Chapter 9: Shadows in the Woods, Seeds of Doubt
The weight of the [Old Carving Knife (Steel, Worn, Dull)] in his small pouch was a comforting presence as Ren began his morning rituals. It was a tangible link to a level of craftsmanship far beyond his current capabilities, a promise of future potential if he could ever learn the skills of a blacksmith or a master sharpener. For now, it served as a potent reminder of how far he still had to go.
His physical conditioning felt less like a brutal trial and more like a necessary calibration each day. His STR of 10, VIT of 18, and AGI of 14 meant he could push through the hundred repetitions with a focused intensity, feeling his muscles work and adapt. The system's comments had even upgraded from sarcastic jabs to grudging acknowledgments of effort.
Then came the spear and shield drills against his lumpy ironwood companion. The [Basic Combat Stance Lv. 3] was becoming second nature, the +12% dodge and accuracy bonus a silent reassurance. His [Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 2] and [Shield Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0] were his main focus. He practiced sequences: a quick spear thrust, followed by raising his buckler to parry an imaginary blow; a shield bash (more of a firm shove against the dummy) creating an opening for a jab to a different 'vital' spot.
[Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 2 (EXP: 130/200). Your movements are more fluid. You're beginning to understand how to use the spear's length to control distance.]
[Shield Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 45/50). You successfully blocked an imaginary attack that would have only mildly inconvenienced you. Keep practicing.]
He was on the cusp of leveling up his shield skill. One more solid session should do it. He redoubled his efforts, focusing on quick transitions between offense and defense, trying to feel the flow the system often mentioned.
Thwack! He brought the buckler up sharply.
[Shield Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 0 (EXP: 50/50) -> Shield Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 1 (EXP: 0/100)]
Description: Your ability to use a shield for defense has improved. Block chance slightly increased. Stamina drain from blocking reduced. You can now attempt a [Shield Push] maneuver with a small chance to briefly unbalance an opponent.
+10 Character EXP (Skill Level Up Bonus)!
Level: 4 (EXP: 120/550)
The new [Shield Push] maneuver sounded useful. He tried it – a quick, forceful shove with the buckler. It felt more impactful than just bumping the dummy.
After his morning training, the hushed whispers he'd overheard yesterday returned to his mind: "…odd tracks, bigger than a wolf's…" "…something stirring in the deep woods…" Oakhaven, for all its rustic charm, was a frontier village. Dangers were a part of life. But the tone of the villagers had been different, laced with a deeper anxiety than usual.
His heightened perception, a subtle benefit of his stats and perhaps the [Basic Combat Stance]'s passive effect, made him more attuned to these undercurrents. He decided he needed to see for himself. Relying solely on village gossip wasn't his style, not when his own survival could be at stake.
"System," he mentally queried, "are there any active threats or unusual creature activities logged for the Kukan'yu forest sector near Oakhaven?"
[Scanning local data inputs… No specific high-threat alerts currently active for Oakhaven immediate vicinity. However, ambient 'Danger Level' for surrounding Kukan'yu wilderness has increased by 7% in the last 48 hours. Source: Uncorroborated villager reports, minor ecological disturbances (e.g., altered prey animal migration patterns – low confidence data).]
A 7% increase was vague but unsettling. He needed more information.
A new quest prompt shimmered into view.
[New Optional Investigation Quest: Whispers on the Wind, Tracks in the Mud]
Objective 1: Investigate the 'Deep Woods' sector (approx. 2km West of Oakhaven) for signs of unusual predator activity.
Objective 2: Identify the source of the 'odd tracks' reported by villagers (if possible).
Objective 3: Report any significant findings to a village elder or designated guard.
Rewards: +100 EXP, +1 Skill Point, [Tracker's Gaze] (Passive Skill – minor bonus to spotting tracks and signs).
System Warning: This is an investigation, not a hunt. Avoid direct confrontation with unknown threats. Your current combat capabilities are rated 'Novice - Fodder' against significantly larger or Nen-enhanced creatures.]
"Novice - Fodder," Ren muttered, a wry smile touching his lips. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, System." But the warning was clear. He wasn't equipped to fight anything truly formidable.
He equipped his spear and buckler, tucked one of his crude flint knives into his belt, and filled his waterskin. He told no one where he was going; he was used to solitary excursions, and explaining his intent would only lead to questions he couldn't answer.
He entered the forest, his [Stealth Lv. 1] active. The deeper he went, the denser the undergrowth became, the taller and more ancient the trees. The familiar sounds of the forest seemed more subdued here, an expectant hush hanging in the air. He focused on his [Basic Survival Lv. 2], looking for the signs Old Hana had taught him – broken twigs, disturbed leaf litter, the faint impressions of tracks.
After nearly an hour of careful progress, he found the first clear sign. A set of paw prints, pressed deep into a patch of damp earth near a stream. They were indeed larger than a Root-Wolf's, significantly so. Each print was almost the size of his hand, with clear claw indentations. They were also fresher than he'd like.
[Tracking Update: Unidentified Large Canine/Lupine tracks discovered. Size indicates predator significantly larger and heavier than a Gnarled Root-Wolf. Estimated creature weight: 80-100kg.]
[Basic Survival Lv. 2 (EXP: 70/200). Successful track identification.]
