The Hidden Untamed Life
"Still no signs," Shroud lamented, a tinge of disappointment colouring his voice. His gaze remained fixed on one of the meticulously arranged pit traps, meticulously positioned along the well-trodden trails left by the elusive beasts.
But despite his meticulous planning and strategic placement, there was not a trace of any creature activating the contraption he had set just the day before. The anticipation of a successful catch waned with each passing moment, somewhat dampening his spirits.
With a pensive expression, Shroud conceded that it was time to inspect the final trap—a contraption cleverly hidden away in a secluded area. Moving with the utmost caution, he stepped away from the spot, ensuring he wouldn't trigger the mechanism meant to ensnare any unwary prey.
He covered a considerable distance, approximately twelve kilometres, before arriving at the location. And there, disappointment struck again—no beast had activated the trap. "Perhaps a little more patience is required," he thought to himself, pushing forward toward a dense thicket that beckoned with whispers of untamed life.
The failed pit traps forced Shroud to shift his attention to the cages he had set up, hoping that at least one would have caught a Honkai beast. As he meticulously checked each cage, a sense of satisfaction finally washed over him—he had caught something. But what lay before him was a completely broken cage, evidence of no struggle.
Shroud's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. "As expected, the Honkai beasts truly possess the strength to break these cages," he commented, acknowledging that his captured prey was indeed a formidable creature.
It was no mere assumption on Shroud's part that the captured creature was a Honkai beast and not a mere animal. He had already captured a boar in one of the cages he had set up the previous day, not far from the one now shattered.
It took him no time to reach the location, where an adult boar was desperately attempting to escape its confinement. While the cages were not the sturdiest, they were designed to restrain creatures as formidable as bears, making them more than sufficient to confine a boar.
Shroud's apathetic face betrayed little emotion as he murmured, "Guess you will have to be my supper for the day," a small droplet of saliva forming at the corner of his lips.
Rations were running perilously low, a testament to Shroud's unending appetite and limited foresight when it came to provisions. Thus, the roasted boar, although lacking seasoning, offered a much-needed respite and a satisfying meal.
Shroud's chewing slowed only slightly as he muttered in mild dissatisfaction, "I should have brought some salt and more seasoning." Despite the slight dryness, the succulent meat and flavorful fat delighted his taste buds.
As the second day unfolded in the vast wilderness, Shroud contemplated constructing more traps, hoping to increase his chances of capturing a Honkai beast. Yet, upon realizing that his traps would prove futile against these creatures due to their resilient exoskeletons, he begrudgingly abandoned the idea.
Instead, he shifted his focus to observing the behaviour of the Honkai beasts, should he encounter one. In tandem with his curiosity about the beasts, Shroud wondered about the other inhabitants of this untamed land.
Having satisfied his hunger and meticulously tidied the area, ensuring the fire was extinguished, Shroud ventured toward the more open fields. He pushed deeper into the wilderness, his senses heightened, until he stumbled upon a doe accompanied by a young deer, easily distinguishable by the doe's small antlers.
With utmost care, Shroud observed the graceful creatures, making every effort to remain silent and inconspicuous. Soon, the trembling ground signalled the approach of numerous creatures, a sound akin to a marching battalion.
Shroud fixed his gaze in the direction of the approaching commotion and was astounded by the sight that unfolded before him—a colossal herd of deer. Their presence overwhelmed him, their sheer amount and vitality a testament to the untamed splendour of the wilderness.
"So many," Shroud whispered in awe, genuinely taken aback by the abundance of living creatures thriving in this untamed realm. Yet, another presence emerged, capturing his attention—a Honkai beast. Its alabaster form shimmered with delicate purplish veins, the dusky sun casting a golden hue upon its majestic figure.
Despite their potential for destruction and harm, Shroud couldn't help but appreciate the aesthetic allure of the creature. "From an outside perspective, they do look quite beautiful and somewhat adorable," he murmured softly, maintaining his keen observation of the Honkai beast.
A/N: I miss you Cha-Cha-mon (Chariot-mon)
The Honkai beast advanced toward the herd of deer, positioning itself face-to-face with the multitude. However, to Shroud's astonishment, the creature simply turned away, paying no mind to the herbivores.
He double-checked, half-expecting a potential ambush from behind, but the Honkai beast remained indifferent to the presence of the deer. This unexpected sight triggered a new line of contemplation within Shroud's mind: "Could it be that they are non-hostile toward wildlife, having once been animals themselves?"
Yet, the memory of humans transformed into zombie-like creatures who preyed upon their own kind challenged this assumption. If the Honkai beasts were not hostile towards the herd, then why did they refrain from attacking?
