He glanced around the dimly lit interior of the treehouse. It was as crude and simple as when he had first climbed up to it, but it had served its purpose. Thin slivers of morning light filtered through the cracks in the wooden planks, casting golden streaks across the rough floor. Outside, the oppressive feeling of things moving in the night had lifted, replaced by stillness once again, as well as the rustling of leaves in the morning breeze.
Kael rubbed the sleep from his eyes, recalling the night before. It had been different from his first. This time, he had listened—really listened. And what he had heard had solidified his suspicions: the forest came alive at night, transforming into a different world altogether. The low growls of hidden predators, the rustling of massive bodies moving through the underbrush, the distant howls carried by the wind, this was when the real hunters emerged. He had made the right call staying high up, off the ground. If he remained silent and high up enough, he would be fine.
This realization meant one important thing: daytime was safer. Not safe, but safer. He could hunt, explore, and gather resources without constantly fearing a nightmarish monster lunging at him from the shadows. But he had to be smart about it.
Kael moved carefully as he climbed down from his perch, his body still sore but functional. His first stop was the river. He had emptied the last of his water the previous night, drinking it down alongside his meal. Without water, nothing else mattered.
He moved quietly, his senses sharp. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant foliage. Each step he took was measured, and deliberate. He wasn’t the only one out here looking for food and water. The last thing he needed was a repeat of his first encounter with the panther-like monster.
When he reached the riverbank, he crouched low and scanned the surroundings. He waited, listening. After a few minutes of nothing but the gentle flow of the current, he made his move. He knelt by the water’s edge, cupping his hands to take a slow sip. The water sent a refreshing jolt through his body, clearing away the last remnants of drowsiness. After filling his makeshift waterbag, he splashed some water on his face and took another deep breath before heading back to the treehouse.
The morning sun had risen higher by the time he made his next move. He adjusted his grip on his antler blade and set off in the same direction he had gone yesterday—the place where he had found the hare. If it had been there once, maybe another would have passed through.
Kael looked again at the antler blade. Bringing up just the equipment part of his status, having found out last night he could by just thinking about it.
Equipment:
-
Hunting Knife (Standard steel blade, well-used but reliable.)
-
Wildhorn Antler Blade (A crude but sharp piece of antler, now having lost its Essence residue.)
-
Clothing (Simple survival gear. No defensive properties.)
He had examined it more yesterday and had found that the description was not wrong. The small amount of Essence coming off, when he had first picked it up was now gone. He guessed that since it had been some time since he picked it up, the essence must have slowly evaporated away, over time. He figured it was the same thing that happed to the bioluminescent leaves on the ground. You would think that having glowing leaves would help with the darkness of the night, but by only there being some trees with glowing leaves, and them being so far up, it was still extremely dark at night. Not to mention that the blue glowing streak, going through the trees and its roots dampened much by night.
Dismissing the screen, Kael continued to walk with patience, every step placed carefully. The Gloomkin were still on his mind. If one of them had been out hunting the previous day, there could be more. He had been lucky with that last encounter, but if there had been two? Or three? He shook his head. He had to be careful.
An hour passed. Then another. He found nothing. No fresh tracks, no rustled bushes, nothing to indicate recent animal activity.
Then, just as he was about to turn back, movement caught his eye.
Three figures moved through the forest, their small, hunched forms weaving between the trees. His breath hitched as he crouched low behind a bush. Several of those Gloomkin things. Each of them carried something over their shoulders, a hare.
[ Gloomkin (common) - Level 1. ]
[ Gloomkin (common) - Level 1. ]
[ Gloomkin (common) - Level 2. ]
The level 2 one even carried a crude spear, it was basically just a sharp stick but still. Kael narrowed his eyes. That confirmed it. They hunted in groups. He had assumed it was possible, but seeing it for himself sent a pulse of unease. That meant there were likely more of them scattered throughout the forest. He had just been lucky to have avoided too many of them so far. Only having encountered two. Well, more now.
