Chapter 7 – A Predator’s Hunger.

  Nix moved deeper into the forest, his steps light and deliberate. His backpack was heavier than ever, stuffed with the spoils of his hunts, claws, fangs, fur, and most importantly, the savings that sat securely in a reinforced pouch.

  For the first time, he wasn’t just barely scraping by. He was actually gaining an edge. And that was a damn good feeling.

  "Vix," Nix said, adjusting the weight of his pack, "any idea how valuable these cores might be if we sell them?"

  Her voice crackled through his earpiece, dry as ever. "They'll fetch a good price if you trade them right. Otherwise, you’re just carrying around fancy rocks."

  Nix smirked. "Still better than nothing."

  "True," Vix admitted. "But we have a slight issue."

  Nix raised an eyebrow. "What kind of issue?"

  "Storage. You’re running out of space, genius. That bag of yours is one lucky monster attack away from bursting at the seams. And we still have six days left in this test."

  Nix scowled. "Yeah, I know. Not much I can do about that unless you have some miracle solution."

  "Actually," Vix said, her tone shifting to something smug, "I do."

  Nix rolled his eyes. "Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?"

  Vix ignored him. "Listen up. You’ve been gathering claws and fangs, right? Those are some of the strongest materials from these monsters. Instead of just carrying them around, why don’t we repurpose them into arrows?"

  Nix blinked. "Arrows?"

  "Yeah," Vix continued. "Think about it. Your current arrows are standard iron tips, decent, but nothing special. But if you start making arrowheads out of monster claws and fangs, you get: ? Stronger penetration power. ? Lighter weight, meaning better speed. ? A way to actually use up the materials instead of letting them pile up."

  Nix rubbed his chin. "That actually makes sense."

  Vix scoffed. "Of course it makes sense. I’m a genius."

  "Yeah, yeah," Nix muttered. He glanced at the fangs and claws he had collected, reevaluating their worth. If he fashioned them into arrowheads, he wouldn’t just be solving his storage issue, he’d be upgrading his firepower at the same time.

  It was an elegant solution.

  "Alright," Nix said. "I’ll do it. But we’re making them properly. I don’t want to end up with some half-assed, janky arrows that snap after one shot."

  Vix hummed in approval. "Now you’re thinking like a proper hunter."

  Nix rolled his shoulders and got to work.

  The process was straightforward, though time-consuming. Nix carefully selected the sharpest claws and fangs from his collection, using sharpening stones to refine them into suitable arrowheads.

  Monster bones and their main weapons, claws, tusks, and fangs, were known to be stronger than steel yet twice as light. This made them perfect for ammunition. They would hit harder, last longer, and pierce through even tougher hides.

  With each arrow he crafted, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

  Five arrows… ten… fifteen…

  By the time he was done, he had a solid stockpile of claw-tipped arrows, along with upgraded standard arrows that now featured fangs and claws as arrowheads. Additionally, he replaced the normal arrowheads on his existing arrows, increasing his total number of ready-to-use arrows against 1-Star and above monsters. With the addition of these brand-new arrows, his weapons were now capable of dealing more damage and achieving stronger penetration. Neatly bundled and secured, his arsenal was deadlier than ever.

  "Not bad," Vix admitted. "At least now you won’t have to worry about running out of ammo mid-fight."

  Nix tested the balance of one of the arrows, running a thumb along its sharpened tip. "And they’re lighter. I can carry more without weighing myself down."

  Vix beeped. "Told you. Efficient and deadly. Just like you."

  "Flattery will get you nowhere," Nix muttered, securing the arrows in his quiver.

  "Yeah, yeah," Vix said, clearly pleased with herself. "Now, shall we go find more monsters to test those on?"

  Nix smirked, adjusting his gear. "Thought you’d never ask."

  And just like that, he set off once more, his footsteps light and confident. The hunt continued.

  And this time?

  He was even deadlier.

  The deeper Nix ventured, the more he felt it, an unnatural stillness in the air. His senses sharpened, the fine hairs on his arms tingling. Something was watching him.

  He slowed his steps, letting his instincts take over. The smell of damp earth mixed with something faintly metallic, blood. Fresh. Nearby. His ears picked up the faintest of shifts in the bushes, something big moving with unnatural precision.

  Then—

  His eyes landed on something odd among the foliage. Broken eggshells. Large, jagged fragments littered the ground, half-buried in the undergrowth.

