Chapter 67 — A Dangerous Hunt (Part II)
Toren no longer had [Mana Tracking] as an Ability, but he did remember the way the Ability would show him the mana trails left by the passage of beasts and monsters. As they followed the physical trail left by the surviving jungle stalker, he sought out those mana trails and continued exploring his new capabilities with [Mana Sensing] to sense shades of meaning and different mana types.
His exploration was leading him to further enlightenment on both the nature of mana and the challenges of [Stealth]. Not only was that aspected nuance likely what he needed to overcome the Stalker’s mana-camouflage without resorting to using [Control Blood], training his [Mana Sensing] to recognize nuance at this point might get him quickly to the next threshold.
And further, applying that knowledge to his own [Stealth] Skill was surely one of the missing pieces that he needed to push [Stealth] to and past the level 25 threshold. He’d need more diverse external mana manipulation than only [Control Blood]—or unlock and add [External Mana Manipulation]—to accomplish that sort of mana camouflage.
Though still faint in his perception, the newly gained awareness of meanings leaking from his and others’ mana emissions was helping him to realize how ‘noisy’ existing was. The others of his group were each giving off a shared concept as they hunched low and actively tried to make as little noise as possible while imitating what he did to pass through the undergrowth, disturbing the jungle plants as little as possible.
It was almost as if the act of being ‘stealthy’ was giving off what felt like… maybe… ‘stealth’ mana? Really, to his improved sensing, it was like a flag saying, ‘Hey! I’m being stealthy! Look at me!’
Was that why Old Sellim had always stressed being one with one’s environment? To empty the mind of distractions and simply exist as a natural part of where he was?
What belongs and is expected goes unnoticed.
That was the rule. It worked in the city just as well as in the wilderness. Only now was he realizing how profound such a concept was.
Was that how naive his attempts at stealth were even with a [Stealth] Skill of 18?
Toren refocused his thoughts on belonging and being a part of the jungle—a normal predator tracking his prey—and observed how the mana around him changed.
Fascinatingly, the ‘concept’ of his mana changed to match.
Wait. Toren already knew about this! He had just taught the Hatterwicks about it the day before! Truth creates mana.
No large XP award awaited Toren’s hopeful expectation.
Such an understanding about the nature of mana was surely a ‘fundamental truth’, wasn’t it? Apparently not. Or maybe his understanding was too shallow or flawed in some way… or maybe because it was common knowledge taught through holy scripture?
“Danger?” Warnel hissed, having noticed him stop moving for too long.
The hounds were alert but not tense, recessed nostrils flaring wider to take in scents. So, likely no threat nearby.
Just to be sure, Toren verified with [Control Blood]. His sense of ‘blood essence’ added by the Ability breakthrough to ‘mid’ proficiency was improving to an extent that he could now touch the fluids within the insects and plants around him.
He and the boys had once joked with Yana that sap was ‘tree blood’ just to get a rise out of her about how cruel she was to the trees with her throwing knives.
Toren shook his head at the memory. The childish joke was true after all. “Nothing yet. But the trail does indeed seem to be leading us to that blackrock crag ahead.”
“Don’t tell me we have to climb that,” Emina grumbled.
“Stalkers do prefer high ledges…” Toren admitted, and Warnel gave him an unamused look.
“Can’t we set traps to catch it?” Falma asked.
Toren nodded. That was a wise idea. “If the ascent is too dangerous or if we have to return before finding the stalker that attacked your sister. Or if we learn there are too many of them.”
Falma gulped at that thought, and Toren resumed following the well-travelled trail, the hounds nosing through ferns and over tree roots nearby. Nilly’s head whipped toward a weak tier-1 bird well out of reach briefly before returning to the scent that currently had both dogs’ attention.
Really, traps would be a good idea even should the hunt be successful. With the change in predominant tree type, the terrain was undoubtedly above the flood-line and was sure to gather a large number of beasts during the flood.
The worrisome crag of exposed rock was visible through a part in the trees, jutting out above the jungle-covered hill they had been ascending since leaving the zoots’ territory. The stepped ridges with scraggly trees and silhouetted flying shapes enjoying the warm air currents above made clear the jungle stalkers might not be the only dangers that made their home in the crag’s reaches. The summit would be a perfect home for a wyvern, in particular—from which to survey its territory.
The signs of the current jungle stalker and a single other having followed this same path regularly in the past suggested not only wasn’t that the case, but also that the two stalkers they had encountered might be the only ones in the area. Thus far he hadn’t come across any tracks that would indicate a third.
He purposefully didn’t mention that to the others, not wanting to lower their guard.
The path curved around a tier-2 pitcher plant and modest gathering swarm of tier-1 and tierless insects. He signed Falma to keep the hounds close. The girl made a clicking sound with her tongue, and when both hounds attentively returned to her side, he motioned for extra caution and resumed leading them forward.
