Chapter 12: The Hunt Begins

Chapter 12: The Hunt Begins

With the leopard defeated and lying motionless on the ground, the middle-aged man and his group seized their opportunity. From their vantage point atop a mountain over seventy meters high, they gazed down at the battle-scarred hyena. The man, with a fierce determination etched on his face, jumped down from the mountain, descending twenty meters below to the mountain where the fight had taken place. His landing was heavy, but he absorbed the impact with ease, his legs bending to cushion the fall.

As he stood up, he raised up his huge battle axe , its blade etched with ancient runes. With a fierce battle cry, he charged towards the hyena, his axe at the ready. The hyena, still catching its breath from the previous battle, was startled by the sudden noise. It rose to its feet, its eyes blazing with anger, and let out a thunderous roar. The beast then charged towards the middle-aged man, its scaled body propelling itself forward with incredible speed.

The stage was set for a clash of titans. The middle-aged man, with his imposing axe and unwavering determination, faced off against the ferocious hyena, its scaled hide and razor-sharp claws at the ready. The outcome was far from certain, as these two forces of nature hurtled towards each other with unrelenting fury.

The impact of their collision caused tremor through the mountain summit, causing the mountain to tremble and quake. The hyena unleashed its full fury, swiping its razor-sharp claws at the middle-aged man with lightning speed and deadly precision. But the man, a seasoned hunter with years of experience, stood firm, his eyes locked onto the beast. With a swift and precise motion, he raised his huge axe, close to the hyena's claws, and deflected the swipe with a resounding clang.

Seizing the opportunity, the man swiftly counterattacked, his fist flying towards the hyena's head with incredible force. The punch connected with a loud thud, sending the hyena stumbling backward, its paws scrambling for traction on the rocky terrain. The beast teetered precariously close to the edge of the mountain peak, its balance wavering as it struggled to regain its footing. For a moment, it seemed as though the hyena would tumble over the edge, plummeting to its demise. But it managed to steady itself, its eyes blazing with fury as it prepared to launch another attack.

The hyena shook off the effects of the punch, its ears perked up and its eyes fixed intently on the middle-aged man. With a burst of speed that would be impossible for a human to react to, it sprinted towards the man, its sharp teeth bared and ready to strike. The middle-aged man swung his huge axe wildly, but the hyena dodged at the last moment, avoiding the blade by mere inches. With a swift counterattack, the hyena swiped its claws across the man's chest, leaving a deep gash that drew blood and sent the man flying backward.

Victory seemed within the hyena's grasp as it prepared to deliver the final blow. But just as it was about to pounce, a group of over twenty young men surrounded it, their weapons at the ready. The hyena snarled and snapped, realizing it was now outnumbered. The fight continued, with the young men working together to try and bring down the beast.

Meanwhile, Mark watched the battle unfold from a distance, his eyes wide with awe. This was no staged fight, no scripted TV show - this was the real thing. And he was deeply impressed by the middle-aged man's skill and bravery in standing against the hyena's ferocity. The man's strength and agility were remarkable, and Mark found himself wondering what had driven him to hunt such a fearsome beast.

As the battle raged on, the middle-aged man finally joined forces with the young men, and together they launched a fierce assault on the hyena. The beast, still reeling from its previous fight, struggled to defend itself against the onslaught. Despite its valiant efforts, it was slowly but surely overwhelmed by the sheer number of attackers.

After what seemed like an eternity, the hyena finally succumbed to its injuries, its body weakening as the men continued to press their advantage. With a swift and merciful stroke, the middle-aged man beheaded the beast, ending its suffering.

Mark watched the scene unfold with a mix of fascination and detachment. He wasn't surprised by the outcome, given the hyena's weakened state after its previous battle. The middle-aged man's sneak attack had been a clever tactical move, catching the beast off guard and exploiting its vulnerability. It was a calculated risk that had paid off, and Mark couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for the man's strategic thinking. The hyena's demise was a testament to the man's skill and experience, and Mark wondered what other they are going to do with the carcass.

With the hyena defeated, the middle-aged man issued a curt command to his group, instructing them to carry the beast's carcass down the mountain to join the leopard's lifeless body. The group sprang into action, carefully lifting the hyena's massive form and beginning their descent.

Mark, still observing from a distance, knew it was time to exercise extreme caution. Despite the significant gap between him and the hunters, he couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability. He lay down on the mountain summit, his eyes fixed on the group as they labored to transport the hyena's carcass.

Mark's past experiences had taught him a harsh lesson: trust no one. The suffering he had endured had left emotional scars, making him wary of strangers. If caught, his fate would be uncertain, and he couldn't risk being captured again. So, he remained still, watching and waiting, as the group continued their work, oblivious to his presence.

Hours passed, and the middle-aged man and his group finally succeeded in bringing the hyena's massive carcass down to the ground. They divided themselves into two groups, one carrying the leopard's body and the other carrying the hyena's. As they began their trek towards the mountain where Mark was hiding, he lay down as flat as possible, observing them from the summit.

The terrain was treacherous, and the weight of the carcasses made every step a struggle. It took them almost an hour to cover a few hundred meters, but eventually, they reached the base of the mountain. Mark held his breath, thinking he had remained undetected.

But then, the middle-aged man stopped and looked up at the mountain, his eyes scanning the terrain. Mark's heart skipped a beat as the man shouted, "Little man, what are you doing up there?" Mark remained silent, hoping against hope that he hadn't been seen.

The middle-aged man shouted again, "I've seen you long ago, so don't pretend! Did you want me to come to you?" Mark's heart raced as the man began walking towards the mountain, climbing it with a determined stride.

Realizing he had been caught, Mark knew he had no choice but to come down and face the middle-aged man. He couldn't jump off the mountain like Leo had done; that was impossible. If the man came up and found him hiding, he might be angry. With a sense of resignation, Mark began his descent, wondering what fate had in store for him.