Chapter 41: Laughing Shadow

Tess stole my hoodie.

Tess insists she’s solely “borrowing” my hoodie, however deep down, I do know the reality. That hoodie is gone, by no means to return. She’s like a hoodie black gap, absorbing all of the coziness and leaving me shivering in my hoodie-less existence.

She says it is due to the screw-up I made throughout our final hunt that she ended up along with her garments torn, however look, who would have guessed that the troll is so good at throwing stuff?

Completely not my fault.

And positive, with my elevated structure, I do not really feel the chilly even within the barely colder climate we’re in, and the hoodie was simply mendacity down in my health club bag, however… however, it is mine, it was mine.

Properly, no matter.

There are 10 days remaining on the time restrict for the ground quest, so I made a decision to hunt alone for a while. I took a variety of dried meat and some bottles of water with me and went to the forest, leaving them to outlive on their very own for a couple of days.

Hadwin did not prefer it in any respect, and neither did most of them, however I feel it should assist them too. A few of them grew to become too reliant on my assist, stopped enhancing on their very own, and simply adopted my lead. Certain, they’ll get damage, perhaps even die, but when they only proceed to comply with me, they’ll for positive die sooner or later.

If we have a look at this like a sport, the primary ground ought to be the best one, proper?

For me, the hazard did not really feel that huge, and I’ve a sense that my progress has stagnated as effectively. I do not wish to develop into too reliant on them, so I depart to return in a couple of days.

I’m additionally frightened that I get too near them.

The forest is quiet, as all the time, and with out Tess’s scouting, I really feel way more weak, however surprisingly I do not hate it.

As all the time, there may be mana flowing by way of my physique, by way of my mana circuit, and my [Mana Perception] retains sending wave after wave of mana into our environment like a sonar, looking for one thing. The vary is not that huge, however it’s doable.

So I proceed checking my quests on occasion. There nonetheless is not a brand new [Side Quest] sadly, however figuring out the system, I’m positive it is cooking up one thing actually spicy.

The primary enemy I meet is a straightforward wolf.

[Wolf, lvl 2]

Poor man, how did he find yourself right here? In such a high-level zone.

He sniffs me and begins working away instantly. Sadly for him, I ship extra mana by way of my physique and sprint at him with a velocity increased than his.

Absolutely sufficient, I catch as much as him, and he turns to assault me in a last-ditch effort.

I dodge, and his enamel clamp near my head.

Then I slap him.

Yup.

I bitch-slap that poor man.

He staggers again, and I repeat it, and he falls down, unconscious.

I pull out the final remaining piece of the goblin shaman’s amulet and tie it to the wolf’s fur. I already did it a number of occasions in hopes of complicated the Cinderbear.

Fuck Cinderbear tho.

I began doing it instantly after the final time, and there ought to be 7 wolves working round with a chunk of amulet tied to their fur. Or they misplaced it. I do not care. Simply get that crap distant from me.

Out of nowhere I sense a touch of mana on the fringe of my [Mana Perception] vary and focus extra mana in that path. The sensation disappears with out leaving something behind.

Huh?

I sprint in the direction of it, however I do not catch something. It is gone and there isn ́t leftover mana left behind.

What was that?

The forest instantly feels extra harmful, and silence fills the environment.

I really feel mana behind me, however after I focus extra on it, it disappears instantly in a means I can ́t clarify.

Chilly sweat begins working down my again, and I sprint away from it. Mana strengthens my muscle tissue, and at this level, I’m able to run as quick as a horse whereas letting [Focus] assist me to do it with out hitting any bushes.

After a couple of minutes I cease to catch a breath.

I misplaced it for positive…

One other pulse of mana seems on the fringe of my notion.

Rattling.

I run once more.

Ten minutes cross, and I proceed to strengthen my physique; my muscle tissue really feel scorching as I proceed to channel mana by way of my Mana Circuit to strengthen them. My mana pool is now sufficiently big to stick with it for a very very long time.

As I run, I proceed to really feel the identical mana signature on the edges of my notion.

At first, I attempt to run away from it, however it begins to really feel as if it is making an attempt to lure me someplace, so I simply keep away from it.

In some unspecified time in the future, I even try to sprint towards it once more, however it disappears and reappears behind me inside a minute.

My [Mana Perception] continues to shoot into the environment, however I all the time solely really feel a touch of mana on the fringe of my vary.

Whereas persevering with to make use of the talent, I optimize it a bit and enhance the vary. Nevertheless, the signature strikes once more, staying not fully out of vary however nonetheless shut.

I cease.

My respiratory is fast, and my muscle tissue burn. Sweat runs down my physique.

One thing like laughter echoes within the distance.

The presence seems as soon as once more on the fringe of my detection.

You asshole.

That is getting annoying.

Combat me or one thing.

As if figuring out what I’m considering, the cackle sounds as soon as once more, and the presence disappears.

It seems to be like there will likely be no sleep tonight.