Chapter 16: Saving the Bait From their Dangerous Encounter?
Chapter 16: Saving the Bait From their Dangerous Encounter?
Year 0002, III Month: The Imperium
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A Girls Pleading
"Gus! Please, you need to help them!"
Gel pleaded with him to save the three children who were about to be slaughtered by the Boarat. Her golden eyes were wide with desperation, hands trembling as she pointed toward the clearing where the beast had cornered its prey.
"Well, I was about to," August replied with a crooked smile, "but okay. I guess they could be bait while I shoot at it from a safe distance!"
The joke fell flat in the tense atmosphere.
Gel's expression morphed into one of pure shock, her mouth hanging open slightly. "-_-"
She couldn't believe he would suggest using human children as bait to kill the beast—even in jest—when the entire point was to save them from it.
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A New Title
Just the day before, August had earned a new title after his hundredth Boarat kill. The achievement notification had flashed before his eyes with a subtle chime:
["BOARAT HUNTER"]
- A title exclusive to hunters who have hunted a hundred Boarats.
[STATS]
+ 5 SPEED AND 5 AGILITY
[SUB-STATS]
+ 20 ACCURACY, STEALTH DAMAGE
*A/N: WILL ONLY APPLY WHEN HUNTING OR FIGHTING BOARAT SPECIES.
This new title he received previously is specific to the Boarat species, which was perfect for his current hunting specialty.
"YES!" August had pumped his fist in triumph when the notification appeared.
[SYSTEM ADMIN MAGNUS:
MASTER, AT LEVEL 5 YOU CAN ONLY EQUIP ONE TITLE AT A TIME AND SWAP IT WITH ANOTHER.
WHILE AT LEVEL 10 AND EVERY SUCCEEDING MILESTONE YOU CAN EQUIP OTHER TITLES SIMULTANEOUSLY!]
"Okay, thanks!" August had replied, quickly swapping his current 'Survivor' title for the newly acquired 'Boarat Hunter.'
Unfortunately for him, he still couldn't use magic despite unlocking the ability when he reached [Level 5]. He didn't even know what elemental affinity he possessed. That knowledge would have been invaluable for the battle ahead.
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A Stealthy First Strike
August knocked his first arrow, drawing the bowstring back until it kissed his cheek. He exhaled slowly, took aim at the preoccupied Commander Boarat, and released.
The arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the side of the beast's neck. The Boarat squealed in pain, a high-pitched sound that echoed through the forest, but it remained standing—still very much a threat.
*Wooooinnnkkkk!*
His second arrow struck the creature's massive body just below where its heart should be. Dark blood oozed from the wound, matting the coarse hair surrounding it.
Meanwhile, August stealthily circled the beast, concealing his position by moving from tree to tree, drawing the Boarat's attention away from the terrified trio of children. From his new vantage point, he identified the less sturdy parts of the creature's anatomy and aimed for its weak spots.
His strategy worked. The beast was taken by surprise, its tiny eyes widening as it registered the pain from multiple wounds. Its attention shifted away from the children, focused now on the unseen threat.
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A Hastily Planned Distraction
Their hastily devised plan was simple: August would distract the beast and lure it away, while Gel would usher the children to their picnic ground, feed them, and guide them safely back to the village.
While the Boarat was distracted and squealing in pain, Gel seized the opportunity. She darted forward, grabbing the youngest child—a small boy with wide, fearful eyes. After Bren, the youngest of the trio, noticed her presence, he alerted the others. Gel signaled them to follow her quietly, placing a finger to her lips.
The children hesitated only briefly before following their potential savior, their survival instincts overriding any mistrust of this stranger who had appeared from nowhere.
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The Plan Worked
After repositioning himself behind a large oak, August loosed another arrow at the beast, striking one of its hind legs. His plan was to hamper its movement before delivering the killing blow.
When he glanced toward the spot where the children had been standing moments before—frozen in fear as their lives flashed before their eyes—he saw only trampled undergrowth. Gel had succeeded in leading them to safety.
Relief washed over him. Now he could focus entirely on the hunt.
