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Chapter 19 - Predator and Prey
🕑 Added 2025-01-16 04:08:40 +0000 UTCThe distant mountains loomed closer now, with jagged peaks cutting into the northern sky. Nova and the chronicler had been traveling for hours, trading questions back and forth as the landscape gradually changed from rolling plains to rocky foothills. Scrawny bushes dotted the rough terrain, and the air had grown noticeably cooler.
Nova was grateful that the chronicler had agreed to use a traveling spell, letting them both travel with speed comparable to a horse. It had reduced the travel time by days. But now they walked instead, having basically arrived.
The chronicler closed his notebook with a snap, having just finished recording Nova's last answer about magical theory. “And what type of food do you prefer?”
Nova kicked a loose stone from their path, watching it clatter down the slope. "Is there really nothing more important you want to ask?"
"Well, I've tried already." The chronicler's beard twitched as he smiled. "But you clearly have many subjects you don't want to talk about."
“But food preferences? Really?”
“It’s my question: why should you care how useless it is?”
Nova sighed, adjusting his pack. "Fine. I like dark meat, potato, anything pasta-adjacent, white wine, and certain types of... uhh, armored sea-creatures."
“You mean crustaceans?”
“That sounds about right.”
"Hmm..." The chronicler scribbled something brief in his ever-present notebook. "Well, nothing too interesting there."
"Told you so." Nova paused at the crest of a small rise, studying the terrain ahead. "Okay, why are all countries so desperately gathering souls? It can't be just for power."
The chronicler's footsteps faltered. "I still don't understand you... You know of gods, the void, immortals, and you have deep knowledge on many subjects, but this is unknown to you?"
“Oh, are we back to answering questions with questions?”
A cold wind swept down from the mountains, making the chronicler's robes billow. "No... But I can't tell you the answer if you don't know."
“Ahh, but you’ve told me there is a reason. And that’s what I wanted to know.”
“... How wonderful would it be if we could tell each other everything without restraint?”
“Very. My turn again, how–”
"No no no, that's not fair." The chronicler wagged his finger. "You know that was rhetorical. My actual question is, what caused you to care so much about justice and fighting for the weak?"
“Oh, going deep, are we? Hmm…” Nova's small face grew thoughtful as he navigated around a particularly sharp rock. “I don’t know, really. I feel like I’ve always been like this. It’s like something is driving me to action whenever I see something unjust. I’ve fought many times, and I’ve lost many times, but I always get back up.”
"... Now that's interesting." The chronicler's pen flew across the page. "Is it the reward of gratitude, or do you do it for something internal?"
“Mmh, it’s mostly internal. Both the pain I feel when I don’t take action, and the joy I feel when my actions bear fruit. The gratitude is nice, but it’s not vital.”
The chronicler closed his notebook gently. "... You should be cloned."
"Haha, thanks! I think the same way sometimes." Nova smiled, watching a bird circle high above them against the backdrop of the mountains. "The only method I’ve managed to use effectively is teaching the younger generations. They will bear fruit eventually, even if I’m not there to see it."
“You certainly carry wisdom. Planting trees for the future, it’s something we rarely hear of anymore.”
"My turn again," Nova declared, taking a moment to study the rocky path ahead. "... What's your name?"
The chronicler's eyebrows rose slightly. "Oh, we're that far down on your list of questions? Well then, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Tuck."
"Just Tuck?"
"Just Tuck." He adjusted his robes against a gust of wind. "Or chronicler Tuck if you think it's too short."
“Hmm, it suits you. Nice and short.”
“I’m taller than you!” Tuck protested, drawing himself up to his still-modest height.
“For now.”
"Ahh, I think you've had a lot of practice jumping between childlike and wise." Tuck's voice had a clear hint of amusement. "I'll ask you the same question."
“Nova.”
“... Just Nova?”
“You enjoy these verbal dances, don’t you? Just Nova. Now hang on while I start preparing…”
Tuck couldn't help but mumble a silent, “That’s just as short as mine…” as he turned away with a childishly sour expression.
Nova didn’t bother responding. He was busy preparing his hunt now that they were in the mountains. The rocky outcrops would provide good cover, and the weather was clear enough to spot movement at a distance. “You’re not planning to leave any time soon, are you?”
"Oh, I wouldn't miss this!" Tuck's earlier pout vanished instantly. "I feel strangely confident I'll see something special if I stick around."
“... And you’re bound by law not to share this information with anyone for ten years?”
Tuck nodded solemnly. "Personal information is always protected. It can be bought eventually, but the price is higher than even your governor would be willing to pay. And not before ten years have passed, correct. Otherwise, we would never obtain any information.”
"Good, then." Nova's feet shifted into a wider stance, readying himself for the burst of power. "I'm about to show you another secret."
[Fragment of Nova Noctis equipped.]
The air around them grew heavy with sudden power. “Oh… Oh! A powerful soul, barely contained in your young body! And such a sharp intent!”
“Mhm, I’ve been wondering about that. But I’ll ask you later; I don’t have a lot of time to waste.”
Nova closed his eyes and let his essence flow down his legs and onto the ground. Like water spreading across stone, it formed an intricate web of runes that spread outward in a perfect circle. The symbols pulsed with a faint blue light against the rocky soil, just like the one he had used on top of Quinn’s shop.
[Advanced Detection Formation activated.]
In an instant, every life in a 300-meter radius appeared in his mind. But the results were disappointing. Twenty minor signatures in total, and not one of them stronger than an average human.