He debated his next move. Engaging them directly wasn’t an option. Three was manageable, but there could be more nearby. He couldn’t take that risk. Instead, he considered something else, what if he followed them?
If he could find out where they went, where they lived, then he could plan accordingly. He would know their numbers and their routines. That information could be invaluable.
He made his decision.
Keeping his distance, he began trailing them.
The Gloomkin moved at a steady pace, their gangly limbs making them oddly fast despite their size. Kael stayed just far enough behind, weaving between trees, using the natural cover of the forest. Then—crack.
His foot pressed down on a dry twig, the sound snapping through the quiet air.
The three Gloomkin stopped immediately.
Kael cursed silently, freezing in place as the small monsters turned their heads, scanning the trees.
The one with the spear let out a chittering growl, gripping its crude spear tightly. They didn’t move forward, but they didn’t move on either. They were searching. Looking for whatever had made the sound.
Kael’s heart pounded as he slowly, painstakingly, moved back into thicker cover. He took one step, then another. The Gloomkin’s black, beady eyes flicked toward his general area.
Kael held his breath.
For a long, tense moment, they continued searching. Then, seemingly satisfied, they turned back, picked up their hares, and continued walking.
Kael let out a slow breath. That had been too close.
He followed more carefully this time, making sure every footstep was deliberate, avoiding anything that could make noise.
As time passed, he started noticing more groups. Other Gloomkin hunting squads, some with levels higher than the first ones he had seen.
[ Gloomkin (common) - Level 4. ]
[ Gloomkin (common) - Level 3. ]
[ Gloomkin (common) - Level 2. ]
All of them heading in the same direction.
Kael’s stomach twisted. He wasn’t just tracking a group—he was tracking a migration.
Some squads began merging together, the three he had initially followed joined by another group of two, then another of four. Now, it was a larger party, all moving through the thinning forest.
Kael debated his next move.
Turn back? He had already learned that they operated in groups. He had learned that they had hunting patterns. But… where were they going? He needed to know.
He kept following, carefully adjusting his distance as more Gloomkin squads appeared, forming larger bands. The woods became less dense. The thick trees gave way to more open space, patches of grass appearing between them.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Kael crouched low at the edge of the treeline, his breath shallow and his heart pounding. The vast grassland stretched before him, bathed in the golden light of the morning sun. Beyond it lay the Gloomkin village, a sprawling cluster of crude huts made from sticks, logs, and woven leaves.
Dozens of the small, hunched creatures moved about, carrying their kills from the forest and disappearing into the maze of primitive structures.
He had underestimated them. What he had assumed were scattered, disorganized monsters were, in fact, a coordinated society.
They hunted in groups, migrated together, and now, he realized, they lived together. This wasn’t just a random gathering; this was a settlement. A community.
Kael’s mind raced as he took in the scene. The Gloomkin moved with purpose, their gangly limbs carrying them swiftly across the grassland. Some carried hares or other small game, while others dragged larger prey, creatures Kael couldn’t identify from this distance.
The level disparities he had noticed earlier were even more apparent now. Most were Level 1 or 2, but he spotted a few Level 4s and even a Level 5 moving among them. The higher-level Gloomkin seemed to command respect, their crude spears and makeshift weapons marking them as leaders or enforcers, and unlike their lesser brethren, they wore hyde and fur to primitively dress themselves.
He needed to get closer. He needed to see more. Carefully, Kael began to move along the treeline, keeping low and using the tall grass for cover as best as he could. The last thing he wanted was to be spotted. If they caught him here, out in the open, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Not against so many.
As he crept closer, he noticed something else—the village wasn’t just a random collection of huts. It was organized, with a central structure and clearing where the Gloomkin seemed to gather. In the middle of that clearing was a large, elevated platform made of stacked logs. On top of it sat a figure unlike the others. Kael’s breath hitched, still being too far away he wasn't able to see the prompt. But he could guess what it was from the RPG he played. It was some kind of Chieftain.
