Chapter 580 Verandors' quest (2)
Many old trees in the forest and their intertwined roots made a natural carpet on the ground. Erik sped through the brush, careful not to disturb the quiet with the sound of twigs breaking or leaves rustling.
His Chameleon Veil did its trick even as he moved, making him almost undetectable to onlookers by blending him in with the background.
The forest was teeming with life, from the chirping of birds to the scurrying of small animals. Erik marveled at the intricate ecosystem thriving around him, grateful for his ability to navigate it unnoticed.
While most would rely heavily on sight and sound to track a creature, Erik had a few tricks up his sleeve. The Parallel Will brain crystal power allowed him to multitask inhumanly.
One part of his brain meticulously scanned the ground for tracks or signs of the Verandor's passage.
At the same time, another part kept an eye out for potential threats and allowed him to move at breakneck speeds without losing his balance or sense of direction.
The forest floor was bathed in dappled sunlight as rays filtered through the leaves of towering trees. In this tranquil setting, the only disruptions to the silence came from the distant calls of birds and the elusive movements of unseen creatures.
Erik's attention immediately shifted to the traces he found on the ground, a trail that weaved through the thick foliage.
The tracks were unmistakably Verandors', meaning he was on the right path.
Following the tracks with stealth and precision, he came across a clearing where the ground was disturbed and foliage flattened.
A closer inspection revealed smaller trails leading to and from the area, indicating that a group of Verandors had recently passed through.
With caution, Erik continued, letting the tracks guide him deeper into the clearing. Still, he had to pay attention to the flying Thaids and keep an eye on the sky. Then, he saw them.
A pack of 20 Verandors congregated near a huge water puddle inside the clearing. It was more than a puddle, to be honest, but it wasn't a lake either. Erik's eyes scanned the creatures before him.
The Verandors stood as majestic tauric beasts, their two curved horns elegantly arching backward, perfectly framing their unique eyes.
Each stood firm on four robust legs, their slender torsos rippling with powerful muscles beneath their green and brown striped hides.
From a concealed position, Erik studied them while they moved through the clearance; he noticed the tails, longer than he'd imagined, with tufts of fur dancing at their ends. However, the young man knew these creatures were very cowardly despite having muscular bodies.
Erik knew he had to be careful here. Killing the beasts wasn't a problem; what really was an issue was that he had to kill the monsters fast because they would start fleeing and scattering as soon as they noticed something killing their kin, making his quest complicated. He needed to thin the numbers in the shortest amount of time possible.
<I think the Xeridon Anteris and Nathaniel's power would suffice,> Erik thought. So, while channeling mana into his Chameleon Veil, he started pumping mana through the neural links for the other two powers.
Immediately, Erik's strength increased by at least 40%, and his speed also increased thanks to Nathaniel's power. The problem was that he could only keep that mana consumption up for ten minutes.
He took a deep breath, grounding himself in the moment and mentally preparing for the challenge. He would need every ounce of his focus to take down the Verandor pack completely and quickly.
The Verandors were out enjoying the evening breeze while standing on the grass when they noticed a threatening presence nearby. They looked around for any indication of trouble but saw nothing. However, a sudden rustling of leaves and twigs snapping made them realize something was sneaking up on them.
A Verandor suddenly screeched in agony, collapsing to the ground with a fatal wound as if struck by a sledgehammer. Its packmates turned their heads in shock, scanning the surroundings with wide, panicked eyes.
Before they could react, another Verandor fell, then another, each collapsing with precise, lethal blows.
The forest echoed with their cries, a chorus of confusion and terror.
It seemed as if the very air around them had turned hostile. The area Erik was in quickly became a death zone for these creatures, his swift movements leaving a trail of fallen beasts in his wake.
The Verandors began to scatter in fear. Erik's maneuvers were graceful yet deadly, with each flip and somersault culminating in the takedown of another target. The forest became a dance floor where death twirled with life, each leap and pivot dispensing death to these creatures.
The Verandors, although naturally formidable beasts, were gripped by an indescribable fear.
Their numbers dwindled rapidly, each one desperately trying to flee the carnage.
Some crashed into each other in panic; others trampled their fallen kin to escape the unseen menace. Their communication, usually so harmonized, was now a chaotic blend of distress calls and panic.
Yet, Erik remained calm and methodical amidst this chaos, striking down his targets individually.
Moments felt like hours for the Verandors; the forest was a maze of death from which there seemed to be no escape.
But for Erik, it was a dance he had perfected, the culmination of skills honed over time. As the last Verandor fell, the forest seemed to hold its breath, the silence only punctuated by the distant rustling of leaves and the soft thud of Erik's feet against the forest floor.
Once all the Verandors lay motionless, Erik ceased his dance, pausing to catch his breath. He surveyed the scene, eyes scanning the fallen Verandors with satisfaction and weariness.
The forest, once suffocating with danger, now exuded an eerie calmness that mirrored Erik's own state of mind. The only witnesses to the swift carnage were the trees and the unseen birds that chirped cautiously from their perches.
[MULTIPLE VERANDORS KILLED: MANA ABSORBING PROCESS STARTING.]
[0%...1%....5%...30%...70%...100%]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY ABSORBED, STARTING CONVERTING PROCEDURE.]
[3...2...1...0]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY CONVERTED INTO EXPERIENCE. 5840 EXPERIENCE POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]
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