Ethan waited patiently in the shadows of the trees, his breath barely audible. The night grew darker, with only the soft glow of the Moonshade flowers illuminating the trap he had set.
He knew Nersin was close the air was shifting, tense and heavy, filled with something powerful and foreign.
Subtle vibrations in the ground began to reach his feet, accompanied by a faint but growing sound slow, heavy footsteps full of caution.
From the darkness, a pair of gleaming eyes appeared, softly glowing under the moonlight. Nersin, the Beast of the Blue Veil, stepped out of the shadows, its large blue glowing horns spiraling atop its head.
The creature looked more imposing than the illustration in the book, muscular, with thick fur shimmering like a blue mist.
Each of its steps bent the leaves and branches around it, as if Nersin carried the energy of the forest within itself.
Nersin halted a few meters from the trap, its nose twitching as it caught the scent of the fanged rabbit tied to the pole in the middle of the circle of flowers.
However, Nersin didn't approach immediately. It seemed to sense something amiss, its large eyes scanning the area with caution.
"This is the moment, Ethan," whispered Valdraxx in Ethan's mind.
"We can't wait much longer. Your hunger is growing, and Nersin will soon realize the trap."
Ethan nodded silently, his body trembling with a surge of adrenaline. His stomach burned with an intense hunger, almost like a painful ache. He knew this wasn't just ordinary hunger it was the drive from the Devourer power within him, a force that demanded more energy with each passing moment. And tonight, Nersin would be its victim.
With a swift motion, Ethan darted out from his hiding spot, rushing toward Nersin like a shadow.
His speed took the creature by surprise Nersin tried to retreat, its horns glowing brighter as it attempted to gather energy for an attack. But Ethan was already too close.
With his hands infused with Devourer power, he grabbed onto Nersin's thick fur, avoiding its horns, and slammed the massive beast with brutal force.
"ROOOAAARR!" Nersin roared, the sound shaking the entire forest. The creature tried to fight back, twisting its body to gore Ethan with its horns, but its movements were too slow.
Ethan swiftly leaped onto Nersin's back, gripping its glowing horns and yanking them down, forcing the creature's head to bow.
Hot blood surged through Ethan's veins, his vision blurring as the Devourer power took more control.
His hands trembled with wild energy ready to be unleashed. Without hesitation, Ethan drove his hand into Nersin's chest, right over its heart, drawing out the energy hidden within the creature's body.
Immediately, a bright blue light radiated from Nersin's body, the energy it had absorbed from the magical plants in the forest releasing in a massive wave.
Ethan felt the energy rush into him, merging with the ravenous Devourer power in his starving stomach.
"Keep going, Ethan. Absorb it all," Valdraxx's voice grew more intense in his mind.
Ethan couldn't stop the hunger he felt was too overwhelming. With brutal force, he tore into Nersin's body, gripping its thick fur and savagely biting into the creature's neck.
Every strike became more frenzied, more desperate for the energy Nersin possessed.
In a short time, Nersin's once mighty form began to weaken, its energy completely drained by Ethan.
The majestic beast collapsed to the ground, its once thunderous roar reduced to a faint whimper.
But Ethan wasn't satisfied yet he tore into the creature's flesh with his bare hands, consuming every remaining piece of Nersin's body.
Blood soaked the ground as Ethan continued to devour, each bite filled with searing energy.
As he fed on Nersin's body, the Devourer power within Ethan glowed even brighter. The force absorbed every fragment of Mana and energy stored in the creature, filling Ethan's stomach, which seemed insatiable.
The dark forest grew colder and eerily silent, as if every creature around sensed the brutality that had just occurred.
After some time, all that remained of Nersin was a lifeless carcass and its glowing blue horns, still emitting a faint light.
Ethan, covered in blood and breathing heavily, finally stopped. Though the hunger had not fully subsided, it had lessened.
"Well done, Ethan," Valdraxx's voice returned, this time calmer and satisfied.
"You have absorbed great power tonight. But remember, this is only the beginning of your journey. There will be more for you to face and conquer."
Ethan stood, shaking off the energy still coursing through him. His eyes fixed on Nersin's large horns, glowing softly in the darkness.
"Cut off its horn," Valdraxx commanded. "You can use it in the village of Trakan. It might be useful for the mission ahead."
Ethan pulled out his blood-stained dagger, and with one swift slash, he severed the large horn. The blue light surrounding the horn began to fade, but Ethan knew it still held some energy, energy that could prove invaluable in his future journey.
With Nersin's horn in hand, Ethan walked away from the hunting ground, leaving the forest behind as it returned to its eerie silence.
Though the hunger in his stomach wasn't entirely gone, he was now strong enough to continue toward Trakan village. Greater battles awaited him, and Ethan knew the Devourer power within him was becoming harder to control.
Yet one thing was certain tonight, he had surpassed his limits.
And Nersin was only the beginning of a long, dark adventure.