Mike took a deep breath as his footsteps landed on the damp forest floor. The night air was fresh, but the distinctive smell of the forest stung his nose, a sharp mixture of wet earth and decaying leaves. He tightly gripped the hilt of the Wakizashi on his back, feeling the strength of the blade. Mike felt cool, like a Shinobi who had single-handedly wiped out an entire clan.
"I've never hunted before, but it can't be that hard," he muttered, peering into the dark forest. The towering trees gave an eerie feeling, but Mike liked it.
[ DING ]
[ Master can use the Hunter's Instinct skill to track prey ]
Mike rolled his eyes, "Whoa... A useful new skill. What a convenient System." With a bit of frustration, he activated the skill. Instantly, the world around him changed. The colors of the night became brighter, like an infrared overlay revealing heat signatures of animals moving within the bushes.
"Wow... This is incredible," Mike smiled slightly. In the distance, he saw the silhouettes of a few animals running around, possibly deer or wild boar. One of them looked large enough for dinner.
He sharpened his senses and quickened his pace, moving silently like a black shadow in the night. Thanks to Hunter's Instinct, he could feel the presence of his prey, and without hesitation, he began to stalk it.
After several minutes of pursuit, Mike finally found a deer, grazing beneath a tree. He lowered his body, controlling his breath, while gripping the Wakizashi with both hands. With a swift and precise leap, Mike lunged out from hiding, swinging the sword toward the deer.
In one quick slash, the deer fell to the ground, collapsing before it could react. Mike stood, staring at the lifeless deer he had just slain. He stood still for a moment, feeling something unfamiliar stirring within his chest.
"Wow... I did it..." Mike whispered softly, a sense of pride beginning to fill his heart. He had never thought he could hunt his own prey. This feeling of victory was different from anything he had experienced before, like a newfound freedom that was hard to explain.
[ DING ]
[ Master has successfully hunted. Would Master like to access the Cooking Skill? ]
Mike chuckled, "You're always there, aren't you System? Fine, activate it. I don't want to ruin my first meal."
Within minutes, Mike was sitting in front of a warm campfire, roasting slices of deer meat that he had prepared using spices he obtained from the system. The campfire flickered in the middle of the dark night, while the delicious aroma began to fill the air.
"Here it is... My first self-made dish..." Mike smiled in satisfaction and took a bite of the first piece of meat. A savory sensation exploded in his mouth, finally satisfying his hungry stomach.
"I can't believe this is really happening. I'm on a mysterious island, being a vigilante with a Wakizashi, and now I'm hunting and cooking on my own. My life has truly changed..."
In the midst of his excitement, Mike sensed something unusual. The air suddenly grew colder, and he could hear faint cracking sounds coming from the direction of the forest. Mike straightened up, feeling alert. His eyes narrowed, trying to penetrate the darkness around him.
"What's that...?"
He stood, gripping the Wakizashi in his hand. Suddenly, a whisper sounded in his ear, so soft yet cold, as if it went straight to his bones.
"You... are here alone..."
Mike instantly shuddered. He quickly turned around, trying to locate the source of the voice, but there was nothing there. Only the dark trees towering around him. Yet, he knew something was there. Whether it was a creature or something far more sinister, Mike could feel it lurking among the trees.
"Huh... Am I just imagining things?" he muttered, trying to dismiss the strange feeling. But as he turned to return to his meal, suddenly a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, staring at him with a sharp, hateful gaze.
Mike recoiled, "What the hell is that!?"
Before he could react further, the creature lunged out from the darkness with incredible speed, attacking him with its large, sharp claws. Mike barely had time to raise his Wakizashi to block the attack.
The sound of metal clashing rang out loudly, sending sparks flying as the claws struck his sword. Mike staggered back a few steps, his heart pounding wildly. He didn't know what kind of creature had just attacked him, but one thing was certain: this was no ordinary animal.
Quickly, Mike assumed a battle stance and activated Hell Fire on his sword. The flaming inferno engulfed the Wakizashi, casting a terrifying red glow amidst the dark forest.
"Alright... Looks like it's time to get serious!" Mike shouted as he charged forward, ready to face the unknown enemy.