(Sam's POV)
The forest was different at night. The air was cooler, the shadows longer, and the usual sounds had faded into a thick, eerie silence. It felt like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
But the night? It belonged to me now.
I slithered through the darkness, my Stealth skill working overtime to keep me hidden. The predators that hunted during the day had gone quiet, but the night brought with it a whole new set of dangers—and opportunities.
Tonight, I was on the prowl for something different. Something stealthier than any creature I'd faced before. I could feel it moving out there, lurking in the shadows. Another predator, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
'Let's see which one of us deserves to own the night,' I thought.
[Stealth Lv 4 activated.]
I melded with the shadows, slithering quietly through the underbrush. My body became almost invisible in the darkness, but I knew this other predator wasn't relying on sight alone. It was using something else.
I flicked my tongue, tasting the air. The scent was faint but unmistakable—a predator, and it was close.
Suddenly, I felt it. The weight of something watching me. My instincts screamed at me to move, and I did, darting to the side just as something lunged out of the shadows, claws aimed right at me.
[Status Inspection Lv 3 activated.]
[Nocturnal Stalker]
[Level: 24]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Shadow Step Lv 3]
– [Silent Strike Lv 2]
– [Night Vision Lv 2]
[Traits:]
– [Shadow Affinity (Basic)]
[Status: Focused]
A Nocturnal Stalker. Sleek black fur, razor-sharp claws, and glowing yellow eyes that cut through the dark like twin lanterns. This thing moved like a ghost, almost completely silent, built for ambushes. It wasn't just fast—it had Shadow Step, a skill that let it close the gap between us in an instant, and Silent Strike for devastating attacks.
'So, that's how it is,' I thought, circling cautiously. 'Shadow Step and Silent Strike. Great, just great.'
The Stalker paced around me, muscles coiled and ready to spring again. I could feel the tension building, my own instincts sharpening in response. One wrong move and it would be over.
[Predator's Intuition activated.]
A pulse of warning shot through me. The Stalker vanished into the shadows, and I knew it had used Shadow Step to close the distance.
'Here it comes!'
I twisted just in time, its claws slicing through the space where I'd been a second earlier. The Stalker reappeared behind me, hissing in frustration. I didn't give it a chance to strike again. I slithered backward, using Stealth to vanish into the shadows.
The Stalker paused, eyes flicking back and forth, searching for me. It couldn't lock onto me, not while I was hidden.
'Good. Now, let's see how you handle a surprise.'
I circled silently, waiting for the perfect moment. The Stalker prowled around, trying to find me, but my Stealth was holding strong. It came closer, right where I wanted it.
[Quick Dash Lv 1 activated.]
I shot out of the darkness, aiming for its neck. The Stalker reacted fast, twisting its body to avoid my bite. I managed to catch its shoulder, injecting venom as I sank my fangs in.
[Bite Lv 8 activated.]
[Venom Lv 8 activated.]
The Stalker hissed, backing away as the venom began to take effect. It wasn't going to drop easily, though. This thing was tough. It lashed out with its claws, catching me across the side. Pain flared up, but I backed off before it could land a killing blow.
I watched it closely. Its movements were slowing, the venom starting to wear it down. Still, it wasn't over yet. The Stalker gathered itself, ready to make another lunge.
'Not this time.'
I used Stealth again, vanishing into the shadows. The Stalker was smart, but it wasn't going to out-stealth me.
I waited for the right moment. When it passed close enough, still searching for me, I struck from behind.
[Bite Lv 8 activated.]
[Venom Lv 8 activated.]
My fangs sank deep into its neck, injecting the last of my venom. The Stalker let out one final hiss before its body went limp.
[You have defeated Nocturnal Stalker (Lv 24).]
[You have gained 110 XP.]
[Stealth Lv 4 → Lv 5.]
I slithered back, panting slightly. That had been harder than I'd expected, but I'd won. More importantly, my Stealth skill had improved, making me even harder to detect.
[Devour Lv 1 activated.]
[You have gained the trait: Night Vision.]
I blinked as my vision suddenly sharpened. The darkness around me seemed to fade, replaced by a clearer view of my surroundings. Night Vision—handy for hunting at night, sure, but not exactly the power-up I'd been hoping for.
'Night Vision? Really? That's what I get from this?'
I flicked my tongue in frustration. Don't get me wrong, Night Vision was cool and all, but I had been hoping for something a bit more… useful.
'Shadow Step would've been so much cooler! I could've zipped through the shadows, dodging attacks like some kind of ninja snake. But nooo, instead I get to see better in the dark. Yay me.'
I sighed dramatically, slithering over the Stalker's fallen body.
'At this rate, I'll be the most well-lit predator in the entire forest. So useful.'
I checked my status window, grumbling to myself.
[Name: Unnamed]
[Species: Predator Snake]
[Level: 21]
[Rank: F]
[Skills:]
– [Bite Lv 8]
– [Venom Lv 8]
– [Slither Lv 4]
– [Stealth Lv 5]
– [Status Inspection Lv 3]
– [Devour Lv 1]
– [Harden Lv 2]
– [Burrow Lv 4]
– [Frenzy Lv 1]
– [Fire Breath Lv 1]
– [Tail Whip Lv 3]
– [Charge Lv 1]
– [Enhanced Fangs Lv 1]
– [Quick Dash Lv 1]
– [Water Jet Lv 1]
[Traits:]
– [Cold-Blooded]
– [Predator's Intuition]
– [Enhanced Sensory (Advanced)]
– [Enhanced Physical Strength (Basic)]
– [Heat Resistance (Basic)]
– [Basic Regeneration]
– [Poison Resistance]
– [Pain Resistance]
– [Water Affinity (Basic)]
– [Night Vision]
[Status: Alert]
[Hunger: 50%]
I flicked my tongue again, tasting the air. The forest was quiet, but I knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. The Nocturnal Stalker had been a challenge, but now that I had Night Vision, I could hunt even more effectively in the dark.
Still… it would've been nice to have Shadow Step.
'Guess I'll just have to live with being able to see in the dark like a cat. Hooray.'
With a grin, I slithered deeper into the forest, my eyes adjusting easily to the darkness. The hunt never stopped, and neither would I.