Leaving Lily behind in the cave, I did a quick check of my vitals.

  Vitals

  Health: 202 / 225

  Mana: 53 / 220

  Stamina: 180 / 220

  52 mana wasn't too bad, but using Veil of Shadows was the main thing I would have to think carefully about. I really wanted to use it for a kill and hopefully level it up. I would be weaker during the day since I only get the buffs from Night Hunter at night. Therefore, should we run into any red masks tomorrow, the combination of Veil of Shadows and Predator’s Focus would potentially be the key to defeating one. Even more so if I leveled them up.

  However, burning too much of my limited mana would make me vulnerable throughout the night. It would also be wise to have a Crippling Bite available, which costs 20 mana.

  Whatever the case, I’d have to be as conservative as possible, so using Pulse Sense to track prey was out of the question for now.

  So, I stuck my sniffer to the ground and began attempting to track prey the old-fashioned way.

  The water towards the center of the cavern gave off some overpowering smells, but I did sense the musty scent of damp fur mixed in. I tried to focus on that and soon found myself following a clear trail until something overpowered it and drew me off-course.

  The smell got more and more powerful until—

  It was poop.

  Narrowing my eyes at the stinky mound momentarily, I soon turned away and tried ignoring it as I picked out the musky smell once again.

  Between Enhanced Smell making it to level 3, and Sense being my highest stat, I had become much, much better at separating different smells and being able to focus on one.

  The trail led me towards the water, but when I stuck my head out of the leafy, viney greenery of the cavern floor, I did not see my prey.

  I sniffed again.

  I could definitely smell it. I listened closely, hearing mostly the chirping of bugs and the occasional flapping of wings from those small, bat-like monsters overhead, but nothing that sounded very much like a land-bound monster moving about or chewing.

  I took another quick look around, then stuck my nose to the scent trail and continued following it, finding that it led me right to the water's edge.

  My ears folded back in disappointment as I realized the problem. I was probably tracking another “Riverling Mauler.” Yes, I was quite sure of it. Eying the ground, I saw damp spots that coincided with the scent trail and realized that it was obviously a semi-aquatic mammal, like a beaver from my last world. Plus, it was certainly not nocturnal, so it probably found a safe place in or around the water for the night.

  I padded closer to the bank and looked into the water. There seemed to be a steep drop-off a little further in, and I could make out the silhouettes of larger boulders beneath. Riverling Maulers likely had underwater burrows, perhaps by tunneling into the banks. Even with Night Vision, it was difficult to make out much detail under the water surface.

  Even if I were to identify where one might have lodged itself for the night with {Pulse Sense}, it’s not like I could go in after it. Trying to fight in the water would be very foolish. In my old world, I have heard stories of raccoons forcing dogs’ heads underwater and drowning them.

  Yes, this was a lost cause. I’d have to abandon this potential prey and search out a different scent.

  I lapped my tongue into the water a few times for a quick drink, then stepped away from the bank and slunk back into the greenery. I stuck my nose to the ground and started searching for other scents.

  The air near the riverbank was heavy with dampness, carrying so many overlapping odors that it was hard to separate them. Fish, mud, wet stone, and the musk of the Riverling Mauler lingered strongest. But as I moved deeper into the brush, those smells became less intense.

  Then, I heard a sudden snarl and a chirping scream.

  I put my belly to the ground, hiding myself, and listened.

  The struggle continued. It was nearby, the ruffling and tossing of bodies along with violent growls. It seemed I was not the only predator hunting here tonight.

  I was tempted to use another Marrow Sense or Pulse Sense to get a better idea of what was out there, but I thought against it. I knew where it was; it was just a short distance away, and I had stealth on my side. There was no reason to burn my limited mana pointlessly.

  I began creeping towards the sound of the struggle, and with a final cry, the noises stopped.

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  Closer I went, until coming across a boulder that I thought would be a good vantage point and quietly climbed on top, keeping myself low and my movements slow. Once atop the rock I sat still, relying on my camouflage trait, which improved stealth while not moving.

  From my perch, I peered down through the greenery. My sight followed a mess of torn leaves and disturbed dirt until I spotted a small creature lying, twitching in the grass. Its body was limp and torn open. Hovering over it was something else—sleek, lean, and clearly still alert from the kill.

  Its body resembled a large, lanky weasel. Dark fur that let it blend in the night, with legs oddly short for its length. It lifted its head, muzzle half open, wet with blood, and containing rows of sharp teeth. It was certainly a predator.

  The way it looked around—it wasn’t feeding yet. It was listening. Testing the air. Making sure it was alone.