The Chieftain was larger than the others, its hunched form more muscular and imposing. Its skin was a darker shade of gray, almost black, and its beady eyes glinted with a sharp intelligence. In its hand, it held a staff topped with a jagged crystal that pulsed faintly with a sickly green light. Essence. The Chieftain was wielding a weapon with Essence.
Kael’s stomach churned. This changed everything. If the Gloomkin had a leader capable of using Essence, they were far more dangerous than he had thought. He had assumed they were intelligent, but primitive monsters, driven by instinct. But this… this was something else entirely.
He needed to get out of here. He needed to—
A rustling sound behind him made him freeze. Slowly, he turned his head, his hand tightening on the hilt of his antler blade. Another Gloomkin was approaching, its beady eyes scanning the grass. It was Level 3, carrying a bundle of sticks in its arms. It hadn’t seen him yet, but it was close. Too close.
Kael’s mind raced. If he moved, it might hear him. If he stayed, it might stumble right into him. He had to act fast.
Kael briefly thought about if he should try to boost his body with essence, but immediately decided not to. He had only barely started to experiment with it. And all he could do was push the energy to his hands, it was too risky to try and the risk was too great.
The Gloomkin took another step forward, its head tilting as it sniffed the air. Kael’s heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins, sharpening his senses. He had one chance.
As the Gloomkin turned its back to him, Kael lunged.
He moved silently, his body a blur of motion. In one swift motion, he drove the antler blade into the creature’s neck, silencing it before it could make a sound. The Gloomkin crumpled to the ground, its bundle of sticks scattering across the grass.
[ Experience Gained: +20 EXP ]
Kael crouched beside the body, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He waited, listening for any sign that he had been heard. The village was still bustling with activity, the distant chatter of the Gloomkin filling the air. No one had noticed.
He exhaled slowly, his grip on the antler blade tightening. He couldn’t stay here. He had to move.
Carefully, he dragged the Gloomkin’s body into the tall grass throwing dirt over it, hiding it from view. Then, he picked up the bundle of sticks and slung it over his shoulder. It wasn’t much, but it might come in handy.
As he crept back toward the treeline, his mind raced with questions. How many Gloomkin were there? How organized were they? And how strong was the Chieftain and that Essence-infused staff?
He needed answers. But more than that, he needed to get out of here.
Kael retreated deeper into the forest, putting as much distance between himself and the village as possible. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each more troubling than the last. The Gloomkin weren’t just monsters—they were a threat. A coordinated, intelligent threat. And if they were capable of using Essence, that meant they could grow stronger. Perhaps that was why he had met so many high-level monsters...
He needed to level up. Fast.
As he moved through the forest, he kept his senses sharp, scanning the trees for any sign of danger. The Gloomkin weren’t the only predators in these woods, and he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
After a while, he found a small clearing and decided to take a moment to rest. He set down the bundle of sticks and leaned against a tree, his body still tense. He needed to think. To plan.
First, he checked his status. The System’s interface flickered into view, displaying his current stats and equipment.
Name: Kael Aranthis
Level: 2
EXP: 40/50
Rank: Mortal
Stats:
-
Strength: 10
-
Agility: 12
-
Endurance: 8
-
Intelligence: 7
-
Wisdom: 8
-
Essence Control: 5
Titles:
-
First Blood (Common – +3% increased damage against beasts. Awarded for delivering your first kill after System integration.)
Skills:
-
Essence Shaper – Rank 1 (Allows the user to shape, reinforce, and manifest Essence-based constructs. Current efficiency: 10%.)
Equipment:
-
Hunting Knife (Standard steel blade, well-used but reliable.)
-
Wildhorn Antler Blade (A crude but sharp piece of antler now having lost its Essence residue.)
-
Clothing (Simple survival gear. No defensive properties.)
He frowned. He was still Level 2. He had killed a Level 2 Gloomkin, and the Wildhorn Buck, which was level 3. Remembering that Kael noticed that the exp he got from the level 3 Gloomkin was less than what he got, from the Wildhorn. That meant that the exp was less when the difference was less, and vice versa. That made sense.
