Chapter 23: 23 The Hunt
PiPa PoPa
For over an hour no sound except the sound of rhythm coming from the burning wood was heard. Embarrassingly once or twice Kate's stomach would growl in protest. The group was hopeless, just hopeless. Ben looked at the faces of the so called young prodigies of the younger generation for a while and shook his head. He didn't blame them, he didn't blame the instructors either. Even though some of them aren't from a noble family they still lived a noble life. Breathing out a huge breath Ben stood up and asked.
"Do any of you have any hunting gear with you?" Ben finally broke the long hours of silence.
"Seriously Ben, we didn't come out here to hunt rabbits got our belly to be filled up. We were sent to hunt down... " Bob who started retorting Ben cut his words short when he remembered they were indeed out here to hunt. Jeremy wanted to say something but didn't, he too knew they were here to hunt but like others he didn't bring any tools.
"So, you all don't have any hunting gear and you came to hunt. Alright then, don't go eating each other I'll be back in a few minutes, an hour at most. So... just sit tight." Ben stood up stretching for a while the began heading for the forest.
"Where are you going?" Jeremy asked the question in everyone's head.
"To hunt," Ben answered without turning back.
"All by yourself?" Mia asked puzzled.
"Yeah... " Ben stopped in his track them walked back towards Kate. Putting his hands inside his bag, all out of pretence, "...here, have this." Ben handed her another piece of jerky and this time with a handkerchief. From there he left to hunt. Ben had to pretend because he didn't want the others to know about the spatial ring he has. He stored a reasonable amount of food in the ring, especially unprepared food.
Walking for over five hundred metres from camp Ben finally breathe out a sigh of relief. "I'm pretty sure I'll have to hunt for tonight's food... probably tomorrow's to and the next... urgh, this will be frustrating. At least I can use my powers with no one noticing." Unleashing his mind power enabling him to see his surroundings, like he was everywhere while standing at one spot.
Saying he felt like he was everywhere was a little bit of an exaggeration but for Ben it was like so. At most he could only see as far as a ten metres circumference, it may sound small but, if any other wizards were to know how far Ben could see with mind power, they most likely will vomit blood. Why? That will be later.
With his mind power spread Ben was able to see the ants on the floor and some creepy crawlers. Despite the moon hung high they weren't able to penetrate the thick tall majestic trees high above him. Rustle.
Ben heard rustling sounds coming from a near by bush not far away. Trying to use his mind power to practice aiming and targeting wouldn't be hard, in fact it is actually a piece of cake. As once the Young Great Hunter in his previous life using a slingshot was a walk in a park. So all he had to do with his mind power was to imagine it as a slingshot.
Stealthily closing the distance between him and his target, when he was ten metres his mind power pinpointed where it stops behind the bush. Rustle. Ben saw A Red Flaming rabbit chewing on some grass. Without allowing it to notice his presence on time Ben shot an ice spike impaling it to the ground. It struggled to break free from the ice spike but its was all for naught before it stopped moving a moment later.
If regular hunters, elemental swordsmen and even wizards had seen how Ben had effortlessly killed A Redflaming rabbit might drop dead out of disbelief, anger, and a whole lot of other speechless expression. Being able to catch a Redflaming rabbit in a whole was incredibly astounding. Wealthy men would pay a lot just to get a bunch of these creatures... scratch that, they will pay for just one. A lot. And to catch one a group of experienced hunters is needed to successfully catch one. So you could say Ben was super luck.
Swish Swish
Impaling two more Redflaming rabbits with ice spikes Ben has now gotten three Redflaming rabbits. If Ben is able to get one more it would be enough for everyone back at the camp
"If it was any other circumstances having so many of these Redflaming rabbits, people will pay a hefty price for any." Ben couldn't help praise himself for his extraordinary skills in hunting. "I don't want to go any deeper but I need to find more Redfla... "
Thud
Ben was interrupted by a noise not far from him. "I can sense the fire element in the air and the aura of Redflaming rabbits. Let me go check it out." with that Ben sprinted towards where he felt the most elemental fluctuation was the thickest. Ben didn't just jump in when he got there because what he saw dumbfounded him. He stood behind a bush where he can have a clear view of what was happening.
Boom
Right in front of Ben was an intense battle between a Redflaming rabbit and a Two Tailed Wild Cat. Although the Two Tailed Wild Cat was injured it was still moving really fast. Swinging it's 2 two metre long tail like whips, lashing in the direction of the Redflaming rabbit trying to knock it down with its powerful tail whips.
When Ben saw what was in front of him his eyes widened. "If I can get these two creatures it would be enough for tonight and tomorrow." right now Ben was elated.
The Redflaming rabbit actually lived up to its name. Fire balls kept shooting out from its mouth towards the Two Tailed Wild Cat leaving burnt fur and skin on the cat. Redflaming rabbits are more specialized in long range attacks while the Two Tailed Wild Cat goes for a more meely fight. The Two Tailed Wild Cat should have had the upper hand to get close to the Redflaming rabbit because of its speed but the Redflaming rabbit is a rabbit who also has speed.
Ben was waiting for the right moment when both parties are at their limit before he'll sweep the battlefield. Ben kept weighing which side would first fall.
Patience is the number one thing a hunter must have. If Ben was impatient and struck when he first saw the two creatures fighting they will be two things involved. First, it would startle the Redflaming rabbit being the most paranoid creature in the world allowing it to escape together with the Two Tailed Wild Cat. While secondly, once startled both creatures will attack you and at the same time flee.
Roar.... Kupaa!
Using both powerful trails as whips the Two Tailed Wild Cat left a long wound right at the back of the Redflaming rabbit. Blood kept streaming out. Ben knew this was the time to strike.
Swoosh Puchi Swoosh Puchi
Making two ice spikes he shot one right at the chest if the Two Tailed Wild Cat and using one to impale the Redflaming rabbit to the ground. Both creatures struggled for some time especially the Redflaming rabbit who was with little wounds unlike the Two Tailed Wild Cat since it had a lot of injuries and blood loss before finally dying. Ben went towards the two corpse and picked them up then stored them in his spatial ring. Looking around he left the scene walking back to the camp.
"Hope nothing bad happened to Ben. it's been so long now, yet he hasn't returned, what do we do?" Kate asked worriedly.
"Geez Kate, no need to worry so much, your prince charming would return soon... hehe." Vanessa giggled teasing Kate. When the others heard the teasing they couldn't help giving a shallow laugh.
Although Mia hadn't joined in the debate and had kept quiet all along she was actually worried about Ben, but like always didn't express it. Flash on the other hand was actually hoping something bad happens to Ben, however, he too didn't show it.
"Charming my ass, I bet Ben doesn't look one-tenth as handsome as this master here." Parker said trying to kill two birds with one stone.
"Ha! Parker have you look yourself in a mirror lately? There's no difference between you and a toad in the bottom of the well." Jeremy said also trying to shield two birds.
"Ouch." Kate giggled.
"Jeremy, you're so evil," Vanessa said giving Jeremy a light slap to the head. "you should not have said that to his face, now he'll feel hurt because his toad face." Vanessa added sarcastically.
"""Hahaha""" They all laughed at Parker.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone