Ch 59 : The Hunt Begin

As Auron and the others cautiously navigated through the dense foliage of the Gloom Wood Forest, they tracked the herd of Wood Mooses to a flatland near a partially frozen river. The once lush grassland was now barren, covered in snow and ice. The mooses, towering over 7.5 meters tall, were peeling the bark off trees for sustenance in the harsh winter. Their massive bodies looked a bit leaner, typical of the season, but the largest still weighed about 500 kilograms, a formidable size for any hunting party.

"There they are," whispered Uncle Ray, gesturing toward the herd. "We'll go for the biggest one. Eric and Auron, you two will be responsible for slowing it down. Alice, Thyra, and I, along with Miya, will scatter the rest of the herd. Erina, set up the trap. We move now."

The group split into smaller squads. Auron, careful not to make a sound, followed Eric, their eyes locked on the biggest Wood Moose in the herd. The plan was simple: force the giant creature into Erina's trap. Despite its reduced weight, the moose's raw power made it a dangerous opponent.

"Stay within your limits, kid," Eric whispered as they drew nearer. "I'll tank it. You just need to hit its legs and keep it off balance."

Without warning, the signal was given—a sharp, quiet swoosh through the air—and the hunt began.

Eric wasted no time, charging forward and bashing his large shield against the moose's side. The impact elicited a groan from the giant animal, but it barely staggered. Meanwhile, the other hunters sent a volley of arrows and spells into the herd, causing chaos as the mooses groaned but quickly began fleeing.

Using the confusion to his advantage, Auron approached from the flank, his hand glowing with the dark energy of Void Shatter. With precise timing, he struck the moose's hind leg, sending a pulse of energy rippling through it. The beast's leg buckled, and with a final groan, it crashed to the ground, unable to regain its footing.

"Nice work, kid!" Eric called out as he pounced on the fallen moose, swiftly slashing its throat to end the hunt. The moose let out a final bellow before falling silent.

The rest of the group arrived shortly after, impressed by how quickly the kill was made.

"You didn't even need the trap," Erina said with a hint of relief. "I hate having to reset those things."

"That's thanks to Auron here," Eric said, clapping Auron on the back. "His timing was perfect. Without that, I wouldn't have been able to bring it down so easily."

Alice smirked and crossed her arms. "Told you he'd handle it."

Uncle Ray joined in, nodding with approval. "Good job, little guy. You've got the instincts of a seasoned hunter. You keep this up, and hunting groups will be fighting over you."

"Let's butcher it quickly," Ray added. "The hide's worth a lot right now, so be careful not to damage it."

As Eric and Erina began butchering the massive carcass, Miya stood guard, scanning the surrounding area for any threats. A bloody kill like this would surely attract predators, and they couldn't afford to linger.

Once the meat and hide were properly divided, Uncle Ray began handing out the portions. "Everyone take a share. We'll move faster that way."

Auron looked at the pile meant for him. "I can handle more," he offered. Without waiting for an answer, he hefted a large portion of the moose onto his back with ease, surprising the others.

"You're stronger than you look," Ray remarked with a raised brow. "Even Alex wasn't this strong."

Alice chimed in, her tone teasing. "Told you. That's why he doesn't wear heavy armor."

The rest of the group chuckled in agreement, impressed with Auron's strength.

As they finished packing up the moose, Erina piped up. "We've still got room. How about we go after a Mud Boar while we're at it?"

"Yeah, we could easily bring one back too," Eric agreed, eager for more action.

Uncle Ray, however, was more cautious. "We've already got more than enough with this moose. Let's not push our luck."

Miya stepped in, her eyes gleaming. "Come on, Ray. We've got these kids with us. They've shown they can handle themselves. We could bag another without much trouble."

Ray looked to Auron, Alice, and Thyra. "What do you think? Do you want to continue?"

"If Auron's up for it, so are we," Alice answered confidently, and Thyra nodded in agreement.

Auron thought for a moment, then spoke up. "We can keep going. If it gets too dangerous, we'll retreat."

Erina smirked. "You're definitely the leader of this group."

Ray sighed, relenting. "Alright then. Let's move to the next hunting ground. The frozen swamp should give us an advantage with the Mud Boars."

The swamp was a desolate stretch of frozen land, dotted with Gloomy Cypress and Purple Maple trees, their gnarled roots making the terrain difficult to navigate. Tracking the boars was easier than expected, thanks to the muddy hoofprints leading straight to a large burrow.

Ray surveyed the area. "It's tight in there. We'll have to lure them out. Erina, get a trap ready."

Erina groaned. "I was hoping we wouldn't need any more traps today."

A few minutes later, she had the trap set, and the group was ready to begin the hunt.

"Remember the plan," Ray said quietly. "We hit them with arrows and spells to draw them out. Eric and Auron, keep the big ones occupied and pull them into the trap. Everyone else, stay behind them and provide cover."

Auron tensed as they prepared to attack. From the burrow came the sound of thundering hooves and angry growls—an unmistakable sign the boars were coming. Eric braced himself, his shield raised high, while Auron activated his dark celestial aura, coating his arms and legs with a thick smooth black armour.

The first boars burst from the burrow, their massive bodies covered in thick, mud-caked hides. They charged with ferocious speed, their hooves kicking up frozen dirt. A single hit from one of these beasts could do serious damage, but Auron remained calm.

"This is the perfect time for Swirling Flow," he thought, readying himself for impact. His stance shifted, and with a burst of speed, he prepared to redirect the boars away from the group, guiding them toward the waiting trap.