  I held my breath, muscles tense. Its posture was coiled, ready to spring. Even from this distance, I could see its claws flexing. They looked sharp enough to tear into my body, but the shortness of the limbs made me feel a little more confident. They seemed appropriate for grabbing and subduing smaller prey, I could easily imagine how its lanky body wrapped around that thing at its feet. Still, it was smaller than me, though I could tell those claws posed a serious threat if I were to fight it head-on.

  However… if I took it by surprise and landed the first blow, I was confident I could take it out easily. It was not thick, so getting my teeth around the back of its neck would make it an easy kill.

  Slowly, silently, I began shifting my weight toward the edge of the rock, eyes fixed on its neck. One clean pounce is all I needed.

  Down from the rock, belly low to the ground, I used {Veil of Shadows}, then instantly checked my mana.

  Vitals

  Health: 203 / 225

  Mana: 23 / 220

  Stamina: 180 / 220

  So Veil of Shadows costs 30 mana. Good information to have. That left me with a couple Pulse Senses for the night, or a Crippling Bite in an emergency. Maybe more if I got some attunement gains from this kill.

  I crept closer, careful with how I placed my paws, just as I always would while on the prowl, but they went down even more silently than normal. If the skill description could be trusted, I was also harder to see right now, with my outline blending into the darkness around me—a truly stealth predator.

  The weasel-thing seemed to trust that it was safe and began gorging itself on its kill. It probably wasn’t used to being hunted, as this cavern didn’t seem to have any great predators, or I would have had some indication of them by now.

  This certainly wasn’t like the forest of the vale, where creatures far stronger than me lingered around every turn.

  No, in here I may well have been the strongest predator around—an apex predator.

  I loved the thought. I was a Hell Hound—the daughter of a god.

  I should never be hunted, and there should be nothing I fear.

  That was the legacy I should strive for, and one day, even the red masks would instead be the ones who were hunted by me.

  My sight zeroed in on the weasel thing. I was close now, and just a little closer I could pounce.

  Ten feet.

  Seven feet.

  Five.

  I heard the rip of flesh as it tore a mouthful from its kill.

  Now.

  I leaped at its back, silently gliding the short distance through the air.

  When I landed, my jaws instantly found the back of its neck. It snarled and tried to yank free from my hold. It wanted to roll across the ground and lose me, or wrap its body around me, but my grip was too firm.

  One shake.

  It screamed louder, its short limbs and long body flailing, but it was completely unequipped to defend itself from this position.

  Two shakes—three—and—

  Snap.

  The crunch of bone beneath my jaws was as satisfying as ever.

  Foe Eliminated! Level 8 Shadowmartin!

  Experience Gained!

  I dropped my kill and then just stared at it. I wasn’t breathing heavily. It was only one level below me and a predator itself, and yet I did not have to exert myself for this kill. The stacking bonuses of my skills and traits certainly helped with that.

  Then, three welcoming dings sounded in my head along with overlapping blue screens, confirming that I utilized these things effectively.

  Predators Focus leveled up! 2 > 3

  +3 Strength

  +3 Dexterity

  Veil of Shadows Leveled up! 1 > 2

  Medium bonus to all stats!

  Night Hunter Leveled up! 1 > 2

  +3 sense

  +3 Dexterity

  Wow! That’s huge! That’s almost like leveling up without leveling up! My tail wagged excitedly as I looked over my gains. However, the system wasn’t done yet.

  [Evolution hint acquired!]

  You have learned with certainty that creatures traditionally thought of as prey are not your only targets.

  My wagging tail slowed at that. It was not that it disturbed me, but rather the gravity of the realization settling in. I had begun to think that way on my own, moments before this latest kill. Now, the system offered it almost as a confirmation.

  Not only that—

  All hints of the evolution path “Whisperfang Juvenile” have been unlocked, and all prerequisites are now viewable.

  Bonus development awarded!

  Once again, the usual excitement of getting such a message didn’t hit quite the same. There was a heaviness in my chest—stoic anticipation of what this could mean. Gulping, I opened the evolution tab and skipped down to Whisperfang Juvenile.

  Epic - Whisperfang Juvenile

  Whisperfang Juveniles are budding apex predators. Those who walk this path seek a future where they are second to none.

  Hint 1: You have looked into the eyes of one who knew death was coming and saw the lines blur between predator and prey.

  Hint 2: You have witnessed death delivered not by strength, but by stillness, and understood that silence may be sharper than fangs.

  Hint 3: You have learned with certainty that creatures traditionally thought of as prey are not your only targets.

  Requirements

  Stage 5 development

  Strength: 70

  Dexterity: 80

  Vigor: 70

  Sense: 100

  Attunement: 60

  Required Achievement: Apex Predator

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