Chapter 10 – Shadows in the Forest
Edem's vision blurred as he stumbled through the forest, each step marking a path of blood. His body was in agony; his skin was lacerated, his shoulder pierced, and his ribs fractured. The body of the Alpha Wind Wolf remained behind him, yet this victory held no significance if he were to succumb to his injuries here.
"Hhhhhaaa... hhuuufff... I cannot cease now; I must vacate this area. My battle has attracted some beasts," he murmured, clutching his injured shoulder. His regenerative abilities were functioning, mending the flesh, yet the injury was too extensive to heal instantaneously. He required time—and a place to conceal himself.
The system's cold voice rang in his mind:
> [Survival Mission: Endure for 30 days within the Primordial Planet Portal]
[Current Progress: Day 2 / 30]
[Rewards: ???]
[Warning: Human forces detected]
Edem's scarlet eyes narrowed. "Human forces? Wait—those military men."
As he was thinking, he heard sounds of footsteps.
—Marching boots. The rustle of armored uniforms. The metallic clicks of rifles.
"Shit…"
Through the trees, he saw flashes of steel and light. Men in military gear moved cautiously, their weapons raised, scanning the surroundings. Their armored suits bore the insignia of the Zahara Federation Unit—the same ones stationed outside the portal.
Edem ducked low, hiding behind a moss-covered boulder, his heartbeat thundering in his ears.
He watched them carefully.
There were at least twenty soldiers, each armed with advanced plasma rifles and carrying detection drones that buzzed faintly above their shoulders. Their eyes scanned every corner of the forest, alert and ready.
"These guys… they're also here to hunt beasts. If they find me, they'll drag me back—or put a bullet in my head. Worst case, they'll use me as a lab rat. No—I have to stay hidden."
Unknown to Edem, the military had already developed gene awakening potions.
His lips curled into a bitter grin. "Sorry, but I'm not ready to die just yet."
---
The soldiers spread out, moving methodically. One of the drones hovered close to Edem's hiding spot, its crimson lens glowing.
Beep. Beep.
The sound grew sharper.
Edem's body tensed. "Damn it…"
He grabbed a pebble and flicked it with all his strength. The stone zipped through the air like a bullet, striking a tree several meters away.
CLACK!
The noise made the drone veer instantly, zipping toward the sound. Two soldiers followed, muttering to each other.
Edem exhaled slowly. That bought him a few seconds.
But he couldn't linger here. He had to move.
He crouched low, keeping to the shadows, and slipped deeper into the forest. Every rustle of leaves felt like thunderclaps in his ears. Every snapped twig risked exposing him. His injuries slowed him, but he didn't stop.
---
Minutes crawled by like hours. The soldiers combed through the forest, checking every direction. Occasionally, gunfire echoed in the distance—likely them shooting down beasts that got too close.
Edem gritted his teeth. His entire body ached. If not for his regeneration and Blood Lust's lingering effects, he would already be a corpse.
Finally, he found what he needed—an ancient hollow tree, its trunk wide enough to crawl inside. The scent of damp earth filled his nose as he squeezed into the cramped darkness, curling up inside the hollow.
He closed his eyes and forced his breathing to steady.
Outside, boots crunched against the leaves. A soldier's voice barked:
"Spread out! There's energy readings here—Basic Tier at least. It's an Alpha wolf!"
Another soldier answered, "If the Alpha's here, its core will fetch millions. Keep searching!"
Edem's lips twitched. "So… they're after the Alpha's corpse."
His fingers brushed the faint bulge in his pouch—the warm, pulsing Beast Core of the Alpha Wind Wolf. If they knew he had it, they would never let him live.
The hollow tree trembled as a soldier leaned against it. Edem's heart skipped. He bit down hard on his lip to stay silent, the copper taste of blood filling his mouth.
Seconds dragged on.
Then—
"Captain! Over here, blood trails!" a soldier shouted in the distance.
The man leaning on the tree cursed and hurried off with the others.
Edem stayed still, barely daring to breathe, until their footsteps faded into the night.
Only then did he crawl out, collapsing onto the ground, gasping for air. His body shook violently—not from fear, but exhaustion.
"Hhhhaa… that was too close."
---
Night deepened. The moon hung high, casting pale light through the canopy.
Edem dragged himself to a small stream nearby. He knelt and drank greedily, the cold water washing away the metallic taste of blood. His reflection in the rippling surface was ghastly—skin pale, wounds still fresh, eyes glowing faint red.
"This is only the beginning… twenty-eight more days of this hell."
He washed his wounds and covered himself with mud to hide the blood scent from beasts. Then, beneath the roots of a massive tree, he dug himself a shallow hollow with his claws and slipped inside, letting the soil and roots shield him.
His breathing slowed. His eyes fluttered. Finally, darkness claimed him.
---
In another area of the forest, the military discovered the corpse of the Alpha wolf.
"The creature appears to have been killed quite recently," the captain remarked solemnly while inspecting the torn neck. "There seems to have been a fierce battle in that area."
"According to data analysis, the battle appears to be between humans and the beast."
"By what?" a soldier asked. "No human could fight an Alpha bare-handed. Unless…"
The captain's eyes narrowed, scanning the forest with suspicion. "…Unless something—or someone—snuck inside before us."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances.
Despite their exhaustive search efforts, no evidence of Edem's presence could be found. Merely shadows, blood, and silence remained.
---
Deep beneath the earth, concealed within his rudimentary lair, Edem lay asleep. His dreams were vivid and untamed, filled with images of blood, the fangs of a wolf, and his own fierce smile.
The system's voice echoed faintly in his mind as he slipped into unconsciousness.
> [Status: Critical Condition]
[Passive Regeneration – Active]
[Time Progression: Day 3 / 30]
The hunt was far from over.