Chapter 47: A Deadly Encounter With the Unknown
Year 0003, I-III Month: The Imperium
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Dwindling Numbers
During the last few days, the remaining slaves who managed to escape with their lives intact had dwindled to six; Donna and Andy were among those who survived. They were of mixed ages and genders—a ragtag group of survivors who still had Lady Luck on their side and enough resilience to remain alive this long.
In recent days, they had encountered an unknown beast that had claimed several of their companions. Ever since, they had been running constantly for their lives. Exhaustion weighed heavily upon them; they hadn't eaten properly or consumed adequate fluids for some time.
It was miraculous they had survived this long, but time was not on their side. Their fate seemed poised to collapse upon them like a tidal wave whose sole purpose was their destruction. Unless some divine intervention occurred, they would not last much longer.
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The Village Forest Feast
Today, the villagers had ventured into the forest to take a respite from their daily routines.
The forest was breathtaking in its beauty, despite the dangers that dwelled within its depths. They strolled across the forest floor without concern, confident in their safety. Since Aetherwing and his flock had established residence near their village, no dangerous beasts had been spotted in the vicinity. Even more remarkable was how one of Aetherwing's chicks had begun following Bren everywhere.
They had noticed several days ago that the two were developing a familiar bond, which might eventually lead to their souls becoming bound together. Aetherwing showed no objection; this particular chick had inherited its father's power over wind and had been practicing diligently alongside August. Both were students of the great master, Aetherwing.
Bren had named the chick "Kirpy," a name it seemed to accept readily. When August inquired about Aetherwing's opinion on the matter, the great creature showed no offense. In fact, Aetherwing appeared proud that his offspring had found someone to bond with at such a young age, perhaps even becoming soulbound in the future.
He had bestowed his blessing upon Bren, promising to witness the ceremony should his son indeed become soulbound to the human until death parted them. The chick had already grown to six feet in height, while Bren stood slightly shorter at five feet eight inches. This difference in stature mattered little; they played together frequently during their leisure time.
Today was one such occasion for recreation. The primary purpose of their forest excursion was relaxation, but it also served to help the group become better acquainted and participate in light training exercises. The atmosphere resonated with laughter and conversation as families strengthened their bonds and friends deepened their connections.
Even the formidable Aunt Theressa, who had assumed the role of group manager, and mother to the children was enjoying herself with her family. Meanwhile, August provided valuable instruction on survival techniques—what to look for when traversing the forest, knowledge that could prove life-saving if they ever became lost or faced an emergency that prevented immediate return to the village.
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Tension in the Air
Hours had passed, and the sun began its descent toward the horizon.
Suddenly, ominous rumblings disturbed the tranquility from somewhere beyond their location, near the outer perimeter of Aetherwing's sphere of influence. Though still at a considerable distance, the disturbance immediately put everyone on alert.
The once friendly, relaxed atmosphere transformed into one of tension and wariness. Those capable of combat adopted defensive stances, with Aunt Theressa, their sole support unit, being protected by Team 2. Team 1 positioned themselves at the forefront, bracing for whatever approached with such speed.
Moments later, they glimpsed human figures. People were running toward them—people who appeared on the brink of collapse from exhaustion, hunger, and various afflictions. Fortune had finally smiled upon these strangers; they had encountered potential saviors and were rushing toward them with desperate hope.
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The Scythe Stalker (I)
Not a moment later, their pursuer came into view.
It was a solitary, gigantic, carnivorous, mantis-like creature standing twelve feet tall. Its forelimbs resembled massive serrated scythes that could likely cleave through even the hardest trees in the forest with a single slash. These were its primary weapons for killing or immobilizing prey.
Its face featured enormous, gaping mandibles used to crush bones and tear through thick flesh when consuming its meals. This creature was known as the "Scythe Stalker" in the local tongue, or "K'tharr" in the official beast index.
This particular Scythe Stalker had strayed from its original habitat in another great forest—a dark, depressing place where sunlight rarely penetrated. Such environments were perfect for these creatures, as their multifaceted eyes—hundreds of them—were highly sensitive. This sensitivity to light was one of their primary weaknesses; bright illumination could blind them.
However, they had evolved a countermeasure: two constantly twitching antennae protruding from their triangular heads, which sensed the air currents around them. While not as effective as their vision for detecting prey or threats, these antennae served as useful substitutes when their sight was compromised, though their detection range diminished significantly.
This limitation explained how Donna and Andy's group had managed to evade the creature thus far. Despite its formidable nature, the antennae could only detect movement within approximately ten meters.
The Scythe Stalker also possessed a pair of translucent wings used for short bursts of flight to close distances with prey. These wings constituted a secondary weakness, as they could be easily damaged in combat or when unfurled during flight. Damage to its wings would severely limit its mobility advantage over prey or predators.
This vulnerability was counterbalanced by its exoskeleton—extraordinarily thick and hard, capable of deflecting most conventional weapons. The creature moved with surprising agility due to its springy legs, particularly advantageous in forest environments where it could utilize its camouflaged skin to blend with foliage and leap effortlessly between trees.
The forest, especially its darkest recesses, was the Scythe Stalker's natural battleground. No matter one's skill level, confronting this creature in its domain meant almost certain death, sooner or later.
