Predator

Do you think it was easy to hunt animals, it was obviously not.

In the modern world, most hunters use long range weapons, using rifles, pistols and crossbows. But during the medieval times, hunters use bow & arrow, spears ans sometimes small axes.

They had three things in common; they are used in the distance, they can be used in surprised attacks, they will let the hunters fight at a safe distance.

Very few hunters use close range weapons, it shows that they have a primitive mindset or they had no choice as to use what they have.

Hunters normally by the distance to catch or kill prey, but animal have no such luxury.

They use tactics, knowledge of the terrain or their own characteristics, that is how humans evolve by imitating such beast and they also used their other advantages, such as using their numbers.

Stigma was in an unfavorable position right now, eight wolves were currently surrounding him, two were large, five were smaller and one was injured.

What he had on him were three knives strapped on his waist by his left side, Hilda the cursed sword could help him being his second set of eyes, and the armor made from Dusk body that makes up most of his defenses.

If he was going to hunt, he would stick to the modern method of hunting using the knives, spears and the net to help him hunt single wolves from a distance and have Dusk assist, but reality is a harsh when it come to future plans.[1]

He was still a beginner in the situation, much less use the sword the weight in that one swing was from a full body swing which took time, and with seven other wolves aiming for that exact weakness made it more so the danger he was facing.

Since they are not attacking right now, they aim to tire him out then finish him with their numbers and speed.

Even if he were to have Dusk help him, he was more helpless of an easy target with all of them facing him. Stigma's heart was racing, his feet were planted to the ground, his vision was unfocused, his hand felt heavy not because of Hilda but form the situation he was in.

He had lived a difficult life, but unlike his world, this place had no such laws in helping the weak, it killed or be killed, help yourself wait for no one.

Clenching his teeth he stopped his foot and charged at the largest wolf.

---

The seven other moved in aiming at Stigma's blind spots, only to be stopped by a howling voice filled with anger from the largest wolf, clearly stating that he was targeted to be his opponent so no one dares interfere.

Charging towards Stigma with a resolute gaze.

Wolves normally attack in groups and use hit and run tactics when they hunt prey, they were called the hunters because they work well as a team, but unlike the ones in where Stigma came from, the size was very obvious, and like the wolves there were similar beast with a different build in their world which was a common sight.

The largest wolves was the leader of the current pact, having saw his previous pack mates killed along with the large Tiger it was weary.

It saw the entire event, it had sent three to check the hole only to be killed within the three meters range all had a mark of a blunt object on their neck, before he could lead a charge, a predator they were trying to avoid had appeared the Predator Tiger.

Even with their numbers and coordination, they knew by instinct that offending it would lead to death, so the prey before them would belong to the Tiger and they could not avenge their fallen brethren.

Contrary to their thought, the same thing happened to the great predator, the sound of a blunt object had been resonating from where the beast was going, but nothing was in front of it nor around its area, dazed from the invisible attack he used his skill to intimidate the foe who struck him only to be barrages by several heavy strikes again from the back.

White streaks appeared like how an iron rod was striking a steel frame marks and dents will show how strong the force was behind it.

Feeling the heavy attack in his back for the first time it was enraged so he turned and started using its intimidation skill again increasing its range affecting, even their position they could feel its effect lowering their courage to continue watching and runaway from being spotted.

However another attack was heard this time on the neck, being dazed from having been attack its weak point, it started swiping it's arm randomly, jumping and using its weight to destroy everything in its vicinity, constantly turning and using its skill to the farthest range it could handle, shocking the weaker beast in the surrounding and fleeing from its rage.

Out of nowhere another attack was made from its wide open mouth as if it was not affected from the skill, when the skill takes effect the prey normally slows down and deals lesser damage, the attack felt the same from before heavy.

Blood started dripping in its mouth, and a wave of attacks were focusing on its head and neck.

Being dumbstruck to what had happened about four others stated charging in at the same time, taking advantage of the state the tiger was in and taking a chance to devour its core and remains, blinded by greed they didn't notice that the tiger noticed them, mistaking them to be the attackers and taking their lives in the process.

Then struck the invisible foe for the first time.

The tiger then didn't waste any time and charged at the figure that was struck following the marks on the ground, having bit into something but nothing was there it started but didn't care, using its claws and grabbed the foe and landed using its full body weight to anchor it crushing it in the process creating a crater from where it landed.

After the dusk cleared, a form started to show itself, with its arm being bitten yet showed no signs of being in pain, it was thin black creature with long arms, it had no eyes but its fangs were present.

