Chapter 5: A Formidable Foe
He knew he could become the target at any moment. So he decided to prepare and not retreat. After all, these creatures possessed a sense of smell rivaling the fiercest predators, and they had certainly detected his presence since he arrived.
He opened his inventory and selected the spear and the bolas.
Whoosh!
The two weapons appeared quietly in his grasp. He turned his gaze to the scene before him, beginning to devise a method for achieving an instant kill.
After moments of intense observation, he resolved to target any one of them first. After all, there were only three Raptors in the group, so it didn't make much difference which one became his first victim.
He took a quick glance at his status screen, then immediately allocated his remaining attribute points into Melee Damage. In the end, raw power was the difference that would decide the outcome from the very beginning.
[
[Name]: King
[Level]: 6
[Engram Points]: 0
[EXP]: 357/400
---
[Health]: 140.0 / 140.0
[Stamina]: 100.0 / 100.0
[Oxygen]: 100.0 / 100.0
[Food]: 100.0 / 100.0
[Water]: 100.0 / 100.0
[Weight]: 30.0 / 100.0
[Melee Damage]: 230.0%
[Movement Speed]: 284.0%
[Crafting Skill]: 100.0%
[Fortitude]: 0.0
[Torpor]: 0.0 / 200.0
]
"Good… Now I'm almost ready."
His melee damage was now 230% of its base value, which was truly fantastic, but he wasn't entirely confident that it was enough to kill a Raptor with a single strike.
He steeled himself silently, while a look of unwavering confidence and determination settled in his dark eyes, which resembled a shadowy abyss.
He gripped the spear with all his might; the muscles in his arms swelled and hardened, his veins bulging like iron threads capable of shattering anything.
King admired the sight for a moment, but soon refocused on the ongoing slaughter before him.
He decided to attack the closest Raptor to him, beginning to advance with slow, silent steps. He moved like a seasoned assassin from an ancient order, until—
Crunch!
He accidentally stepped on a dry twig lying on the ground.
In that same instant, all three Raptors turned towards him at once. They bared their fearsome, sharp fangs, and their screeches rose in a threatening, warning tone…
As the screeches echoed, the very air trembled with the predators' menace. King's limbs froze for a brief moment, but his heart remained steady as iron. He knew that retreating now meant the end, and his only chance was to attack first.
He quickly raised the bolas in his left hand, whirling it forcefully in the air until it emitted a sharp whistle that pierced the silence. Then he launched it with precision towards the nearest Raptor.
Whoosh!
The cords wrapped around the beast's legs, causing it to stumble and crash suddenly to the ground. Dust rose around it as it screeched in rage, slashing with its claws trying to free itself.
"Now!" King screamed inwardly.
He surged forward like lightning, his legs propelling him with a speed matching veteran hunters. Gripping the spear in his right hand, he unleashed the power of his taut muscles.
Thump!
The spear pierced straight into the first Raptor's chest, sinking deep until it protruded from its back. The light in the beast's eyes extinguished instantly as it let out a dying gasp.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Hisssss!
The other two Raptors attacked from both flanks. One leaped high, its gleaming teeth aimed at his neck, while the other charged at an incredible speed from ground level towards his legs.
King gritted his teeth hard, raising the blood-stained spear to block the first attack while preparing a sideways strike for the second.
His body moved with frantic speed, but his dark eyes remained fixed on his next prey.
Blood, screeches, and dust… everything converged in a decisive moment where life and death were decided!
The first Raptor pounced from above. King swiftly raised his stone spear, deflecting it at a sharp angle.
Craaack!
The spear tip collided with the beast's bone, the wood vibrating violently in his hand, nearly breaking, but he succeeded in pushing the Raptor back a few steps.
At the same moment, the second Raptor rushed towards his legs. King tried to jump back, but its sharp claws tore a deep gash in his left thigh.
"Argh!" King roared, feeling the warm blood flow down his leg, but he didn't allow the pain to paralyze his movement.
With an internal voice akin to a roar, he shouted to himself: "It's either me… or them!"
He gripped his stone spear with all his strength and lunged forward.
Thud!
The stone point pierced the second Raptor's head, part of the tip shattering inside its skull as it fell lifeless to the ground.
But the third gave him no time. It slammed its bulky body into him, and King fell to the ground, the spear snapping in two and flying away from him.
The Raptor was about to sink its fangs into his neck when King frantically reached to his waist… The bolas!
He released it in a flash; the cord wrapped around the beast's neck, confusing it for a moment.
"Now!"
King grabbed the broken half of the spear that still held a sharp stone point, and with all his might, drove it into the Raptor's eye, pushing until it pierced its brain.
Crrrrunch!
Its heavy limbs went limp as it fell sideways, a lifeless corpse.
---
King sat on the ground breathing heavily, blood covering his body, his leg hurting intensely. Before him lay the corpses of the three Raptors, and beside him a broken spear reminding him that every fight in this world came at a price.
He smiled a weary smile and said in a hoarse voice: "I survived… but barely."
....