บท 30: Hunting gone wrong

Jack stood there, speechless, his gaze locked on Alogra as the man strolled casually toward the hut, his voice trailing off in a yawn. 'This guy's literally toying with me,' Jack thought, a twinge of disbelief edging into frustration. 'So he purposely left me starving, just to force me into a hunt in the dead of night?'

Alogra glanced back, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I'm off to sleep if you aren't interested," he said, waving a dismissive hand before disappearing inside.

Jack groaned as he stared at the countdown ticking in his mind.

[6d: 7hrs: 30mins]

"Bright side, I suppose," he muttered, trying to psych himself up. "This could be a good chance to make a few kills. My time's running out, and I haven't made much progress."

But his stomach rumbled in response, forcing his hand. Absorbing mana like a swordsman had a clear downside: hunger struck fast and fiercely, more so in these early stages of development.

'It's not like I have much of a choice,' he sighed, feeling his stomach twist. He took a deep breath, glancing at the system screen for reassurance.

[Mage: B-Rank] + [Swordsman: C-Rank] = [Battle Mage: A-Rank]

For a moment, pride flickered in his chest as he took in his achievements. Not only had he reached B-Rank as a mage, but at five years old, he'd crossed into realms many spent decades—centuries even—trying to achieve. If people knew of his growth rate, they'd call him a monster, a freak. A genius B-Rank mage at his age was unheard of.

But even he knew the system had played a massive role in his progress, aiding his every move.

Resolving himself, Jack set off, Shadowfang sheathed at his side. He glanced up, noticing how his vision adjusted naturally to the pitch-black forest surrounding him. "That's a bonus, I suppose," he murmured, eyes narrowing as he moved deeper into the shadows, his steps soft against the rustling grass.

A sense of confidence settled over him as he summoned his undead Drakorath, a dark figure materializing beside him with a faint hiss.

"Scout ahead," Jack whispered, a grin tugging at his lips. The creature skittered off obediently, disappearing into the dense foliage.

Jack activated [Second Sight] and watched through the Drakorath's eyes, moving silently as the creature crept along. Within moments, it spotted a small, dark-furred creature resembling a squirrel. Jack halted, waiting for an opportunity as the Drakorath watched the creature gnawing voraciously on a serpent's skull, crunching it with ease.

*CRACK!*

The sound echoed through the night as the creature's sharp teeth broke through bone. Its glossy black eyes gleamed with a feral hunger, and Jack felt a pang of understanding. 'This world is ruthless. The weak are devoured by the strong… but there's something different here.'

The creatures of this world seemed almost addicted to challenging stronger opponents, a trait he'd noticed since his encounter with the Drakorath. Jack had pondered the strangeness of it. They weren't reckless, nor were they stupid—but it was as though they were compelled, as if each creature sought a purpose beyond mere survival. There was an almost primal drive to prove their strength, to face stronger foes. A beast that survived a fight against a more powerful opponent became something more, the thrill and risk fueling their instincts, pushing them toward evolution and adaptation. They saw value in each fight, in proving themselves, even if the odds were stacked against them.

Jack couldn't relate entirely, but he understood it in a way that made him respect the creatures, if only slightly. 'But tonight, I need to eat.'

Steeling himself, he whispered, "[Dark Blast!]" A ball of dark energy burst from his palm, slamming the creature against a tree with a resounding thud. Dazed and disoriented, it blinked wildly, only to see Jack charging toward it.

He raised his blade, determination hardening his expression. "Let's make this interesting."

[Scorching Hands!]

A burst of crimson light ignited from his fingers, spreading to his blade in a blaze of flickering red flames. The forest lit up around him, casting dancing shadows along the trees, but he didn't care. Tonight, he was the hunter.

[New skill created: Flaming Blade!]

With a swift, calculated motion, Jack swung the blazing blade, cleaving cleanly through the creature's neck. Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, hissing and evaporating in the heat, leaving only the smoky residue of his kill. The head rolled, eyes still wide with shock, and the body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

[You have killed a Mountain Squirrel!]

[Defeat 10 Mountain Beasts: 2/10]

[Soul Essence: +10]

Grinning, Jack reveled in the notifications filling his view, relishing the thrill that came with each achievement. He scanned his surroundings, feeling a rush that mixed hunger with satisfaction. But as he bent down to inspect the creature, a thought struck him. 'What would people think of a five-year-old wielding a sword in the dead of night?'

Then a wry smile crossed his face. 'Or what they'd think of a lunatic who'd send that same five-year-old out hunting in pitch darkness. What's Alogra trying to do—test me? Toughen me up for something?'

Jack knelt down, examining the soft, tender flesh. "Perfect. It'll cook well."

At that moment, from a distance, Alogra's eyes glinted as he watched Jack from the shadows, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "So, the boy has his secrets too. Let's see how he handles the next one."

Jack, oblivious to Alogra's watchful gaze, sighed in disappointment after a quick inspection of his kill. "No core. Figures—it barely put up a fight." He'd mistaken it for a magical beast like the Drakorath, but it appeared to be a mutant animal, born from a mix of a normal animal and a magical creature. It had no magic core, and thus, was just a particularly strange creature.

[Do you want to make this beast a bonded servant?]

The system pinged, tempting him with the option. He hesitated, recalling his last encounter with a bonded servant and how the choice had felt almost forced.

[Bonded Servants Slot: 1/10]

A limit of ten bonded servants. Jack quickly dismissed the offer; he didn't need a weak creature clogging up his precious slots. Instead, he pulled out his sack, shoving the squirrel's body inside. The smell of blood filled the air, staining the bag dark red.

Just as he tied it shut, he felt a shiver run down his spine. Every instinct screamed at him, warning him to move. He leaped aside, barely dodging the razor-sharp claws that slashed through the air where his head had been, embedding themselves into a nearby tree trunk.

Jack rolled and sprang to his feet, heart racing as he faced the creature before him. His eyes widened in recognition, his pulse quickening.

It was the same beast he'd barely escaped from before.

[Magomon Trion]