‘Mmh, that’s… fine, I guess. It will let me get accustomed to hunting without the fragment. Oh, hold on!’
He opened his eyes again and stared at Tuck, who was now crouching near the ground, studying the formation. “You’re not showing up. I’m assuming that means you’re constantly using a skill to avoid detection.”
Tuck's finger traced the air above one of the symbols, careful not to touch it. “... What kind of… I’ve never seen runes like these before! Are these ancient runes?!”
Nova unequipped the fragment, saving it for more important matters. “Nah, I made half of them myself.”
“Made them?!” Tuck’s head shot up, staring at Nova in shock. “Runes are discovered, not made! What are you babbling about?”
"Well, there is some truth to that. But I wasn't happy with how simple the basic runes were, so I made these complex ones to make the final product easier to manage. They're like combined functions of most useful rune combinations." He looked over at the chronicler and tilted his head. "You're telling me no one else has even considered combining runes?"
“Nova, what are you? Do you come from the future? Or from a group of undiscovered geniuses that hide underground?” His expression made it almost seem like his questions were genuine. “No one fully comprehends runes! Those we do have are discovered after thousands of attempts!”
“... What do you mean? They’re not that complicated, right?”
“Perhaps not to a genius! A millennial genius! The type that creates new magical invocations that us normal mortals might learn from.” Tuck stared at Nova like he was made of gold.
A thought struck Nova out of nowhere. Something he should have considered long ago, given the workings of the world he was in.
‘Does the system make it near impossible for people to understand magic? But why would it? One has to understand the skill before acquiring it, right? Or at least perform it once… Which would make understanding it unnecessary…’
“... Well, you’re in luck. Like I said, teaching is my current plan. But anyway, I’m gonna go hunt now. If you’re coming along, stay quiet.”
Tuck put his palms together in front of his mouth, which Nova assumed meant he would stay quiet. It was an odd gesture he hadn’t seen before, but as long as he wouldn’t get in the way, he didn’t care.
‘Okay, first of all…’
Nova took his backpack off and let it in the circle, making it easier to move around. It would undoubtedly get in the way during a hunt.
[Dampen activated.]
[Lesser Life Detect activated.]
[Mirror Skin Invocation activated.]
[You have learned the skill: Masked Scent (Master - 97%) {Grade 2}]
[All sources of scent on your body are muted, preventing nearby creatures from sensing you through smell.]
‘This should prevent anything from sensing me easily. I just hope the Presence of the Don trait doesn’t reveal me… That level of mastery is the highest I’ve seen. I wonder what’s after Master.’
Feeling ready, Nova slipped the bow from his shoulder and nocked an arrow, keeping the sword at his hip for backup. Then he started running, heading for the largest group of soul markings. The formation would only work as long as he was near it, which meant he needed the Lesser Life Detect once he got closer to the prey.
A quick glance backward revealed Tuck following like a shadow, his feet finding purchase on the loose dirt without a sound. The chronicler smiled in excitement, seeming completely unbothered by the exertion. Nova acknowledged him with a curt nod before turning his attention forward again.
The land offered little cover - just shallow depressions and the occasional wind-carved hollow in the rock. Nova kept to what shadows he could find, but the barren landscape left him feeling exposed. No trees, no bushes, not even the tall grass of the plains they'd left behind. Just sun-bleached stone and patches of stubborn lichen.
Nova slowed down as he got closer, trying to find the sources of the signatures. And then, on top of a small hill forty meters away, he saw them. Creatures that looked like overgrown salamanders with feathery manes, all savagely tearing a large cadaver to pieces.
‘Ahh, so that’s why they’re gathered up. But what’s that corpse?’
It was the size of a large grizzly, but it had blue skin and looked mostly humanoid.
‘A troll? Or something similar? Well, whatever, I’m here for the sneaky lizards. I’ll have to watch out for poison if they managed to take down that thing.’
He held the bow toward the lizards and pulled the string, hoping the centuries since his last shot wouldn’t have made him too rusty.
‘They’re so densely grouped, I should at least hit one…’
Nova lined up the shot with his right eye, focusing on the green lizards fighting over their meal. He let out a slow breath, felt his heartbeat steady, then let the arrow fly.
[You have learned the skill: Piercing Shot (Adept - 67%) {Grade 3}]
[Your arrow shot carries with it part of your essence, creating a piercing effect on impact.]
The arrow flew straight, but not exactly where he had aimed. Still, it headed for some lizards to the side of the group. And not one of them noticed before it was too late.
The arrow pierced through one lizard's stomach and kept going, doing the same to the one behind it. Two fatal wounds, even better than Nova had hoped for.
The remaining lizards scattered in panic, each fleeing in a different direction. Nova already had another arrow ready. He drew back, tracked one of the lizards running his way, and let loose without using the skill this time.
The arrow just missed its head, but the lizard stumbled, trying to dodge. Nova saw his chance. He dropped the bow, pulled out his sword, and sprinted forward for the kill.
The lizard was fast, turning to escape once it saw Nova. But he was considerably faster, with the strength of a full-grown man in a four-year-old body. He jumped high, gripping his sword with both hands, and came down hard on the lizard's back. The blade sank all the way through.
The lizard died instantly.
[Gained soul of Maned Salamander.]
[Gained soul of Maned Salamander.]
[Gained soul of Maned Salamander.]
[Gained Venomous sac of Maned Salamander (Uncommon) {Grade 2}]
Comments
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter! Already some souls to cultivate (if he focuses on these for a month this should easily be enough to cover 800 already in the worst case right?) And some parts to sell!
