It started out a lovely day.

Took a nap beneath a shade and enjoyed the gentle, spring breeze caressing my skin. Dreamt of my recent conquest, when abruptly I was awaken by something deep in my subconscious.

By no means am I a light sleeper. But being out here in the forest surrounded by prowling beasts of magic taught me not to dismiss those acute disturbances. It could literally be the difference between life and death.

And so I sat up and cocked my ear, listening intently. There was nothing except the sounds of critters frolicking about and the chirping of birds. Those sounds provided comfort. If there was a predator stalking nearby, all there would be is deafening silence.

Besides, this area was recently a dragon territory. A Leafblade Dragon to be precise. Yes, I did slay it, its body teleported away for processing, but that's beside the point.

In the wildlands, where magical beasts stand atop the food chain, fellow apex predators respect territorial boundaries. An absolute law recognized by these powerful creatures, lest they start a war amongst themselves. Magic Beasts, afterall, are highly-intellegent despite being extremely aggressive and territorial.

So what did stir me awake? I still have no idea. It could have been nothing actually, but outrightly dismissing my subconscious would be idiotic. Afterall, I've honed it over the years and it has kept me alive all to this day.

Opening my gate, mana coursed through my veins and spread throughout my body like liquid fire. My body came alive, emitting a soft hue, bursting with power.

I'm an adventurer and hunter. Hunting magic beast and exploring the world for the fun of it is my job. Earning huge bounties while doing so were just the icing on the cake.

But I digress.

Now where was I?

Oh, yes, I would use my energy to scout my surrounding.

Closing my eyes, energy flowed out of my flattened palm and into the ground. The ground beneath me came alive, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Terra Scan

A green dot appeared in my mind's eye followed by a blue ring around the dot. The green dot represents me while the blue ring represents the scanned area, gradually widening its diameter as it extends away from the dot.

Vibrations on the ground would determine whether the blue ring passed through a being or an inanimate object. Four red dots popped up in my mind's eye. A hundred meters south-west from my location, clustered together like a pack, were creatures exceeding a hundred kilos.

Terra Scan

reached its maximum of a hundred-fifty meters but there were no more surprises. Opening my eyes, I stood up and wondered what they might be. No way to tell what they are unless I see them personally.

Should I hunt them or not?

I'm still recovering from my battle with Leafblade Dragon early this morning. My injuries are healed, and a feast of a lunch replenished my energy reserves. Fatigue is my only worry due to overexertion.

Could definitely use more rest.

My mind in an infinite pool of curiousity, gnawing at me like a dog gnaws at a bone.

Maybe I should take a look? It's not like I'd be facing four dragons. That would be impossible. What harm can it be? I could always run if it gets dicey.

And so I go, whistling a happy tune, not knowing what awaits me. At the back corner of my mind, something tells me I should wait until full recovery.

Should have listened to my instincts.

My day, which started out great, was about to end in disaster.