Kael remained crouched in the thick bushes, hidden beneath the canopy of twisted roots and gnarled trees. His gaze stayed locked onto the Gloomkin village, watching the small settlement come to life as the hours passed. The night was beginning to wane, the deep black sky giving way to the faintest hints of lighter shades. He estimated that morning was only two or three hours away.

  Kael shifted slightly, adjusting his position for a better view of the village. The Gloomkins that had run off earlier, the ones that had chased after the noise from the stone he threw, had yet to return. He smiled to himself. He wouldn’t be surprised if the things had gotten distracted, wandered too far, or ended up forgetting about what they were doing after chasing the sound and finding nothing.

  Even if some of them had an ounce of intelligence, it wouldn’t matter much. The mismatched way they lived, acted and operated gave him all the openings he would need. That, and their clear inability to hold focus for long, made them incredibly easy to manipulate.

  Kael continued his observations. As time passed, he noticed more and more of them stirring. Some began emerging from their huts and tents, while others got up from the ground. A few were already preparing to head into the forest, spears and crude weapons in hand, most likely for a morning hunt.

  Paying special attention to the ones leaving, he shifted slightly, moving a bit deeper into the tree line, careful not to rustle the grass too much as he did so. He needed to remain hidden a while longer, and couldn't risk being seen this close to the village yet. Then he heard it—the distant sound of commotion. Kael immediately focused back on the village. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the area, waiting. Did they finally find one of the bodies?

  The sudden commotion spread like wildfire. More Gloomkin poured out of their huts, snarling and clicking at one another in alarm. Some of them rushed to grab weapons, others darted in random directions, their body language frantic.

  Kael’s patience was rewarded when he finally saw movement from the village’s central structure. The hide-covered doorway was pushed aside, and from within, the Chieftain emerged.

  The moment it stepped into the open, Kael’s attention sharpened. The Chieftain was built differently—more muscular, broader, and far more imposing than its lesser kin. Its skin was a darker shade of gray, almost black, and its beady eyes held a glint of something Kael hadn’t seen in the others—actual intelligence. This one wasn’t just another dumb beast.

  But just like last time, what truly caught his attention was the staff in its grip. The weapon wasn't much by itself, its surface jagged and uneven. At the top of the staff, embedded into the wood, was a pulsating crystal—a deep, sickly green that radiated faint waves of energy. Kael was transfixed by it.

  His eyes flicked to the two figures now standing beside the Chieftain, having left their post the moment it stepped out. Unlike the other Gloomkin, these two bodyguards were more similar to their leader than their lesser kin, they were larger, stronger, and carried what looked like more refined weapons. Their stances were more disciplined, and their movements had a precision that set them apart from the usual mindless creatures. Kael’s suspicions were confirmed when the System notification appeared before his eyes.

  [ Gloomkin Guard (Uncommon) – Level 14 ]

  [ Gloomkin Guard (Uncommon) – Level 13 ]

  [ Gloomkin Chieftain (Uncommon) – Level 16 ]

  Kael’s eyes widened slightly. Level 16? That was the highest he had seen so far. The strongest common Gloomkin he had encountered was Level 8. This thing doubled that. Even the guards had a higher level than any of the others he had faced. Does rarity affect leveling? The question crossed his mind for a moment, but he set it aside. That’s something to figure out later. Right now, he needed to focus.

  The Chieftain moved through the village, its larger form cutting a clear path as it barked at the others. The moment it entered the hut where Kael had left nine of its kin dead, its rage became evident. It stormed out seconds later, gripping its staff tighter, yelling in its guttural tongue.

  Kael couldn’t understand its words, but he didn’t need to. The body language was clear—it was pissed.

  The other Gloomkin scrambled in response. The village was now fully awake, and the Chieftain’s furious orders were met with immediate action. Within moments, groups of Gloomkin broke off, forming search parties.

  Kael’s lips thinned into a line, time to go.

  He had pushed his luck long enough. He had lingered in the village’s proximity for two reasons throughout the night, one because he needed to observe and two because ironically it was safer here at night, given that the Gloomkin themselves were the reason. If Kael was right, then other predators didn’t normally come near their village. It made sense. After all, there hadn’t been a single sign of another monster the entire night. Either they feared the Gloomkin’s numbers or something in the village itself kept them away. The answer to that being the Chieftain was not going to surprise him.

  But with dawn approaching, that safety net was not needed as much. And now that the village was actively searching the area, he needed to leave before they started expanding their search radius.

  Carefully, Kael began retreating further into the forest, stepping slowly, making sure not to give away his position. His movements were smooth, precise, and measured. It took some time but, soon Kael had made some good distance from the village. It was not long after that he heard footsteps.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Kael froze, muscles tensing. He listened, focusing on the direction of the sound. They weren’t coming from the village—they were coming from where he was headed.

  He lowered himself behind a thick tree root, peering out from behind it. Within seconds, three level 3 Gloomkin emerged from the shadows, heading straight for his position. Were they part of the search party? No. Their posture wasn’t tense, and they weren’t actively scanning the area. They were walking with a lazy step, clicking to each other in that guttural language of theirs. It was also a good distance from the village now, Kael getting close to where his tree house was.

  Thinking that, a smile crept up on Kael's face. These must be the ones still looking for him. Either they had just been wandering around like idiots all night, or they had been looping the area, still convinced he was hiding somewhere nearby, and it just so happened they were right.