  Before he could process further,

  A blur of movement from the trees.

  A massive, armored spider lunged at him from the shadows, a Duskrend Weaver, a rare and lethal 2-Star predator. Its long, bladed legs slashed through the air at terrifying speed, forcing Nix to dive to the side just in time. The sheer force of the attack sent a gust of wind past him, the leg carving a deep scar into the ground where he had just stood.

  "Vix!" Nix shouted, already moving, dodging another series of vicious strikes. The Duskrend Weaver was faster than anything he had faced before. It was relentless, its eight gleaming eyes locked onto him with eerie focus.

  "New monster!" Vix called out. "No confirmed battle data, only its materials! It's rare and extremely dangerous!"

  "Not helping!" Nix gritted his teeth as he barely rolled away from another razor-sharp swipe. His heart pounded. The Duskrend Weaver didn’t just attack, it anticipated. Every dodge brought another leg swinging, slicing the air inches from his flesh. It was toying with him.

  Then—

  A blinding pain tore through his side as one of the spider's legs pierced straight through his armor, stabbing into his flesh. His breath caught, the searing agony nearly sending him to his knees. Blood dripped down his ribs.

  "You're hurt!" Vix warned, panic creeping into her voice. "Nix, listen, we need to get out of here! We don't know enough about this thing!"

  Nix clenched his jaw, stumbling backward, his mind racing. He was losing blood, his movements slowing. The Duskrend Weaver clicked its mandibles, sensing weakness.

  "Also," Vix continued, her voice urgent, "this thing is rare. Its materials are highly valuable, but you can’t worry about that now! Focus on survival first!"

  He didn’t need to be told twice. With ragged breath, he loosed three upgraded arrows, aiming for its eyes. The Duskrend Weaver reared back, hissing, but the arrows barely grazed its armored body.

  Then he turned and ran.

  Branches snapped under his feet as he sprinted for his life, lungs burning. He had no idea where he was going, only that he had to get away.

  But then—

  His foot caught on something.

  A web.

  Before he could react, his entire body jerked to a stop as thick, nearly invisible strands of silk locked around his arms and legs. He was trapped.

  Panic surged through him as he thrashed wildly, but the webbing only tightened. He looked back, expecting the Duskrend Weaver to lunge, but it was gone.

  Vix's voice crackled with alarm. "Nix. You’re in its hunting ground. This is bad. This thing is far more dangerous than we thought. We have to leave, now!"

  Nix gritted his teeth. He sniffed the air, trying to pinpoint the spider’s location, but, nothing.

  Then he heard it.

  A faint, almost inaudible clicking above him.

  His blood ran cold.

  A shadow fell over him.

  The Duskrend Weaver dropped down from the canopy, its bladed legs slamming down like spears. He twisted, dodging at the last second, but not fast enough, another razor-sharp limb raked across his back, cutting deep into his flesh.

  He bit back a scream, his body jolting in pain. His vision blurred, his limbs trembling from blood loss. He couldn’t last much longer.

  "Nix! MOVE!" Vix shouted.

  His body was failing him. His speed was slowing. His reactions dulling. The Duskrend Weaver had all the time in the world to kill him now.

  Desperation surged through him. He had to do something.

  His hands scrambled to his quiver. He grabbed an arrow, snapping off the claw-tipped head. With a wild surge of adrenaline, he used it as a makeshift blade, sawing at the webbing.

  The Duskrend Weaver lunged.

  At the last second, the webbing snapped. Nix fell hard to the ground, rolling just as the spider’s leg slammed into the space he had just been.

  His breath was ragged. He couldn’t win this.

  Gritting his teeth, he fired his last few arrows, not aiming, just trying to break any more webs in his path. A few lucky shots hit supporting strands, sending tremors through the webbing.

  The Duskrend Weaver paused. Just for a moment.

  That moment was all Nix needed.

  He bolted, ignoring the pain screaming through his body.

  The Duskrend Weaver shrieked in frustration, its web collapsing in disarray. It tried to give chase, but Nix was already gone, diving through the underbrush in blind desperation.

  He didn’t stop running. Not until the air finally felt clear again.

  Then, he collapsed against a tree, gasping for breath.

  Vix’s voice broke through the silence. "That… was way too close."

  Nix wiped blood from his brow, his entire body throbbing in pain. "Yeah. No kidding."

  Vix sighed, her voice unusually serious. "Let’s never fight that thing again unless we have a real plan."