He followed the tracks, his senses on high alert. The trail led him deeper, towards a rocky outcrop palavras-chave: hunter x hunter, fanfiction, gamer, system, nen, pre-canon, ren, oakhaven, kukan'yu, training, skills, stats, quests, crafting, survival, mystery, investigation, new threat, chapter 9, worldbuilding, character development, progression.
The system's ability to quantify things was invaluable. An 80-100kg predator was a serious threat, especially if it was agile or had pack tendencies.
The tracks led him to a small clearing. The sight that greeted him made his blood run cold. The carcass of a young forest deer lay partially consumed. The kill was brutal, not the neat work of a clean predator. Large chunks of flesh were torn away, and the ground was heavily disturbed. But it wasn't just the kill itself; it was what lay around it.
More tracks, but not all the same. Some were the large lupine prints, but others were… different. Slightly smaller, but with an odd, almost reptilian quality to the claw marks. And there were drag marks, as if something had been hauled away.
[Investigation Update: Kill site discovered. Multiple predator types indicated. Primary: Large Lupine. Secondary: Unidentified (Possible Reptilian/Avian Scavenger or Pack Member – insufficient data).]
[Objective 1: Investigate the 'Deep Woods' sector for signs of unusual predator activity. (COMPLETED!)]
This wasn't just one new predator. This was potentially a new dynamic.
He cautiously circled the kill site, his spear held ready, buckler tight against his arm. He found a tuft of coarse, dark fur snagged on a thorny bush – definitely from the large lupine creature. He also found a single, shed scale, about the size of his thumbnail, iridescent black and surprisingly tough. He carefully pocketed both for later examination.
[Sample Acquired: [Coarse Dark Fur].]
[Sample Acquired: [Small Black Scale].]
He had seen enough. The system's warning about not confronting unknown threats echoed in his mind. He needed to report this.
The journey back to Oakhaven was tense. Every shadow seemed to hide a lurking threat. He moved with extreme caution, frequently checking his surroundings.
He went straight to Old Man Hemlock's hut. The elder was, as usual, working with wood, this time sanding the small bird carving he'd shown Ren earlier.
"Elder Hemlock," Ren said, his voice a little breathless.
Hemlock looked up. "Ren. You look like you've seen a ghost, boy. What troubles you?"
Ren took a deep breath. "The woods, Elder. The deep woods to the west. I found tracks, much bigger than a wolf's. And a deer, killed. It… it wasn't a clean kill. And there were other signs, different kinds of tracks, even a scale." He produced the fur and the scale.
Hemlock put down his carving, his expression growing serious. He took the fur, rubbing it between his fingers, then examined the scale closely.
"This fur… it's from a Direfang Wolf, I'd wager. Haven't seen one this close to the village in many seasons. They're big, cunning, and usually hunt in pairs or small packs." He frowned at the scale. "And this… this is no wolf scale. This is from a Shadowscale Creeper. Nasty little things, like oversized lizards with venomous claws. They often scavenge Direfang kills, or sometimes even hunt with them, a foul partnership."
[Quest Update: Whispers on the Wind, Tracks in the Mud]
Objective 2: Identify the source of the 'odd tracks' reported by villagers. (COMPLETED! Identified as Direfang Wolf and Shadowscale Creeper.)]
Objective 3: Report any significant findings to a village elder or designated guard. (COMPLETED!)]
All Objectives for "Whispers on the Wind, Tracks in the Mud" COMPLETE!
Calculating Rewards…
+100 EXP Awarded!
+1 Skill Point Awarded!
Obtained Passive Skill: [Tracker's Gaze Lv. 1]
Description: Your eyes are subconsciously more attuned to noticing subtle disturbances, tracks, and signs of passage in natural environments. +5% chance to spot hidden clues or trails.
Level: 4 (EXP: 220/550)
"Direfang Wolves and Shadowscale Creepers," Hemlock repeated, his voice grim. "Together? That's bad news, Ren. Very bad. A single Direfang is a match for three good men. A pack, with those venomous lizards alongside… Oakhaven's palisade won't hold them if they get bold."
He looked at Ren with a newfound respect. "You did well to investigate and report this, boy. Many wouldn't have the courage or the keen eye. We need to warn the others. Martha! Gather the council!"
Ren felt a chill despite the afternoon warmth. Direfang Wolves. Shadowscale Creepers. This was a significant escalation from the usual forest dangers. His training, his spear and shield, suddenly felt very inadequate.
He now had another Skill Point. He immediately put it into [Spear Proficiency (Basic) Lv. 2 -> Lv. 3 (EXP: 0/300)]. He needed every combat advantage he could get.
As Hemlock hurried off to alert the other village elders and the few men who acted as a loose village guard, Ren stood alone, the weight of the new threat pressing down on him. His mind raced. He was still just Level 4. His mundane skills were improving, but against a pack of Direfang Wolves and their venomous allies? He was, as the system had so bluntly put it, "Novice - Fodder."
The longing for Nen, for true power, burned hotter than ever. He needed a way to accelerate his growth, to unlock that latent potential the system hinted at. The village would prepare its defenses, but he knew, with the certainty of his foreknowledge, that mundane defenses often crumbled against the true dangers of this world.
He had to get stronger. And he had a sinking feeling he didn't have much time. The shadows in the woods were growing longer, and something told him they were creeping closer to Oakhaven.