"Let's give it up. Scorching Red Foxes are known for their cunningness and it would be a hassle to get it back. We can always look for a new one." Paul suggests to Zeno who was still looking in the direction of the fox.
"Its weakness is its underbelly. I don't think normal marbles and blunt attacks can hurt it, Paul. Pointy attacks are more effective in my opinion. This time, we should maintain a bit more distance from our target. I think it has only a limited range of perception."
Turning towards the group Zeno informs what he knows, giving up on chasing after the fox. If they were to hunt a beast, it would be better if they too know about its weaknesses.
"Do you think we should trust him? After all he is an Inner resident. Is he trying to boss us around?" Wayne whispers in Sunny's ears.
"I don't know. I can only hope this guy isn't like other Inner residents." Sunny whispers back.
"I think we should give him a chance. After all he managed to beat it by himself at last."
Mini intervenes having heard their whisper. Merin nods to Mini's statement that she agrees with him.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Paul asks the group who were having a discussion by themselves. He and Zeno were standing a bit far from at the moment. So they didn't hear the group discussion.
"We were just thinking whether we should call it a night." Wayne answers not wanting to betray their inner thoughts. The rest of the group nods their head to tell it is true.
Zeno didn't know what they were talking about, nor did he want to know. If they were going to continue the hunt, he would continue. If they are not, he would still continue alone. That was his decision.
"I say we give one more try. After that, we will go home. What is everyone's opinion?"
Paul asks the whole of them to which everyone agrees.
This time, they explored the other neighbouring parts of the forest without going further into the jungle. After 10 or more minutes, they were able to find another Horned Moon Rabbit soon enough.
It was hopping here and there, wandering around the jungle without stopping anywhere. This time, they stayed away a bit further away compared to the previous time.
"I say, we follow big bro Zeno's advice. I will make a sharp pointed marble and aim at its weakness. Sunny will also be trying his shot with me. If it is neutralized, Wayne will handle the rest.
If it escapes from the three of us, I suggest the girls try to contain it from opposite sides. Big bro Zeno will do the rest. Is everyone okay with the plan?"
Paul asks after suggesting the plan. He knew it was a risk to use all their ammo at the beginning itself like before. The girls are the damage dealers in most scenarios. But today it didn't pay off so he decided to trust Zeno with the role. After all he was able to defeat the first one.
Everyone agrees and gets in the position. Paul and Sunny hide in a bush left and right of Wayne respectively with Wayne hiding in a bush closer to the rabbit.
Without any warning, Paul conjures his slingshot and creates a sharp pointy marble using his skill. With that he waits patiently for the time when the rabbit jumps. When he sees the rabbit jumping once again, he fires his shot at the underbelly which is exposed.
"SQUEAAAAK...."
The rabbit cries out aloud as the shot was able to penetrate through its fur into its inner parts. The rabbit went limp with that one attack itself. However Wayne didn't want to take a chance.
Wayne comes out of the bush and invokes his skill-
"SQUEA..."
With that cry, the beast draws its last breath giving up its life. The last blow made sure of its death. Wayne had wasted all his strength and energy on that attack that he just fell over his butt after having made sure it had died.
Even though the kids were just 6 years old, they weren't averse to blood or scared of death. Their willpower were hardened by the sights of death occurring during the dungeon breaks and attacks from the beasts of jungle. Moreover they already have some sort of experience with slaying smaller beasts.
"Will that be for today?"
Zeno asks being disappointed that he didn't get to fight his chance.
"I guess so. Everyone here is tired. It would be better if we wrap it up before it gets any darker. Don't worry bro, I will sell this today itself. We will split it equally amongst all of us." Paul suggests after checking the condition of others.
"I see. I don't mind."
Saying so, Zeno activates his view skill to check out the loot.
'View'
[Item: Beast Meat
Description: Tender meat obtained from hunting a Lv.1 Horned Moon rabbit. Provides nourishment on consumption after cooking.
Market Price: 10 copper coins]
[Item: Moon Rabbit Fur
Description: Fur that is resistant towards blunt attacks and may even block a shot from a pistol if further stitched.
Market Price: 25 copper coins.]
[Item: Moon Rabbit Horn
Description: Crystal horn of Horned Moon Rabbit within which dwells the energy absorbed from moonlight. It is used a blade weapon in spears. However, it is a major ingredient in creating a
Market Cost: 15 copper coins]
He clicks on the
'If I cannot even become rich with this sort of mystical skill, I should just go and suicide now itself. This is too good to be true.'
Zeno thinks to himself.
Seeing Zeno's surprised face staring at blank air, kids around him got scared that they thought he got possessed or something.
"Big bro, you alright?" Paul asks Zeno who came back to his senses when he was shaken.
"Uh yeah..., I kind of just spaced out. Didn't I? Why don't you guys leave then? I will come back after a bit of exploring." Zeno suggest seeeing all of them.
"It is getting darker. Why do you have to go exploring alone now? Won't you be in danger?"
Merin asks, being concerned. She didn't want anyone to get hurt whoever it may be.
"I can look after myself. You guys better go, now." Saying so, he runs along the periphery of the jungle leaving them all behind.
"Is he an idiot or just stupidly brave? Are you sure he isn't a mental case?" Mini asks Paul who was also doubting it himself.
Meanwhile Zeno was moving around the forest looking for other beasts to hunt since he wasn't satisfied before.
'Profile, how did you get the recipe just looking at an ingredient?'
Zeno asks to clarify his doubt.
[View is a skill that allows Profile to access info about a target from a realm known as the 'Jnanaloka'. It is the realm in which knowledge regarding anything and everything is recorded.]
[View allows its user to access info regarding the target and also info linking to it via exploring a bit into the 'Jnanaloka'.]
[You could consider View as a hacking software which is accessing info from the server that is the realm without any consequence.]
"I don't get it completely, but that seems alright. One of my other doubts is, why is it that I suddenly possess high physical strength especially after I got healed. My predecessor didn't seem to possess such caliber where as I suddenly happened to have got it from somewhere."
[According to the memories obtained, the only explanation is that when the Abyss broke out from this body's previous host, it seems to have tried to alter the body's cellular structure trying to bring about a mutation. But since it wasn't able to proceed further, mutation didn't get carried out and only a bit of cellular altering occurred which brought about only a slight increase in physical prowess.]
"Why didn't you inform me, then?" Zeno asks Profile out loud.
[Because it wasn't worth mentioning. Even though a bit of enhancement took place, it won't matter much when others Advance and be able to surpass that gap easily.]
Zeno decides not to comment on it while trying to find a hunt for himself. At the same time, he was scanning for the ingredients listed in the recipe obtained.