  "Agreed," Nix muttered, pushing himself up. He needed to heal.

  For now? He was just grateful to be alive.

  "First off," Vix began, "it’s way too fast for you to react to normally. You dodged a few times, but you got hit anyway. If you fight it in the open again, you’ll get overwhelmed. So we need to slow it down."

  "Traps," Nix said immediately. "We need some way to restrict its movement."

  "Right," Vix agreed. "We can use pitfalls or sticky resin to limit its mobility. If we make it struggle even a little, you’ll have a window to attack."

  Nix exhaled. "Good. What else?"

  "Its webs are a problem," Vix added. "You got trapped and almost died because of it. We need a way to detect them beforehand."

  Nix frowned, then his eyes lit up. "Wait, I still have bolas. I could use them to tie up its legs and slow it down. That might be enough to keep it from lunging or dodging as fast."

  Vix hummed. "That could work… but you’d need more than what you have now."

  "Then I’ll make more before we run into it again," Nix decided. "I can reinforce them with tougher materials so they hold better."

  Vix beeped in approval. "Alright, next issue: its joints. Spiders don’t have tendons, just hardened joints. If you can target the joints, you might cripple its mobility."

  "Bladed traps," Nix said. "If I can force it to step into a trap, it could weaken the legs enough to slow it down permanently."

  "That’s brutal. I love it," Vix said. "But about the webs… Wasting too much effort to detect them isn’t practical. We’d be better off luring it into a trap by forcing it into a long-range fight with arrows."

  Nix nodded. "Exactly. If I keep my distance and keep it focused on me, it won’t have time to set up its webbing properly."

  Before they could continue, Vix suddenly beeped. "Hold up. Something’s still stuck to you."

  Nix turned his head as Vix plucked a piece of webbing from his back, the sticky thread clinging stubbornly to her grip.

  "Let’s test it," Vix suggested. "Fire or water? One of them has to weaken it, right?"

  Using a small flame, Nix held it close to the webbing, expecting it to burn. Nothing.

  He poured a few drops of water onto it. Still nothing.

  A chill ran through him. "Vix… this thing isn’t just resistant. It’s immune."

  Vix scanned it quickly. "And worse, it’s getting tougher the longer it’s exposed to air. This chunk is already durable as a metal while retaining its rubbery and sticky characteristics."

  Nix clenched his jaw. "That means we can’t let it use its webbing at all. If it gets the chance to cover the battlefield in this stuff, we’re finished."

  Vix’s tone was grave. "Then the plan is clear. We don’t let it fight on its terms. We force it into our trap before it can turn the terrain against us."

  Nix took a deep breath. "Then we prepare for war."

  With their plan solidified, Nix pushed himself up despite his aching body. "Alright, Vix, we need to scout the area to find the best place to set this up. We need somewhere that gives us the advantage."

  Vix scanned the surroundings. "We need terrain that gives you enough room to maneuver and set up effectively."

  They spent the rest of the day scouting the region, carefully moving through the terrain and mapping out potential ambush points. It was exhausting work, especially with Nix’s injuries still aching, but he pressed on. As the sun began to set, they finally found the perfect spot, an area near the edge of a sandy clearing where the forest met the dunes.

  "This is it," Nix muttered, studying the terrain. "The dense tree line gives me places to maneuver."

  Vix hummed in agreement. "It also gives you vertical mobility options with the branches. This works."

  Without hesitation, Nix got to work. The first thing he did was start crafting handmade ropes, twisting strong fibers together with practiced efficiency. Vix watched, baffled by his sudden focus.

  "Uh, not to question your survival instincts, but why are you suddenly making rope?" Vix asked, scanning his work.

  "You'll see," Nix muttered, his hands working fast.

  Once he had several sturdy ropes, he turned his attention to measuring his jump range. With Vix’s assistance in calculating the exact height and distance, he confirmed his current vertical jump had increased to 22 feet.

  "Impressive," Vix noted. "That’s an absurd improvement from where you started. You’re getting stronger."

  Nix simply nodded, adjusting his footing before throwing the handmade ropes into random locations, wrapping them around branches and various points in the area. Vix, still confused, decided not to question it further.

  With his setup in place, Nix turned his attention back to hunting 1-Star Monsters in the surrounding area. He moved quietly, tracking potential prey, but his real goal wasn’t just food, it was to find a suitable material that he can refine into a sharp sword. He needed a durable blade for clos combat battles.

