6 Hunter or Prey
"The possibility of me being targeted is not just there, but it's highly plausible," Tucker noted as he identified the level 9 transcendent hidden in the corner to be a [Hunter].
Seeing this, Tucker felt confident but slightly puzzled. "I used to venture out often during the Ash Night Period, but I never expected to become a target," he mused while rubbing his brows.
While being targeted by a level 9 hunter wasn't a problem for him, he knew trouble lurked behind this situation. "In any case, I need to make sure I'm well-fed and have the strength to deal with this issue."
As his black horn beef bread soup arrived, Tucker took a sip before diving into his meal. The warm food gradually warmed his body.
About half an hour later, after finishing his meal and allowing the Red Flame bracelet to absorb sufficient heat, Tucker left the tavern. Unbeknownst to him, the hunter in stealth mode followed closely.
"Last time, when Carlos and I were together, this guy didn't dare to act. Now that he sees me alone, he's decided to make a move?" Tucker contemplated. "In the past, I might have struggled against a level 9 hunter. But now, I can deal with them in a matter of minutes."
Walking along the deserted street, Tucker could sense the hunter's presence about twenty meters behind him. Strolling in a courtyard, Tucker accessed his property's panel.
[Sequence]
Wizard: Level 9.
...
[Talent]
Accuracy (S level): 478%.
...
[Wizardry/Ability]
Spirit-touching Perception (Ability): Level 9.
Bullet Tentacle: Level 9.
Bloodthorn Vine: Level 9.
Source Scale Shield: Level 9.
Fire Oil: Level 9.
Wind Sprint: Level 9.
...
Ordinarily, it's quite challenging to upgrade the level of extraordinary witchcraft/ability. Many level 9 extraordinaries typically have spells and abilities at level 4 or 5, and even their "sequence ability" might be only at level 6 or 7.
Tucker, however, had leveraged the "source energy experience" from the system's continuous development to upgrade all his wizard abilities and witchcraft to level 9, making him more powerful than most other level 9 extraordinarys.
"Accurately use of the Thorn Bullet spell could take out that guy instantly," Tucker contemplated. "But let's start with the Bloodthorn Vine. It has powerful control but a slower attack motion and lower efficiency in entangling and whipping. However, I have the blessing of an S-level extraordinary talent now, so let's see how it works againt that hunter."
Under the deserted moonlight, Tucker prepared for the confrontation.
[Hunter] Nelson trailed the corner of the low cave hut, moving stealthily like a swift cheetah to remain undetected by the young wizard he followed.
To ensure he stayed hidden, Nelson kept a considerable distance from his target. Reflecting on the young wizard's age, Nelson mused, "A Very young wizard. He was discussing forbidden areas with another assassin earlier. These youngsters now a days are filled with a thirst for treasures, relics, and forbidden knowledge. How... childish!"
Nelson's smile held a hint of amusement. He believed that one swift knife was all it took to end this young and fanciful wizard's life, painlessly.
As the wizard turned into an alley, Nelson quickened his pace, seizing the opportunity. However, upon entering the alley, Nelson's steps abruptly halted as he saw the young wizard, donned in a grey robe, calmly bathed in moonlight. The bloody aura of witchcraft began to dissipate.
An alarm struck Nelson. He was well acquainted with the switch between hunter and prey. Rolling backwards at an incredible angle, he barely evaded an impending threat. Simultaneously, a thorny and barbed vine appeared along the low wall where he had just been leaning.
"Such a slow sorcery spell?" Nelson recognized the vine witchcraft with a sinking heart. "Is this it?"
The wizard's unexpected move had rattled Nelson. The slow-moving vine seemed to not affect a skilled hunter. "Was he overconfident or he just used this spell by mistake?" he pondered.
Just after landing from his backward roll, Nelson leapt forward, seeking to correct his earlier error and close the distance with the witchcraft, aiming for a swift conclusion.
During his high jump, a sharp, piercing sound sliced through the air, catching Nelson off guard. "What?" he exclaimed, just as intense pain surged from his left calf.
His perfect jumping arc was disrupted as he was forcibly pulled toward the ground. A dull thud followed as his face met the cold ground, and blood flowed from his nose.
Painful cries echoed in the moonlit alley. Meanwhile, Tucker observed the unlucky hunter and exhaled with relief.
"The S-level [Accuracy] bonus for the vines seems to be more than I anticipated!" Tucker remarked. "The spell-casting process was ordinary, but the bloodthorn vines have undergone a remarkable transformation."
Reflecting on the vines' precision, Tucker concluded, "The blood thorn vine not only tracks the opponent's movements and hits the target perfectly but also entangles the target in one seamless motion. The precision attribute is flawlessly embodied in the vine itself."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he appreciated the enhanced abilities of the Bloodthorn vines.
"The once leisurely vine," Tucker remarked.
"In an instant, it have transformed into a frenzied 'Bloodthirsty Devil's Vine'," he continued.
"No, this is even more terrifying than the advanced witchcraft 'Bloodthirsty Devil's Vine'."
"S-class extraordinary talent, it's no wonder there are rumours. The whispers about it are indeed quite unbelievable."
After a brief assessment of the bloodturthsty devil vine's newfound power, Tucker redirected his focus to the hunter.
He observed the agonizing groans and desperate struggles, making it appear as if the hunter was on the brink of death.
"Pathetic acting!" Tucker scoffed.
When it came to a hunter with a talent for "disguise," Tucker wasn't inclined to believe even a fraction of it.
With his "dynamic vision," Tucker could discern that the hunter wasn't merely feigning death; there was also a concealed intent and trajectory for a counterattack.
"You seem to have a fondness for playing dead, don't you?" Tucker quipped.
With a swift motion, Tucker employed the Bloodthirsty Devil's vine spell once more, causing the hunter, who had appeared near death, to spring back to his feet.
The pain he had felt earlier was part real, part pretence, a tactic to lure the wizard in.
However, rather than taking the bait, the wizard intensified his efforts, casting the vine spell once again.
Nelson had wasted considerable time letting the troublesome vine drain a significant amount of his blood. "I despise these long-range spellcasters. They should fight like men," he bellowed in frustration as he bounced to his feet, appearing starkly different from his feigned death moments earlier.
Nelson brandished his hunting blade, slashing fiercely at the vines entwined around his calf.
A gunshot-like sound rang out.
The hunting blade was forcibly torn from Nelson's hand, and the shock caused his entire palm to go numb.
With a metallic clang, the hunting blade fell to the ground, and another vine wound itself around Nelson's right leg.
Hearing the unmistakable sound of his blade hitting the ground, Nelson was utterly perplexed. "How... is this even possible?"
