Chapter 48 (2 of 2) Predator or prey. (Patreon)

“And you have everything prepared?”

“Yes, sir. Your close guards and I will take advantage of the chaos to attack the vultures from the back. Neither will find it suspicious, as it’s only natural to attack an enemy if they have a weakness.” The dark-haired girl smirked. “As long as it’s only a small-scale raid, then they won’t know we’ve been prepared for this all along.”

The Serpent King glanced between the valley before them and her. He flickered his tongue and began to retreat into the darkness. “Then do as you need to. And don’t make any mistakes. Obtaining those treasures cost me four of my Warborne, and I don’t want any more to be lost because of your decisions.”

Lucille’s smirk didn’t change as she walked over to the territory. “But I’m sure you believe it to be an acceptable sacrifice to become the Supreme Ruler of the region.”

“Hmmm…” He didn’t say anything more and left her alone, heading off to the place they had arranged earlier.

When he was a distance away, she stretched her arms and began her journey into the territory of the Thundering Storm Vulture Queen.

Time to use this chance to complete my Sub-Objectives then.

She sped up her pace to a jog, being careful to mind her footing as she moved deeper into the territory. Eventually, she came to a hole beneath a large tree, covered by leaves so it would be hidden from plain sight. She climbed in and followed the tunnel made from thick tree roots.

Lucille entered a room full of giant black snakes, who all turned to look at her. She walked forward to peer out of the tunnel’s opening they were all waiting before, allowing her to see the long river the vultures were sitting around. Tall cliff faces bordered the clearing of the river, with the larger and more powerful vultures sitting on the top of tall trees to keep watch. In the distance, the cries and roars of many beasts could be heard. She turned to face the largest Black Vine Serpent.

“How long has the eldest son been gone?”

“Two hours,” the snake replied. “The Eagle Warborne haven’t fully left to watch from the trees. Some are still keeping guard by the river, and only a third followed the Queen’s son to battle the forces of the Tiger King’s brother.”

“Probably the Vulture Queen’s orders…” Lucy murmured. She crouched down to prepare for the wait as she returned to looking out of the opening. The dark mana of the Black Vine Serpents cloaked their presence. “We’d still have to face several of the Warborne eventually. As long as the majority are distracted by the conflict, we’ll win this battle.”

“Battle…”

She heard the tone in the lead Black Vine Serpent Warborne’s voice and gave him a look. “You don’t think I’ll do anything.”

He was silent, but his green eyes studied her. Lucy turned away. “I’ll do my share.” She ran a hand along Apophis’ pommel. “I just have… unique ways of fighting.” Then her expression went cold as she looked at the serpent. “But it’s not up to you to decide whether I should participate in this battle or not. You have your master’s orders to follow me. Don’t question me.”

The snake gave a slow nod, so she continued waiting in silence. Suddenly, a victorious roar sounded and a pained screech rang out, making all the Thundering Storm Vultures outside and all the Black Vine Serpents inside the hideout jolt.

“The Queen’s son…” a serpent muttered.

Then a sorrowful cry rang out, thunder clouds collecting above the territory. All the Thundering Storm Vultures let out sorrowful cries in response, and then they all fell silent.

“… he’s dead,” Lucy said.

A metallic tang formed on Lucy’s tongue as the stormy skies outside lit up with brilliant light, another furious cry resounding. The larger and more powerful vultures cried out and rose, lightning flickering across their feathers. They soared away, and only a few of the Warborne vultures were left behind to protect the weaker members of the clan.

Lucille straightened up. “The Queen has left to avenge her son. Let’s go,” she ordered. “Kill only the Warborne. We need to weaken them enough so they won’t become a threat when we fight the tigers.”

“Only the Warborne?” the lead serpent asked, confused. “But the young and weaker Thundering Storm Vultures can still be a threat. If we don’t remove them now…”

His words trailed off as her expression grew cold once more. “Do as I have said.” She looked back at the vultures around the river. “We need to conserve our strength to deal with the tigers after this. They will have stronger and larger forces than the vultures. Dealing with the young and other vultures will only waste time.”

