The metallic smell of monster blood still hung in the air. Kai stood there, chest heaving, watching the back of the young Ravener limping away. For the first time, he wasn't the one running. A strange, hot, and powerful feeling surged through his veins. It wasn't just relief; it was aspiration.
"It's injured. It will die without food, or it will return to its pack," the thought flashed through Kai's mind. "If I can kill it, I'll have food for many days. And... I'll be safer." He no longer wanted to be the prey. He yearned to become the hunter.
Kai quickly retreated to his temporary hideout – a small control room with its metal door still tightly shut. In the dim light, he began to plan, sketching symbols onto the dusty floor. He started analyzing the prey's strengths and weaknesses.
From his observations during the encounter, it seemed agile, and its sharp fangs likely contained toxins. However, the creature also appeared young and was already injured. Yet, it still attempted to hunt, proving it was desperately hungry.
After analyzing the Ravener's pros and cons, Kai devised a plan to lure it into a trap and ambush it. He divided the plan into 5 parts. Though extremely risky, the desire to become the hunter instead of the prey was now burning fiercely within him.
Step 1: Prepare the Bait.
Kai took out a small piece of dried meat he had saved. He knew the smell of fresh blood would be more effective. He bit his fingertip, letting a few drops of blood fall onto the jerky. The scent of fresh blood, though faint, was enough to attract predators.
Step 2: Choose the Ambush Location.
He didn't choose the site of their previous clash. Instead, he found a narrow corridor, just wide enough for one creature to pass through. On either side were sealed rooms with doors. The confined space would limit its speed and ability to dodge.
Step 3: Set the Trap.
Using a piece of cable he had acquired, Kai fashioned a simple snare, hiding it under a layer of dust right at the corridor's entrance. It wasn't strong enough to hold the creature fast, but enough to make it trip and lose its balance for a crucial moment. That was all the time he needed.
Step 4: Weapon and Attack Position.
The weapon he chose for this hunt was an iron knife. This time, he didn't plan to stab. He planned to cut. He would climb a broken ladder nearby and hide up high. When the creature tripped in the snare, he would jump down, using his full body weight and the strength of his arm to sever the Achilles tendon in its remaining hind leg, completely stripping the enemy of its mobility.
Step 5: Execution and Cleanup.
After bringing it down, he would finish it off quickly to avoid any screams attracting other things. Then, he must swiftly retrieve what he needed and retreat before the smell of fresh blood spread too far.
Kai sat down, taking a deep breath. The plan was full of risks. One small mistake, and he would become the monster's dinner. But there was no fear in his eyes anymore. It was the gaze of someone resolved, who knew that in this world, hesitation was a death sentence.
He stood up, picked up the bait and the knife, and stepped into the darkness like a true hunter on his first mission. Survival was no longer about fleeing; it was a dangerous game, and Kai had learned how to place his bet.