Chapter 380: Rumble
Chapter 380: Rumble
The soldiers trudged forward through the dense forest, their bodies aching from the previous battle, but their spirits fueled by the thrill of another hunt. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting its silvery glow over the terrain, as the group followed the faint trail left by their new quarry. This beast was larger, its tracks deeper and more deliberate, a sharp contrast to the chaotic swarm they had faced before.
“There,” one of them whispered, pointing to a shadow moving stealthily in the distance. The shape was massive, and its movements, though slow, carried an undeniable power. The beast was heavily built, with thick, coarse fur that bristled under the moonlight. Its glowing amber eyes scanned its surroundings, its snout sniffing the air cautiously as if it sensed it was being followed.
“It’s heading toward the clearing,” Donovan said in a low voice, signaling for the others to keep their distance. “Stay quiet. We’ll let it fall into the trap before we strike.”
The soldiers nodded, spreading out in a careful formation as they moved silently through the underbrush. Every step was deliberate, every rustle of leaves or crunch of twigs met with a wince as they tried to remain undetected. The air was thick with tension, the only sounds the faint rustle of the wind and the steady, deliberate movements of the beast.
As they reached the edge of the clearing, the soldiers crouched low, their eyes fixed on the massive creature as it approached the trap they had prepared. The beast paused, its ears flicking, its nose sniffing the ground as if sensing something amiss. For a moment, it hesitated, its muscles tensing as though ready to bolt.
“Wait…” Donovan whispered, his hand raised to signal patience. “Just a little closer…”
The beast took a tentative step forward, then another, its massive paws inches away from triggering the hidden snare. The soldiers held their breath, their grips tightening on their weapons as they prepared for the moment to strike.
But just as the trap was about to spring, a distant sound broke through the stillness of the night—a low, resonant trumpet that echoed through the forest like a haunting call.
The beast froze, its ears swiveling toward the sound. For a moment, it stood completely still, its amber eyes wide with alertness. Then, without warning, it turned and bolted, its powerful legs propelling it away from the clearing and into the dense woods before the soldiers could react.
“Wait, what was that?” one soldier asked, his voice tinged with panic as he rose to his feet.
“A trumpet?” another replied, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Who could be out here blowing a trumpet in the middle of the night?”