But it wasn’t enough. He needed more experience. More power.
His eyes fell on the bundle of sticks he had taken from the Gloomkin. They were crude, but they might be useful. He could use them to set traps or other useful things. Or maybe… maybe he could use them to lure more Gloomkin into an ambush.
The thought made him uneasy. Hunting the Gloomkin was risky, but it might be his only way to level up quickly. If he could take out a few more, especially the higher-level ones, he might stand a chance against the village. As a bonus, if he could go for the ones returning from a hunt, he could steal the pray. This way he would have a reliable way of getting food, and have them do all the work. Kael smiled to himself thinking about it some more. But first, he needed to prepare.
Kael spent the next few hours gathering materials and setting traps. He used the sticks to create simple pitfalls, placing them along the paths he noticed the Gloomkin earlier taking when he was following them.
As he worked, he periodically went and kept an eye on the village. The Gloomkin were still active, their movements becoming more frenzied as the day wore on. He noticed something else too, a group of them was heading back into the forest, carrying simple empty baskets, full of small holes. Not the best crafters these monsters, Kael thought to himself.
Assuming they were foraging. Kael followed the foraging party at a distance, thinking this was his chance. he made sure to be careful and stay hidden.
They moved quickly, their beady eyes scanning the ground for edible plants and fungi, how they knew what was edible and not he had no idea, but guessed some of them had tried and well...not gotten sick or died.
He waited until they were deep in the forest, and started gathering, one even killing a small snake. Then he made his move. Having lured one by throwing sticks and leading it to fall into the small traps he had set earlier while it was wandering a bit from the rest, he managed to isolate one of the Gloomkin. It was Level 3, carrying a crude club, the same one that killed the snake. Kael struck fast, stabbing it from behind, and finishing it off before it knew what happened.
The Gloomkin didn’t even have time to scream. This time hitting what
must have been something important.
Experience gained: 20 XP.
[You have leveled up!]
Kael felt a surge of energy as he leveled up, his body growing stronger and more resilient. He quickly checked his new status.
[Status]
Name: Kael Aranthis
Level: 3
EXP: 10/75
Rank: Mortal
Stats:
-
Strength: 10 → 12
-
Agility: 12 → 14
-
Endurance: 8 → 10
-
Intelligence: 7 → 10
-
Wisdom: 8 → 11
-
Essence Control: 5 → 9
Titles:
-
First Blood (Common – +3% increased damage against beasts. Awarded for delivering your first kill after System integration.)
Skills:
-
Essence Shaper – Rank 1 (Allows the user to shape, reinforce, and manifest Essence-based constructs. Current efficiency: 10%.
Equipment:
-
Hunting Knife (Standard steel blade, well-used but reliable.)
-
Wildhorn Antler Blade (A crude but sharp piece of antler now having lost its Essence residue.)
-
Clothing (Simple survival gear. No defensive properties.)
But he didn’t have time to celebrate. The other Gloomkin were still out there, and they would notice their missing companion soon. He needed to move. Thinking that Kael left the area.
By the time Kael returned to his tree house, the sun was beginning to set. He felt a sense of accomplishment, but it was tempered by the knowledge that he hadn't gotten anything to eat, and the fact that the Gloomkin were still out there. And they were growing stronger.
As he settled in for the night, he couldn’t shake the image of the Chieftain and its Essence-infused staff. The Gloomkin were more than just monsters, with those numbers, they were a force to be reckoned with.
Which explains why they weren't exterminated during the night. And if he didn’t find a way to cull the numbers, they might build a proper defensive position and possibly overrun the forest entirely. Kael could see a threat when he saw one. And that village and its Chieftain certainly looked like it.
But for now, he needed rest. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, and he had to be ready.
As the forest grew aloud once more, Kael drank the last of the water in the bag, having taken sips throughout the day, he then proceeded to close his eyes and let sleep take him. The System’s blue interface flickered in his mind, a constant reminder of the world he now lived in.