Chapter 375: New beast
Chapter 375: New beast
Lyerin’s smile widened as he watched the soldiers squirm in the silence, their fear and uncertainty practically oozing from their expressions. He tilted his head slightly, golden eyes gleaming with mischief. “Would you like a clue about your new adversary?” he asked casually, his voice lilting with an almost playful mockery.
The soldiers stiffened, their eyes darting to one another. They didn’t dare answer immediately, unsure if his offer was genuine or another one of his manipulations. But before anyone could muster the courage to speak, Lyerin raised a hand, silencing them with a single graceful gesture.
“No need to answer,” he said smoothly, the corners of his mouth curling upward as if amused by their hesitation. “Because I already know you’ll want to hear what I have to say. Let’s not pretend otherwise. You’ve stumbled into something far beyond your understanding, and frankly, it’s laughable how unprepared you all are. But lucky for you,” he added, his voice dropping to a lower, more ominous tone, “I’m feeling generous tonight.”
He leaned back against the nearest surface, his posture as casual as ever, but his words carried the weight of someone utterly in control. “Let me explain,” he began, his voice now taking on a lecturing tone, “based on the delightful descriptions you’ve provided me. This new beast of yours… it’s no ordinary predator. In fact, it’s something of a rarity, even in worlds like this one. If you thought your first quarry was a challenge, well, this one makes it look like a mere house pet.”
The soldiers watched him intently, their faces a mix of dread and reluctant fascination. Lyerin’s smile only widened as he continued, his words deliberate, almost theatrical. “From what you’ve told me, its size alone would classify it as an apex predator. But size isn’t what makes it dangerous. No, the real threat lies in its intelligence and adaptability. You mentioned its movements—quick, precise, almost mechanical in their efficiency. That tells me it’s not just hunting for survival; it’s hunting with purpose. It knows its prey, studies its habits, and strikes where it’s weakest.”
He began pacing slowly, his voice weaving a tapestry of information that seemed to trap the soldiers in their own realization. “Its ability to blend into its surroundings, to move silently despite its size—that’s a skill honed through generations of survival. This is no brute force creature relying solely on its strength. It’s a calculated killer, one that understands the art of the hunt far better than any of you.”
Lyerin paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. “And the shadows you described, the way they seemed to move with it… that’s not a trick of the light. That’s a natural camouflage, a symbiotic relationship between the beast and the environment. The darkness isn’t just hiding it—it’s part of it. You’re not fighting a singular entity; you’re fighting something that’s become one with the night itself.”
He turned to face them fully now, his expression sharpening. “And then there’s its roar. Ah, yes, the roar you so vividly described. That wasn’t just a sound to intimidate; that was a territorial declaration. It was letting you—and every other living creature—know that it’s the king of this domain. It doesn’t fear you. It doesn’t see you as competition. In fact…” He smirked, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “I’d wager it finds you amusing. Insignificant nuisances, scurrying about in its territory like blind mice.”
The soldiers shifted uncomfortably, their faces pale as Lyerin’s analysis tore through whatever fragile confidence they had left. But he wasn’t done yet.
“And finally,” he said, his voice softening, though his words still carried a razor-sharp edge, “there’s the timing of its attack. You’ve been hunting at night, as I suggested. Smart move. But this beast, it doesn’t adhere to simple patterns. It doesn’t need to be bound by the cycle of day and night. It chooses when to hunt. And when it does, it doesn’t just go after the weakest prey—it goes after what challenges it most. Do you understand what that means?” He let the question hang in the air for a moment, his golden eyes glinting with a dangerous light.
“It means it chose to show itself to you,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper, but carrying the weight of absolute certainty. “It wasn’t by chance that you saw it. It wanted you to. It wanted to test you, to see if you were worth its time. And judging by the fact that it left you alive…” He chuckled, a low, sinister sound. “Well, I think you know what that means.”