The serpent nodded, and with a gesture to the other Black Vine Serpents, they slithered out. Lucy watched them go and then followed.

It wasn’t that it would waste time. It was because she wasn’t prepared to go as far as to kill innocents who had no part in this fight. Questions of ethics were difficult topics when it came to magical beasts and their culture of ever-constant conflict, but…

For reasons relating to the more… unnatural characteristics of her soul, she always retained perfect recollection of every attempt of the stages, devoid of the dream-like resemblance others felt when remembering the stages. While others would be left with only a few key memories important to their personal growth to prevent their minds from breaking under the burden of the memories from the stages, she would remember everything as if it had actually occurred.

When someone retains perfect recollection of time in an environment where their actions never held repercussions for them or the real world… it could be very hard to keep together a sense of morality.

… the Hero would argue she had already lost hers, though.

She shook her head and ran forward, readying herself to begin her next action.

I shouldn’t be thinking about this. This is my time to relax and enjoy myself. Where I can cause as much chaos as I like… and study the impact my actions have on people.

She smiled as she withdrew Apophis and Ouroboros.

That’s the only way I learned to be ‘human’, after all.

…

She ducked behind a tree as another bolt of lightning flashed by. The battle occurring in the clearing was chaotic, but the serpents were steadily winning. In the distance, the sound of bird cries and roars could be heard, more of the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King’s Warborne joining the battle as the fighting grew more intense. The two Beast Kings had yet to battle each other, only keeping watch to ensure they didn’t begin any catastrophic attacks to destroy the forces of the opposing enclave.

Lucille looked at the situation of the serpents.

The first and third objectives appear like they’re going to be completed without difficulty, but the second and fourth objectives won’t be completed unless I do something.

She stepped out behind a tree when there was a lull in the shower of lightning bolts.

The way of magical beasts is to make it big and flashy. Let’s hope Ouroboros’s shield skill works when I use Apophis.

Extending Apophis into his longsword form, she whipped out with the snake-sword to attack the closest vulture. The demonic blade slashed out, leaving countless serrations across the chest of the vulture, who had panicked when faced with the unfamiliar form of attack.

The other Thundering Storm Vultures looked at Lucy as Apophis hovered in a wide circle around her, segments rotating and twisting around its length like a blood-red storm. Lucille smirked as the demonic aura crackled and sparked malevolently.

“I hope you don’t believe the Black Vine Serpents are the only threat here.”

The Warborne vultures glanced at each other hesitantly, but they were soon attacked by the serpents still fighting them. One of the few that weren’t fighting a serpent screeched and came forward to face her.

Here goes nothing.

She narrowed her eyes and slashed with Apophis again. The vulture managed to avoid the segments and launched itself at her. Her sword snapped back to its dagger form as she dived into a roll to dodge the attack of the bird. She stood up straight as the bird flew into the air and they faced each other, the bird looking down on Lucy as she watched it.

This one doesn’t seem to be advanced rank yet. Is it a new member? It must be talented for its age if it became a member of the Warborne already.

She readied her black blade again and whipped it at the vulture.

But if it’s still intermediate level, then I have a chance of defeating it.

Her opponent attempted to dodge the segments again, but this time the unpredictable movement of the blade meant it failed to dodge fully. As Lucy attempted to attack again it let out a screech and let lightning mana flood the air around it. The air crackled as Lucy hastily pulled out Ouroboros and extended the weapon to its sword form.

A beam of lightning shot down towards her, faster than the eye could see, but in the same amount of time a pale blue clear shield briefly formed around her, Ouroboros glowing with a sky-blue aura. The lightning dispersed against the shield, both disappearing right afterwards, and Lucy slashed Apophis towards the vulture once more, taking advantage of the bird’s surprise at the failed attack.

It screeched as the chaotically shifting weapon entangled with its feathers, knocking it to the ground as the sharp metal became enwrapped around the bird. Lucille ran forward and stabbed Ouroboros into the vulture’s chest. It let out a cry of pain as its feathers became drenched in blood, splattering Lucy, but it soon fell silent.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Fight a member of the Thundering Storm Vulture enclave.]

