Mid-flight, the arrow split apart, multiplying into fourteen identical projectiles, each shimmering with a sharp blue aura. All of them hurtled toward the unsuspecting herd.
The enormous beasts had no time to react—how could they? The arrows moved at such incredible speeds that, by the time the sound reached their ears, it was already too late.
A chorus of pained bellows echoed through the forest as all four moose were struck. One collapsed instantly, an arrow piercing clean through its skull, killing it on the spot. The remaining three, though wounded, managed to stay on their feet—their massive bodies shielding them from fatal injuries, though not from harm entirely.
Blood trickled from their wounds, but the injuries weren’t severe. Their sheer size absorbed much of the impact, preventing the small arrows from dealing significant damage unless they struck a vital point.
One of the moose spotted the bipedal predator lurking in the trees. Instinctively, it let out a warning cry, alerting its two surviving companions. The trio wasted no time, shifting into a tight triangular formation with their antlers lowered, presenting a natural barrier of sharp, towering prongs. Their bellows deepened, an attempt to intimidate the unseen hunter.
Amelia, unfazed by their reaction, swiftly repositioned herself. She reached for three arrows and nocked them side by side onto her bow, ensuring she could fire them simultaneously. As she drew the string taut, a surge of aura wrapped around the projectiles, infusing them with raw, concentrated power.
The three aura-infused arrows streaked through the air like blue streaks of light, aimed directly at the skulls of the defensive moose. The beasts reacted instantly, raising their antlers to intercept the incoming threat.
A deafening impact resounded through the forest.
At first glance, the sight was almost comical—small, slender arrows clashing against antlers spanning several meters wide. The sheer difference in size made it seem as though the arrows would simply bounce off, completely ineffective.
But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
The instant they collided, an agonized bellow tore from the moose as cracks spread like spiderwebs across their antlers. The force sent them skidding backward, their hooves digging deep trenches into the ground as they fought to remain standing.
Their hind legs pushed against the earth, struggling to resist the overwhelming pressure bearing down on them. Muscles tensed, veins bulged, and their massive frames trembled from the strain—but it wasn’t enough. The relentless power of the arrows continued driving them back, deepening the fractures in their antlers. Chunks of bone splintered and fell to the forest floor.
Yet, despite the immense pressure, the moose endured. With a final, desperate effort, they held their ground. The arrows, their energy spent, clattered uselessly to the ground.
The three moose, having identified the predator hunting them, felt a wave of unease. Their instincts screamed at them to charge, yet the bipedal beast was perched high in the trees—far beyond their reach. This was unlike any predator they had faced before. Normally, land predators could be driven away by their sheer size and powerful antlers, but this one attacked from above, striking with precision from a distance they couldn’t retaliate against.
Under normal circumstances, such an enemy would have been harmless. No beast had ever been able to attack them from this far away, at least not with enough force to cause real harm. Yet, the wounds on their bodies proved otherwise. The realization sent a shudder of panic through them. They were not accustomed to being hunted in this manner.
A thunderous cry from the largest moose snapped the other two out of their growing fear. Their leader stood firm, his deep call serving as both a rallying cry and an order. Another, even louder bellow followed—this time carrying clear intent. Run.
Without hesitation, the three turned and fled, their powerful legs propelling them forward. However, they did not abandon caution entirely; their antlers remained aimed toward the predator, ready to intercept any more of those small, yet devastating, blue projectiles. That was the plan—except the bipedal beast was no longer in its original location.
The sudden realization forced them to halt, their movements breaking into a staggered retreat as they quickly reformed into their triangular defensive stance. They knew their only defense lay in their antlers, the only thing capable of stopping the terrifyingly powerful projectiles.
Amelia, observing from above, frowned slightly as she assessed the situation. Her Penetrating Shot hadn’t been strong enough to pierce through the moose’s dense antlers. Without hesitation, she adjusted her position. With swift, precise movements, she leaped from tree to tree, rapidly closing the distance between herself and the retreating creatures.
The moment she reached an ideal angle to strike—one where the moose wouldn’t expect an attack, as they were still fixated on her previous position and had their antlers aimed in that direction—she readied herself. However, just as she was about to fire, the creatures shifted once more, retreating in a tight triangular formation that effectively shielded them from her arrows.
Her frown deepened. ‘They’re reacting better than I thought…’ Her gaze flickered across the landscape, scanning for an opening. Then, her eyes locked onto something—the thick branches towering above the moose.
‘From above, they have no protection!’ A small smile tugged at her lips.
Without hesitation, she pushed off from her perch, her movements swift and precise. She navigated through the treetops with practiced ease, her speed far exceeding that of the creatures below. Within moments, she had closed the distance, positioning herself directly above them.
Maintaining her momentum, she matched their pace, seamlessly keeping herself aligned with their movement. Drawing three arrows from her quiver, she nocked them onto her bowstring and infused them with aura, her emerald eyes locking onto her targets.
Then, without hesitation, she let them loose.
The moment the first volley left her fingers, she repeated the motion—drawing and firing another set of arrows in quick succession. Her precision was absolute. Even if one of her shots missed a fatal point, the second wave would finish the job.