  Without hesitation, Kael moved. He burst from the cover of the roots, closing the distance before they even realized what was happening. The first Gloomkin barely had time to turn its head before Kael’s reinforced fist slammed into its skull. The crunch of bone echoed in the quiet forest, and its body crumpled instantly to the ground, hitting it hard.

  [ Experience Gained: +10 EXP ]

  The second barely managed to react before Kael was on it, his hand shooting out, fingers tightening around its throat and lifting it slightly off the ground. It thrashed wildly, clawing at him, but Kael simply ignored its attempts and twisted sharply—another wet snap.

  [ Experience Gained: +10 EXP ]

  Scared the third tried to flee. Bad move. Kael lunged, closing the distance in a heartbeat. He grabbed its arm, wrenched it back violently, and drove his knee into its spine. The force sent it sprawling face-first into the dirt, and before it could recover, Kael stomped down hard on the back of its head.

  [ Experience Gained: +10 EXP ]

  Silence returned to the forest.

  Kael exhaled slowly, stepping back and wiping his hand against the bark of a tree. Three more bodies. And now, the village would find them and still believe he was lurking nearby. Kael cracked his neck, then resumed his journey home.

  Kael moved swiftly through the forest. The night was fully giving way to the early light of dawn, the dark hues of the sky softening into muted grays and faint tinges of blue.

  The presence of the three dead Gloomkin he had just left behind would keep their village occupied for a while. Eventually, they would assume whatever attacked the village also attacked the three Gloomkin. Kael would also bet that the Chieftain would put two and two together and assume it was him. Hopefully, it would take the bait and wrongly think he was still lurking near his old home, forcing them to focus their search on the wrong area.

  Kael had done enough damage for one night, and now it was time to regroup. His path led him through familiar terrain—the forest dense, the air cool against his skin as he weaved between the massive roots of the towering trees. The old Kael, before all of this, would’ve been exhausted by now. But now? Even after a long night, his body barely felt the strain. If anything, he felt energized.

  He made sure to remain cautious despite the lack of any immediate threats. Just because he hadn’t encountered another predator didn’t mean one wasn’t out there. He knew better than to let his guard down in this forest.

  He pressed forward, picking up his pace. The final stretch to his cave required more careful movement. It wasn’t just about avoiding monsters—he had to make absolutely sure he wasn’t followed. He continued the habit he had established over the past few days, taking extra care in his last approach.

  By the time he neared the cave entrance, the sun fully settled into the forest. Kael moved toward the concealed entrance, reaching for the makeshift door—disguised beneath layers of undergrowth. He pulled it aside and slipped inside the opening.

  The root-filled tunnel was dimly illuminated by the veins running along the roots. The glow pulsated with an eerie bioluminescent hue and the light they released was slightly stronger than it had been at night, the veins reacting to the new day.

  Kael moved through it, making sure to replace the barricades behind him before stepping fully into his cave.

  Home.

  Kael exhaled as he finally let his shoulders relax. He walked further in, before settling onto his makeshift bed. The familiar space wrapped around him in quiet comfort. It wasn’t much, but it was his.

  Kael allowed a small smirk to tug at his lips as he leaned against the cool stone, thinking back on the night. It had gone far better than he had expected. He had gathered valuable information, weakened their numbers, and had even gotten his first real look at the Chieftain and its guards. That alone had been worth the risk.

  He laid down on the bed, allowing himself a brief moment of rest. His body might not be exhausted, but his mind had been running nonstop. He closed his eyes, allowing himself a short reprieve.

  A short dreamless sleep later, Kael woke up, even if he didn't sleep for that long of a time, he felt better. More centered. He blinked up at the ceiling of the cave, noting the glow from the roots was still bright, meaning it was still daytime outside.

  Sitting up, Kael leaned against the wall, letting his mind sort through everything he had observed. The Gloomkin village was larger than before. More numerous. But they weren’t invincible. Without their leader, they were disorganized, and chaotic in their structure and responses.

  Still, eliminating all of them would be a challenge. Two hundred was no small number. If he wanted to make real progress, he needed to take bigger risks. His initial night raid had worked, but if he wanted to truly make a dent in their numbers, he would need to start attacking larger groups.

  The realization settled in his mind as he analyzed his options. The night raid had proven effective, but picking their patrol off one by one was too slow. He would have to start attacking their village directly as well. The Chieftain and its guards were a real threat—Kael wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he could take them on now. But that would change.

  He was already stronger than he had ever been. Just a couple of days ago, a fight against multiple Gloomkin would’ve been a real challenge. Now? He had taken down three with his bare hands without breaking a sweat. That alone was proof of his progress. But He wasn't satisfied with just this he needed more. He needed to push further.

  His thoughts shifted to his Essence manipulation.

  If he wanted to keep improving, he needed to refine his use of it even more. His current method of reinforcing his body was effective, but it still had flaws—one of them being the glow that appeared when he used it. If he could suppress or control that glow, he could make himself even stealthier.

  He let out a slow breath. He had his next steps. Hunt. Improve his control over Essence. Continue with larger attacks and raids on the village.

  Kael pushed himself off the bedding and stood, rolling his shoulders. First things first—he needed food. Then, he would train.

  He moved toward the tunnel entrance, reaching for the stones that acted as a barrier. One by one, he removed them then made his way toward the exit. The forest awaited him once more, and with it, the next steps in his plan to wipe the Gloomkin village out.

  There sadly won't be a chapter on the 20 due to me having a fever. ???? I ended up having to walk home in the cold, after getting wet... The next chapter will be 22. I apologize for the delay.??