  As the night settled in, Nix continued his search, determined to be fully prepared before the real fight began.

  Nix moved carefully through the dense forest, adjusting to the rhythm of the hunt. Every step was light, every movement precise.

  He had been practicing with his monster arrows, a name Vix had come up with for his arrows tipped with monster claws or fangs. These arrows hit harder and made hunting 1-Star Monsters easier.

  He spotted movement in the bushes, a Venomtail Stalker, a 1-Star mutated scorpion, its long, sharp tail shaped like a sword.

  As soon as their eyes met, the Venomtail Stalker attacked.

  Nix jumped to the side, barely dodging a fast tail strike. The tail slashed through a tree, splitting it apart and sending wood flying. One wrong move, and he was dead. He fired a monster arrow at its shell, but the arrow bounced off, leaving only a small mark.

  "That’s not good," Nix muttered.

  "Yeah, no kidding," Vix said. "Go for the joints, you won’t break its armor."

  The Venomtail Stalker charged, its huge pincers smashing the ground where Nix had been standing. Dirt and dust flew up as he jumped back. He fired another monster arrow, this time aiming at the soft part of its tail joint.

  The arrow stabbed deep, making the scorpion screech as it whipped its tail wildly. Nix barely ducked in time, but the side of his armor took a hit, the edge cutting through part of the plating.

  "That was close," Nix muttered.

  "You’re getting slow," Vix teased.

  "I’ll keep that in mind," Nix grumbled, keeping his eyes on the monster.

  The Venomtail Stalker reared up, ready to attack again. This time, Nix didn’t dodge. He pushed off the ground and jumped straight at it. While in the air, he grabbed a bola from his belt and threw it at its front pincers, tangling them up just as he landed behind it.

  The scorpion screeched, struggling to free itself. Nix wasted no time, he grabbed another monster arrow, took aim, and shot it directly at the weak spot behind its head.

  The arrow hit perfectly.

  The Venomtail Stalker shook wildly, its legs twitching as it lost control. Nix steadied his breath, gripping another monster arrow. With its legs tangled by the bolas, the scorpion couldn’t move freely. He fired at the tail joint, the arrow piercing deep but not enough to fully sever it.

  The Venomtail Stalker screeched in pain, thrashing as it tried to retaliate, but with its tail gone, its attacks were sluggish. Nix didn't hesitate, he aimed another monster arrow at its left eye and fired. The arrow struck, making the scorpion shriek louder, its movements turning wild but uncoordinated.

  He fired again, this time at the same spot, hammering the weakness over and over. Each shot forced the arrow deeper, cracking through its tough outer shell. The fourth arrow finally pierced through, sinking deep into the monster’s head.

  The creature convulsed violently, then fell still, its body twitching before going completely motionless.

  Nix let out a breath and looked at the sharp tail, a small grin forming. "This will do. I can turn this into a real sword."

  Vix beeped. "And lucky you, you also got another 1-Star Monster Core."

  Nix picked up the tail and Monster Core, then left without wasting time.

  Nix returned to his hiding spot, setting down his pack before pulling out the Venomtail Stalker’s severed tail. Now that he had a moment to inspect it properly, he noticed a drop of liquid seeping from the tip of the sword. Out of curiosity, he touched it. Almost instantly, his entire body locked up, his muscles stiffening as he collapsed onto the floor, unable to move.

  For twenty minutes, he lay there, staring up at the ceiling of his hiding spot, completely motionless. Finally, the sensation in his limbs returned in slow waves, his muscles aching as he flexed his fingers, forcing movement back into his body.

  "Well, that’s useful," Nix muttered, already thinking of ways to make use of it.

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  Vix beeped. "The poison gland is still intact. If you soak the blade in another venom source, the sack inside will absorb and replenish its toxicity. It’s basically a self-sustaining poison weapon."

  Nix grinned. "So I can just dip it in poison and keep using it?"

  "Pretty much. Just don’t stab yourself, genius."

  Nix ignored her jab and got to work. He spent the next few hours carving out a proper handle for the weapon. Using tough monster hide and reinforced fibers, he crafted a strong but simple grip, securing it tightly around the base of the scorpion blade. By the time he was done, the sword felt well-balanced and sturdy, its natural curved shape perfect for slashing and piercing attacks.

  The sword had the sharp, curved edge of a scimitar, making it ideal for slicing, while its pointed tip featured a small gap designed to excrete paralyzing venom upon impact.

