Chapter 142: Using the Mask [2]
The creature lunged toward my path with confidence.
Whoosh! Gone!
I simply increased my speed, leaving the confused beast behind before it could even complete its attack trajectory. Several similar encounters occurred - creatures attempting ambushes only to give up immediately upon witnessing my velocity.
After about minutes of high-speed travel, I reached the territory boundaries where beast populations shifted from common ranks to genuinely dangerous specimens. This was the area where high Elite-rank creatures hunted regularly, and occasional Transcendent beasts established their domains.
The ambient mana density increased noticeably here, creating an atmosphere that lesser awakeners would find oppressive. For me, it was exactly what I needed - an environment where worthy prey awaited harvesting.
I slowed my approach and activated my enhanced senses fully, scanning for suitable targets while maintaining vigilance against potential threats that could actually harm me at this level.
I began actively searching for suitable prey rather than waiting for beasts to come to me, not that any came anyway. My eyes scanned the surrounding forest, detecting various magical signatures and tracking movement patterns through the dense vegetation.
After several minutes of moving and searching, I detected an interesting specimen.
This should do.
Moving through a small clearing ahead was a six-legged panda pig - a peculiar magical beast that appeared to be a natural hybrid between a panda and a pig. The creature was roughly the size of a large bear, with distinctive black and white markings covering its rotund body, while six powerful legs provided surprising mobility for something so bulky.
I assessed its strength immediately, a peak Elite rank. A decent warm-up target that would provide quality blood without presenting genuine danger.
Unsheath! Whoosh!
I drew my rare-rank sword and launched myself forward, closing the distance before the creature could even register my presence. My blade, strengthened with blood manipulation, cut through the beast’s thick neck cleanly in a single stroke.
The six-legged panda pig didn’t even have time to growl.
Thud!
Its massive body collapsed to the forest floor with a heavy impact, blood beginning to pool around the fatal wound.
I immediately activated my Blood Control trait, drawing the creature’s life essence from the corpse before it could be wasted. Crimson streams flowed through the air in response to my will, guided precisely into the empty vials I’d brought specifically for this purpose.
Peak Elite-rank blood had noticeably better quality than the lower-tier specimens I’d collected previously. The magical potency was evident even during the extraction process, the liquid glowed faintly with residual mana that would provide excellent enhancement fuel.
After filling three vials, I stored them carefully in my spatial ring and moved on, leaving the drained corpse behind for scavengers.
I continued deeper into the hunting grounds, eliminating several more Elite-rank beasts and collecting their blood. Each kill provided both valuable resources and incremental soul power that would eventually accumulate into rank advancement.
After about twenty minutes of successful hunting, I stumbled upon something that made me pause immediately.
Hidden behind thick vegetation and deliberately concealed by webbing was a structure I recognized from my academy studies. My eyes narrowed as I assessed the situation.
"Thornback nest..." I muttered quietly, studying the webs and distinctive architectural features.
Thornbacks were aggressive, spiny creatures - essentially magical spiders covered in sharp protrusions that made physical combat particularly hazardous. They inhabited dark forests and cave systems, notorious throughout the kingdom for their potent venom and swarming behavior that overwhelmed even experienced hunters.
Their razor-sharp legs could pierce armor with disturbing ease, while their tough exoskeletons provided natural defense that made them difficult to kill quickly.
But the real danger came from their pack tactics. Thornbacks never fought alone when defending their nests.
The nest before me was not snall, suggesting a mature colony rather than a recently established group. I could detect multiple magical signatures emanating from within, at least a dozen creatures, possibly more hidden deeper in the structure.
Most were Elite-rank based on their aura density, though I sensed at least two or three that registered as peak Elite or possibly low Transcendent. Those would be the colony defenders, the strongest specimens tasked with protecting the queen and breeding grounds.
The question was whether engaging this nest was worth the risk and effort.
Even Transcendent-rank awakeners typically avoided entering Thornback nests alone. The creatures were genuinely dangerous when fighting on their home territory, their combination of large numbers and exceptional crowd control abilities creating lethal scenarios for solo combatants.
I wasn’t particularly worried about the basic Elite-rank specimens or even dealing with multiple opponents simultaneously, I had extensive experience fighting groups of Elite beasts. The real concern was whether any powerful Transcendent-rank Thornbacks resided deeper within the nest.
Fighting multiple Transcendent creatures while simultaneously managing tens of Elite-rank attackers wasn’t something I could handle reliably at my current strength. That level of threat required either overwhelming power or tactical withdrawal.
After brief hesitation, I decided proper reconnaissance was essential before committing to an engagement. Charging in blindly would be foolish regardless of my capabilities.
I activated my Transcendent-rank aspect ability.
’Silent Predator.’
The familiar sensation washed over me as the technique took effect. My presence became completely null as supernatural camouflage activated, blending me seamlessly with the surrounding environment.
My breathing became imperceptible, my scent vanished entirely, and my visual profile faded to near-invisibility.
For anyone at my rank or below, I had essentially ceased to exist. Even Transcendent opponents would struggle significantly to detect my presence unless they possessed specialized tracking abilities.
’I have five minutes,’ I reminded myself, acutely aware of the aspect’s time limitation.
Five minutes to scout the nest’s interior, assess the true threat level, identify the strongest defenders, and determine whether engaging was tactically sound or suicidally reckless.
I moved forward silently, each step calculated to avoid disturbing the web structures that would alert the colony to intrusion. The entrance loomed before me, dark and foreboding, but my vampire vision easily penetrated the gloom.
Time to discover what secrets this Thornback nest concealed.