August reached back, fingers brushing against the arrows in his quiver. He still had about three-quarters of his original supply—twenty-one arrows to bring down this monstrosity.
Was that even possible? The Commander Boarat was built like a living tank, with natural armor and vitality that likely exceeded his own by twentyfold. He could only hope the beast would fall before his quiver emptied.
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Taunting the Injured Beast
Now confident that the children were retreating to the village with Gel, August fired another arrow at the beast's remaining hind leg. The projectile found its mark, eliciting another pained squeal. To ensure he had the creature's undivided attention, he shouted provocatively:
"OVER HERE, YOU DUMB BEAST!"
The wounded Boarat turned to face him, its remaining eye bloodshot with rage. Its massive frame radiated a murderous aura directed at the tiny creature that had inflicted such pain.
August knocked another arrow and sent it flying. The beast's size made it an easy target—standing at least ten feet tall even on all fours. This arrow struck its upper back, adding to the collection of wounds.
The Boarat charged, no longer concerned with its injuries. Each powerful movement caused more blood to flow from its wounds, leaving a dark trail on the forest floor.
*BOOM! CRACK!*
The tree August had been using for cover shattered under the impact of the beast's charge. He leapt down just in time, dashing to another tree in the distance before launching another arrow—this one finding its mark in one of the creature's eyes.
The Boarat halted its charge, now blind on one side. Its frustration mounted—not only had it been injured by a creature a fraction of its size, but now it had lost half its vision. August circled to the beast's blind side, launching arrow after arrow while the creature attempted to catch him in its reckless charges.
The Boarat's frantic movements only worsened its condition, causing the embedded arrows to widen the wounds further. Blood flowed freely, staining the forest floor.
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The Beast Stumbles from its Sustained Injury
After several minutes of this deadly dance, the beast resembled a massive porcupine, with arrows protruding from the blind side of its body. Blood loss had severely weakened it, but it remained dangerous—a wounded animal is often the most desperate.
Finally, its legs buckled under its enormous weight, and it collapsed to the ground, strength fading.
August, drenched in sweat and gasping for air from his constant evasive maneuvers, surveyed his handiwork. The hulking beast that had once been a terror in the forest now lay before him, defeated.
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Delivering the Final Blow, A Deadly Mistake
Reaching back for another arrow to deliver the coup de grace, August clicked his tongue in disappointment. Only one remained. He would need to approach the beast and shoot it point-blank in the head to ensure its death.
He cautiously approached the fallen Boarat. "You dumb beast," he muttered, "I'll put you out of your misery now."
But killing such a formidable creature was never that simple. As if summoning its last reserves of strength in defiance of death, the beast suddenly lurched upward. It found a second wind and made one final, desperate charge.
August loosed his last arrow directly into the center of the beast's head, piercing its brain. But he couldn't evade the momentum of its charge.
*BANG!*
The massive body collided with him, sending August flying through several bushes until his back slammed against a tree trunk. The impact shattered his ribs and spine. He crumpled to the ground, coughing blood—his broken ribs had punctured vital organs.
Consciousness slipped away as he bled onto the forest floor, the taste of the dirt below and his own blood filling his mouth.
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The Systems Forceful Intervention to Save its Host From Death.
[**The SYSTEM, MANAGER DOROTHY & ADMIN MAGNUS:**
FORCEFULLY ASSUMING CONTROL OF BODILY FUNCTIONS FROM HOST...
INITIATING ACTIVATION OF SURVIVOR TITLE.... BZZT.... ERROR
CURRENT TITLE HAS NO EFFECT THAT CAN SAVE DYING HOST…
RECOMMENDED: UPGRADING THE TITLE…
INITIATING... HOST LACKS REQUIREMENTS FOR UPGRADE…
SEARCHING FOR SUITABLE REPLACEMENT MATERIAL…
COMMANDER RANKED BOARAT MANA HEART FOUND…
USE AS REPLACEMENT MATERIAL?
