The night was too still.
Ash lay beneath the hollow pine, eyes half-closed, ears tuned to the sounds of the forest.
No crickets. No wind. Even the leaves refused to rustle.
He felt the shift before he heard it.
[Status: Alert | Buffs: Echo Warmth (3h), Predator's Path (9h)]
[Instinct Alert: Territory Invaded – Hostile Presence Detected]
He sat up slowly. The shelter creaked faintly as he moved. Then he saw it—just outside the ring of firelight. Eyes. Six of them. Low to the ground. Watching.
New Threat Detected
[Enemy Identified: Shadow Maw – Tier C Predator]
• Size: 2.4m long
• Classification: Apex Lurker
• Known Traits: Stealth, Sudden Burst Speed, Piercing Fangs
• Weakness: Eyes (Light Sensitive)
Danger Rating: High – Engage only with caution.
Ash's blood ran cold.
A Tier C predator this close to the basin? It was supposed to be low-tier territory.
But something had drawn it. The scent of Ravager meat? His firelight? Or something else?
It's hunting you, the Wheel whispered. Not for hunger. For dominance.
Before Ash could draw his dagger, the Shadow Maw sprang.
[Evasion Check: Partial Success]
-16 HP (Claw Graze)You roll under the fire pit's edge, narrowly avoiding a killing bite.
His shelter shattered behind him. The pelt roof burst apart in a cloud of sparks and dry bark.
The creature barreled through it, snarling.
Ash scrambled to his feet, dagger in hand, heart hammering.
He had no trap prepared, no high ground. This was going to be close.
He remembered its weakness: light sensitivity.
The Glowcap mushrooms.
He dove toward his supply satchel and yanked one out, cracking it in his palm.
[Item Activated: Glowcap Mushroom (Burst Mode)]
• Effect: Flash Radius 3m – Dazzle Effect
• Cooldown: 8 minutes
He hurled it toward the beast.
POP—! A burst of pale blue light filled the clearing.
The Shadow Maw screeched and reeled back, pawing at its face.
[Dazzle Applied: -40% Accuracy | Duration: 15s]
Ash didn't hesitate.
He charged, Ravager Fang dagger reversed in hand.
Aiming high, he slashed toward the beast's left eye cluster.
[Attack Roll: Critical Zone]Success – Direct hit to ocular node-42 HP (Eye cluster ruptured)
The Maw shrieked and slammed its body sideways, hitting Ash with its bulk.
[Impact: -9 HP | Staggered]
He tumbled, landing hard on his shoulder. Blood soaked his sleeve, but the beast was wounded.
[Enemy Status: Wounded – Moderate Bleeding | Vision Impaired]
[Your HP: 35/80]
Ash ran—not away, but toward the shallow ridge where he had set a crude snare the day before.
If he could bait it across the path...
The Maw crashed after him, slower now, cautious and enraged.
It sniffed the air, relying more on scent than sight.
Ash sprinted to the trap and leapt over the tension line.
The beast lunged.
SNAP!The vine-tight snare caught around its paw and yanked tight,
causing it to stumble violently.
[Snare Triggered: Success]-12 HP | Snared: Right Foreleg (10s bind)
Ash turned, breathing heavily, and advanced with both weapons drawn.
[Target Status: Bound | Bleeding | Dazzled]
Opportunity Window: 8 seconds
He struck—first to the throat, then behind the jawline where the carapace was soft. The beast thrashed, but Ash didn't let go.
[Lethal Hit: Jugular Severed] Enemy HP: 0/130
Shadow Maw defeated.
[Level Up: Scouting → Rank 2]
[Combat Skill +1 | +30 XP | Echo Absorbed: +48]
Ash collapsed beside the corpse, panting.
Smoke still curled from his shattered camp. The fire had gone out.
His lean-to was in ruins—torn bark, broken branches, and crushed food supplies.
[Shelter Status: Destroyed]
[Stored Items Lost: +1 Smoked Meat, 1 Glowcap, Bark Mat]
Ash cursed softly. He'd need to rebuild.
But he was alive—and stronger than before.
[Loot Extracted: Shadow Maw Fang x2 | Dense Hide x1 | Echo Core (Rare)]
The Echo Core pulsed with a deep crimson hue. It would empower his next Spin for sure.
Primordian Wheel Reacts
The Wheel appeared before him without warning. Silent. Ancient. A circle of metal and void, spinning slowly.
[Primordian Token Gained: Predator's Tribute] A gift born from a worthy kill.
[Spin Ready: 1 Available Token]— Do you wish to spin now?
Yes | No
Ash hesitated. His hand hovered over the void of the Wheel.
Not yet.
I need a secure place to awaken what comes.
He closed the interface.
The forest was not done with him yet.