Chapter 716 Night Killer
Erik scaled the tree with a ghost-like stealth. He blended with the darkness, an unseen predator among the twisted boughs and dense foliage.
The branches beneath him remained unmoved, capable of supporting his weight without problems. That was only natural since they could easily sustain the Galewing's weight, and they were much bigger creatures than him.
As he climbed higher, his gaze went past the leafy canopy, locking onto his next prey. Two Galewings lay nestled together on an upper bough, their forms entwined in slumber. Erik's heart pounded in his chest, yet he moved with the calm of a seasoned hunter.
The higher branches were slick with the remnants of the Galewings' feasts. Blood of various Thaids, their unfortunate prey, stained the bark, making each step a precarious endeavor.
Erik's hands grasped each handhold with caution, his fingers finding secure grips despite the slick surface.
He advanced, mindful of every breath and movement. The slightest mistake could send a cascade of sound through the silent night, alerting the Galewings to his presence.
Erik's progress was slow, almost imperceptible. Then he perched at the base of the nesting branch, became a statue of silence. He listened, but the only sounds being the breathing of the Galewings and the rhythmic beating of their hearts.
Gathering what remained of his mana, Erik knew he had just enough energy left for these two Galewings. Yet, he knew he would need to rest and replenish his spent power to kill the other Thaids.
He couldn't help but wonder if the system would consider his quest complete after he killed these two monsters, or if it required the elimination of the entire flock.
Erik moved upward from the underside of the branch. He was right below the unsuspecting Galewings, hidden by the leafy canopy.
Their massive wings lay folded in slumber, their beaks slightly agape. Erik's heart beat faster, but he maintained control over his nerves. Speed and precision would be crucial to what he was about to do.
His hand grasped an upper branch to hoist himself into a better position. He was poised to strike, every muscle tensed for the imminent strike. But as he shifted his weight, his foot nudged a small piece of loose bark. It detached, falling through the leaves with a soft rustling sound.
Erik's eyes widened as he realized what had happened. He froze, holding his breath, his gaze locked on the Galewings above. Time seemed to slow as the bark tumbled downward, a seemingly insignificant sound that held the potential to awaken the slumbering creatures.
In the tense silence of the night, one of the Galewings stirred, disturbed by the faint rustling. Its avian head emerged from beneath a wing, eyes blinking open to scan the darkness.
The moonlight reflected off its round eyes, creating a glinting effect as they darted around, searching for any sign of danger.
The creature's beak opened slightly, ready to emit a piercing shriek that would alert the entire flock to any recognized threat.
Erik remained immobile, not even daring to breathe. He watched as the Galewing's powerful talons flexed in anticipation, its wings slightly unfurling.
He knew that if the Galewing detected his presence, it would signal a disastrous cascade of events.
In a swift move, Erik swung beneath the branch, clinging to the underside with an iron clawed grip. He suspended himself there, using just his fingertips, every muscle taut with the effort of remaining still. The Galewing continued its vigilant search, but it did not think to cast its gaze below.
Erik regulated his breathing to the quietest rhythm possible, aware that even the slightest gasp might betray his location. The Galewing, after a tense moment, seemed to dismiss the sound as inconsequential, its vigilance fading.
The creature turned its head away, appearing to lose interest in the sounds that had woken it up. With what seemed like a final, dismissive glance, it nestled back into the comfort of its nest. Its eyes closed, and once again, it was enveloped in the protective embrace of sleep.
Erik waited, every sense heightened, his mind racing with the need for caution. He remained suspended in his precarious position, letting the silence envelop him again.
The minutes stretched on, each one a minor victory in his high-stakes game of survival. Assured the threat had passed, Erik maneuvered himself back onto the branch.
Erik's nerves were tense as he realized the urgency of his situation. He knew he had to hasten, as his window of opportunity could be shattered at a moment's notice. Once more, he gathered his strength and reached up for the branch above. With a determined effort, he pulled himself up, his movements swift and fluid.
As he rolled into the nest, he called for the surrounding vines, commanding them to entangle the Galewings that lay there.
The creatures were startled from their slumber, their shrieks of alarm slicing through the stillness of the night. The sound was piercing, undoubtedly alerting the rest of the flock to the disturbance.
Erik felt a surge of pressure. The element of surprise had vanished; now it was a race against time. He focused, directing the thorny vines to tighten their grip around the flailing Galewings.
The vines responded with lethal efficiency, ensnaring the creatures in a constricting embrace. The Galewings struggled, their powerful wings and sharp beaks lashing out in desperate attempts to escape.
Despite their efforts, Erik's control over the vines was unyielding. He pulled, drawing the vines tighter and tighter. The Galewings' struggles grew more frantic, but their efforts were futile against the constricting force of the vines.
After having successfully subdued the Galewings, Erik's chance came. He moved to dispatch the entangled creatures.
With swift, decisive punches, he struck each Galewing on the head, using his mana-charged fists to deliver the fatal blows. The impact was immediate; the Galewings ceased their thrashing, their life force extinguished by Erik's powerful strikes.
[GALEWINGS 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. 10642 EXPERIENCE POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]
As if sensing Erik's wish to retreat to safety, a new notification appeared in front of the young man.
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
<Well. This answer my earlier question…>
Erik looked above, hearing the screech of the now aroused Galewings. He knew the rest of the flock would soon be upon him, roused by the commotion. The time for stealth had passed; now it was a matter of survival.
Erik braced himself for the fight, but if he could, he would avoid fighting. Six Galewings remained, and they were still too much to face alone.
Erik clambered from the blood-soaked nest, his heart pounding in his chest. All around him, the tree was erupting with the sounds of the disturbed flock.
He could hear the flutter of wings, the scrape of talons on bark, and the piercing cries of the Galewings as they emerged from their nests in alarm.
The moonlit branches came alive with dark, swirling shapes as the creatures took to the air, their shrieks and caws filling the night.
Erik's attack had roused them from slumber and now their inky forms whirled through the canopy, beady eyes searching for the intruder.
Erik had run out of time. The element of surprise was lost, and the flock was upon him. He knew he had to get down from the tree and back to the relative safety of the hollowed trunk before the murderous Galewings converged.
Erik could feel the gusts from their wings already buffeting the branches as the creatures bore down on him.
Erik dropped from bough to bough, barely staying ahead of the slashing talons and snapping beaks. The flock chased him, unleashing piercing wind blades that shredded leaves and sliced furrows in the bark.
The young man twisted and ducked, avoiding the attacks by a hair's breadth while jumping from branch to branch in a rapid descent as if he was a monkey.
Halfway down the trunk, a blast of wind knocked Erik off balance. He slipped, barely catching himself on a lower branch. The shrieks grew louder as the Galewings converged upon him, enraged by the spilled blood of their brethren.
Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, Erik swung himself down to the next branch. He couldn't fight them all. He only hoped to reach the ground before the flock overwhelmed him.
The trunk gaped below, so close now. But the Galewings were almost on him, flying behind him with murderous gazes.
Erik leaped, landing in a roll at the base of the giant tree. Without hesitating, he threw himself toward the dark hollow in the trunk. With a quick movement, he entered his shelter. The Galewings were confused since from their point of view he disappeared.
Erik collapsed against the inner wall, chest heaving. The enraged cries of the flock echoed outside. But they could not reach him here. For the moment, he was safe. Erik allowed himself a grim smile. The Galewings' numbers were reduced, and dawn was coming. The real hunt was about to begin.
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