What happened next was a sight that could never be forgotten, the creature was having its arm crushed from the Tiger's jaw yet there was no blood flowing, with the tiger's full body weight over its body it was not struggling for air.

Even so, it had no way getting out easily, but it showed no intentions of worry, in fact the creature embraced the tiger's neck with it's free arm.

*CRACK!*

A sound of broken bones occurred and the source was from the tiger's jaw, when prey get caught under the fangs of the predator they struggle for their freedom.

From an outsider's perspective the tiger was the predator, and the one underneath it was the prey, but reality was harsh to any dreamer.

The tiger who was having the advantage was struggling to get away from the vice like grip around its neck, it's teeth were trying to release its arm but the creature would not allow that, the more the tiger struggled the more pressure was put into its embrace, until the sound of a broken bones was heard.

After witnessing the frightening existence, the wolves instincts yelling in their minds telling them, if they dare move, they will die a gruesome death.

The creature then grabbed the tiger under it's bitten arm and grabbed its fallen brethren by twos, placing it by the hole and slowly disappearing.

After a long time not even one dared move afraid of gaining the attention of the invisible creature, not long after a human child appeared, it walked towards the small pile of corpses and uneasy feeling started going through it after the human placed his hands on the corpses.

When the child was finished he went back inside the hole and a cry of pain was heard, what would happen next was what was happening before him now.

The human child now had the aura of hostility aiming towards his pack, they then made their resolve they were going to die, but the leader was unwilling to have his pack die for his reckless pride.

It only hoped that after he died he would spare the rest of the pack and gladly take his corpse, the two groups were being led by his children. He felt no sorrow, rules are made by the strong, such that of survival of the fittest, unfortunately he had provoked a monster in a form of the greatest of the predators, 'Humans'.

---

In front of Stigma, a wolf was in a stance in charging at him, he was going to attack him but hesitated and started placing the swords to block the incoming impact, closing his eyes out of reflex.

But no such attack came, he opened his eyes, the wolf was nowhere then an impact from behind him forced him to hit a tree.

Looking behind him he saw the same wolf, he realized because he closed his eyes he never saw where the wolf went and he was attacked.

Unlike in RPG games, he was in a safe distance while an avatar or a proxy figure, was the one fighting as he entered commands.

Feeling the pain in his back for a few seconds, he swung Hilda side to side and charged at the wolf again, this time he was able to see where he was going and started counter attacking.

The wolf came after him to bite, he was learning from his mistake and started to swing Hilda at the wolf, he was not aiming for the neck, no he was aiming for something that was softer the mouth.

It went out of its way to show its weakness, he would be a fool as to not use it.

The wolf was charging at him with it's mouth wide open trying to bite if the head of the youth before him, unfortunately the attack that Stigma swung was dodged and changed into another charged attack making him land on his right side.

Dusk was covering his body to the damage was minimal, his limbs were also covered so he had no problem with receiving damage but taking the force with the weight behind it is difficult to withstand.

Then an idea came to him, if he change his armor to whatever form he wanted, then he can extend the range in any part he wanted, but the issue is that the shaping takes time.

So bracing himself again, the wolf again was aiming for his legs, only this time Stigma was prepared grabbing one of his knife, he aimed at the wolves eyes, momentarily stunning it.

He then charged towards it, sending a foot at the same spot pushing the beast back, the surrounding companions were growling at him but he didn't care, with adrenaline in his head he was more focused with what was before him.

The wolf stood up with blood flowing from his eye, glaring with his remaining remaining eye, not looking away for even a moment, but that was mistake, he grabbed the two remaining knives threw the remaining at the wolf.

The wolf dodged the first one that hit the ground, but second one didn't appear, while it was distracted Stigma swung Hilda but the range was a feet away, the wolf charged at him thinking he can kill him after knocking him out, but out if nowhere blood started spilling from his front left leg.

It was not even aware what had happened, before Stigma had thought of a plan, he first needed to distract the wolf, then strike him, as for the reason for the blood despite the distance, he had silently ordered Dusk to transform from his left arm armor, to extend the length of Hilda's range, gaining his the surprise attack but that was not his final attack.

A knife landed on his free hand and he charged at the stunned wolf stabbing his neck in the process, Stigma had two knives and threw them, one was thrown at the wolf and looked away while the second on was coated with a little bit of Dusk, flying silently over his head in case of an emergency or be used as the finishing blow.

Each of the moves were the combination from; "Knife Mastery", "Throwing", and somehow after absorbing the "Hunting" skill he was able to predict where he was going.

A wide grin was showing on his face, he was able to win his first death match.

[1] The original line here was suppose to be reality is a bitch