.
Creak*
The door creaked, and the wreaking noise stopped.
"Shit!" - I cursed and vaulted inside the room.
A moment later...
CRASH*
The sound of a door frame breaking sounded.
Without looking at the contents of the room, I looked in front.
A blinds-covered window was there.
"YES!"
My eyes lit up as I sneaked over and lifted a slat.
What greeted my eyes made me ecstatic.
An empty street! No monsters in sight!
What more can I ask for?
"Teleport!"
I teleported on the street and made a run for it.
Around ten seconds later...
"CREEE!!!!"
A Stalker shriek was heard from the apartment, but I didn't turn around to look. It likely discovered something.
"But can you guess I teleported out?!" - I smiled broadly while running.
Looking around while running, all I saw were uncharacteristically empty streets. Not even a single mob was out.
"They all gathered in the shopping strip?" - I wondered.
My suspicions were confirmed after running 500m without seeing a single mob.
"Well, shit. I hope they won't bunch up together from now on, or I can't get kills..." - I muttered my worries.
My whole plan was based on Conceal Presence and then assassinating the Stalkers and Soldiers before scramming. And after I clear them all, I can harvest the mobs.
But now, if they decide to bunch up, I can only choose to run and hide.
"Fuck it. I will see how it goes. If they bunch up, I can only hide and bide my time. But, if they spread out... Hehe..."
I malevolently smiled.
In this town, I am like fish in water.
If they dare be greedy and spread out...
I will make them pay the price.
A minute earlier...
In the apartment...
SHATTER*
The Leader and two Stalkers broke through a window and entered a bedroom.
"Sir!"
The Stalker who called out reported.
"Where is it?!" - The Leader demanded immediately.
"Sir, I found fresh blood footprints!" - The Stalker pointed at the ground.
The Leader looked down and saw the faint yellowish blood footprints. It was Stalker blood.
The footprints led to an open room.
"Go and see." - The Leader ordered the two Stalkers behind it and took a few steps back.
A countermeasure in case it was boobytrapped.
"Yes!" - The two ignorant Stalkers charged in.
Luckily for them, however, the room was empty.
"It is empty, Sir!" - They reported.
"I can tell that much." - The Leader sneered and entered the room.
Looking at the footprints, he saw them leading to a closed and blind-covered window.
The Leader frowned.
"You, remove the blinds!" - He pointed at a Stalker and ordered.
After fighting a Human Stalker once, the Leader became paranoid, seeing all sorts of boobytraps. A window trap is common. Heck, it might even snipe it.
"Yes!" - The innocent Stalker complied and did as told.
Removing the blinds, the Stalker looked around but saw nothing.
"I see nothing, sir!" - He replied.
"Open the window." - The Leader said.
"Yes." - The innocent Stalker opened the window.
"Nothing, sir." - He blinked, finding nothing.
"..." - The Leader remained silent, a bit surprised.
In his mind, the Stalker should have died but didn't.
"Did the Human Stalker didn't have time to set up a trap? Or have I misjudged the Human?" - The Leader wondered.
Looking at the now-open window, the Leader questioned the Stalker that called.
"You. Did you hear the window being opened or closed?" - The Leader asked him.
"No, Sir! I only heard this door creak!" - The Stalker replied.
"... I see." - The Leader frowned.
He didn't doubt the Stalker's words. He wouldn't dare lie to his face.
That left three options.
One, the Human was still in the house and trying to trick them.
Two, the Human left through another exit or was just that good and left through the window quietly and closed it quietly.
Three... the Human somehow vanished again.
"... You, continue searching the shop with the minions. The rest of you, follow me." - The Leader ordered and left with the two Stalkers.
"The Human is unlikely to stay there, so it must have run away already." - The Leader figured.
However, that was also a problem.
"It now escaped the net and is free to roam the town like a rat in the sewers. Troublesome." - The Leader felt a headache.
It will be troublesome to find it now.