[Completion Rate: +2%]

Several of the serpents and vultures glanced at her when they had heard the cry of pain, and took in the death of the beast.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Demonstrate your power to the beasts in the surrounding area so none question your abilities.

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 34%]

Lucille straightened up and ran a hand through her fringe, uncaring about the blood she was getting on her face as she sighed from the exertion. She withdrew Apophis and raised the blade to point at the nearby beasts watching her. She tilted her head as a lopsided smirk appeared on her face. “Who’s next?”

…

It was a bloody afternoon. Warborne, the ‘soldiers’ of an enclave, were picked because of their loyalty and strength, so not one of the vultures fighting them surrendered. The normal families of the enclave hid away from the serpents, but as Lucy had ordered, they showed no interest in going after the equivalent of civilian members of the enclave.

While several of the Black Vine Serpents had died during the battle, the serpents outnumbered the vultures, and it was a total defeat for the birds. The lead serpent came over to Lucille as she stood facing the sounds of the tigers’ and vultures’ battle in the distance.

“Our next move?”

“We wait,” she replied. She turned to look at the serpent. “Has everything been dealt with here?”

He nodded. “There are no more of this enclave able to fight against us.”

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Deal with the enclave of the contender so they don’t become a threat after the battle with the first contender.

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 36%]

She glanced at the notification.

Seems what he says is true if I’m receiving that notification.

She faced the distance against. “Then we need to wait until the next stage begins.”

The serpent gave her a strange look. “The next stage? When would that be?”

Lucille opened her mouth to reply, but paused as everyone in the clearing heard the loud roars and cries of two beasts, the horizon lighting up with brilliant flashes of light.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Make preparations to remove the first contender.

[Completion Rate: +6%]

[New! Completion Rate: 40%]

She pointed.

“Here it is. The Thundering Storm Vulture Queen and the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King have begun to fight.”

[Stage 4 Complete. Transferring User…]

…

[Welcome to the S.T.A.G.E.S!]

Available S.T.A.G.E.S (Beast Realm):

Completion Rate: 40%

Stage 1: Entry into the Deep Greenwood Region (UNLOCKED)(COMPLETED)

Stage 2: The Search for Sustenance (UNLOCKED)(COMPLETED)

Stage 3: Tools of Survival (UNLOCKED)(COMPLETED)

Stage 4: Ascending from Prey to Predator (UNLOCKED)(COMPLETED)

Stage 5: The Trial of Fire (UNLOCKED)

Stage 6: LOCKED

Stage 7: LOCKED

Stage 8: LOCKED

Stage 9: LOCKED

Stage 10: LOCKED

[Please complete Stage 5 to proceed to the next stage]

Lucille took a breath as she prepared herself to move on to Stage 5. While looking at the list of stages indicated she was at the 50% mark, truthfully she was more like 70% of the way through. The last five stages would likely go very quickly, but they were also the stages that were most dangerous. She wouldn’t be able to die permanently, but the stress of the stages could possibly make her soul unstable, and… she knew that elements relating to the ‘Cataclysm’ would show up.

But she would succeed. And afterwards, her first steps in growing stronger would finally be able to be taken.

…

[S.T.A.G.E.S | Stage 5: The Trial of Fire]

For three weeks now, you have survived and prepared to face the three sovereigns of the region. Your first target has been chosen, and you have launched a successful attack on their enclave. The possibility of you becoming the Supreme Ruler of the Region is growing stronger.

But you never should forget your true reason for aiming to become the Supreme Ruler. Not for power, or treasures of the wild places. Not for abundant mana or high status. Your reason is survival. Purely survival.

The trials for the region are about to begin, sifting out the failing subraces from those who thrive. Only one King may lead the remaining races of the region to a brighter future.

The first trial, the trial of fire, begins today. If you truly have prepared enough, then you’ll see the light of the next day. If not…

… enjoy your life while it lasts, wanderer.  [Collapse]

Main Quest (Rank-1: Beast Realm) Overall Objective:

- Ensure no contenders to the title of Supreme Ruler of the Region remain by the time of the New Moon’s day.

Sub-Objectives – Stage 5:

Compulsory:

- Survive the eruption.

