Chapter 24: Chapter 24 – The Hunter Becomes The Hunted!

As I kept on running northeast, I sensed the Mid Mandrill. However, its presence is too strange. What is he doing here, he was the only mid-rank here. Could it be a trap?

I couldn't tell, and even if I could there is really nothing I can do about it. It was the only way out!

I quickly arrived at where he was, I discovered that I was two branches higher than him, he was going in the direction I came from.

Surprisingly, he didn't even seem to notice my existence. So, I just kept on running, I thought of attacking him but why would I attract more attention than I already have.

Sigh, and I have no idea where the nest is at this point! I hurriedly looked at the map again and discovered that they were slowly catching up to me.

I only have one small window of opportunity thanks to the direction I chose being empty.

I can't outrun them, they are faster and experienced in running in trees. I can only hide!

I started climbing the tree at a crazy speed, I used my broken wing to help otherwise, it's difficult with just a beak and my claws.

Sometimes, I create an Umbra Hand and use it as a step to jump even higher.

I kept climbing and climbing without making the slightest bit of sound, after I found a place that is relatively hidden and dark I sat there and closed my eyes, I only closed my eyes to hide the golden glow from my eyes.

Then, in my darkened field of vision, I opened the map.

It's honestly incomparable with just using your spiritual sense, other than the increased range there are a lot of benefits such as planting a signal in someone, what this does is you can sort of flag a specific person, and the system would notify once said person is within your map range. Then, there is the matter of zooming in and seeing exactly what is happening, before I could only get a general feel of the figure and their strength the information was truly lacking compared to this.

Yeah, and the bird's eye view is amazing. Spiritual sense is just like any other sense in the fact that you have to focus it somewhere once you focus your blind spots increase.

Like this, I can see exactly, what is happening and wait for my health and mana to regenerate.

The four Peak Mandrills that followed me after I almost knocked everyone out are directly below me at the moment, they stopped for a while not knowing which direction to take. The old mandrill said something and they split up, each one going in a different direction.

The other Mandrill who woke up and the others who were following behind us are also heading in this direction.

However, my ability Mask Presence is already at the Mastery realm, the only way for them to discover me is to physically walk here.

Just as I was thinking that a High-level Mandrill was approaching my spot.

He didn't discover me, but I was directly in his path. Shit, this isn't good.

I have to kill him without making the slightest bit of sound, but my wind blade makes an audible sound that could be heard.

Fuck, that's my only long-range attack and Fiery Charge needs a lot of mana, something that I don't have right now.

I can only kill him using my body, hopefully, nothing would go wrong.

I silently used my wings to hold a nearby tree branch and climbed a bit higher, then using my claws I held into another branch, but this put me in an awkward bat-like position in which my claws are up and my head is down. Fortunately, the branch was strong otherwise it'd tilt due to my weight.

*Rustle*

The moment I held into the branch, the mandrill stepped into the place I was hiding in...

I stopped breathing and my eyes were glued to his every movement, the moment he notice me I'd jump towards him.

The Mandrill kept moving slowly step by step looking around, and when he was directly below me he stopped.

He stood up on his hind legs and looked up! All he could see were two terrifying golden eyes.

[Piercing Gaze]

I directly attacked him with my remaining spiritual power and let go of the branch.

I closed my beck, brought my neck backward to gather some force, and the second I was about to touch him I brought it forward with all of my strength.

*SPLAT*

[You have Killed a Body Refinement(High) Monster |Experience Points +4000|]

His head exploded like a watermelon, my mouth was filled with the taste of blood and his brain matter. I hate this disgusting taste the most!

I embraced his body with my wings before it fell, and put it in a place filled with thick leaves to stop the blood from dripping down.

The blood from the impact had already dropped below, I can't tell if somebody noticed or not.

Why take the risk? I can only change my hiding spot.

I spread out my senses to see what was nearby and found out that there are Mandrills in every direction but the top.

So I could only brace myself and climb even higher.

After climbing up, I saw the sky for the very first time!

In the forest you couldn't find a place to look at the sky, everywhere was shrouded by leaves, branches, and darkness.

Looking at the sky of this world, I was shocked! I couldn't see anything, just miles of dark clouds. There are no stars and no moon, but I knew that they must exist because I can feel the sun in the morning. It's just that the light of the sun is also blocked by the thick clouds but you become noticeably lighter so you can tell.

Still, this looks beautiful nonetheless.

I quickly find another place to hide, after making sure no Mandrills are coming here, I started cultivating while watching the dark clouds go by. I couldn't help but smile, even after all of the danger and everything this world is truly enchanting. It could also be the fact that I gave myself another chance to live and that I'm able to truly appreciate all of this.

I don't know what I'm gonna do afterward. My plan so far is to grow stronger, then leave this forest to see the world.

Thinking of strength I thought of the titles, I think it's gonna be more difficult to acquire titles going forward.

The titles I already have were not the result of just a couple of days of contemplation. Wrong, but of years. Those ideas were something that I've always thought about and considered previously, it was only after coming to this world that they've gained been solidified through becoming titles.

Anyhow, I still have the system and leveling up! Another thing that gave me hope was the fact that quests are not only exclusive to humans, I only assumed that because I've underestimated the intelligence of the depth of the monsters in this world.