  He gave it a few test swings, feeling the weight. It was perfect.

  Since the sword was too large to keep at his side, he secured it to his back, fastening it tightly with straps from his supplies.

  Before heading out again, Nix made a decision. He couldn’t carry everything, his bag was already too full. He left most of his collected materials in his hiding spot, taking only the essentials: weapons, rations, and the Monster Core he had just obtained.

  Eager to test his new weapon, Nix ventured out, targeting Monster Beasts to see how well it performed. The blade cut through thick hide with ease, and when he landed a direct strike, the venom took effect almost immediately. Smaller prey staggered and collapsed before he even needed a second attack.

  "Alright, this thing’s officially terrifying," Nix admitted, watching another 1-Star Monster Beast drop after a single venomous slash.

  "You sound way too happy about that," Vix teased.

  Nix chuckled, spinning the sword once before securing it to his back. "It’s just satisfying to have a good melee weapon now. Close combat won’t be a problem anymore."

  "So, does that mean you’re officially a swordsman now?" Vix asked.

  Nix thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. I’ll use this as my main close-combat weapon and stick to my bow, Kindness, for ranged fights."

  "Good choice. Also…" Vix’s voice turned playful. "You need to name the sword."

  Nix raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

  "Because you already named your bow-spear hybrid Kindness. It would be unfair to leave your new best friend without a proper name."

  Nix sighed, looking at the poisonous scorpion blade resting in his hand. He thought for a moment, then smirked. "Alright… I’ll call it Joke."

  Vix paused before bursting into laughter. "Kindness and Joke! You’re really keeping up this theme, huh?"

  "If I kill something, at least I’m being polite about it," Nix joked, twirling the sword before securing it back onto his straps.

  "That has got to be the dumbest logic I’ve heard all week," Vix said, still laughing. "I love it."

  Satisfied with his new weapon, Nix adjusted the grip and mentally noted a few ways to improve his handling.

  Realizing his water supply was running low, Nix made his way to the nearest lake to refill his canteen. The journey was uneventful, but as he crouched by the water’s edge, he heard distant voices. Staying low, he carefully moved closer, ensuring he remained hidden.

  A group of five men stood near the tree line, talking in hushed but eager tones.

  "The trap is set," one of them muttered. "Once the target steps in, everything is ours."

  Another chuckled. "And if there's trouble? Well... let's just say, it'll be handled."

  One voice, more sinister than the others, sneered. "I say we rough ‘em up. Maybe more than that. Make sure there’s no chance of payback later."

  Nix’s expression hardened. These guys were planning to steal from another applicant, possibly worse. They spoke casually, as if robbing someone and hurting them was just another part of the exam.

  He sighed internally. Good thing I work alone with Vix. Having to constantly watch your back sounds exhausting.

  Deciding it wasn’t his fight, he refilled his water quickly and silently slipped away, making sure to leave no trace of his presence.

  With his supplies topped up, Nix made his way back to the trap site, ready to focus on his real task.

  Four days had passed since Nix was nearly killed by the Duskrend Weaver. The encounter had left him wounded, but instead of retreating, he had used the time to plan, prepare, and refine his strategy. Now, it was time to return the favor.

  Every trap had been carefully laid, every contingency accounted for. He had spent the past days scouting, crafting, and setting up a web of his own, one designed to overwhelm the Weaver instead of facing it head-on.

  Now, all that remained was to track and lure the monster into his carefully orchestrated battlefield. Nix adjusted the straps securing Joke to his back, his expression calm yet focused.

  "Alright, Vix. Time to hunt."

  Nix moved carefully through the terrain, searching for traces of the Duskrend Weaver's presence. His sense of smell was useless, the creature emitted no scent. It also barely moved, making it difficult to track by sound. Every lead seemed to turn cold, leaving him with few options.

  After hours of searching, Nix returned to the same area where he had nearly died. It wasn't an ideal choice, the place was heavily fortified with webbing, making it a dangerous approach. But with no better alternatives, he decided on a riskier strategy.

  "Alright, if I can't find it, I'll make it come to me."

  He prepared a few of his arrows, wrapping them with fabric and dousing them in flammable oil. He knew fire was a gamble, the webbing might not burn at all, but it was his best chance to flush out the Weaver.

  Nocking a fire arrow, Nix aimed at the densest patch of webbing and let it fly.

