The fire crackled as I placed my hands near it, my body shivering at the cold atmosphere. Frost was setting upon the land.
I could see from the outside, even with all the rain, the cold moisture that had set on the grass. It froze like morning dew.
Already it had been several days since I had woken up from near death. The rankings had changed. No longer was there any competition. I swiped my hand in the air, the rankings pulled into my vision.
[current points: 1605]
[Rank 1 of 1]
It was ominous as just the day before I was the second rank of two but now it was only me. What had the other participant been through, what had done them in.
It genuinely scared me to think that even the current ranker, the one with the most points, had died just like that.
There was no grand battle or final stand that I could see or hear. No matter his struggle he went quietly into the dark night.
It was unsettling as it not only told me of how alone I was but how easy it was to die. How no one would remember me if I were to meet that fate.
My shoulders shivered despite the warmth. My hands reaching to them and rubbing to stave off the cold.
I looked to the fire and the fuel. Or lack thereof. All of the fuel that I had was spent on the last few days. And what came of it. Nothing… nothing at all except for a couple warm meals.
There was no progress onto the forge that I wanted to build, nor any work done on the rusty dagger that lay next to me.
The only thing that I could say had gone well was this shelter which had luckily been uninhabited.
But even then my supplies were dwindling and I would have to go out and fight again. To contend with the harsh conditions that had popped up in recent days.
Sometimes it really felt like an omen of bad luck.
I sighed, my stomach reminding me of its needs by the gaping hole that was put into it. It growled and pulled at me giving me pain and telling me to feed it.
My head turned towards the pile of resources that I had stocked up since settling here and found it lacking.
There was nothing for me to eat. Not a scrap of meat or plant to consume.
My stomach rumbled in protest and I knew then that I could not hide in here any more.
I strapped the dagger to my side using the makeshift sheathe and put on my tunic and raincoat.
They were crude but they would stop the rain and allow me to defend myself if needed.
I brought myself to my feet and walked from my nice cave into the dense grass and pouring rain.
One last look back and I was off.
…
The rain pounded off of my coat, sliding to the ground and wetting my underclothes. Any scent or tracks that I found were washed away or too hard to track in the rain.
However I did not give up, despite the hopeless situation I would find a way or I would starve.
I don't know how but I would find something to butcher, something that I could eat.
"Hm?" I questioned out loud, my eyes roaming around the surroundings.
The sound of crunching grass and wet footsteps echoed throughout the surrounding area.
'There!'
I crouched to lower my center of gravity, the dagger unsheathed in but a moment. For a second I closed my eyes and lowered my guard.
However it was worth it as that second allowed me to activate what I had come to call my magic circuits. The lines appeared on my body and reinforced my muscles.
A second later I opened my eyes again, the same lines drawing in the ambient light so that I could see just that tad bit better.
And it was worth it as the moment I did such a thing I saw it. The glinting metal of a rusted dagger.
It was not explicit but I knew where the general location was. However I was not going to pursue it as I had noticed it falling away from my position.
Whatever that was had decided that it was not worth it to attack me.
The breath that I was holding was released, the circuits clinging to my skin as I slowly edged my way away.
My back was to the direction I edged away from, making sure that this was not some sort of elaborate ambush.
To my relief I was right and that whatever creature had found me didn't want a fight as after a whole few minutes of keeping my circuits on and watching my surroundings nothing had come.
I closed my eyes once again though this time deactivating the circuits. For a second I flinched at the loss of power but otherwise I was good to go back to my hunting.
"Hah" I sighed, the breath leaving my mouth as I slowly crawled my way away from the hunting ground that I was at.
I was lucky enough that while doing just that, that I found the tracks of a wild animal. I was not skilled enough to discern the type of animal by the trails yet but I at least knew that it was quite small.
Maybe a rodent by the size but it was better than nothing. I followed the trail all the while careful to not make any noise that could alert the said prey that I was hunting it.
…
My muscles tensed, the dagger at my side unsheathed in a wild attack that ended in the decapitation of the wild rabbit in front of me.
Blood spurt from the stump however I ignored that. I found its legs and tied it to my side, making sure that the stump of a head was faced down so as to try and drain some of the blood.
It would make a trail but only for a couple hundred feet or so. There wasn't that much blood in a rabbit for it to actually lead back to me.
I laughed and put away my dagger. It was one of relief as I found myself walking back to the cave lighthearted.
Maybe it was hunger or loneliness but I didn't care. I had food, enough to fill me up for the whole night and maybe more.
No matter how bland it might be, it would be better than what I had eaten up till now.
Back in the cave I placed the rabbit to my side and started the process of skinning it, making sure to be as careful as possible. I knew that I could make something out of the skin, whether it be a scarf for the cold or even just some gloves.
It would be better than nothing.
A moment later and I was done, the rabbit roasting over the fire. It would take a couple minutes but I could already feel myself salivate over the food.
I prepped a plate, or more accurately, a rock that I had chipped into something resembling a plate in my free time.
Placing the freshly cooked rabbit over it I started to eat. It was quite chewy but that didn't detract from the joy I took in it.
…
"Is it here…?"
"Yes."
"Alright y'all ready"
A chorus of quiet 'yes's' echoed behind me. They were barely audible but it was enough for me to know that they were ready.
I took one final look at the warriors I led, signaling two of them to begin. Their red skin cut quite the figure against the rain and gloom of the dark night.
The warm glow of fire roamed the cave, illuminating the target. He was quite slim, as if he hadn't eaten in days and judging by the way that he had devoured that food that he made it was sure to be true.
Other than that there wasn't much notable about him, maybe that he was short about a head shorter than the other human that the chief had taken in.
It would give him a lower center of gravity and be a bit harder to hit but that was all. I had already sent my subordinates in so there was no need to speculate any longer as they would soon reach him.
And just as I predicted they had done so in mere moments. Both slashing down towards the human.
CLANG
The sound of metal hitting metal rang throughout the surroundings. My eyes widening at the reaction speed.
It was almost inhuman in its speed but that was when I noticed the glowing lines running down the humans arms and legs.
'Magic circuits' That was why he was so fast, no wonder he was able to kill one of the warriors so easily the last time the team had encountered him
I watched as the fight began. Initially it was weighted quite well to my own side but as the time passed on wounds started to accumulate on my own subordinates.
"Tch" I quietly clicked my tongue.
They would die soon, the wounds that he had inflicted upon them would soon kill them. However this was their battle and I would not interfere for the moment.