Uncertain of how to interpret this situation, for the Honkai beasts were still enigmatic entities to him, Shroud gracefully descended from the tree that had served as his vantage point.
The herd had already begun their migration, the fading light of dusk casting ethereal shadows. Despite his overwhelming desire to go after the Honkai beast, Shroud decided to follow the deer, compelled by a mysterious notion that demanded confirmation.
He trailed them at a safe distance, ensuring he did not alert the herbivores to his presence, eagerly seeking answers to his burning questions.
Eventually, Shroud arrived at the serene dwelling of the deer, a sight that left him awestruck—a vibrant colony of these graceful creatures, thriving in harmonious coexistence.
It led him to a profound thought: "Could their prosperity be due to their isolation from human civilization?" The hypothesis seemed reasonable, as the wildlife in this wilderness had managed to flourish without the relentless disturbances from modern society's constraints.
Deep in contemplation, Shroud continued observing the herd, studying their dynamics, until the encroaching darkness reminded him of the need to hasten back to his temporary shelter.
On his way, however, a pistachio tree caught his eye, laden with mature nuts—prized delicacies difficult to come by in the wild. Considering their scarcity in the market, Shroud made a swift decision to harvest a generous amount of the precious nuts.
With approximately two kilograms of pistachios in tow, he resumed his journey towards the shelter but halted abruptly upon catching sight of a crow.
The crow's intriguing behaviour captivated Shroud's attention—repeatedly dropping the pistachio from a considerable height, seemingly aiming to crack open the tough shell.
"It must be attempting to break through the outer shell," Shroud deduced, his analytical mind seeking to comprehend the avian's peculiar actions. As he attentively observed the crow's efforts, a sudden whoosh resonated through the air, followed by a resounding crack.
The crow's lifeblood splattered, a victim of an angelic entity—the Archangel. Shroud's narrowed gaze followed the sequence of events, having the knowledge that Archangels were Honkai beasts that had once taken avian form. This was certainly a surprise to Shroud as the Archangel attacked another avian.
This encounter starkly contrasted with Shroud's previous observation of Honkai beasts' indifference towards the deer. He dismissed the notion that Honkai beasts were inherently hostile towards only humans; there must be another factor at play, one he had inadvertently overlooked.
After killing the crow, the Archangel was about to fly away, its body shimmering with ethereal light. But at that critical moment, Peng—a sudden impact struck the Archangel, shattering its outer shell into a flurry of fragmented dust.
It was a rock, propelled with precision and purpose. Shroud, the one who had thrown it, stood there, his gaze steady and focused. "Looks like it did its job," Shroud muttered, acknowledging the small victory he had achieved against the small Honkai beasts.
With the Archangel neutralized, Shroud turned his attention towards the area where the crow and the Archangel had fallen. A frown creased his forehead, his mind consumed by thoughts of the overlooked factor that had brought him to this point.
And then, as if illuminated by an epiphany, a single word took form on his lips, whispered into the wilderness with a mix of awe and trepidation, "Intelligence."
The crow's previous intelligent attempt to exploit the hardness of the shell for its sustenance hinted at a hidden motive—Honkai beasts sought to eradicate not only humanity but any life form capable of reason and ingenuity.
The implications of this revelation weighed heavily on Shroud's mind, reminding him of the hidden dangers that are hidden in this world.
Shroud knew he had stumbled upon a truth that could change everything. The enigma of the Honkai beasts deepened, their motives and origins shrouded in mystery. But armed with this newfound understanding, he firmly believed that he could raise awareness about the urgent problem the world was facing.
His decision to venture into the wilderness, although initially deemed ill-advised, had proven to be fateful, granting him valuable insights into the mysterious Honkai beasts.
Shroud was now more determined than ever to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the untamed realm. The wilderness beckoned, whispering its untold stories to Shroud, inviting him to venture further into the unknown. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but Shroud was prepared to confront it with unwavering resolve and an indomitable spirit.
However, one obstacle stood in the way of Shroud's journey into the depths of the forest. *Yawn* "I'm feeling quite sleepy at the moment. Perhaps I should rest and recover before embarking on my search," Shroud inwardly suggested, acknowledging his current drowsiness.
He decided that it would be best to postpone his expedition until the following day when he would be more well-rested.
To be continued...
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A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.
I was wondering if the explanations are on point or if they feel like unnecessary information to the readers. Since all of the readers are probably level 80+ captains and familiar with the lore, I'm wondering if I should omit the part about Honkai beasts attacking lifeforms with intelligence.