The crackling fire cast flickering shadows across the damp forest floor. Ron sat beside it, chewing on the cooked raptor meat, his body already feeling a little stronger. The warmth of the flames kept the cold night air at bay, but it wasn't enough to make him feel safe.
Because out there, in the darkness, something was watching him.
His newly acquired night vision allowed him to see faint movements in the trees—small creatures scurrying in the underbrush, larger ones moving silently through the shadows.
Predators.
The raptor he killed was just a juvenile. That meant there were bigger ones out there.
"I need to strike first. I need to hunt."
Tracking Prey
Ron stood, gripping his stone knife tightly. His body still ached from his earlier wounds, but the Devour System's boost had helped him recover faster.
If he wanted to survive, he couldn't just sit by the fire and wait for something to find him—he had to find it first.
Step one: Find tracks.
The soft earth near the raptor's body showed footprints—small, rodent-like creatures had already come to investigate. But those weren't worth hunting.
Further out, however, he found something bigger.
Three-toed footprints. Clawed. Fresh.
"Another raptor. But not the same species. Bigger."
He crouched down, fingers running along the indentation in the dirt. The spacing suggested it was moving at a slow pace—hunting.
A chill ran down his spine.
"It's hunting me."
The First Ambush
Ron's grip tightened around his knife as he followed the tracks, staying low to the ground. He moved silently, avoiding dried leaves and loose twigs.
Minutes passed.
Then—a rustle.
His eyes locked onto a bush ahead, shaking slightly. Something was there.
He crouched, waiting. Watching.
A small, feathered reptilian creature emerged from the underbrush. It was about the size of a dog, with sharp claws and keen eyes scanning its surroundings. Its nostrils flared as it caught a scent—probably the blood from the raptor Ron had killed earlier.
"Perfect."
Ron knew he couldn't outrun a predator like this, but he didn't have to.
He had fire.
Reaching into his small fire pit, he grabbed a thick, half-burning branch, its tip glowing red-hot.
Then, with all his strength—he threw it.
The burning stick soared through the air and landed just inches from the creature's feet.
WHOOSH! Sparks flew as it hit the ground, and the beast shrieked in surprise, stumbling backward.
That was his moment.
Ron lunged forward, closing the distance in seconds. Before the creature could recover, he drove his stone knife deep into its throat.
CRUNCH!
Hot blood splattered across his hands. The beast let out a gurgling cry, struggling—but Ron didn't let go. He twisted the blade, making sure the kill was clean.
A final shudder—and then, stillness.
"Another one down."
The System Responds
Ding!
[Kill Registered: Emberfang Raptor (Juvenile)]
[Absorbing Essence…]
Ron felt the warmth surge through his body again.
[Strength +0.3]
[Agility +0.5]
[New Ability Acquired: Heat Resistance]
He inhaled sharply.
"Heat resistance? That must be why it didn't immediately panic when it saw fire."
It wasn't a huge gain, but it was still progress.
The more he hunted, the stronger he'd become.
Ron looked at the dead creature at his feet, its body limp in the dirt. He wiped the blood from his knife and exhaled slowly.
"I need more. Stronger prey. Bigger challenges."
The hunt had only just begun.