There are thousands of buildings in the town, most still intact.
A Human Stalker would feel right at home, like fish in water.
If he bunches his troops into a hoard, they would be safer, but the Human Stalker will run away again, possibly abandoning the town because it couldn't hunt.
If he uses squad tactics, the chances to catch the Human Stalker would be higher, but he would likely sense the danger and escape.
That means he can only spread his troops around the town. Doing this can prevent the Human Stalker from fleeing, but it would also make them vulnerable. However, this vulnerability can also stoke the flames of greed.
Kin Crystals are the hard currency after the Great Change, and evolved crystals are worth dozens, if not hundreds of times more than a minion crystal.
By making his troops vulnerable, the Human Stalker would want to hunt his troops for crystals. It is equivalent to using his troops as live bait, and many would die.
And even if it knows it's a trap... it would still take the bait.
Usually, he would never resort to such a wasteful move. He would prefer to let the Human Stalker run.
However, for this prize... any price was worth it.
"Spread and Scatter and find the Human! Search the entire town! Spread even the minions! None of you are to be together. Go!" - The Leader ordered everyone around.
"Yes, Sir!"
The Soldiers and Stalkers complied eagerly and left, a hint of greed glinting in their eyes. When bunched together, they wouldn't dare have thoughts on the Human, but now? Now, they have the opportunity to kill and eat the Human Stalker alone, allowing them to evolve. Once they Evolve, the Leader would have no choice but to let them go. Heck, they might even directly become a new Lord!
Seeing all of the forces he meticulously raised following an order akin to a death sentence, like moths to the flame, the Leader had a crazed look in his eyes, like that of an addicted gambler.
"Hunt to your heart's content, Human. Hunt until you are satisfied and let your guard down. When you do, I will be there. Let this Grand Hunt commence."
...
Sometime later.
Inside an apartment on the other side of town.
"What the... what are they doing?" - I murmured.
Looking through the blinds of a window, I saw the minions spread thinly on the streets. Heck, I didn't even see a single Stalker and Soldier.
"Are they trying to spread the hoard thin to search for me?" - I asked myself doubtfully.
This was like spreading a wide net to catch a small fish. I can easily slip through the holes.
"No... I will wait a bit longer." - I muttered and kept watching.
However, as the minutes passed, the situation was the same. I only saw a lone Soldier walking about, not even gathering a hoard around it. It brutishly broke open a building and entered to search alone.
"For real...?"
From what I observed, the monsters spread the hoard thin to search for me.
This was a bold move... and a stupid one.
"Aren't they afraid I will pick them out one by one?" - I wondered.
I wasn't talking about the minions, but the evolved Stalkers and Soldiers. The minions are weak, but they are worth chump change. If I kill the minions, they can find me through the tracks I leave. They are not worth the risk.
But a Soldier or Stalker is different. They are worth more and can fuck up the hoard when they are missing. The minions turn into headless chickens. In professional words, they are priority targets.
And now, they are vulnerable.
"Strange... Very strange. These guys should be more clever than this. Why are they doing it? If I were them, I would gather them in squads to search."
I narrowed my eyes in thought.
And soon, I concluded.
"They are desperate to find me. Very desperate. Does eating a human bring them some tangible benefit?" - I narrowed my eyes in thought.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
"Do they have a leader that ordered them to do this? But why? This type of search is almost meaningless. Unless..."
"Live bait?" - I guessed, feeling a chill down my spine.
It wanted me to hunt some of the Stalkers and Soldiers, and when I let my guard down, it would swoop down and kill me.
"Seriously? It's using its troops as live bait?! Just how desperate is it to eat me?!" - I widened my eyes in shock.
This is ridiculous.
I do not know how beneficial eating an evolved human is to them, but it shouldn't be worth as much as a few dozen Stalkers and Soldiers.
"Hey, Trod! Do you know what can cause them to act like this?" - I asked.
