CHAPTER 53: TWO TYPES OF PREDATORS

After securing the Moonlit Mushrooms, we didn’t waste time lingering in the clearing. The longer we stayed in one place, the higher the chance of something finding us.

I checked the list again. Dragonfly Shells. This one was going to be tricky. Unlike the previous items, it wasn’t just a matter of knowing where to look—we also had to deal with the damn things themselves.

Wallace adjusted his glasses. "We’re looking for Razorwing Dragonflies, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Their molted shells are what we need."

Felix groaned. "And let me guess—these dragonflies aren’t just harmless little bugs?"

Mira smirked. "Oh, Felix. When has anything we’ve found so far been harmless?"

Felix sighed in defeat. "I really need to start asking dumber questions."

"Razorwing Dragonflies are fast, territorial, and their wings are sharp enough to slice skin," I explained. "But the good news is, we don’t have to fight them. We just need their discarded shells."

Julien stretched his arms. "And where do we find those?"

"In areas with high humidity, near slow-moving water," I said. "They molt near reeds and overgrown vegetation, usually leaving their old shells stuck to tree trunks or rocks."

Leo squinted at the dense trees ahead. "So we’re looking for a swamp?"

"Something like that." I gestured for them to move. "Let’s go."

___

It didn’t take long before we found what we were looking for.

The terrain gradually shifted—the air grew thicker with moisture, and the ground softened beneath our boots. Soon, we reached the edge of a small wetland, where shallow pools of water reflected the dim light filtering through the canopy. Thick reeds and moss-covered logs lined the banks, the perfect breeding ground for Razorwing Dragonflies.

Julien whistled. "Well, this looks like a great place to die."

Mira scanned the water. "I don’t see anything flying around."

I crouched near the edge, keeping my movements slow. Razorwings were aggressive, but they weren’t mindless. If they weren’t swarming, it meant something else had their attention.

Or something else had scared them off.

Wallace knelt beside me, inspecting a nearby tree trunk. "Over here."

We gathered around as he pointed to a set of brittle, translucent shells clinging to the bark. They were shaped like dragonflies, but hollow and fragile, with delicate wing structures still intact.

"Bingo," I muttered. "That’s what we need."

Felix exhaled in relief. "Finally, something we can just take without risking our lives."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a ripple moved across the water.

Everyone froze.

A second later, something huge stirred beneath the surface.

A dark shape slithered through the murky water, its movement slow but deliberate. Then, a long, scaled snout rose above the surface, jagged teeth glinting between strands of moss.

Leo paled. "What... the hell is that?"

Wallace adjusted his glasses, his voice tight. "Marsh Strider. Semi-aquatic predator. They lie in wait and ambush anything that gets too close."

Felix groaned. "Of course. Because things were going too well."

The Marsh Strider’s glowing eyes locked onto us. It was watching, waiting—assessing whether we were prey. If we ran, it would definitely chase.

Julien whispered, "So, uh... what’s the plan?"

I clenched my jaw. "We don’t move. Not yet."

The creature was patient. It didn’t attack immediately, which meant it wasn’t sure whether we were worth the effort. If we could convince it that we weren’t worth hunting, we might be able to back away without turning this into a fight.

The problem? If anyone panicked, we were dead.

"Slow movements," I instructed. "No sudden gestures. Just... ease backward."

Everyone followed my lead, stepping away in careful, deliberate motions. The Marsh Strider’s eyes tracked us, but it didn’t lunge.

Good.

We just had to keep this up—

Then, from behind us—

A sharp rustling.

Something small but fast darted through the underbrush. A squirrel-like creature, completely oblivious to the deadly situation unfolding. It skittered across the Marsh Strider’s line of sight—

And that was all it took.

The beast lunged.

Water exploded as it surged forward, its massive jaws snapping shut—not on us, but on the unfortunate creature that had wandered too close.

For half a second, I didn’t move. Then, realization slammed into me.

"RUN!"

No one needed to be told twice.

We bolted.

The Marsh Strider thrashed in the water, tearing apart its prey, but the commotion sent ripples of panic through the wetland. From the reeds, several more dark shapes slithered into view.

"Multiple!" Wallace shouted.

"No shit!" Felix yelped.

I kept my focus on moving. Dodging through the trees, leaping over exposed roots—our only advantage was that we’d reacted first. Marsh Striders were fast in water but slower on land. If we could reach higher ground, we’d be safe.

The terrain started rising. The wet, muddy ground gave way to firmer soil, and we pushed forward with everything we had—

Finally, we broke through the trees and into a more stable clearing. No water, no reeds. Safe.

Panting, we turned back.

The Marsh Striders had stopped at the edge of the wetland. They wouldn’t leave their territory.

Felix collapsed onto the ground, gasping. "I... hate... everything."

Julien flopped beside him. "That was fun."

Mira rolled her eyes. "You have a very different definition of fun."

I checked our supplies. Miraculously, we still had the Dragonfly Shells. Despite everything, Wallace had managed to hold onto them.

I nodded. "Six down."

Felix wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Alright, what’s next on this never-ending scavenger death list?"

I checked the parchment again. Stalker Vine.

Wallace hummed. "That’s going to be... difficult."

Leo groaned. "Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?"

"Because the vine is alive," I answered. "And it doesn’t just sit there waiting to be picked. It hunts."

Felix went pale. "I hate this forest."

Julien grinned. "At this point, I think Lucian’s just making up names to mess with us."

Mira smirked. "That would be cruel... but hilarious."

I sighed. "If I were making this up, I’d at least give us one easy item." I rolled up the list and looked ahead. "Come on. Stalker Vines grow in shaded areas, usually coiling around trees or hanging from cliffs. They mimic normal plants until prey gets close."

"Define ’prey,’" Leo said, already dreading the answer.

I shrugged. "Anything that is small and moves."

Felix groaned. "Great. So basically, us."

"Correction," Mira said. "Mostly you."

Felix sputtered. "Why me?!"

Julien grinned. "Because if I were a hungry vine, I’d go for the one weakest one first."

Felix threw his hands up. "Unbelievable. Betrayed by my own teammates."

I ignored the banter and kept walking. The sooner we found the vine, the sooner we could get out of here.

After about fifteen minutes of trekking, the forest canopy thickened, casting long, twisting shadows across the uneven terrain. It was exactly the kind of place where Stalker Vines thrived—dimly lit, quiet, and just unsettling enough to put people on edge.

Wallace adjusted his glasses. "Alright. How do we find them without, you know... getting eaten?"

I crouched down, scanning the area. "Unlike normal vines, Stalker Vines have a different texture. They look smooth at first glance, but if you look closely enough you can see the smooth scales on it like a snake. And they usually grow on the floor but on rare occasions they can grow on top of tree and that makes it even more dangerous."

Julien muttered, "Great. So not only do we have to watch the ground, but we also have to check the trees? Fantastic."

Felix exhaled sharply. "Why is everything in this forest either a predator or a death trap?"

Mira smirked. "Because life is cruel, Felix."

I ignored their complaints and kept scanning the area. The key to dealing with Stalker Vines was spotting them before they noticed us. Unlike regular vines, these ones were patient—they didn’t flail around or move until something was within reach. They could sit perfectly still for hours, blending seamlessly into their surroundings.