“Is that…?” Emina started to gasp out as they crested above a hedge of ferns onto a tree’s roots. A number of insects separated off to wander their direction at the sound of Emina’s voice, and a warning pulse of mana spread from the ground around the plant.
Emina’s helmet turned his way before turning back to the approaching bugs.
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The hounds made low growls and readied to attack.
“This way! Quick! Don’t go near the plant,” Toren whispered, leading them away as quietly as he could.
“Protect, follow,” Falma ordered Nog and Nilly with a soft but firm voice.
Warnel let his daughter and wife pass before following, blade whispering out of its sheath.
As the three largest of the insects, each larger than Toren’s fist, left the area claimed by the pitcher plant, Toren seized control of their blood, stopping it and the terrifying trio mid-air. Each shrilly buzzed with frantic attempts to break free, attracting more attention.
Could he expand the blood to explode them?
A brief effort suggested it was possible, but the effort would take a lot of will and mana.
“Shoot?” Falma whispered, an arrow half drawn.
“Not yet.”
Toren was fairly sure if the stalkers were wary of the plant, then he should be, too. It was clearly approaching some level of intelligence if it reacted to speech that strongly. Besides, starting an unnecessary fight when hunting an ambush predator in its own territory would be dumb, and it might be worth the risk of leaving the plant to continue evolving and awaken if it helped clear away poisonous insects from near the stead and culled beasts during beast tides…
The hounds took care of the remaining smaller blood suckers and other aggressive flyers that got too close to Warnel with surprising efficiency, rushing forward to paw smack certain ones and snap up others, ignoring a few for Warnel to cut at. Toren wondered if, because of having been raised in the jungle, the hounds knew which ones were edible, poisonous, or not worth bothering.
Deciding he was overthinking things and should just stick to the basics of what he already knew, Toren used [Control Blood]’s telekinesis to smash the trio of large insects together into each other until the notices showed.
Once the three were dealt with, Toren stopped the smaller ones mid-air as best he could, making them easy targets for whoever was in reach until he and the Hatterwicks were able to get far enough away from the pitcher plant and the swarm to continue on without attracting further attention.
The next point of interest was where the trail dipped under a fallen tree. Toren immediately used [Control Blood] to make sure the jungle stalker wasn’t present in or around the hollow that had been dug out under the trunk.
When they approached close enough to see the hollow, claw marks present on the tree and a scent of musky urine marked the territory as claimed.
“Its den?” Warnel asked.
“Maybe, or a nap spot.” Toren motioned toward shed fur clumps scattered in the dirt.
Nog and Nilly went right to where the roots of the fallen tree had pulled up the soil and started sniffing around, digging in the dirt some.
The stalker’s trail followed by [Mana Sensing] didn’t enter the hollow, rather, jumping onto the tree trunk and down onto the other side where it continued. The most recent tracks agreed.
“It continued on,” Toren informed the rest of his hunting party. “We’re getting closer.”
Emina briefly glanced to Horevi, still shining through the branches and leaves in the west. “Maybe a candlemark more, before we should think about heading back.”
“Yes, let’s hurry.”
They didn’t have to go much further before the view they faced while carefully peeking out from behind a large tree with maze-like roots was the plant- and weather-eroded black stone of the crag towering upward like a monolithic monument to the power of nature.
Seeing the terrain up close, he was having second thoughts about braving an ascent.
Dangling vines and lichen-marked fissures did make climbing from ledge to ledge plausible, even with two [Haberdashers] and a Professionless, but…
The problem was that they would be dangerously exposed. Perfect for an ambush to catch them at a dangerous disadvantage.
Using his eyes, Toren mapped out the easiest route to the first substantial ledge, carefully scanning along with his [Mana Sensing] and [Control Blood] and froze, his eyes meeting feline.
It was there!
Waiting, watching them.
~~~
Name: Toren of Theravos
Race: Human
Age: 20
Profession 1: Level 8 Burningblood Berserker (10600/16000)
Mana: 34/115
Strength: 16
Constitution: 16
Dexterity: 15
Agility: 13
Wisdom: 12
Intellect: 8
Will Power: 18
Perception 15
Appearance: 9
Charisma: 8
Luck: 10
Attribute Upgrade Points: 7
Traits:
Sacrificial Guardian
Abilities:
Burning Blood (WIL, Rank 1, Proficiency: High)
Control Blood (WIL, Rank 1, Proficiency: Mid)
Flurry of Blows (DEX, Rank 1, Proficiency: Low)
Ability Upgrade Points: 7
Profession Skills:
Constitution of the Phoenix 5
Empower 6
Focus Rage 8
Combat Awareness 6
Berserker Weapon Arts 6
Pain Tolerance 8
Intimidate 5
Skills:
Danger Sensing 3
Stealth 18 → 19
Mana Sensing 17 → 18
Wilderness Harvesting 12
Theravos Language 11
Religion 10
Divided Focus 7
Meditation 6
Hunting 20
Archery 19
Running 15
Wound Binding 8
Arithmetic 4