  Flames erupted upon impact, but instead of consuming the web, the fire clung to it unnaturally, illuminating the darkened lair of the Weaver. The strands remained intact, immune to the flames, but the intense glow exposed the hidden network, revealing the monster’s intricate hunting ground.

  Now, he waited.

  The silence stretched. The fire crackled, clinging to the web and casting flickering shadows against the trees. Then, the first movement.

  Something shifted in the darkness. A flicker of motion, just a shadow at first. Then, the faintest vibration trembled through the ground. Nix instinctively stepped back, eyes narrowing. The Weaver was on the move.

  Vix’s voice chimed in, quiet but urgent. "Nix, it's not coming straight at you, it's circling."

  Nix exhaled, steadying himself. Of course. It wouldn’t rush out blindly. This wasn’t a beast driven by instinct alone, it was a hunter, just like him.

  Instead of waiting for an obvious attack, Nix started moving. He flicked another fire arrow to life and shot it into a thicker web cluster nearby, forcing the Weaver’s territory to shrink. The more space he took away, the fewer options it had to maneuver.

  A sudden, rapid clicking sound echoed from above. Then, a blur of movement.

  Nix barely had time to duck as a razor-sharp silk strand whipped through the air, cutting deep into the bark where his head had been moments before. The Weaver was already countering him, adjusting its attack.

  "It’s using its web as a weapon," Nix muttered. "Smart."

  "Smarter than I like," Vix quipped. "You need to force it out before it adapts too much."

  Nix pulled another arrow, but before he could fire, the Weaver suddenly climbed higher, using its thick webbing as a highway to reposition itself. The trees above trembled as it restructured its attack point, shifting to gain the advantage.

  A glint of silk flickered in the dim light. It wasn’t trying to burrow, it was reinforcing its hunting ground. More strands of nearly invisible webbing stretched between the branches, creating a three-dimensional battlefield.

  Then, with terrifying speed, it lunged downward. A mass of black, armored legs shot toward him, mandibles clicking in a display of deadly precision. The flames had done their job, it was out in the open now. But it wasn’t retreating. It was fighting.

  Nix smirked, gripping Joke’s handle, but his confidence wavered the moment the Weaver lunged.

  For three minutes, Nix played a dangerous game of hit and run, avoiding the Weaver’s razor-sharp limbs while leading it closer to his prepared battlefield. Each strike forced him to dodge and weave, never giving the creature a clear shot. But the Duskrend Weaver was fast, faster than he had anticipated. It lunged with terrifying speed, forcing him to barely avoid its bladed limbs, each missed strike cutting deep gashes into the ground.

  Nix gritted his teeth as he barely ducked another strike, rolling out of the way just in time. He couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed to bring it into his trap zone.

  Finally, he reached the set point. His heartbeat steadied as he turned sharply, his stance shifting. The chase was over, it was time for the real fight.

  With full focus and determined eyes, he nocked a Monster Arrow and fired at its head, limbs, and belly, aiming for weak points. The arrows pierced, but the Weaver barely slowed, its exoskeleton absorbing much of the impact.

  The creature shrieked, its multiple red eyes flashing with fury, and lunged forward in a blur. Nix kicked off a hidden rope he had set earlier, swinging sideways just as the fangs snapped shut on air. Using the momentum, he twisted mid-air and threw a bola at its front legs, tangling them and forcing it to stagger.

  He landed hard, rolling to avoid another attack as the Weaver screeched in frustration. The bola had slowed it, but not for long. He needed to act fast.

  Nix had prepared for this moment. He knew the Weaver’s greatest weakness, it couldn’t effectively fight anything above it. That was why he had set up the ropes, creating a network to let him gain higher ground and strike from a position it couldn’t counter. Not only did this keep him safe, but it also forced the Weaver to look up, distracting it from where it was stepping. Even Vix hadn’t realized their purpose until now.

  Using the trees and ropes, Nix moved swiftly, circling around the Duskrend Weaver while launching Monster Arrows at its weak points. The constant bombardment was wearing it down, and after several well-placed shots, the Weaver began shifting, its movements turning defensive.

  The Weaver suddenly changed course, heading toward an area covered in dead grass.

  "Nix, it's trying to retreat!" Vix called out urgently.

  Nix didn’t slow his assault, but instead of aiming directly at it, he shifted his shots to a different angle, firing from a side that didn’t seem strategic. Each seemingly missed arrow subtly adjusted the Weaver’s movements, nudging it closer and closer to an unknown destination.

