CHAPTER 42: STALKING

Another hour passed.

Then another.

Nick’s frustration grew with each step he took, and he’d taken alot...

He had spent basically all of his credits on this information, and so far, it had led him nowhere.

Sure, the Lamboda Beasts were rare, but this was just ridiculous!

’Was this a waste of my time? My money?’

He could understand not catching a glimpse of the beast itself, but not even spotting any remnant of their presence anywhere at all? That was just plain unlucky.

And Nick was beginning to despise the concept of luck.

It hadn’t done him much good so far, even when considering it led him to obtaining those Radiant Beast Armaments, hell, all of his Beast Armaments.

From the way he viewed it, his luck had done him more bad than good.

Like nearly dying to the Awakened White Ox, nearly dying to the Sabertooth Wolf, VERY nearly dying to the fucking Whiteclaw Snake King, and halfway through being digested no less!

So far, all of his most fortunate gains, were obtained in most unfortunate circumstances.

Nick was fine with this situation so far, but if it continued to be a common occurrence...

He didn’t know how much longer he could take it.

But just as he was about to call it a day and head back, a flicker of movement caught his attention from the corner of his eye.

Just a flicker, but it was enough for him to shift his full focus over to it.

Nick froze in that instance, summoning his Radiant Beast Spear that instant.

Slowly, he turned his head in the direction he’d sensed the movement from.

Rustle!

’Its there again!’ Nick noted internally, slowly feeling his mood become lighter.

Nick’s grip on his spear loosened slightly as the underbrush trembled again.

But to his disappointment, he didn’t find what he was looking for.

A small, furred creature — no bigger than a rabbit, emerged cautiously, twitching its nose as it sniffed the air.

A Mundane Beast.

Harmless to Nick.

For a moment, Nick felt the disappointment creep in and start to ingrain itself within him, but he didn’t let it stick for long.

His previous idea sparked back up in his mind.

’Predators hunt prey.’

A Lamboda Beast wouldn’t pass up on an easy meal. And this little creature? It was practically a dinner bell ringing, asking for any beast in the vicinity to come along and chow down!

Nick exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax.

He lowered his spear, but kept it summoned, lest he get blindsided by another, stronger beast by letting his guard down. He knew better than to do something as foolish as that while out on a hunt.

The Mundane beast hadn’t even noticed him yet, which Nick was glad to see, as it was too preoccupied with nibbling on a cluster of some nearby, sun drenched leaves.

’Good. You’ll do just perfect!’

He wouldn’t spook it with his presence.

Instead, he crouched low, moving in the quietest method he could.

The beast flicked an ear, but didn’t bolt or turn to look at him, just marking the slight sounds Nick did manage to cause as some wind passing through.

Nick edged closer, close enough to see the rise and fall of the tiny thing’s ribs as it breathed.

Then — he just waited.

Minutes dragged, while the Mundane beast just hopped between leaves and chowed down like it had a whole feast to itself.

It hopped lazily, grazing the foliage, drinking from a nearby puddle, completely unaware of Nick stalking it.

Nick’s muscles ached from the stillness, but he didn’t dare shift.

He wouldn’t move if the little beast didn’t either.

Eventually, to his relief, the small thing didn’t stick around for long, as it pushed its little legs into gear and entered a sprint, making its way through the forest in a rather surprisingly silent fashion, despite displacing multiple pieces of foliage on its way.

Nick followed behind, doing his best to remain just as silent.

’Ohhh, jackpot!’

Then, Nick followed the beast for 20 minutes straight, until it paused at the edge of the biggest clearing Nick had seen yet.

The Beast eyed the clearing much more seriously than it had shown previously, clearly knowing that if there were going to be predators about, this was the most likely location.

But it was also too good of a place to pass up, as right at the centre a pond was situated, looking like the perfect spot for small beasts like itself to bathe and clean itself.

Eventually, after a further few minutes of sitting, waiting in silence, the small beast must have thought the coast was clear and safe enough for it to emerge.

...It quickly found out that it was very, very wrong.

Crack!

A new sound emerged, spooking both the small beast and Nick.

A branch nearby had been cracked.

Drip...

Drop...

Then another sound accompanied it.

A slow, viscous drip.

Nick’s pulse spiked. He didn’t turn his head, didn’t even blink. But from the corner of his eye, he saw it.

A glistening trail of liquid wax seeping down the trunk of a nearby tree.

’A Lamboda Beast!’

Nick recognised it instantly, as a sketch was provided by Vexa along with the information he’d received, and this thing fit the image perfectly to a tee!

The Mundane beast froze mid step, beginning to quiver intensely.

A heartbeat later, it bolted back in the direction of the forest.

It reacted way too late though.

A waxy tendril snapped out of the foliage, snagging the creature up mid leap.

The Mundane beast let out a shrill squeal — feeling the hot wax assaulting its skin and all its senses, but was cut off.

The Lamboda beast had swallowed it whole.

Nick’s lips curled at this scene, knowing he had the perfect opportunity to strike now!

Most living creatures were at their most vulnerable straight after finishing a meal, and this Lamboda Beast wouldn’t be any different.