Optional:

- Remove the first contender.

[]

[Completion Rate: 40%]

Lucille barely read the notification before she walked off, aiming to take a trail that would take her over a cliff to let her see the fight between the two Beast Kings in the distance.

The serpent she had returned to standing beside called after her, “Where are you going?”

“To see the battle,” she called back. “I suggest you and your kin come with me to watch it too.”

The serpent hesitated for a moment before calling out for the other Black Vine Serpents to follow. She climbed up and began trekking towards the fight.

Half an hour later she managed to get to a hill overlooking the battle zone, a flat zone of tall trees where the vultures faced the tigers. The Iron-Fur tigers had fur of light grey and stripes of darker metallic colour giving them their patterns. The lightning of the vultures had little effect on the beasts, resulting in a harsh battle of claws and teeth between them.

In the centre of the zone, an area that all the beasts avoided due to the danger of dying from stray attacks, were the two massive Beast Kings. They tumbled and clashed, lightning flashing and jagged spears of metal spurting from the ground. It was the edge between the Thundering Storm Vultures’ territory and the Iron-Fur Jungle Tigers’ territory, with their mighty mountains being the backdrop for the fight between the two Kings.

The leading Black Vine Serpent came up to Lucille.

“Is it not suspicious for us to be here?” he asked her questioningly.

She didn’t look at him as she watched the battle. “As long as we make no moves, they won’t know our part in this battle. A rival enclave watching to see the outcome of a battle between two of its other rivals is an understandable situation. It’s only if we attempt to involve ourselves in this fight that they’ll both turn against us.”

He glanced at her but seemed to accept her answer, as he retreated back to move over to the rest of the serpent Warborne.

The sun above them slowly lowered towards the Iron-Fur Tigers’ mountains in the distance as the hours went by, but Lucille stayed alert, watching the battlefield intently. She didn’t remove her eyes from the battlefield once.

The serpents behind her were looking bored, and a bit unhappy with the situation. Lucy heard them discuss her actions but ignored them. It was when the sun was beginning to set that something finally happened.

Below them on the hill, the intensity of the battle was weakening. The fighting beasts had decreased in numbers and were losing strength, but carried on fighting. The two Beast Kings were covered in numerous scratches and wounds, bleeding furiously as they continued to fight. They were no longer wielding the elements to fight, as both of their mana had drained dry.

Suddenly, there was a slight tremble of the ground, nearly unnoticeable by all the beasts when compared to the quaking of the Beast Kings’ footsteps. But the ground underneath the Thundering Storm Vulture Queen sunk down, making her cry in surprise. The Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King didn’t waste a second and roared as he grabbed the neck of the Queen in his jaws. The Queen let out one last cry before slumping, dead.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Remove the first contender.

[Completion Rate: +5%]

[New! Completion Rate: 45%]

Lucille instantly turned away and bolted down the hill as fast as she could.

“Huh- wait, where are you-”

“If you don’t want to die, then go!”

The Black Vine Serpents exchanged hesitant glances, very confused about the situation. Then their eyes widened and Lucy stumbled as the ground rumbled furiously.

The massive peaks of the Iron-Fur Jungle Tigers’ territory let out booming sounds of cracking earth until immense black clouds of ash spurted from the mountains. Dislodged boulders and stones tumbled down the mountains as molten rock poured out from the volcanic mouths of the peaks. The ground near the mountains sunk in places just as it had done for the Thundering Storm Vulture Queen, and the black clouds rolled outwards, slowly covering the sky.

Lucy picked herself up and kept running as a shower of fiery stones began to rain down from the skies. The howl of beasts echoed from behind her as the ones on the battlefield were hit first, the hail of fire wiping out both the victors and the defeated. The serpents quickly followed, realising the threat of the situation.

Lucille ran through her plans for the stage.

I need to get out of the territory. From what I know, the volcanic activity will act like a chain reaction in this stage, running from the border between the tigers’ territory and the border of the vultures’ territory all the way over to where the tigers’ territory meets with the serpents’.

The constant rumbling of the ground dislodged several of the trees rooted in the hill, and they began to tumble down. Lucy dived to the side to dodge a large tree.