  "Do you have a screw loose? You can’t aim properly anymore?" Vix complained.

  Nix ignored her, his focus unwavering. Then, as the Duskrend Weaver leapt into the dead grass, his grin widened, and he laughed.

  Vix beeped in alarm. "Have you finally lost it? Wait… what exactly did you plan here?"

  The Weaver’s screeching cut through the air. Its legs flailed wildly, but something was wrong, it wasn’t able to move forward. The more it tried, the more it struggled, its movements growing frantic.

  "It’s stuck!" Vix realized.

  The Duskrend Weaver thrashed, but the more it struggled, the deeper it sank. Nix had anticipated that his bola would only slow it down, but not hold it long enough. That was why he had set up this trap instead.

  Just as Nix was about to relax, Vix’s warning cut through his thoughts. "Nix, it’s not giving up! Look at its webbing!"

  A strand of silk thread stretched from the Weaver’s body, connecting to stable ground. It was trying to pull itself free.

  "Finish it now! We won’t get another chance!" Vix yelled.

  Without hesitation, Nix tied a rope around his waist and leapt onto the Weaver’s back, using his weight to force it deeper into the trap, slowing its escape attempt.

  With Joke in hand, he stabbed its back, hoping the paralyzing venom would disable it, but nothing happened.

  "Oh, come on! It’s immune?!" Nix hissed in frustration.

  The Weaver shrieked, its body twisting violently, its legs thrashing in desperation. Nix barely held on as the creature tried to roll and shake him off. He was running out of time. If he didn’t end this now, it would escape.

  With no other choice, he began stabbing repeatedly, putting all his strength behind each strike. The Duskrend Weaver screeched, its body convulsing violently. After several relentless blows, a crack finally formed in its carapace.

  Nix zeroed in on the weakness and, with every ounce of force he had left, attacked the same spot over and over. The crack deepened, widening with each hit. Its struggles weakened.

  Summoning the last of his strength, Nix roared and drove Joke down with all his might. The blade pierced through the broken carapace, sinking deep. The Duskrend Weaver shuddered, let out one final screech, then fell still.

  Nix exhaled, his entire body trembling. His muscles ached, his lungs burned, but he didn’t move. He stayed on the fallen monster’s back, making sure it was truly dead.

  Vix finally broke the silence. "Well… that was excessive."

  Nix let out a breathless laugh. "Yeah? Well, I wasn’t taking any chances."

  He rolled off the Weaver’s corpse, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. The battle was over.

  Or so he thought.

  A sudden, piercing screech shattered the silence, echoing through the forest like a death knell. The sound sent a cold shiver down Nix’s spine, an instinctive alarm screaming at him to move. His heartbeat spiked, this wasn't over.

  Without hesitation, he jabbed his hand into the Duskrend Weaver’s open wound, feeling the still-warm flesh give way beneath his grip. He ripped out its heart, the monstrous organ slick with blood, his instincts pushing him into action. There was no time to harvest materials. Something far worse was coming.

  "Nix! What are you,?" Vix started, but he was already moving.

  "No time! Run!" Nix barked, already sprinting at full speed. He didn't know what was coming, only that he couldn't face it right now.

  Vix, confused but trusting his instincts, followed without another word. The urgency in Nix’s movements told her everything she needed to know, they had to get away. Now.

  Twenty minutes later, as they neared their hideout, Nix skidded to a halt. His eyes widened as he saw the shadows shifting in the distance.

  Five more Duskrend Weavers were moving toward the corpse of the one he had just killed.

  Vix’s voice was quiet. "What now?"

  Nix tightened his grip on Joke and took a deep breath. "We head back, grab our loot, and move to a new hideout. Staying here isn't safe anymore."

  An hour later, Nix finally found a small, empty cave near the mountains, a temporary refuge from the chaos. As he set down his backpack, he and Vix reflected on what had just happened.

  "It's strange," Vix muttered. "Spiders like that shouldn’t be working together."

  Nix nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah. Either they're more organized than we thought, or…"

  "Or they weren’t working together at all," Vix interrupted. "Duskrend Weavers are notorious for cannibalizing each other. Just because they moved toward the body doesn’t mean they were there to avenge it. They might’ve been there to eat it."

  That unsettling thought made Nix sigh. Four days of planning, preparation, and injuries, only to realize he might have just served up a meal for another predator.