This particular specimen operated at a disadvantage in the Lonelywood Forest, which wasn't entirely shrouded in darkness. Light filtered through in various places, restricting its eyesight. Moreover, it now faced a team specifically trained for forest combat.
Scythe Stalkers were classified by the color of their outer shell, Common Ranks were brown or green with Rarities ranging from Novice to Expert. While Soldier Ranks were greenish-orange with Rarities ranging from Novice to Heroic. While Commander Ranks were reddish-brown with Rarities ranging from Novice to Legendary. Lastly Boss Ranks were reddish-black with Rarities ranging from Novice to Mythical.
The specimen before them was a Soldier Rank, Expert (Purple) Rarity, Level 25(65) Scythe Stalker, giving 2,350 XP when successfully slain.
NAME: [SCYTHE STALKER/K'THARR]
LEVEL: 25 (65)
RANK: SOLDIER (**)
RARITY: EXPERT (PURPLE)
TITLE: N/A
JOB: N/A
CLASS: N/A
HP: 113,750
MP: 113,750
DAMAGE: 28,875
DAMAGE NEGATION: 28,875
STAT/SUB-STAT: 1,650
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!Emergency Mission!
[DING! EMERGENCY MISSION! DEFEAT AND HUNT THE SCYTHE STALKER THAT IS BEFORE YOU!
REWARDS:
+ 15,000 XP POINTS
+ EQUIPMENT UPGRADE AND LEVEL UP TO EXPERT CRAFTSMANSHIP
+ LEARN A NEW SKILL!]
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The Scythe Stalker (II)
The timing couldn't have been more fortuitous. The Boarats August had been hunting in previous days had become insufficient for his progression, leaving him stalled at level 14. Perhaps this encounter would finally enable him to reach closer to level 15.
"Prepare for combat!" August commanded. "Slowly retreat toward the village walls. We must deny this creature any additional advantages. With those numerous eyes, I'm certain it's highly sensitive to light, and those wings appear quite vulnerable compared to its hardened exoskeleton."
Jonathan reinforced the order to ensure clarity and prevent panic. "You heard him—move now and protect the newcomers. Escort them back to the village with Theressa. We'll hold it off while you retreat to the village."
August added, "One more thing—please summon my master. It's merely a precaution, but this creature appears formidable—it is three times stronger than all our previous Grimfang encounters combined."
A/N: Due to its agile nature and ability to fly, although it was slightly weaker than the previous Grimfang August had slain. But having wings and the ability of flight changes everything in a fickle environment such as a battlefield, specially when the current environment is advantageous to the enemy.
Adam, Isabel, and Theressa guided the newcomers toward safety. The young Peregrine Eagle Kirpy remained steadfastly at Bren's side, refusing to leave. The two main tanks of each team assumed forward positions while the archers stepped back, preparing for the imminent and fierce battle.
The team had faced challenges before, but the Scythe Stalker represented a new level of threat. Its towering and agile form cast a long shadow as it surveyed them with its multitude of eyes, mandibles clicking in anticipation. The forest fell eerily silent, as if every living creature held its breath, waiting for the confrontation to begin.
August assessed their formation with a critical eye. The tanks—Jonathan with his massive shield, along with Christopher as a support tank and Bren with his newly developed defensive techniques—would need to coordinate perfectly to withstand the creature's scythe-like limbs. The archers positioned themselves strategically, arrows knocked and ready to target the Stalker's vulnerable points: its eyes and wings.
"Remember your training and believe in your capabilities, but most of all your very own survival is your priority," August called out, his voice steady despite the tension coursing through his body. "This creature is powerful but not invincible. Focus on its weaknesses and maintain your positions."
As the Scythe Stalker advanced, its movements were surprisingly fluid for such a large being. It stalked forward with predatory grace, antennae twitching as it analyzed the group before it. The late afternoon sun cast dappled shadows through the forest canopy, partially obscuring its vision—a small advantage for the defenders.
Kirpy chirped anxiously beside Bren, sensing the danger but unwilling to abandon his semi-bonded human. The young creature's feathers ruffled as it channeled its inherited wind powers, creating gentle currents that swirled around them both.
The Scythe Stalker paused momentarily, perhaps confused by the unexpected resistance. Normally, prey fled in terror—easy to track, easy to kill. This organized defense was unusual, causing it to reassess its approach.
August used this moment to signal the archers. Three arrows flew simultaneously, aimed at the creature's compound eyes. One struck true, eliciting a high-pitched screech that reverberated through the forest. Dark ichor oozed from the wounded eye cluster as the K'tharr recoiled.
"Now!" August shouted. "While it's disoriented!"
The tanks moved forward in perfect synchronization, their weapons poised to strike at the creature's less protected joints. The battle for survival had begun in earnest, with both sides fully committed to victory.
Behind them, the rescued slaves had a glimpse behind their backs with a mixture of fear and hope. Their ordeal might be ending, but for August's team, the true test was just beginning. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath as the clash between hunter and hunted intensified beneath the fading light of day.
As sunset approached, the outcome remained uncertain. What was clear, however, was that this encounter would forever change those who survived it, whether through new skills, increased power, or the simple, profound appreciation for another day of life in this dangerous world.