Chapter 37 - Hunt Part 2
He saw the drove who were swimming in the river. Some were drinking and some were resting, cooling off in the river.
Joan was in the tree trunk staring at them from the top. With their numbers, Joan expected them to be loud. Others were fighting for their mate and were squeaking as they were fighting.
Their young were protected by their mothers as the males were surrounding them. As he scanned for them, he can easily eliminate the whole drove but it would be a waste of food. Not all can be carried by his small back.
A rather disadvantage when he has a small body. Even so, he planned to kill a large enough swine for the three of them. His father, mother and, him. .
He picked his target which was swimming in the river. He prepared his strength to propel in the air and jumped at them.
Equipped his bow and hastily knocked his arrow on the bowstring. Squatting while in the air and draws the bowstring with all his might.
Aiming at the target who was still paddling his feet on the water. Letting go of the bowstring, he fired the arrow to the head of the swine.
Ending its life and its paddling instantly, he submerged into the water. Joan soon dived into the water, splashing a great wave of his own making.
Swines squealed after they saw a man emerged from the water and dispersed immediately. Going farther from him to any directions they can go.
In just seconds, he was left alone together with the hunted prize he has. Floating its lifeless body with an arrow sticking on its head.
All became silent in just a few tik tak of the time. All their voices became echoes that seemed to become whispers until it was silent.
Joan removed the arrow and cleaned it with the rushing water. He tied the swine to his back and felt that its weight was double of his own. Making him exert more effort just to walk.
"Urg! This is heavy! Even with the white [Beast aura], I am struggling to walk!"
He soon travelled back to his path and tracks. Resting while regaining his strength from all his travel.
Placing his burden on the ground, he stretched a bit to relieve his aching shoulders.
Sitting on the outgrown century-old root of the tree, he grabbed his water canteen and drank a mouthful of water. Gasping after taking a sip of water.
His [Beast aura] faded as he rested. Reverting his claws that became nails and his fangs to be back its original canine. Eyes became blue again and sense to its normal.
Joan can also transform into a werewolf as long as he can initiate the [Beast aura] as a base and has the Beast will.
Looking at his surroundings, he was still deep in the jungle. Not able to travel faster as he can only do that much with his burden.
Echoes of the chirping birds covered the surroundings. The jungle seemed to reverberate with their voices and it made Joan enjoy the music in his ears.
He leaned his back on the humongous trunk of the tree and put his hands to his nape.
The gentle breeze of air seemed to touch his skin as his sweat was blown by the wind.
Beside him was the swine that he killed and he can still felt its heat on its body as he touched it.
After a minute, he can feel that his stamina was replenished. Thinking of resuming his travel back to the village.
Standing on the outgrown root, he cleaned his dusty robes that have recently dried. He was wet when he dived on the river just recently and was surprised that it dried up fast.
He carried the boar again and when he placed it on his back, he felt that the birds stopped their singing. Crows flew by hastily as he heard them. Soon, he felt that the silence became very deafening.
Echoes of silence made him felt that something was amiss. It was the first time he felt that in the past Joan's life.
Something strange happened that made the forest became so unusual. A bad feeling struck him as he wondered what was happening.
He tarried some more and while carrying the burden he has, he felt his adrenaline to rush.
Carrying the swine without getting tired. Making his way easier to travel.
"Something is not right. I got to hurry to head home." Joan said then started to run.
He dashed with his carried burden and saw that the forest seemed to change.
The tree trunks which were brown or green due to the mould became ashen black. Leaves fell from the trees and they were black. He saw that there were dead animals on the forest floor and saw a small creature that was digging its face inside the deer.
Its back was rotten and flesh was protruding on it with ripped skin. It has a body of a man but it was having longer legs and arms. Claws were seen from its hands and it soon faced him.
The mouth was having bigger lower jaws and razor teeth were sticking out of its mouth. Saw-like teeth were arranged on the lower jaw and its upper teeth were shorter.
His eyes were brimming with redness and it has a bald head. The nose was missing or rotten with only the hole to appear.
Joan saw that it was the first time to see something like that and it was in this forest.
'What could have happened that it was in here? A ghoul that was in this forest?'
Joan immediately readied his bow with an arrow loaded on it.
The creature saw him too and it shouted. Screaming while blood was spurted out of its mouth. Joan fired an arrow to its forehead but it only pierced its skull. Not able to kill it.
He prepared its strike but Joan used his Mage job class.
He gripped his hands and the creature immediately was suspended in the air. It was none other than his skill [Telekinesis].
[Telekinesis]–a mage skill that was able to move objects or even enemies. Either push, pull or hold. Can be used to attack when the mage was good enough.
He gripped his hands and crushed its neck.
The creature can heal itself as it has regeneration but it can be killed by decapitation.
Joan crushed its neck and further crushing its skull. It was screaming with its life and regenerating itself but Joan didn't stop there. He even crumpled its hands and legs until it was removed from its body.
Regenerating its body but Joan crumpled it like a ball. Dropping its carcass on the ground.
Joan passed out immediately after he used the skill. It was what he can only do to kill the Ghoul. [Telekinesis] uses more willpower due to him using the advanced skill. Further pushing himself to kill it. But as soon he lay down on the forest floor, he heard whistling sounds coming from all directions.
It was the alarm of Joan that has to be used just in case of emergency.