Prey Eliminated! Level 7 Lightning Toad
Experience gained!
Prey Eliminated! Level 6 Lightning Toad
Experience gained!
Prey Eliminated! Level 8 Lightning Toad
Experience gained!
I was able to kill these Lightning Toads in quick succession. Veil of Shadows, combined with my Night Hunter and Predator’s Focus did all the work, allowing me to sneak up on them and finish the fight before they ever really had a chance to defend themselves.
Then, on the fourth one.
Prey Eliminated! Level 7 Lightning Toad
Experience gained!
Predator’s Focus Leveled Up! 2 > 3
Damage bonus against unsuspecting prey increased.
+3 Dexterity
+3 Sense
Night Hunter Leveled Up! 2 > 3
Bonus damage while hunting at night increased; in addition, you now have reduced stamina drain at night.
+3 Dexterity
+3 Strength
My tail wagged. This was all fine and good, especially having reduced stamina drain could be a huge benefit, but it isn’t what I really needed. At the rate things were going, I was confident I could hit stage 4 tomorrow, but that could either be an inconsequential advancement or the key to our survival, depending heavily on whether I could unlock the Arcane Nightstalker Path before then.
It was clear these Lightning Toads were not key to unlocking the hint I needed, so I decided to stop wasting the night only hunting them.
It also seemed that the Night Hunter skill really only mattered based on time of day, rather than how dark it was. Though darkness was still to my benefit, as it aided several other skills.
I found a place to hop across the stream and used a {Pulse Sense}, instantly spotting three heartbeats together, prowling amongst the rocks and greenery towards something else.
Creeping up on them, I saw they were more of the red ferrets, and they were stalking a plump mouse thing, similar to the one I had spared before, but this one had a slightly green tint to it. I decided to just watch from a good place atop a rock where I allowed Camouflage to take effect and just observed.
Once the ferrets seemed locked on, they advanced in a V shape, one heading right for it while the others planned to flank it from the sides. They moved silently, their long bodies low to the ground, eyes glowing faintly orange.
I hopped down from my rock and moved to another that was a little closer to get a better look at the battle. When I arrived at my new vantage point, the ferrets were ready to attack.
The first jumped towards the mouse, coiling mid-air as its tint glowed redder, then it suddenly snapped itself long again like a spring, the action summoning a fireball that shot at the mouse.
Caught unaware, it was a direct hit that knocked the mouse off its feet and singed its fur. It scrambled back up as the initial attacker pounced on it, and soon the other two were diving in as well. What followed was a chaotic ball of hissing and screaming as the mouse tried to throw them off. I’d think this would end quickly, but then they were all tossed away in different directions as a powerful gust of wind erupted from the mouse. The resulting showave swayed the nearby greenery, kicked up a cloud of dust, and even pelting my own fur as I hunkered down closer to the rock.
The mouse sprinted away, but the ferrets soon recovered, scrambling after it.
Another jumped and did the coiling motion, snapping long again as it shot another fireball. The mouse suddenly jumped high off the ground, propelling itself with a blast of wind that sent out a plume of dust and leaping far higher than its little legs could sensibly make it jump on its own.
But the ferrets were not done. As the one who had just fired landed far away from achieving a clean tackle, the other two did the same motion.
The mouse dodged the first fireball midair but not the second, sending it tumbling back to the ground.
It was now backed against a cave wall as all three charged right for it. The mouse let out another burst of wind that knocked them away. They rolled backwartds, but quickly recovered, doubled back, and then in unison all three made another coiling leap through the air. Three fireballs now came towards the mouse, leaving it no room to dodge!
However, another blast of wind met the fireballs mere feet away and caused them to fizzle out; the only one that hit was torn apart enough that the damage was meaningless.
But while using its wind to deflect the three fireballs, it didn’t prepare itself for the three ferrets skittering across the ground towards it, and before it could further defend itself, all three were on it again.
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This time, the battle ended with a few more aggressive screams from all four creatures, but the mouse was soon silenced.
The predators then backed off, their kill lying between them as one rose high on its back legs. It arced forward slightly, bursting a stream of fire that instantly singed the mouse’s fur, and soon its skin and fat were bubbling and popping as it was cooked right before my eyes.
As the ferret dissipated its flames, all three crawled forward hungrily as they started ripping it apart.
The smell of cooked meat found my nose, and my tail wagged…
Cooked meat!
I licked my chops, memories of my human life flooding back to me. I already knew exactly what I wanted to do now, but before I could make my move, the system rewarded me with what I had sought after.
[Evolution Hint Acquired!]
You have witnessed how one force may unmake another and have begun to glean the logic of the elements.
Yes! That had to be for Arcane Nightstalker—right? It must have had to do with how the mouse used its wind to repel those three fireballs. If it were a one-on-one fight, that would have put the mouse at a huge advantage, but unfortunately for the plump little rodent, it was overwhelmed by numbers anyway.
As I approached, hearing the gnawing and ripping sounds as they tore apart their kill, I slowed. I wanted to fight them and take their kill but knew I’d have to be careful. They were predators, and therefore I was taking an extra hard fight, considering it was three on one.
I used {Marrow Sense}, seeing yellow skeletons. I could take one out instantly with my bonuses for sneak attacks, but then it was still two on one… but they were much smaller than me.