(YES/NO) … [[YES]] …
INITIATING UPGRADE PROCEDURE…
PLEASE WAIT…
SUITABLE TITLE UPGRADE FOUND: 'THE ONE WHO STRUGGLES WITH DEATH' …
INITIATING TITLE UPGRADE…]
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System Centuury Headquarters
Meanwhile, in Century's system management headquarters...
What felt like an eternity passed as Magnus and Dorothy watched their dying prospect with mounting dread. Despite Dorothy's typically cold demeanor toward the boy, she didn't want him dead. He was her prospect—her first one at that!
Tears lined her eyes while Magnus hung his head in disappointment. Their only hope now sprawled defenseless on the forest grounds, with his life now in the hands of their superiors (the gods), who might intervene to save August's life.
Fortunately, his game-like system included a failsafe—a one-time override that could temporarily take command of August's body in dire situations exactly like this one.
Fortunately August's previous soul that from Aerthe had been a forward-thinker enough to design this feature, which had taken Centuury's technicians ten Centuury years to fully activate and integrate with their main system, basically overhauling the old and outdated system with this new one, a game-like system that's solely exclusive to their prospect. While the outdated system is still present on every other thing. It represented a significant upgrade from the standard systems used by other Galaxies or Universes, which was why implementation had required a decade while normal prospects could activate their generic systems from day one.
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Title Upgrade Complete: A Desperate Attempt to Save its Critically Injured Host
[**SYSTEM:** TITLE UPGRADE COMPLETE, 'THE ONE WHO STRUGGLES WITH DEATH'
WHEN HOST REACHES A CRITICAL HEALTH LEVEL, TITLE EFFECTS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE:
+ 500% HEALING RATE FOR 5 MINUTES
+ 100 VITALITY
+ 50 WILLPOWER
+ AUTOMATIC HEALING OF VITAL ORGANS
+ RESETS ONCE EVERY MONTH]
A few minutes later...
[**SYSTEM:** STABILIZING HOST …
REPAIRING PUNCTURED AND RUPTURED ORGANS …
VITAL ORGANS REPAIRED …
INITIATING HEALING FACTOR …
HOST IS NOW OUT OF IMMEDIATE LIFE THREATENING DANGER …
RETURNING BODILY CONTROL FUNCTIONS TO HOST…]
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Out of Immediate Danger
Magnus and Dorothy sighed with relief; August would survive. But due to the severity of his injuries, he remained unconscious, sprawled on the forest floor beside the dead Commander Boarat, its blood mingling with his own.
After five minutes of accelerated healing, August had now regained only 25% of his original health. The system administrators could only hope that no predators lurked nearby to finish what the Boarat had started.
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A Well Earned Respect and A Respect Reciprocated
Intelligent predators were indeed watching from the shadows, having witnessed the fierce battle that had unfolded. But none approached the fallen hunter.
That day, August earned the respect of the forest's most formidable inhabitants. As a sign of that respect, they left him undisturbed with his hard-won prize.
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An Elusive Mythical Beasts Appearance
Among the intelligent beasts observing the fight with particular interest was an enormous bird—a hybrid between an eagle and a falcon known as a 'Peregrine Eagle.' It soared high above, its massive wings catching the thermal currents as it surveyed the forest below.
This beast was special, its official designation in the beast index was 'Empyrean Hunter, Sky Sovereign Aetherwing'—a named beast that has both a title, a job and rank (if compared to game-like terms.) This Boss Rank creature of Mythical Rarity had ruled the skies for more than a century.
Aetherwing's current nest was located on one of the towering peaks of the Great Caldera of Arkanus. Originally, his species had nested outside the high peaks, near the Lonelywood Forest and the Lonely Forest of Shadowfen and it's surrounding great forests. But after achieving his mythical status, Aetherwing and his mate had relocated to the more prestigious Caldera, where the true beast hegemony and power lies.
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The Mighty Beasts Brief Escapade
Today, however, he had ventured beyond the Darkening Skies of The Great Caldera of Arkanus, returning to his place of birth the Lonelywood Forest to stretch his wings and enjoy the nostalgic scenery. By chance, he had witnessed the amusing battle below.
