Chapter 4 - Prey

Nex's blood ran cold. An advance-rank creature? Here? That wasn't supposed to happen. Monsters like the Fenrir belonged to the depths of the jungle, far beyond where he was hunting.

"What the h*ll is it doing here?" he muttered under his breath, barely audible even to himself.

A creature of this rank was far beyond him, a predator he had no chance against. Advance-rank monsters weren't just stronger, they were on an entirely different level.

The Fenrir's ability to wield Ether magic made it an apex predator, leagues above the mutated snakes and frogs he had fought earlier.

The Fenrir sniffed the air, its nostrils flaring as it took a step closer. Its glowing eyes swept the hollow, scanning every shadow and crevice.

Stay calm. Stay absolutely still. Nex repeated the mantra in his head, forcing his breathing to slow.

The knife in his hand trembled slightly as his grip tightened, the pressure almost unbearable.

The creature's glowing gaze swept over him, lingering for a moment. Its ears twitched, and its muscles tensed as if it had caught something.

Nex's body froze, every nerve screaming at him to remain motionless.

His shallow breaths barely stirred the air. For a moment, it seemed like the Fenrir might move on.

Then, it struck.

A deafening explosion of force erupted, ripping through the corner of the hollow.

BOOM!

The impact launched Nex backward like a rag doll, slamming him into the hollow's rear wall.

Pain surged through his body as the air was violently knocked from his lungs. He coughed hard, the taste of iron flooding his mouth as blood spattered the ground in front of him.

His vision blurred, the edges of his sight hazy as he struggled to hold on to consciousness.

How had it known? He had underestimated the creature's razor-sharp instincts. An advanced-rank beast wasn't just a predator, it was a hunter of hunters.

A guttural roar filled the hollow, rattling his bones and dragging him back to the present.

Nex forced his head up, wincing as pain flared through his neck and shoulders. His gaze fixed on the corner where he had hidden moments ago.

Four deep claw marks were gouged into the stone, slicing cleanly through it as if it were paper.

The air crackled faintly, residual energy from the Ether-infused strike lingering.

Nex groaned as he glanced down at himself. His prized Ether suit, custom-made for survival, was in tatters.

Jagged tears revealed his bare chest, which was marred with faint scratches that burned like fire.

Blood trickled down his skin, the shallow wounds enough to sting but not deep enough to cripple him.

"Damn it..." he cursed, his voice a mix of frustration and disbelief. "That suit cost a fortune."

If it hadn't been for the suit's protective layer, those claws would've torn him apart. He shuddered at how close he'd come to death.

The sound of heavy footsteps snapped him back to the present.

The Fenrir moved toward him. It did not see him as a threat, just prey. Its glowing eyes locked onto his, unblinking, as it closed the distance.

Nex's chest tightened. He had seconds to act, maybe less.

His hand darted to his Ether gun, the motion swift despite the pain in his arm.

The weapon was sleek and compact, its barrel glowing faintly with stored Ether energy.

Not today.

Nex's hand steadied, his trembling fingers firming as he raised the weapon. He took aim at the glowing green of the creature's eyes.

"Let's see how you like this."

ZAP!

The gun rumbled, a bright flash of Ether energy illuminating the hollow.

The shot streaked through the air, hurtling toward the creature's head.

The Fenrir moved, too fast. Its body blurred, shifting slightly as the projectile grazed its shoulder instead of striking its target.

The beast snarled in fury, its sleek black fur now marked with a faint burn where the Ether shot had landed.

Its glowing green eyes blazed with rage as it turned its full attention to Nex.

"Oh, crap,"

The Fenrir crouched low, preparing for its next move. One shot hadn't been enough. If he didn't act quickly, there wouldn't be a second chance.

The gunshot echoed sharply through the hollow, the sound bouncing off the walls like a warning bell.

The first shot slammed into the Fenrir's shoulder, sending a spray of dark blood into the air.

Zap

The second shot struck its side, making the beast stagger. Its growl deepened, a guttural sound that reverberated in Nex's chest.

ZAP!

The third shot hit home, piercing the creature's chest.

Nex dared to hope. For a heartbeat, the Fenrir stood frozen, its massive frame shuddering.

Blood dripped from its wounds, thick and dark, pooling at its feet. It shook its head violently, dislodging flecks of crimson from its fur.

Nex gripped his gun tightly, his knuckles white. His voice came out low, almost a plea. "Stay down."

The Fenrir's glowing green eyes snapped toward him, blazing with fury. It let out a deafening roar, the sound raw and feral, shaking the very walls of the hollow.

The ground beneath Nex seemed to vibrate with the force of it.

Despite the gaping wounds, the beast didn't collapse.

Instead, it took a step forward, its movements slower but still terrifying.

Nex's hope evaporated in an instant.

"Damn it," he cursed once more. "What a shitty luck."

The bullets had done damage, there was no mistaking that. But not enough.

Most creatures he'd encountered would've gone down with a single shot, two at most. But this? Even multiple, perfectly placed shots, weren't enough to bring down an advance rank monster.