Yes… I could do this. I’d get some nice experience, maybe snag another achievement for taking such a fight, then enjoy the spoils of battle while I took a look at the Arcane Nightstalker path and figured out what else I needed—all the information should now be unlocked with that hint.
Casting {Vail of Shadows}, I crept closer. Once I was in striking distance, I pounced, aiming right for the back of one.
The two others looked up from their meal in surprise as my jaws snapped shut on the back of its neck and I shook wildly, instantly snapping its neck.
Foe Eliminated! Level 8 Fire Martin
Experience gained!
I tossed it aside as the two others sploinged backwards with their long bodies, trying to create distance. I chose one and barreled right for it. I’d take some damage, but that’s fine; there’s plenty of Healing Shrooms around here!
As it landed, it tried to turn and run—big mistake.
If it met me head-on, a quick kill would be harder to obtain, but it left the back of its neck perfectly exposed as I pounced. I latched on, snapping my jaws right on the sweet spot, and shook.
It screamed but was not killed. I suppose my lack of bonuses from a sneak attack this time made the difference. I then felt a searing hot fireball strike my flank, causing me to yelp in pain and let it go. It wiggled on the ground, got back to its feet, and continued to try to run for cover, but it was dazed and slow. I attack again; this time when my jaws latched on, I was quickly rewarded with the snapping of bone.
Foe Eliminated! Level 8 Fire Martin
Experience gained!
That left just one more.
But before I could turn and plan my attack, I was struck right in the side of the face with another fireball that threw me back and sent me tumbling to my side. That really hurt! I could smell my own burnt fur.
As my head lifted, I realized my vision had narrowed as one eye refused to open. But I saw my final adversary, making a short retreat before turning, glowing red, and preparing its next fireball. As it snapped forward and launched, I dove to the side, but I was too slow thanks to my injury, and it grazed me. I still kept going, running right at it.
It met me head-on, attacking my face. I bit for its belly and got my front teeth onto its flesh, but its body curled around my side as it latched on, its claws digging into my head.
I snapped my jaws, getting another bite as it scratched at me with all four limbs, and I shook my head violently, trying to throw it off. It refused to let go, and I ended up rolling across the ground with it.
We were both snarling as we wrestled; it continued to claw at me, but I was damaging it more with each nip at its stomach. Finally, I forced my head up and managed a critical attack around the front of its neck. I shook with all my might; it kept struggling, but I continued shaking until I felt it becoming weaker, less able to fight.
I let go and finish it off with another bite around the side of its neck before it had a chance to recover.
Foe Eliminated! Level 8 Fire Martin
Experience gained!
Panting, I dropped the kill, and as expected, I was rewarded for my efforts.
[Achievement! Annihilate the pack!]
Strength in numbers isn’t always a sure thing. You proved that calculation, superior might, and aggression tip back the scales.
Moderate bonus to all stats!
I let out a huff, feeling the burn of my flesh. Some fire resistance would be nice, but maybe that would come with hunting some more of these “Fire Martins.” First things first, I needed to heal and went over to the first patch of Healing Shrooms I could find and started forcing the chalky stuff down. A few bites weren’t enough to completely ease the burning, but my vision soon came back, and as I inspected my wounds, I saw they were healing nicely. A couple more chomps and I was back to 100%. Though my mana was still a little low, that would be cured after having a nice midnight snack.
I went back to the mouse, sad to see that despite my efforts, all the good parts had already been eaten. Still, I was excited for my first bite of cooked meat, which was…
I chewed.
Well, it was fine.
My tail drooped as I swallowed and looked at the dead creature. I guess I had become accustomed to raw meat in my life as a Hell Hound. I really couldn’t see what the big deal was. It wasn’t worse… and maybe it was a little better. Just different. Actually, the charred taste on the outer bits was a slight negative.
Don’t get me wrong, it was good and everything; I just couldn’t remember why I had held cooked food in such high regard before. At least the fur was burned away, though, so that was one definite improvement.
I lay down with it and started picking it clean, planning to fill myself more on the dead Fire Martins to top off my mana when I was done. For now, it was time to check the Path that was coming closer and closer to my reach!
Rare - Arcane Nightstalker
Path hinted, further details currently unknown.
Hint 1: You have stood where the world breathes magic, and its rhythm has touched your own heartbeat.
Hint 2: You have witnessed how one force may unmake another and have begun to glean the logic of the elements.
Requirements
Stage 4 development
Attribute Requirements: 70 attunement, 60 Sense
Prerequisite Path: Veinseer Nightstalker
Required Achievement: Heart of the Vale (clear)
Required Achievement: Essence of the Five
Damn, I was hoping that I had already gotten the final achievement I would need. Well, at least I knew my attributes were good at this point.
Hmmm… Essence of the Five
Five what? Five elements? Well, I’d already witnessed electricity, wind, and fire… Did I just need to know what the other two were? Water and earth, maybe? That would make sense to me.
My ears folded back, looking up and hoping for another ding from the system to make things easy, but no such luck.
Maybe I had to eat all five elements? Like, if I found prey with water and earth magic, would that give me the achievement?
And I’m not just being a glutton here!
It made sense, being that eating monsters with magic restored my mana; I was clearly getting something extra from them that I wasn’t getting from normal prey.
With that thought in mind, I figured there was a nice water source nearby, so that is where I should start… Once I was finished with my current meal, of course!
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