The Black Vine Serpent King would’ve taken his forces to deal with the Tiger King’s forces on the other side of the territory, where the enclave itself resides. He would’ve finished by now and would be waiting for me. I’ll need to meet up with him so the Tiger King can be killed, but where should I go first…

She made it to the bottom of the hill and didn’t even glance between the two routes in front of her as she followed the one that led back into the vultures’ territory.

No, the 7th stage will be in the vultures’ territory. The System will ensure I get pushed back into that territory once I complete this stage, so it’s better that I head there now so I don’t have two problems on hand for the 6th stage.

The ground beneath her rumbled again, but this time it was due to the stampede that had formed in the wake of the volcanic eruption. She gritted her teeth and sped up as she detoured to avoid the massive line of beasts heading towards her.

The sound of trees falling could be heard as glowing boulders of stone crashed into them. The beasts in the stampede panicked, sending the rushing forces into even more chaos. Lucy kept heading away from them and had to come to a halt as she stopped before a steep decline. She glanced behind her, then at a thick tree trunk that was just teetering on the edge of the hill. She withdrew Ouroboros and lashed out with the weapon to cut the base of the tree and then jumped on board the log as it began to slide down the hill. It quickly gathered speed as the rumbling of the earth continued, and Lucy’s eyes widened as it slammed into another tree.

She was thrown off of it and tumbled down the hill the rest of the way, scratches and minor wounds marring her skin and tearing her clothes as she fell. She crashed through a thick section of foliage and rolled to a stop within a clearing. She coughed as she rolled onto her stomach and weakly got onto her hands and knees to stand up. She looked around to find herself right next to the lake she had stayed near for the first few stages.

As for the volcanoes… She stood up and turned around, then looked at the opposite side of the lake. There, a sea of lava could barely be seen, lighting up the skies with an orange glow as shattered mountains and spat-up ground formed islands adrift the strange scene. That part of the Iron-Fur Jungle Tigers’ territory… had sunk, gone forever.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Survive the eruption.

[Completion Rate: +5%]

[New! Completion Rate: 50%]

She took a look at the notification and released a sigh of relief.

[Stage 5 Complete. Transferring User…]

…

[S.T.A.G.E.S | Stage 6: The Trial of Darkness]

Survived. You have survived. It was only one trial of many to come, yes, but you have taken your first step in proving your right to survive in this realm. All your preparation was not for nothing.

But after seeing the brilliance of fire seared into your vision, darkness is the only thing that remains. Darkness, and only darkness. The black clouds have blocked out the sun, stars and moon, blinding all. And the Nothingness Volcanic Natural Phenomena has revealed its true nature.

The senses have been cloaked with the ash of darkness. No sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, and barely any touch for the living and breathing of the region. The only thing you can rely on is your ability to perceive life and its propensity to kill. Find food, shelter, and water.

And don’t breathe in the ashes of darkness, for it will be your last breath if you do.  [Collapse]

Main Quest (Rank-1: Beast Realm) Overall Objective:

- Ensure no contenders to the title of Supreme Ruler of the Region remain by the time of the New Moon’s day.

Sub-Objectives – Stage 6:

Compulsory:

- Survive until the darkness clears at dawn.

Optional:

- Identify the race of five types of beasts (0/5).

- Detect a beast of low bloodline level.

- Detect a beast of intermediate bloodline level.

- Detect a beast of advanced bloodline level or greater.

[]

[Completion Rate: 50%]

The System had returned her to her location but had sat her underneath a large bush of some kind. The bitter smell of burnt wood filled her nostrils, and she could still see easily enough, but… she lifted some leaves out of her eyes, shaking down some pitch-black ash onto her. Her sight instantly went dark, everything she was perceiving shut down. Everything except… her soul.

She considered what she could do to step out safely without breathing in the ash, and removed her shirt and leather vest. She used the shirt to cover her mouth and nose while putting the vest back on. Then she stepped out and began walking.

Blackened leaves and thick ash coated everywhere, the sight clearly visible to her through her spiritual perception field. Cultivators who did the stage rarely struggled with it due to their spiritual sense, but in return, they weren’t able to eat natural treasures to improve their Origin Skills in the Beast Realm’s stages due to the mana.

