章節 12: The first trial: Predator's Prey
As Adam rested on his branch, he gazed at the bear's carcass, a strategy forming in his mind. He was reluctant to give up after everything he endured and wanted to try to complete the trial.
His mind raced as a calculative glint flashed through his eyes.
'Despite my injury, if I play my cards right, I can safely complete the trial without putting myself at risk,' He thought as he refined the details of his plan, hope swelling in his chest.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he carved smaller pointed branches, planning to place and hide them around the carcass as a makeshift trap.
He busied himself for a few hours, sensing his state improve gradually before feeling satisfied with his preparations. His smile broadened as he visualised his swift victory over the unsuspecting beasts.
Then, he cautiously scanned his surroundings, ensuring no threats were nearby, before climbing down and stealthily running to the bear.
Subsequently, he dug the ground around the carcass and set the spikes before covering them with leaves and piercing the bear's belly to make it bleed.
Gazing at the slightly protruding pointed branches in satisfaction, he returned to his branch, waiting for the beasts to be lured by the scent.
'I hope I won't attract another bear,' he thought half-jokingly before shivering in anguish. He never wanted to see another one in his life.
As he patiently waited, the scent of blood permeated the air as it became stronger and stronger, alluring hungry predators with the promise of an easy meal.
Suddenly, the rustle of leaves and twigs cracking attracted his attention, causing his eyes to light up with anticipation.
Soon, he saw a pack of wolves running towards the bear, led by a large and imposing specimen with piercing gold eyes, an alpha wolf. Its grey fur glistened under the sun as its dignified figure commanded attention from its brethren.
He watched as the alpha approached the carcass, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and excitement. Would his trap work? Or would he be forced to forfeit?
Simultaneously, the alpha warily circled the carcass a few times, confirming the beast was undeniably dead before lunging hungrily at it under Adam's excited gaze.
YELP
A pained yelp echoed in the forest as it stepped on one of Adam's concealed spikes, piercing its left front paw with the pointed tip.
Startled by the miserable cry of their leader, the pack surrounded it protectively, watching their surroundings warily for potential threats, missing the delighted man hiding on a branch.
Thinking it was his chance to act, he tensed his muscles, instinctively pivoting his hips to add more power as he hurled one of his makeshift spears toward the limping alpha.
His plan was unfolding exactly how he envisioned it so far. Incapacitated by the trap, the wolf became an easy target despite his questionable aim.
'Please hit!' He prayed inwardly as the spear pierced the air.
After two seconds, the air filled with another pained yelp as blood spurted onto the soil, painting it a dark red color.
The spear had found its mark, lodging itself in the alpha's back despite the careful protection of its pack.
Grievously wounded, the alpha's golden eyes locked on Adam, drawing the pack's attention towards the tree.
'Hahaha, I knew I could be the best hunter if I wanted to,' he thought, a triumphant grin stretching across his face, and couldn't help but chuckle at his newfound trapping skills, unaware he had been discovered.
Grasping the source of danger, the pack's demeanor shifted instantly. Growls erupted menacingly in the air. Their collective gaze fixated on the daring human, torn between defending their leader or seeking vengeance.
Startled by the hate-filled gaze, he took a step back, placed his hands on the trunk, and began to climb. 'I'm absolutely not scared, but I should climb higher. You know, just in case,' he thought, concerned for his safety.
After reaching a higher spot and peering down, he saw two wolves separate from the pack, their eyes full of fury glinting ominously as they circled the tree, standing guard.
Simultaneously, the rest of the pack escorted their bleeding leader to safety, not realising it would probably bleed to death in an hour at most.
As they slowly walked away, Adam gazed at the two wolves in annoyance.
"The last thing that tried to eat me was the bear. Oh, look, it's a corpse now. Hah! You don't scare me! Well... maybe a little," he exclaimed, trying to find courage despite the worsening situation as he pondered how to fix it.
After all, he still needed three kills to complete the trial, counting the alpha, as it was as good as dead.
'Can I kill them?' He questioned, his mind full of doubts. The wolves knew his location and were monitoring his movement. He was certain he wouldn't be able to hit them like he did for the others.
After an hour of deep analysis, he failed to find a solution that wouldn't endanger him.
'I either give up or take some risks,' he concluded, frowning and reluctant to choose any options.
After a moment of indecision, he checked his interface, noticing the alpha died as the kill count displayed 2/5.
Then, he checked the timer, grimacing as he only had one hour remaining. Time was running low. On the bright side, he also noticed that he recovered one HP after almost two days of rest.
"I can do it. I know I can!" He yelled, his eyes burning as he steeled his resolve after thinking about his first enemy with gritted teeth. He refused to let his nightmarish confrontation with the bear end up useless, swearing to swiftly kill any bear he saw after becoming strong.
He clenched his makeshift spear, reviewed his risky plan for the umpteenth time and climbed down, determination fueling his movement.
Seeing their sworn enemy climb down, the wolves growled ferociously, prepared to pounce on him the instant he reached the ground.
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