Hunt in the forests

One month ago

"Are you sure of this?" asked the person sitting on the red throne. This person resembles a human but has several physical differences if one can see clearly. His skin is red in color, and a horn on his forehead symbolizes the royalty of this humanoid species.

"Yes, my lord. They wouldn't dare to lie to you. They know the price they have to pay for lying," spoke the subordinate with confidence that his subordinates wouldn't lie about this.

"Hmm, so you have returned," the lord laughed, "I can have my revenge finally. I shall avenge the entire demon race for what you have done to us."

He then turned to the subordinate and said, "Detrus, take ten of the best warriors and descend to the first heaven. You will personally check if the rumors are true. If it is true, search the entire sect, find him and kill him before he becomes powerful."

"As you wish, my lord."

The one called Detrus immediately left the hall on the lord's order.

The hall was empty except for them and another aged demon who didn't speak the entire time.

He walked to the lord and spoke, "Lord Atrius, are you sure it is his return?"

"I'm sure. In his last life, the same thing happened, and we didn't pay any attention to it, and we paid a hefty price. If he really reincarnated, I'll kill him."

"Even if it was him who reincarnated, according to divine laws, past memories are wiped, and the reincarnation is a new life."

"I don't care. Even he has no memories of what he did to us, he'll die."

The old demon turned away dejectedly and sighed inwardly, "I don't want you to make the same mistake that the old emperor did, which almost wiped our race."

---

"Aurora, we finally reached the western forest."

[Yes, Host. Make sure you won't go beyond your capability.]

"I know, Aurora; I don't need your reminder."

[Huh, so let's see how much you know. I won't help you in this hunt. Survive on your own.]

"Aurora, don't say like that."

There was no reply.

"Aurora,.."

'Damn it, I shouldn't have said that,' Erik cursed inwardly. He sighed and went inside the forest.

The three years he spent as an outer court servant were not wasted. He heard stories about the forests where the disciples hunted and what beasts typically appear in a particular region.

According to them, the highest rank beasts that roam western forests are of Rank-2, whereas the eastern forests are filled with packs of Rank -3 and above. There was a rumor that a Rank-3 beast lived in western forests but very far away from where the sect disciples hunt.

Erik prayed to whoever watching over him to see that he wouldn't encounter the Rank-3 beast. Rank-3 beast in human cultivation terms is Spirit Warrior, and beasts of the same rank as humans are much stronger but lack intelligence.

It is not because the universe wanted fairness or something; if a beast is alive, that only means it survived the only law, the law of the jungle. Beasts face other beasts every day, unlike humans, where few restrictions exist.

In the jungle, except for parent beasts, nothing will protect. Even they protect their child when the child is young. After that, every day is a day of survival for them.

They can only survive if they are alert to the slightest movement in their surroundings. They have to flee if the opponent is strong or strong enough to beat the opponent.

Their battle senses are on alert 24x7, unlike humans who feel protected inside the walls. They hone their battle skills every day. Even if they appear as simple skills, they know how to kill better than us with those few skills.

We use weapons when we fight, and we may think to are superior, but we are not. They lack intelligence; once they attain it, we will be but ants to them.

Erik knew not to underestimate anything when your life depends on it. Since Aurora won't be helping him, he should watch all sides.

---

Erik faced one low-level Rank-1 beast. He killed it with ease, but there were no beasts for him after that.

'That's so weird. In the missions hall right before leaving the sect, I heard that herds of animals were seen in this area, and yet there is only.'

Erik found a cave to make it his temporary shelter for the night. Sleeping out in a forest is dangerous, especially at night.

After checking the cave, he found a corner from where he had a clear vision of the entrance but could hide if anything walked in, so either he could ambush it or dash off.

Being the first time to sleep in the forests, the fear of getting killed and eaten in the middle of sleep kept him alert all night.

When the sun rose, he exited and spent another day on the hunt.

The day ended but was not fruitful as he expected. He didn't encounter many beasts except for a few low-level Rank-1 beasts. He killed them and stored them in his inventory.

This went on for another two days. After four days of hunting and all he got were less than twenty low-level Rank-1 beasts. There are no high-level Rank-1 beats nor Rank-2 beasts anywhere.

'I'll hunt for another two days before I go back to the sect. I suppose I could do the chores for now,' Erik thought.

He went hunting deep but found nothing but what there is something that caught his eye. The Eye of Horus caught that as a fact, but his brain didn't process it.

Horus, as a god of hunting, knows how to track beasts. There are many beast tracks Erik came across, but they all disappeared in the middle as if they suddenly flew away. Even with the eye, it is but a supplement similar in a way to a weapon. The efficiency depends on the person.

Erik finally realized why he didn't face many beasts and why the disciples said that there were herds moving. They were running from something, and that something caught up with them.

Erik finally realized that and turned to leave, but it was already too late. When he turned around, there was a big eye staring at him, deciding what to do with him.