Kapitel 75: Turning Predator into Prey [2]

A blurry figure darted through the dense, towering trees, barely disturbing the thick, poisonous mist that clung to the air like a suffocating blanket.

The dimly lit forest provided just enough visibility for him to navigate, yet his movements were near silent, his footsteps as light as whispers.

The figure would occasionally slow, casting a swift projectile spell toward an unsuspecting tree or freezing it with dark, black ice. He then swiftly shattered the ice with his sword, causing the frozen tree to break apart with an eerie crunch.

Each time the tree didn't transform into a Poison Treant, Alex would let out a soft "Tch!" clearly annoyed. But when one did reveal itself as a hidden Poison Treant, his lips curled into a gloating smirk as he dismantled his prey with calculated precision.

Alex had taken on the role of the hunter now, ambushing the very creatures that once thrived on ambushing others.

It was a hit-or-miss strategy, with only about six out of ten trees turning out to be disguised Poison Treants. Still, it was worth it. Though his stamina and mana were being slowly drained by this relentless spree, it was far preferable to being ganged up on by a horde of them.

Initially, he had liked the idea of letting the Poison Treants swarm him, but their numbers proved too overwhelming.

Now, the tables had turned, and Alex relished this new role. He was no longer the prey; he had become the silent predator, and it was thrilling.

'No wonder these guys love ambushing. It is fun to suddenly creep up on them.' Alex mused, his lips curling with satisfaction.

His movements were swift and precise, his body blending effortlessly with the forest's shadowy backdrop as he slipped through the hinterland like a seasoned hunter.

Every skill he had bought until now, including his most recent one, made the task seamless, each Poison Treant falling prey to his attacks before they even realized what had hit them.

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[The host has acquired the E rank skill Stealth]

Skill: Stealth (Passive)

Rank: E

Description:

- Enhances the ability to remain unseen in low-visibility areas, making it easier to blend into shadows or dimly lit environments.

- Grants basic proficiency in moving silently, reducing noise while walking or running.

- Improves awareness of surroundings, assisting in identifying potential hiding spots.

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Despite his Hunter skill granting him the ability to blend with the natural environment, Alex knew it wasn't designed for stealthy, assassin-like precision.

The skill worked well enough in this forest, giving him an edge over the average predator, but the Poison Treants were highly perceptive. These weren't ordinary monsters; they were deeply connected to the very land they inhabited.

His research had revealed that the Treants were more plant than monsters, with roots extending far beneath the soil. These roots formed a sensory web, alerting them to even the faintest vibrations caused by movement above ground.

It was as if the forest itself was alive, every step, every disturbance, pulsing through the earth and into the Treants. They weren't just monsters—they were the guardians of the forest, attuned to its rhythms and always aware of intruders before they could be seen.

Thankfully, Alex's Stealth skill countered this. By moving without causing vibrations, he avoided triggering their deep-rooted sensory network.

Without the early warning provided by their roots, the Treants became sitting targets. He could strike them down one by one before they even knew he was there.

The recent boost to his magic power made this task even easier. His spells hit harder and faster, allowing him to dispatch the Treants with minimal effort. Each strike, each freezing spell, was swift and precise, leaving the Poison Treants no time to retaliate or alert their brethren.

He couldn't afford to give them a moment's hesitation—if he did, they could use their roots to communicate and summon reinforcements.

With the perfect balance of stealth, speed, and overwhelming magic power, Alex moved through the forest like a shadow, hunting the Treants with ruthless efficiency.

The increase in his power had turned what could have been a dangerous battle into a one-sided hunt. Now, with his strategy working flawlessly, he knew the Poison Treants stood little chance against him.

After what felt like hours of relentless hunting, Alex finally found respite. Depleted of both mana and stamina, he sought cover in a large hollow tree trunk. As he caught his breath, he assessed the primary challenge of the Poison Mist Forest: the crippling effect it had on mana regeneration.

"My usual mana regeneration rate is 15 MP per minute or 0.25 MP per second, but here, it's been reduced to half." He shook his head, realizing just how severe the environmental toll was.

This was the reason why the Poison Mist Forest was largely abandoned by adventurers. While the poisonous mist could be countered with potions, pills, or specialized artifacts like purifier masks, the real problem was the forest's corrupted mana.

The scarcity and impure, poisonous mana in the atmosphere made it near impossible to regenerate it naturally.

For most adventurers, the cost of using mana potions constantly was too high, and the risk of damaging their foundations by absorbing corrupted mana was not worth the trouble.

For those lower-ranked adventurers who lacked the funds or strength to survive here, the forest was a death trap. Higher-ranked adventurers didn't find it worth their effort, for this measly resources and rewards.

But Alex was different. His foundation was flawless—so perfect that even the corrupted mana couldn't harm him. A purity in his mana channels and core that not even most S-rank mages could boast of. This advantage allowed him to traverse the forest with impunity, though even he had his limits when it came to stamina.

After resting and forming a plan for his next move, Alex stepped out of his makeshift shelter and resumed his hunt. But this time, he found himself in unfamiliar territory. The dense trees of the forest were behind him, and now he stood in a more open, marshy landscape.

The ground was a sickly greenish-brown, covered in puddles of water tinted with an unhealthy blackish-brown hue. The trees were sparse, lanky, and bent over as if weighed down by thick, vine-like growths.

Alex surveyed the new region, quickly deducing where he was. 'It seems I've wandered into another territory of the Poison Mist Forest. If the last one belonged to the Poison Treants, then this must be...' his thoughts trailed off as he spotted movement.

Slithering across the marshy land was a creature that resembled a massive monitor lizard from Earth, but these were far more dangerous.

Its scales were a dark, iridescent green, with black patches. Its long, whip-like tail moved fluidly, and its forked tongue flicked out as if tasting the air. Its yellow, predatory eyes locked onto Alex, filled with aggression.

'Poisonous Marsh Lizard' Alex thought to himself, immediately recognizing the creature from the monster encyclopedia book. These monsters were known for their deadly speed and corrosive venom. While not as cunning as the Treants, they were faster and far more aggressive.

"This is going to be fun." Alex muttered, gripping his sword tightly as he prepared for the next wave of battles.