  Shaking off the exhaustion, he turned his focus to his only real reward. He pulled out the Duskrend Weaver’s Monster Heart, hoping beyond hope that it contained a 2-Star Monster Core, a prize that would have made everything worth it.

  "If there’s a core in there," Vix said, "we might actually have a chance at getting the highest score and acing this test."

  Nix slowly reached inside the still-warm heart, fingers pressing against its slick interior. His breath hitched. Nothing.

  His stomach twisted in disappointment. Nothing?!

  Four days of hell, and he had nothing to show for it. No Monster Core. No real reward. Just wounds and exhaustion. His fingers clenched into a fist as frustration burned in his chest. His body ached, his mind screamed, and now, even victory had been stolen from him.

  "Damn it…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  Vix, sensing his distress, spoke up. "Nix, you still have the Monster Heart. It might not have a core, but it can help you recover faster. You only have two and a half days left, you need to heal."

  Nix sat there for a long moment, staring at the useless lump of flesh in his hands. He wanted to throw it, to smash it against the cave wall, but… what was the point? It was all he had left from the battle.

  "Fine," he muttered, setting up a small fire. His movements were slow, the weight of exhaustion pressing heavily on him. Soon, the smell of cooking monster meat filled the cave, a rich, savory scent that made his stomach growl despite his frustration.

  When it was ready, he ate in silence. The Duskrend Weaver’s meat was surprisingly delicious, its texture smooth yet firm, packed with rich flavor. But as he bit into the center of the heart, his teeth hit something small and hard, barely the size of a single grain of rice.

  Due to hunger, he swallowed it.

  At first, nothing happened. Then,

  Agony.

  A searing heat exploded inside his body, spreading like wildfire. His vision blurred, his head spun, and a wave of nausea hit him so hard he almost collapsed.

  "Nix?!" Vix’s panicked voice barely reached him. "What’s wrong?"

  His muscles seized as unbearable pain tore through him, burning hotter than anything he had ever known. It was like his bones were melting, his skin peeling from his flesh, his veins set ablaze.

  He clutched his chest as a scream ripped from his throat. His body convulsed, sweat drenching his clothes as he fell to the cave floor, his fingers scraping against the stone, leaving bloody trails where his nails dug in.

  His mind flashed back to his transformation test, the brutal experience that had left him drained and broken.

  But this?

  This was a hundred times worse.

  His nerves felt like they were being shredded apart, his very being torn between existence and oblivion. The world twisted, warping between reality and memory, the pain so consuming that he thought, this is it. This is how I die.

  Then, through the haze of suffering, a familiar face surfaced in his mind.

  Granny Laurie.

  Her warm smile, her gentle hands as she bandaged his wounds, her soft voice whispering to him after every brutal day—

  “You’re stronger than they say, my boy. You just have to believe it.”

  Tears burned in his eyes. He couldn’t die here. He wouldn’t.

  Not after everything.

  He still had dreams. He still had promises to keep.

  He saw himself as a child, bruised and beaten, cast aside by those who saw him as worthless. And through it all, Granny Laurie had been there, lifting him back up.

  “Promise me, Nix. No matter what happens, you’ll keep going.”

  A broken gasp left his lips as his body trembled violently. “I promised…”

  He had promised her.

  The thought of her sad face, of her mourning his death, of her waiting for him to return—

  NO.

  Inside his body, something stirred.

  Deep within his chest, the tiny crystal he had swallowed was not alone. A strange, writhing force, like a coiled worm, wrapped itself around the crystal, twisting and constricting as if claiming it.

  Nix hunger awakens, a Predator’s hunger is a will to survive.

  Then, it moved.

  An unbearable pull dragged the crystal downward, tunneling through flesh and bone. Nix’s body convulsed as a new, unimaginable agony erupted inside him. His mind screamed as he felt something ripping through his insides, forging a path straight to his heart.

  The worm-like entity embedded the crystal deep into his heart.

  For a single, excruciating second, Nix felt like he was being ripped apart at the core. A violent pulse of energy surged through his veins, sending his nerves into overdrive.

  The pain didn’t disappear, it never disappeared, but slowly, excruciatingly, it began to fade. His body, once on the verge of collapse, held itself together. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he was still alive.

  Then, his vision blurred. A sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over him, heavier than anything he had felt before. His body, already pushed past its limits, couldn’t hold on any longer.

  His limbs gave out, and before he could say another word—

  He lost consciousness.