chapter 31 “The Hunt Part 1”

The forest shook beneath him, alive with ancient power. His boots sank into the earth, each step sending ripples through the soil, the trees groaning in recognition of his strength. The air smelled thick with wet pine, rich and intoxicating, tinged with a scent of something else—raw, untamed energy, rising from deep within the earth itself. The forest didn't just surround him, it welcomed him, responded to him, as if it was a part of his very being.

He was one with it—the predator, the hunter, the force of nature itself.

The beast before him—no, the creature—shifted in the shadows. At first, it seemed like another beast, some towering animal that prowled the night. But as it stepped closer, something about it stopped him cold. No scent of fur. No earthy musk. This was something… wrong. A cold chill moved through the air, thick with the tension of the unknown. The creature's eyes—shining with an eerie glow—pierced through the night, locking with his. For a moment, everything around them stilled.

This wasn't just an animal. It was a challenge.

He narrowed his eyes, sensing its power—an unnatural force. It was… stronger than it seemed.

Then it lunged.

With a terrifying speed, it charged, claws slashing through the air. The trees groaned as if they were recoiling from the force of it. He twisted, narrowly dodging, the wind from its movement whipping through his hair, cutting through the forest like a blade. His senses sharpened. The forest screamed, responding to the threat.

He snapped his hand forward, his connection with the land pulsing through him. Roots shot from the earth, twisting like serpents, shooting up to tangle with the creature. But the creature was quick, ducking and weaving, its massive form slipping through the forest with a grace that should have been impossible for something so large. With a growl, it surged again, claws raking across the ground. He barely avoided them, feeling the sharp scrape of air where they had been a second before.

The creature's speed, its power—it was on a whole different level than he expected. But he wasn't going to back down.

He planted his feet and let the forest flow through him, pushing his power outward. The earth responded—trees bending, roots rising. He slammed his hand to the ground, sending a shockwave of energy rippling across the forest floor. The ground cracked, splitting apart as massive roots shot up, blocking the creature's path. It howled, the sound like grinding metal, and with one swipe, the roots were torn to pieces.

He gritted his teeth, realizing the true scale of the battle before him. This was no ordinary opponent. This creature didn't just have strength—it had power that could match his.

The air grew thick as their battle waged on. He was using the forest, commanding it, but it was clear now that he wasn't the only one. The creature was manipulating the very energy of the night, twisting it to its will. With every swipe, every growl, the trees seemed to wither, the energy around them darkening. This was a battle for the very soul of the land.

He gritted his teeth, throwing himself into the next strike. His hands lashed out, and the forest answered with a brutal surge of energy. Roots shot toward the creature again, this time wrapping around its limbs, trying to pull it into the earth. But the creature was faster. It spun, twisting free, and in one fluid motion, it launched itself toward him, its claws aiming straight for his chest.

He barely had time to react. With a burst of force, he slammed his hands to the ground, creating a barrier of thorns and branches that exploded outward like a shield. The creature's claws clashed against the barrier, the shockwave reverberating through the trees. The force of the impact rattled his bones. For a second, he was thrown backward, hitting the ground hard, but he didn't stop.

The creature was already closing the distance again, each movement faster, more brutal than the last. But he wasn't done. With a roar, he slammed his hands into the ground once more. The earth trembled beneath him, and in response, the forest ripped itself apart. Great trees fell, their trunks snapping like brittle bones, and from the wreckage rose a tidal wave of roots, vines, and thorns.

The creature snarled, charging, but it was too late. The ground buckled, the forest tearing itself open. The roots converged on the creature, wrapping around its legs, pulling it down, forcing it to the earth. The battle had reached its peak. The land itself was on his side now. He had called on every shred of power he possessed, and the forest—his forest—answered.

The creature roared, thrashing against the restraints. But it was too slow. He moved like lightning, his hands crackling with the raw energy of the forest, and with one final push, he drove his fist into the ground. The earth around the creature exploded upward, crushing it beneath a mountain of roots and vines.

For a moment, the forest went silent.

But only for a moment.

The ground beneath him trembled. Something was stirring.

Then it spoke. A Girl Level 6.

Her voice cracked through the silence, a low whisper of surrender, but there was something sharp beneath her tone. She wasn't begging—she was calculating. She wasn't afraid; she was confident. Her power radiated in a way that made the hair on his neck stand on end.

"No!" she screamed, struggling against the weight of the forest's grip. "I surrender." She was standing in front of him, eyes wide, not a beast—but a Level 6, barely seventeen, yet capable of unimaginable destruction.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as she dropped to her knees, her voice thick with fear. "How did you control them? How are you doing this?"

Her gaze locked onto his, confusion and awe swirling in her eyes. But he didn't care. The surrender meant nothing to him.

He raised his hand, fingers curling into a fist. The trees responded—shifting, cracking, groaning under his will. The ground split open, roots twisting like serpents, pulling at the girl's legs. She tried to fight, to scream, but the forest was his. She was nothing more than an insect caught in a web.

Her breath caught as the roots wrapped around her waist, pulling her higher into the air. "Please!" Her voice cracked, desperate, but there was no mercy in his eyes.

He didn't need to say a word. The trees did his bidding. The girl's struggles slowed, her body limp as she dangled in the air, suspended by nature's unforgiving grip. The forest obeyed his every command.

"You're not worth the surrender, You attacked me first." he muttered, his eyes cold and unyielding. There was no room for mercy in his world.

The moment stretched. A beat too long. The silence, deafening. And then—he snapped his fingers.

The girl's body fell limp.

He didn't even flinch.

The forest sighed, the wind picking up, carrying the weight of death and power. The trees, the earth, everything around him seemed to whisper in the dark. It was done.