Chapter 9 - Snipe

The beast's gaping maw opened wide, its jagged teeth glinting like polished blades under the dim light.

A low growl rumbled from deep within its throat, almost as if it relished the kill to come.

Before the person could react, before that person's mind could even register the mortal danger, the direbeast struck. Its jaws snapped shut with brutal force, cleaving the body in half in a single, swift motion.

The severed form fell to the blood-stained ground in two grisly pieces, leaving only silence where the person's panicked breaths had been moments before.

Nex's stomach churned, bitterness rising in his throat as he turned away from the scene for just a moment. But the grisly sight drew his gaze back as if it had a magnetic pull.

The person hadn't even managed to scream. Half of the body dangled limply in the direbeast's claws, blood dripping down its thick matted fur.

The creature didn't roar or howl triumphantly as most predators did. Instead, it ate calmly, which made Nex shiver.

It tore through skin and bone like a farmer breaking bread, biting at its kill with an eerie, dispassionate focus.

"Stupid," Nex muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. A cold knot formed in his stomach, one that no amount of bravado could untangle.

He had seen the way the stranger had staggered in the moments leading up to his death.

His movements had been unsteady, his breathing exhausted. He'd probably been fighting off smaller threats before this final encounter, his strength sapped from battles he hadn't prepared for.

From his armor's design and his fumbling movements, it was clear he was new to these lands.

There were signs of arrogance, overestimating his abilities, and underestimating the savage creatures here had doomed him.

Many newcomers made the same mistake. They ignored the warnings, thinking they could carve their own legend without truly understanding the cost.

Nex watched from his position in the shadows, his body ready to move. Despite the nausea gripping his stomach, his hunter's instincts wouldn't let him look away.

The beast's motions were growing sluggish now, its massive form settling into a heavy rhythm as it devoured the corpse.

Nex frowned deeply. He hated how comfortable the creature looked, like this was just another routine meal. But he wasn't here to watch, it was now or never.

"If I interrupt its meal, it'll probably get furious," He thought, his fingers brushing the cold metal of his ether gun. He could almost feel the beast's rage waiting to erupt if he dared to step in.

But hesitation wasn't an option.

Taking a deep breath, he steadied his aim, lining the gun's barrel up with the direbeast's head.

The trigger pulled smoothly beneath his finger. The shot came out almost soundlessly, a single flash of light zipping across the clearing.

The energy bullet hit its mark.

The beast let out a deep, guttural roar as blood sprayed from its skull. It stumbled, dropping the lifeless body to the ground.

Nex's heart quickened. For a moment, he thought he'd done it, until he saw the impossible.

The direbeast's head began to heal.

The gaping wound stitched itself together in seconds, fur and flesh regrowing until it looked as though it had never been hit.

Even the bloodstains on its face vanished, absorbed back into its body like water into dry soil.

"That's impressive healing," he murmured. His knuckles tightened around the gun. "No wonder that guy didn't even bother trying."

The creature turned toward him, eyes blazing with primal fury.

It charged, each thunderous step shaking the ground beneath his feet.

Nex sprang into action, leaping from the shadows just as the beast's claws swiped through the space where he'd been standing.

As he landed, his body shifted in a blur. His muscles expanded, hardening like iron. He had activated his talent.

In this state, his strength surged, his senses sharpening to an almost painful degree.

The direbeast roared again, but he didn't flinch.

The direbeast roared, its guttural cry echoing through the dense jungle as it charged.

Its massive arms stretched wide, claws poised to trap Nex in a crushing bear hug.

But Nex was ready. His sharp instincts kicked in, and with a powerful leap, he dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the beast's grasp.

As he twisted mid-air, his knife lashed out, slashing through one of the creature's glowing amber eyes.

A wet, sickening sound followed, and the beast howled in agony, reeling back as blackened blood gushed from its wound.

The direbeast staggered, one claw covering its ruined eye while its other paw scraped at the ground in fury.

Nex landed smoothly, his gaze locked onto the writhing creature. He knew better than to let his guard down. Its extraordinary healing abilities were already at work.

Even as the beast collapsed onto the ground in temporary defeat, the deep gash across its eye began to knit together.

"You can heal," Nex muttered. "But can you heal through venom?"

He crouched low, his ether gun glowing faintly in his hand as he fired a few shots, the streaks of energy zipping through the air and striking the beast's hide.

They weren't meant to kill, just to keep it distracted while he moved into position.

The direbeast roared again, its fury mounting as it lunged at him blindly.

Nex dodged effortlessly, his Fenrir-enhanced agility making him a blur of movement.

His knife flashed with every dodge, carving deep gashes into the creature's thick hide.

Black blood sprayed from its wounds, coating the ground in slick, steaming pools.