However, Quests are inclusive and care for all living beings equally. What this signifies for me is, that I would be able to roam the forest to trigger quests then I'd be able to finally get my hands on [Stygian Tempest Heavenly Arts]. I only need another 850 Karma Points, and once I finally use my first purchase discount I'd be able to buy utility scrolls to enable me to talk!

If we also considered my previous life, I haven't spoken to anyone in months!

I started moving my wing up and down to get used to it being healthy again, otherwise, whenever I try to use I instinctively think of the pain I felt when it was broken!

It's finally healed.

Looking at the map, the mandrills are retreating in the same direction. They seem to be collectively running away!

Looking at the map, the mandrills are retreating in the same direction.

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It only took me around half an hour to recover to my peak.

I closed my wings and I immediately jumped down from the tree top.

I have never climbed so high, so I enjoyed the fall very much!

Originally, I planned to return to the nest directly but I have no idea where is it exactly. I can only follow the Mandrills to show me the way, they are older and more experienced, they must've memorized these territories by heart.

I opened the map and started thinking of who my first target should be, and I found one.

There's a group made up of one Peak and three High Mandrills. The reason I targeted this group specifically was that there was a big distance between them and the nearest group. As of now, they happen to be the most isolated.

I hastily flew in their direction. It didn't take me a long while to arrive. Standing above a branch covered with thick leaves, I was watching them running slowly westward.

I started thinking of ways how to kill them with the lowest amount of energy possible, I need to learn how to conserve my energy to maximize efficiency.

After thinking for a while, I jumped down and glided in their direction.

My flight was soundless as always and my speed gets boosted when I approach any enemies thanks to my [Zephyr Child] passive and [Bird Of Darkness]

I arrived close to them without startling them, then!

[Predator's WarCry]

I only used around forty of my spiritual power in this attack, however, it was enough to knock out the three High Mandrills and stun the Peak.

I took advantage of this opportunity and launched a wind blade to the back of his head, I found out that this was their most vulnerable area.

All of this was done without me stopping my charge, I even accelerated.

*BOMM!*

The moment my wind blade landed, I also arrived and clutched his shoulders using my claws and started hitting his head directly with my sharp beak.

*BANG!BANG!BANG!*

His head was tough as steel, but it only took me three strikes to completely destroy it.

[You have Killed a Body Refinement(Peak) Monster |Experience Points +6000|]

*THUD*

The body dropped to the ground, this process might have sounded long and complicated.

However, the moment I jumped from the branch in which I was spying on them, not more than 3 seconds passed.

Fly, Stun, Clutch, and Kill. Super deadly, efficient, and quick. I only spent 20 Mana and 40 SP to destroy a formation of monsters that once made me shiver in fright.

Landing on the ground, I looked at this scene with unmasked pride. Not thinking about the other implication of this specific situation, such as death, gore, and bloodshed. I only patted myself on the back for a job well done and good progress.

I stopped thinking about it and just focused on what should be focused on now, which is the three unconscious Mandrills and getting out of here. A group is on their way here, not because they heard anything it just so happened that this was also the path they were taking. However, it'll take a while.

I directly the others with my beak without losing any precious Mana.

[You have Killed a Body Refinement(High) Monster |Experience Points +4000|]
[You have Killed a Body Refinement(High) Monster |Experience Points +4000|]
[You have Killed a Body Refinement(High) Monster |Experience Points +4000|]
[Congratulations Host for Leveling up from 20 to 21. +5 Stat Points, +2 Skill Points.]

I leveled up again, I wanted to check my Status Window but not now.

I carried the body of the Peak Monster and flew away, after I flew for a safe distance from the previous battle scene, I brought the body to a high tree branch and started eating.

'Status Window'

I opened my Status Window to check on my undistributed points and Experience Bar

[~Status Window~

Host: Zed - Umbra Storm Eagle.

Titles: {Blazing Heart}, {Truth Seeker}, {Dauntless Spirit}

Level: 21
Experience Points(Exp): 3250/33000

Rank: Body Refinement(Mid)

Health Points(HP): 236/236
Magic Power(MP/Mana): 229/245
Spiritual Power(SP): 211/254

Magical Resistance: 22(15)
Physical Resistance: 19(13)
Spiritual Resistance: 27(32)

Vitality: 43(64)
Strength: 31(46)
Stamina: 38(57)
Intelligence: 45(67)
Agility: 50(75), Dark: +14, Nearby Enemy: +12, Sky Dash: +14.
Spirit: 57(114)

Available Stat Points: 5
Available Skill Points: 5

Karma Points: 150

[Skills]
[Quests]
[Shop]
[Map]
[Party(Locked)]

]

Hmm... leveling up is getting harder and harder, however, it's only natural. I need around 33.000 EXP to level to 22 now.

Looking at my 5 Stats points I put all of them directly on Strength. I noticed that my body's strength, durability, sharpness, and many other things are related to it and I use them a lot so it's crucial.

I could immediately feel the change. My wings became firmer, claws longer and sharper same thing with my beak.

My feathers are surprisingly sharp as well, but I don't know how to use them in combat for now.

Then, I raised my Predator's WarCry from Advanced to Mastery using three skill Points.

[Predator's WarCry(Active): Grants the user the ability to use their Spiritual power through sound. Cost(200SP Max) |Mastery|]

Other than its maximum output increasing from 100 to a whopping 200. Its range and damage have also increased an overall transformation.

I opened my map to look for new prey once again...

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