Her strategy paid off.
The largest moose and another fell instantly, their skulls pierced clean through. The third, however, made an instinctive movement at the last second, shifting the trajectory of the arrow meant for its head. What should have been a killing shot instead tore into the side of its skull, leaving it grievously wounded but still alive.
Before it could even register the pain—before it could react to the two dead bodies collapsing beside it—the second volley struck home. The final moose crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
[‘Yellow’ Moose killed: 150K XP received x4]
[Class: Hunter has leveled up x15]
[Class: Hunter has reached level 27]
“Nice,” Amelia murmured as the fight notifications flashed before her eyes. A satisfied smile played on her lips as she set about retrieving her fallen arrow, scattered across the forest floor.
Tracking the moose’s path was effortless. All she had to do was follow the faint blood trail they had left behind from their earlier injuries. The reason she bothered retracing her steps, despite already securing the kill, was simple—she wanted her first arrow back.
But as she rounded a thick tree, her eyes fell upon the carcass of the first moose she had slain. She instinctively froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat as a shocking scene unfolded before her.
Just three meters away, hunched over the enormous corpse, was a pack of five massive gray wolves. They tore into the flesh with ruthless efficiency, their powerful jaws ripping through muscle and sinew. Each of them bore the distinct oversized proportions of ‘Yellow’ zone creatures. Though their sizes varied slightly, they all measured approximately three and a half meters in length, with a towering height of at least two and a half meters.
Compared to the fallen moose, they seemed small. But compared to Amelia—who, despite her strength, was still human-sized—these creatures were monstrous. Their glistening fangs and razor-sharp claws made them look even more menacing.
It was like an ordinary human stumbling upon a pack of starving, oversized wolves…
Amelia’s body tensed. The wolves had yet to notice her. Moving with extreme caution, she took a slow, measured step backward, careful not to make a sound. The slightest noise could draw their attention, and with the short distance between them, they could lunge at her in an instant.
Just as she was about to slip behind the thick trunk of an ancient tree, safely out of sight, one of the wolves abruptly lifted its head. Its snout twitched as it sniffed the air.
Amelia stiffened. Her pulse quickened as the beast turned its head in her direction. Its piercing amber eyes locked onto her emerald gaze. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze—the two stared at each other, locked in a silent standoff.
The tension shattered as the wolf let out a long, resounding howl. The other wolves, still feasting on the moose, immediately stopped. Bloodied snouts lifted, their predatory eyes shifting toward her.
“Fuck,” she cursed under her breath, instinctively jumping backward while nocking an arrow onto her bow.
Unfortunately, that single movement sealed her fate. The wolves had been curious, uncertain about the strange ‘bipedal beast’ that had stumbled upon them. But the moment they saw her retreat, their instincts took over. She was prey. With a collective howl, they lunged toward her.
Amelia’s fingers released the bowstring without hesitation. ‘Dividing Shot!’ A barrage of arrows tore through the air. The lead wolf, closest to her, was the primary target. It barely had time to react—its attempt to leap aside was futile. Multiple arrows pierced its body, tearing through flesh and bone, leaving it severely wounded.
The other wolves, however, were farther back. Their battle-hardened instincts, sharpened through countless hunts, allowed them to react in time. Some suffered minor cuts as they barely dodged the projectiles, while others completely evaded them, their agile movements carrying them to safety. The brief hesitation caused by her attack wasn’t nearly enough.
With terrifying speed, the wolves closed the distance. Amelia barely had time to nock another arrow before realizing they would be upon her before she could fire again. In an instant, her bow vanished into her inventory. Her hands shot to the daggers strapped to her thighs, gripping them tightly as she braced for close combat.
Her emerald eyes remained locked on the incoming wolves, her stance firm, muscles coiled, ready for impact. And then… nothing.
To her surprise, their claws and fangs didn’t clash against her daggers. The moment they reached her, instead of pouncing, they abruptly slowed and began circling her, maintaining a cautious distance of a few meters. A bead of sweat trickled down her face. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she warily tracked the four wolves.
‘Four?’ Her gaze flicked to where the lead wolf had been.
It was struggling—no, stumbling. After just a few shaky steps, its massive body collapsed with a heavy thud. Blood poured from multiple wounds, but the final blow was unmistakable. The original arrow used as the base for her Dividing Shot was lodged deep in its eye, piercing straight into its brain. It wasn’t getting back up.
A chorus of furious howls erupted from the remaining wolves. Their amber eyes, once merely watchful, now burned with hatred. Amelia tightened her grip on her daggers, her breath steady despite the tension crackling in the air.
This time, as the wolves resumed circling her, there was no hesitation, no wariness in their movements. Their snarls deepened, their killing intent thick in the air. They had made their decision. They were going to tear her apart.
Amelia tightened her grip on her daggers, her fingers pressing against the hilts as she eyed the enraged wolves moving around her. She knew she was in a dangerous position. She had to escape. But with the wolves encircling her from all sides, no clear path presented itself—except…
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