{It is likely because of your Immortal Body.} - Trod answered.
"What does that have anything to do with them wanting to eat me?" - I asked skeptically.
{An immortal body is a unique constitution baptized by divine energies. Although it does not necessarily contain divinity, it holds certain qualities that can promote positive evolution and extend the lifespan. They have likely sensed it, driving them into a frenzy.}
"What the... So I am a living tonic now?!" - I widened my eyes.
{Yes. That is also why Conceal Presence is essential to a Pseudo-God. It prevents other parties from wanting to consume you.}
"Fuck! Say that sooner!"
It turns out that being a pseudo-god isn't all fun and games.
Well, at least I got Conceal Presence now, so it is less of a problem.
"Well, anyway, since it is using its troops as live bait... why not eat it?" - I narrowed my eyes.
I have a silenced sniper rifle and teleportation for quick entrance and exit.
If they are scattered, what do I have to be afraid of?
"Fine... Have it your way. I will take your bait. Let's play the hunting game." - I smiled dangerously.
Looking at the Soldier still rampaging inside the other building and then looking around to double-check, I slightly opened the window and took out my silenced .308 sniper rifle, training it at the entrance.
I waited there for ten minutes, but my wait soon paid off.
The hulking mass soon exited the shop, unaware of its impending doom.
"Die."
Bang*
Although there was still sound from the shot, it was greatly suppressed. Likely only traveling 50-70m at most.
And from what I was seeing, only a few mobs and the Soldier were here.
The Soldier, now with a gaping hole made by an armor-piercing shot, swayed before collapsing on the ground.
During that time, I took back my sniper rifle and teleported outside, taking out a silenced pistol and killing the nearby mobs.
Pew* Pew* Pew*
Although I killed the mobs, I didn't linger to take their crystals. I didn't have time to crack open their skulls.
I rushed at the fallen Soldier, offered its crystal, ran before the noise and smell spread, and found a new random location before taking position inside a new apartment.
And, like this, I rinsed and repeated, continuing my Grand Hunt.
...
"..."
The Leader remained silent as he watched another Stalker with a splattered head, his crystal missing.
That was the 17th victim since the hunt started, and the number was rising.
Some died on the streets, shot by a sniper bullet. Others got shot up close with a pistol, with multiple holes in their skulls. There were even two Stalkers that died from an ax blow.
The Leader was displeased.
Not because of the loss of subordinates, but because that Human always escaped. It was as if it cut off its tracks somewhere before randomly changing its location.
It didn't make sense. No matter how good a Human Stalker is, this is impossible. It cant cut its tracks like this.
"It is like it can teleport..." - The Leader muttered.
Of course, he didn't believe this was possible, but he still unknowingly guessed the right answer.
"Grr... Damnable Human trickery... I WILL catch you!"
The Leader gritted his teeth and left, sensing another victim.
...
"Gr... Where is that Human..." - A Stalker muttered while looking left and right through the streets.
His initial enthusiasm perished already, replaced by fear and trepidation.
Around 24 of its companions died already. And that is just the latest news. Probably more got killed by now.
There were less than a hundred of them under the Leader. If the previous kill tally is included, 29 died today. If the three that died three days ago are included, then 32 deaths.
It was a third of the Soldiers and Stalkers like himself.
And this was all done by one Human.
It wasn't because that Human is strong, but because of how they were searching for it.
The Kin race is powerful not because of personal strength but because of cooperation and overwhelming numbers. Humans, on the other hand, can rely on their technology.
In a standard scenario, the Kin would send minion cannon fodders to siege the Humans and exhaust their ammunition and stamina before swooping for the kill. And when facing an evolved Human, they would fight in pairs, ideally in four-Kin squads.
And now, they ignored this advantage, making them sitting ducks!
At first, he was blinded by the prospect of evolving, but now, he realized his role.
He is bait, like all the others.
The Leader is using them all as bait!
