Let The Hunt Begin I

"What is that supposed to mean?" Kyne asked Luke.

"Shhh… you'll see with your eyes very soon." Luke replied in a murmur.

"Are you sure this is your first time coming to this place? You don't seem like it." Kyne lowered his voice too. After the fight at night, one of the things Luke had told Kyne was that this was his first time coming to this place.

"Of course, it's my first time. I'm just very sensitive to the danger I guess." Luke answered.

That was true but Luke seemed to also have experience with places like this. Kyne was now curious about Luke's background.

"Step only where I step. Try not to make too much noise." Luke warned Kyne who was now walking behind him.

Soon, they arrived at the base of the huge tree. Looking around, they saw a blood trail and decided to follow it.

Walking slowly and as soundless as possible, they approached the sound of something being ripped.

When they were about five meters close to the sound, they hid behind a tree close by. Hearing the sound, he came to the conclusion that something was eating the dead jackals.

Luke climbed the tree slowly so he could get a look at what was making the sound.

Rip…

Flesh was being torn from the bodies of the dead jackals but something else made Luke's face contort.

He urged Kyne to come up and he also climbed the tree with caution. When he got up, he exclaimed at the sight.

"Oh great stars. That's gross." Kyne's stomach churned greatly. "How can they eat their kind?" He asked.

"How should I know the answer to that?" Luke asked back.

The dead jackals were getting devoured by their kind, the rabid jackals.

"It's disgusting but we're lucky it's just these guys. Although there are six of them, it's better than meeting a stronger predator." Luke spoke in hushed whispers.

"That's true." Kyne agreed.

Luke looked at his left arm which was now missing four holes that should have been there. "It's all healed up now."

"So, what do you say we hunt them? You're fast at your max speed right?" Luke asked.

"Hunt them? I'm not ready but yes I'm fast. Why do you ask?" Kyne replied.

"That's great. Get going then." Luke tapped Kyne's shoulder.

His guts were screaming something bad was about to happen. He firmed himself and asked. "Going whe… ahhhh!"

Thud.

Before he was done with his speech, he was back on the floor, five meters away from the beasts.

Hearing the sound of something falling with great force, the beasts lifted their heads and caught sight of Kyne who was now standing very still.

"Back to the giant tree." Luke's voice echoed but Luke was already gone.

"I should've known that crazy son of a donkey was up to no good." Kyne now stood facing six two-ringed rabid jackals. If he got caught, he would die without a doubt.

The first one barked at him, and then the second. The third one inched forward and Kyne didn't wait any longer.

With mana pushed into his legs, he bolted back to the tree, their base. The beasts chased after him, closing the gap inch by inch.

"Waaahhh! That bas***d made me the bait. The f**king bait." He ran nonstop as he headed back to the tree.

The tree was now within sight. Immediately he got close enough, he leaped furiously onto the tree and hurriedly climbed it. The jackals arrived at the base but Kyne had gone up and their target had been replaced with someone else, Luke.

They growled lowly and slowly approached Luke. There was a stone in Luke's hand and he forcefully threw it at the beasts. It landed on the head of one of them and it furiously rushed at Luke.

The others remained in their positions and slowly closed in.

Slash. Thud.

The one which attacked Luke fell to the ground, now into pieces. It had been cut as soon as it got close enough. Seeing their member get sliced easily, with furious barks, they attacked Luke all at once.

With a smile on his face, he punched the first beast to arrive, throwing the creature towards a tree. He kicked the next one up into the air and his dagger landed on the third one's limb.

He quickly pulled it out and dodged the claw attacks of the last two beasts that arrived.

Thud.

The one in the air landed back on the ground. Landing on its back was so painful that it remained in the same position after falling.

Now, he had to deal with two and a half beasts. He rushed at the already injured one and stabbed at it again. It attacked with its fangs but Luke was faster. The dagger went beneath its head and the tip came out of the top of its head. When he pulled out the dagger, it fell, never to rise again.

He turned to the other two that were rushing towards him.

The first beast jumped at his head and the other went for his leg. He pushed mana into his right arm and right leg.

Crack.

His right hand landed on the neck of the jumping jackal still in the air, shattering its neckbone.

Bang. Crack.

His leg landed on the rib of the beast below and broke the bones.

"Fuu. That's all." He breathed deeply. He looked back at Kyne who was on the tree with his mouth wide open. "Hey come down. You'll be facing the other two."

"What? Me? Against two of those things? No way." Kyne said.

"Shut up and get down. They're quite injured so they won't pose much threat. The two of them together are probably weaker than a fully healthy one." Luke yelled at him.

"Okay, fine if you say so. But if I'm in danger you'll help right?" Kyne asked when he finally came down.

No reply.

"Hey, you'll intervene right?" He asked.

Still no reply.

"What will happen if I can't fight both of them?" He changed the question.

"Oh, that? You'll die." Luke shrugged.

"I think I'm already dead." Kyne couldn't cry.

The two beasts that had first attacked and were sent flying finally stood up.

Luke was already on a branch on the tree. Kyne looked at him. 'He wastes no time at all.' He sighed.

The beasts looked around and only found Kyne in the area. Angry about the injury, they went berserk and rushed at him.

Infusing mana into his legs, he started running around with the beasts chasing after him.

"Stop running and face them." Luke yelled.

"They'll kill me." Kyne shouted but he didn't stop.

"I'll make sure I kill you before they do." Luke took out his dagger.

Cold sweat rolled down Kyne's forehead. "Stop! I'll do it so just stop." He shouted at Luke.

He turned and got into position to face the crazy beasts that had been chasing after him.

'That's great. They are not weaker than a single one though. If at all, they're stronger than one. I just want to see how you'll deal with two at once.' Luke smiled.

The beasts finally got close and the first one rushed at Kyne.

"Dammit. I better fight or I'll die." Kyne pulled out his dagger.