Chapter 4

{ i wasn't going to post today because i accidently posted yesterday but well whatever.

join my P@tr$on: p@tr$on.com/Echo0o (change @ to a and $ to e) there are more chapters there, as i am trying to post more there. and i was thinking about making the chapters longer at least 5k words max or 2.5k words minimum, what do you think?? comment on yes or no to for the poll.

yes

no 

echo out, happy reading}

"He's the new kid. He'll be joining us on our hunts," Hania announced, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.

Though no one openly opposed him, the questioning looks in their eyes were hard to miss. Nihilo could feel their silent scrutiny boring into him, each gaze a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

Hania, however, didn't give them the chance to voice the questions clearly written on their faces. "Chief and Shaman told me to bring him along," he added, his tone dismissive, as if that explanation should suffice.

At the very least, Hania hadn't mentioned that I'm under surveillance or anything like that, Nihilo thought, the faintest flicker of amusement crossing his mind as he thought about hunting for the first time in his life.

After the announcement, Hania left without another word, leaving Nihilo standing alone in the middle of the hunting party. He glanced around, unsure of what to do next.

Most of the hunters ignored him, though a few shot him cold, resentful looks. Nihilo didn't let it bother him. He met their stares with calm detachment, his expression unreadable.

'What are they going to do, kill me?' The thought brought a faint smirk to his lips.

He shifted his focus to a ladder leading up to a bamboo platform. With nothing better to do, he decided to take a look around. Keeping his movements casual, he headed over and started climbing, leaving the tension behind.

As he climbed, a few curious glances followed him from the hunters gathered around the campfire, though their attention quickly returned to their conversations.

Reaching the second platform of the hideout—_tree base?_ _Hideout feels about right,_ he decided—he took in the scene. Clay pots were scattered around, likely holding herbs or other supplies. A few unlit torches were wedged into cracks in the bark, alongside spears and piles of leaves, probably used for crafting ropes and baskets.

Curiosity led him higher. On the next platform, a group of hunters sat in a loose circle. They were carefully shaping darts, their focus intent. In the center of the group, a frog was tied down with a thin rope, squirming faintly but unable to escape. Its presence hinted at the kind of darts they were making—poisoned, most likely.

"Are these poison darts?" Nihilo asked as he stepped closer, his voice calm but carrying a thread of curiosity. The question drew the attention of the hunters seated in the circle, their movements pausing as they glanced up at him. He noticed none of them bore the tattoos of wings on their backs—likely marking them as unproven hunters.

"Yes, they're to be used during the next hunt," a bulky hunter with dark, tanned skin said.

Nihilo simply nodded, casting a brief glance at the darts before resuming his exploration. But the sharp "tch" that followed halted him. "Damn brat, who does he think he is?" one of the unproven hunters muttered.

Nihilo turned slowly, his voice calm. "Do you have a problem?"

A figure stood, towering over Nihilo with tanned skin and braided hair. He was a head taller. "Who do you think you are, showing up out of nowhere?" the man sneered. Pushing Nihilo with enough force make him stumble back "We had to work for six months just to be allowed to join the hunt. You, on the other hand, just sucked up to the shaman and chief. You don't belong here. You should be helping the women and the elderly in camp."

"What's your problem with the women in the camp, Suk?" a girl's voice cut through, standing up from the spot where she had been shaving wood for darts.

"Oh, come on, we all know no one's going to take you hunting," Suk shot back, locking eyes with her.

Nihilo remained calm, his expression unreadable as he took a step forward, moving toward Suk.

"What, you want some more?" Suk sneered, looking down at Nihilo.

Without a word, Nihilo kicked Suk's knee, forcing him to buckle. Before Suk could recover, Nihilo's fist collided with his nose with a sharp crack that echoed through the air.

Suk stumbled back, blood pouring from his nose. "Alright, enough," the kid who had first answered Nihilo's question stood up, his voice firm.

Suk, ignoring him, attempted to stand and charge at Nihilo, but the girl quickly stepped in, holding him back.

"Control yourself, Suk," she said, her voice stern.

Suk, seething with rage, glared at her for a moment before looking down. He shoved the girl aside, returning to his work, but not before shooting Nihilo one last glance — a look that promised revenge.

"I apologize for my brother," the man, who Nihilo had just noticed, said. He resembled a calmer, older version of Suk.

"My name's Thes, and that there is Nutz," Thes added, pointing toward the girl who had held Suk back. She gave a quick wave in greeting before returning to her work. Nihilo studied them both, a curious thought crossing his mind—whether he was unintentionally becoming part these nuts joke???

"It's nice to meet you. My name's Nihilo," he said, nodding at both Thes and Nutz.

After the introductions, Nihilo decided not to bother the trio any further and wandered off to explore the area. However, there wasn't much else to see. Above the platform where the group had been making darts, only lookout platforms remained.

After that, there wasn't much else to do, so Nihilo decided to head down to the ground floor and sit by the campfire. It wasn't like he had anything pressing to attend to.

However, as he settled into one corner of the campfire, he quickly noticed that the hunters were deliberately avoiding him. From their behavior, he gathered that this was likely part of the test that Thes, Suk, Nutz, and the others had been undergoing for the past six months. And somehow, he had been roped into it as well.

"Well, nothing I can do, I guess," he thought to himself before finding a comfortable spot and falling asleep.

When he woke up, it was already night. No one had bothered to wake him. He was still by the campfire, but there were no other hunters around. The only person left was Hania. He must have come back sometime while Nihilo was sleeping and decided to wait.

"You could've just woken me up if you wanted to talk," Nihilo said, using a branch to idly poke at the fire.

"I wanted to talk to you alone, so waking you earlier wasn't convenient," Hania replied, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames.

"Where are the other hunters?" Nihilo asked.

"Sleeping. We'll be leaving for a hunt tomorrow morning," Hania answered, the firelight casting fleeting shadows across his face.

"Oh? So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Nihilo asked, tilting his head slightly, his tone casual.

Hania's voice dropped, firm and deliberate. "I just wanted to say—if you try anything, I will kill you."

Nihilo raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "And why do you think I'd do something?" His expression was one of amusement and curiosity, as if he were watching a entertaining TV show.

"I know your kind, daemon," Hania said, his tone resolute. "I've faced beings like you before. I know what I saw that day. Even if the Shaman didn't find anything, I know you're a monster."

"Oh, is that so?" Nihilo asked, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "I wasn't aware someone of your caliber could even identify a demon, let alone face one. As for me being a monster... well, that's yet to be seen."