Just thinking about it made him angry but also helpless.
The hierarchy of Kin is absolute, and he can't defy the Leader.
Otherwise, he would have already run away!
As he was worrying about it...
Fwoosh* Crack*
A sickening sound was heard, and his world became black.
He didn't have any final thoughts or the like.
He couldn't have them.
Since his head was hacked open by an axe.
...
Cr* Ta*
I pulled out my ax from the Stalker's head.
I teleported behind it and hacked it to death.
"And that is 27..." - I muttered and offered the crystal before running away.
Five minutes later...
I ate lunch in an apartment while checking my spoils
Basic Energy: 190
Evolution Energy A: 150.1
Enhancement Energy A: 35.6
This is the result of killing 27 Soldiers and Stalkers and offering their crystals, killing some mobs without offering the crystals, and teleporting all the time.
I now had some leeway and could unlock three powers.
{Unlock new Powers has been selected.}
{Please select a power to unlock.}
- Empower Words 1
- Touch of the True Sun 1
- Void Shield 1
- Displace Object 1
- Mark of Zeal 1
- Analytical Eye 1
- (Locked)
- ...
"Hm... What can I use with these? What can take down the leader?" - I wondered.
Empower Words was iffy. It empowers True Words, giving them more power, but that's it.
Touch of the True Sun is a close-quarter skill for damaging and healing, but I don't know the extent.
Void Shield is a defensive skill, but, again, I don't know how powerful it is.
I would have picked Displace Object without a second thought if I had timed explosives on me. Alas, I don't.
Mark of Zeal... Eh. This is religious slavery. I don't even know if it can do anything to these monsters.
As for the Analytical eye... this MC skill is useless to me right now.
At least, that is my first impression.
On the other hand, I can just pick Conceal Presence 2.
Conceal Presence 2: Improves the effects of Conceal Presence 1. Price: 25 Enhancement Energy A
"Hey, Trod! What do you suggest I pick?" - I asked its opinion.
{It depends on what you seek to achieve.} - Trod vaguely answered.
"Killing the evolved form of a Stalker." - I replied.
I figured that the Leader was likely a Stalker-type. An evolved Soldier would probably make a lot more noise.
{Most of the powers are too immature to face it. At least, they are not better than guns in a fight. True Sun Flames are powerful, and yet, what you can summon is a shabby replica of its true might. It can damage the body and soul, but not fast enough to be applicable in a fight. Void Shield can block attacks, but at most, can block a few small caliber bullets. The Stalker can break through it with a claw attack. It is useless to you in this situation.}
"Can't I just upgrade them to the second level?" - I pointed out.
{No. You need the corresponding affinity to unlock the second level of those spells.}
"Okay... What do you suggest, then?" - I asked.
{There are two sure-proof ways to tackle this situation.}
{The first one is, like you previously thought, Displace Object. If you can displace a bomb, it will kill it.}
{As for the second... it depends.}
"Depends?" - I raised an eyebrow.
{Yes. Are you willing to invest 10 points into Analytical Eye 1?}
"Wait, what?! Why?!" - I widened my eyes.
{To check if the so-called mobs are viable targets to become Zealots.}
"... Why would I want to make them Zealots?" - I narrowed my eyes.
{Because if you evolve them twice, they can contend against the evolved Stalker Leader.}
"Eh... Wouldn't I need a lot of Basic Points?" - I said skeptically.
Investing 190 Basic Energy points wasn't enough for me to Strengthen myself and evolve, not to mention evolve twice.
{No. They will rely on food energy and crystals to strengthen and evolve.}
"Hah? They can do that? Why can't I?" - I asked.
{You can, but it is not encouraged because it results in unexpected outcomes... and is very painful.}
"Okay, you made your point. But what if they are not suitable?" - I asked.
{Then you have 25 Enhancement Energy A for Conceal Presence 2. But that is not a sure-proof method.}
"...Fuck it. I will take the gamble. "