Considering the fact that the 7th stage required her to be in the vultures’ territory, others may assume it would be better for her to stay where she was due to her familiarity with the lake, and nearly all the beasts would be hiding away, waiting out the night, but Lucy actually wanted to get as far away as possible from the lake. She aimed to cross at least half the territory during the night, heading towards the Black Vine Serpents’ territory.

But before she left, she walked over to the lake and filled her canteen with its water, which for some strange reason had no ash within it at all.

After that, she frequently took a route that led her under alcoves, tree roots and sheltered areas, just to decrease the amount of ash she had the possibility of inhaling. At one stage she paused to see several low-ranked birds huddled together and hiding away inside a log, allowing her to complete the first optional objective.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Detect a beast of low bloodline level.

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 52%]

The rest of her journey was… silent. It was possible for her to detect soundwaves with her perception field, her mental constructs interpreting it into audio for her, but the lack of any sound from beasts and such made for an unnerving journey. The wind brushing past charred and dying trees was her only company.

As her journey took her closer towards the borders of the territory, the wildlife became busier. Not all the trees were burnt here, and several of the larger animals were moving around. During that time she managed to identify 4/5 different beast races and complete the second optional objective.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Detect a beast of intermediate bloodline level.

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 54%]

But then she felt a presence that made her freeze up. Quickly looking for a hiding place, she slipped into the inside of a burned-out husk of a tree, its hollow interior barely able to fit her.

With one side of his face covered in an ugly burn wound, and his proud iron-coloured coat eaten away by the rain of fire he was subjected to earlier, the Iron-Fur Jungle Tiger King lumbered past, low growls escaping from his throat whether he was aware of it or not.

It was a tense minute when his tail rubbed against the hollow tree and he paused to come up to it to investigate it. Eventually, he turned away and Lucy was free to move again.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Detect a beast of advanced bloodline level or greater.

[Completion Rate: +2%]

[New! Completion Rate: 56%]

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Identify the race of five types of beasts (5/5)

[Completion Rate: +1%]

[New! Completion Rate: 57%]

The location Lucille finally made it to… was the hill she began on in Stage 1.

She sat down after climbing up and waited as the clouds began to disperse and the sun began to rise. Not that she could see it, of course. Dawn finally arrived a few minutes later.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Survive until the darkness clears at dawn.

[Completion Rate: +3%]

[New! Completion Rate: 60%]

And while she could use her eyes to see again… her limbs felt weak and heavy, as if she was afflicted by some poison.

[Stage 6 Complete. Transferring User…]

…

[S.T.A.G.E.S | Stage 7: The Trial of Water]

The dark has faded, and light returns again. But the traumas suffered by this region do not disappear so easily.

The ash of darkness sits heavy in your lungs, regardless of how hard you tried to prevent it. It weakens your body, draining your strength, and sucking away your mana. It is possible to survive even with the curse, but… it will be a hard path to traverse.

The region offers a cure. The waters of the lake of mana, untouched by the misery of the black clouds. It will wash away all ash and darkness. However, the waters are not to cure the individual, but the entire region. So, if you wish to remove this burden from yourself… will you be able to do so while facing the flood that follows? [Collapse]

Main Quest (Rank-1: Beast Realm) Overall Objective:

- Ensure no contenders to the title of Supreme Ruler of the region remain by the time of the New Moon’s day.

Sub-Objectives – Stage 7:

Compulsory:

- Find a high location to avoid the flood.

Optional:

- Drink the lake’s water to cure the ash.

[]

[Completion Rate: 60%]

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Find a high location to avoid the flood.

[Completion Rate: +5%]

[New! Completion Rate: 65%]

Lucille took one look at the geyser of water that had spurted in the distance, slowly flooding the territory as the beasts roared in distress, then shrugged. She uncapped her canteen and drank from it.

[Sub-Objective Complete:

Drink the lake’s water to cure the ash.

[Completion Rate: +5%]

[New! Completion Rate: 70%]

[Stage 7 Complete. Transferring User…]