The sight stirred memories from his youth—days spent battling creatures far stronger than himself in these same forest domains. He had left these regions centuries ago after defeating his rivals, moving on to challenge the highest echelons of the food chain.
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The Trio and Gel had Arrived at the Villages Safety
Back in Maya Village, the rescued children finally had a chance to rest. Upon arrival, they had been surprised to discover a hidden settlement in this remote area. They hadn't asked many questions, noting the worry etched on Gel's delicate features.
After ensuring they were safely inside the long house, Gel prepared to leave. The children needed time to recuperate their strength, but she couldn't delay her return to the forest.
As she turned to go, the apparent leader and the oldest of the trio—a boy named Erik with determined eyes and a strong jawline—grabbed her arm.
"Are you going back to the forest? Why?" Concern laced his voice. He assumed she had been the one to distract the beast earlier, unaware that she had a companion. The chaos of their rescue had left little time for explanations.
Erik had already resigned himself to death back in the clearing, closing his eyes to accept his fate. When he opened them again, they were dragged away mysteriously out of harm's way.
"Yes." Gel's response was curt, her annoyance at being delayed evident in her tone.
"I need to find my companion. He risked his life to save yours."
Erik and the others exchanged shocked glances. Someone had willingly faced that terrifying beast to save them? The revelation stunned them into momentary silence.
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Returning to the Forest Floor: And a Brief Next Chapter Overview
Despite his exhaustion, Erik's strong sense of justice and newfound debt of gratitude wouldn't allow him to let Gel venture out alone. The thought of something happening to her when he could have helped her would haunt him.
"Wait! Let me come with you. I promise I won't be a burden", he declared.
Turning to his friends, he instructed, "You two stay here and rest. Behave—we'll be back!"
Gel considered his offer briefly before nodding. Together, they exited the house and left the village perimeter, heading back into the dangerous forest where currently August lay unconscious, vulnerable to any threats that might discover him.
The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows through the trees. They would need to hurry if they hoped to find August before nightfall brought out the forest's nocturnal hunters.
"How far did you leave him?" Erik asked, struggling to keep pace with Gel's determined strides.
"Not far," she replied, eyes scanning the underbrush for signs of the battle. "Listen for silence. Where the birds don't sing, I am sure that's where the beast fell, at least that is what my gut tells me."
Sure enough after a few hours or so had passed, as they pressed deeper into the forest, the cheerful chirping of birds gradually diminished until an eerie quiet enveloped them. Gel quickened her pace, sensing they were close.
They emerged into a clearing devastated by the fight—trees splintered, underbrush trampled, and dark blood staining the earth. And there, slumped against a tree trunk on the far side, was the beast that August fought, there lay the massive carcass of the Commander Boarat, bristling with arrows.
They were only left stupefied and with questions unanswered.
Though unconscious and still yet unseen, August's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. The system's previous emergency intervention may have just very well saved his life, but first he needed to be found and given proper care—and soon.
As Gel's mind wandered aimlessly looking for answers, Erik stood there transfixed by the scene before him. The beast that had nearly killed him and the others was now dead, felled by this lone hunter, a boy of herculean strength that he has yet to see. The debt he owed had just grown immeasurably.
"We need to find him soon and get back to the village," Gel said, breaking Erik's reverie. "Can you help me?"
Unbeknowingly above them, watching from a great distance in the skies of Arkanus, with its intelligent eyes, was Aetherwing observing their movements. Something about the unconscious and injured hunter intrigued him, he was being pulled by an unforeseen gravity—it was a quality he hadn't seen in a human for many years.
With a powerful beat of his wings, the Mythical and Mighty Peregrine Eagle dove himself downward with incredible speed. He wanted to keep watch over this interesting human up close and see for himself the quality of these newcomers who seemed to have come to take the unconscious lad away. After all, those who could defeat Commander Boarat single-handedly were rare indeed and it was done by a human nonetheless, which made it more than impressive.
Perhaps, Aetherwing mused as he soared above the skies and dove to the ground beneath, this little outing of his was a god send the beginning of something much greater in the making.